Metric Conversion Policy for Federal Agencies

 

        DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

        Office of the Secretary

        15 CFR Part 1170                         * (formerly 15 CFR Part 19) *

        Docket #   90913-0259

                   RIN. 0692-AA07

        Metric Conversion Policy for Federal Agencies

        AGENCY:    Office of the Secretary, Under Secretary for Technology,

                   U.S. Department of Commerce

        ACTION:    Final rule

        SUMMARY:  15 CFR Part 1170, Subpart B sets out Federal Government

                  policy on the voluntary use of the metric system of

                  measurement by agencies, industry and the public.  In

                  conformance with the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness

                  Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418, Sec 5164), we are

                  revising that Subpart to remove the voluntary aspect of

                  metric transition for Federal agencies.  The amended

                  Subpart B provides policy direction to assist Federal

                  agencies in their transition to use of the metric

                  system of measurement.

        EFFECTIVE DATE:  [insert date 30 day subsequent to date of

                  publication.]

        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: * (modified to reflect new address) *

                  A. S. Whelihan, Office of Metric Programs

                  National Institute of Standards and Technology

                  Bldg. 101 - Room A820

                  Gaitherburg, MD 20899

                  Phone: (301) 975-3690

        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

        Background:

        The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418,

        Sec 5164) declares the metric system to be the "preferred measurement

        system for U.S. trade and commerce."  Federal agencies are also now

        required to use the metric system in procurement, grants and other

        business-related activities, by a date certain and to the extent

        economically feasible by the end of fiscal year 1992, except to the

        extent that such use is impractical or is likely to cause significant

        inefficiencies or loss of markets to United States firms, such as when

        foreign competitors are producing competing products in non-metric

        units.



        These declarations and the accompanying report of the Congressional

        conferees require this updating of the existing Federal policy

        document.  The policy set out below was issued as a proposed rule:

        "Metric Conversion Policy for Federal Agencies," 54 F.R. 41848,

        October 12, 1989, which updated the policy stated in a prior notice:

        "Metric Conversion Policy for Federal Agencies," 50 F.R. 27577, July

        5, 1985.  The updated policy has been taken directly from the 1985

        notice.  However, this rule amends the earlier policy to bring the

        references and text up-to-date.  The policy clarifies and strengthens

        Federal program requirements. Implementing agency initiatives are

        expected.

        The current text reflects comments received from the public (1

        comment) as well as from the Federal Metrication Operating Committee

        (MOC.)  The text of the policy has been approved by the Federal

        Interagency Council on Metric Policy (ICMP.)  Recommended changes

        from the representatives of the ICMP/MOC included updating the

        Federal Register notice defining the "metric system," clarifying the

        term "other business-related activities," and adding agency reporting

        requirements.  These changes were made and are incorporated in the

        rule.

        The only private sector response was from the American Petroleum

        Institute (API.)  The API commented on: (1) Section 1170.4(a),

        encouraging DoC to continue to coordinate federal agency metrication

        activities.  That section was modified in the final, although it

        never mentioned DoC.  However 1170.3(a) refers to the Department's

        coordination role; (2) Section 1170.4(b), asking for a clarification

        of "areas where metrication is dependent on agency initiatives."

        That language was clarified and became Section 1170.4(c); and (3)

        Section 1170.4(d) pointing out that the American National Metric

        Council and the U.S. Metric Association are good sources for agencies

        seeking information on private sector metrication efforts. Section

        1170.5(d) recommends that agencies "maintain liaison with private

        sector groups (such as the American National Metric Council and the

        U.S. Metric Association) that are involved in planning for or

        coordinating National transition to the metric system."

        Rulemaking Requirements:

        Under Executive Order 12291 the Department must judge whether a

        regulation is major within the meaning of Section 1 of the Order and,

        therefore, subject to the requirement that a Regulatory Impact

        Analysis be prepared.  This policy statement is not a major rule

        because it is not likely to result in (1) an annual effect on the

        economy of $100,000,000 or more; (2) a major increase in costs or

        prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, state or local

        government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse

        effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity,

        innovation, or in the ability of United States-based enterprises to

        compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic or export markets.

        Therefore, a Regulatory Impact Analysis will not be prepared.

        This policy statement contains no policies with Federalism

        implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a Federalism

        assessment under Executive Order 12612.



        This action is exempt from the analysis requirements of the Regulatory

        Flexibility Act because notice and opportunity for comment are not

        required for this policy statement by section 553 of the

        Administrative Procedure Act or any other law.  Therefore, no initial

        or final regulatory flexibility analysis was prepared.

        This policy statement does not contain a collection of information

        for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

        List of Subjects:  Science and Technology; Metric System For the

        reasons set out in the preamble, Part 1170 of Title 15 of the Code

        of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

        1.  The authority for 15 CFR 1170 is revised to read as follows:

        AUTHORITY:  15 U.S.C. 1512 and 3710, 15 U.S.C. 205a et seq and

                    DOO 10-17 and DOO 10-18

        2.  Subpart B is revised to read as follows:

        SUBPART B - METRIC CONVERSION POLICY FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES

        Sec.       1170.1  Purpose.

                   1170.2  Definition.

                   1170.3  General Policy.

                   1170.4  Guidelines.

                   1170.5  Recommendations for Agency Organizations.

                   1170.6  Reporting Requirement

                   1170.7  thru 1170.99 reserved

        Sec. 1170.1 Purpose.

             To provide policy direction for Federal agencies in their

             transition to use of the metric system of measurement.

        Sec. 1170.2 Definition.

        The term "metric system", as used in this document, means the

        International System of Units (SI) established by the General

        Conference of Weights and Measures in 1960, as interpreted or modified

        from time to time for the United States by the Secretary of Commerce

        under the authority of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and the

        Metric Education Act of 1978.

        The term "other business-related activities", as used in this

        document, means measurement sensitive commercial or business directed

        transactions or programs, i.e. standard or specification development,

        publications, or agency statements of general applicability and future

        effect designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or

        describing the procedure or practice requirements of an agency.

        "Measurement sensitive" means the choice of measurement unit is a

        critical component of the activity, i.e. an agency rule/regulation to

        collect samples or measure something at specific distances or to

        specific depths, specifications requiring intake or discharge of a

        product to certain volumes or flow rates, guidelines for clearances

        between objects for safety, security or environmental purposes, etc.



        Sec. 1170.3 General Policy.

        The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418,

        Sec 5164) amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 to, among other

        things, require that each Federal agency, by a date certain and to the

        extent economically feasible by the end of the fiscal year 1992, use

        the metric system of measurement in its procurements, grants, and

        other business-related activities, except to the extent that such use

        is impractical or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or

        loss of markets to United States firms, such as when foreign

        competitors are producing competing products in non-metric units.

        (a)  The Secretary of Commerce will appoint a Commerce Department

             Under Secretary to assist in coordinating the efforts of

             Federal agencies in meeting their obligations under the Metric

             Conversion Act, as amended.

        (b)  Federal agencies shall coordinate and plan for the use of the

             metric system in their procurements, grants and other business-

             related activities consistent with the requirements of the Metric

             Conversion Act, as amended.  Federal agencies shall encourage and

             support an environment which will facilitate the transition

             process.  When taking initiatives, they shall give due

             consideration to known effects of their actions on State and

             local governments and the private sector, paying particular

             attention to effects on small business.

        (c)  Each Federal agency shall be responsible for developing plans,

             establishing necessary organizational structure, and allocating

             appropriate resources to carry out this policy.

        Sec. 1170.4 Guidelines.

        Each agency shall:

        (a)  Establish plans and dates for use of the metric system in

             procurements, grants and other business-related activities;

        (b)  Coordinate metric transition plans with other Federal agencies,

             State and local governments and the private sector;

        (c)  Require maximum practical use of metric in areas where Federal

             procurement and activity represents a predominant influence on

             industry standards (eg: weapon systems or space exploration).

             Strongly encourage metrication in industry standards where

             Federal procurement and activity is not the predominant

             influence, consistent with the legal status of the metric system

             as the preferred system of weights and measures for United States

             trade and commerce;

        (d)  Assist in resolving metric-related problems brought to the

             attention of the agency that are associated with agency actions,

             activities or programs undertaken in compliance with these

             guidelines or other laws or regulations;

        (e)  Identify measurement-sensitive agency policies and procedures and

             ensure that regulations, standards, specifications, procurement

             policies and appropriate legislative proposals are updated to

             remove barriers to transition to the metric system;



        (f)  Consider cost effects of metric use in setting agency policies,

             programs and actions and determine criteria for the assessment of

             their economic feasibility.  Such criteria should appropriately

             weigh both agency costs and national economic benefits related to

             changing to the use of metric;

        (g)  Provide for full public involvement and timely information about

             significant metrication policies, programs and actions;

        (h)  Seek out ways to increase understanding of the metric system of

             measurement through educational information and guidance and in

             agency publications;

        (i)  Consider, particularly, the effects of agency metric policies and

             practices on small business; and

        (j)  Consistent with the Federal Acquisition Regulation System (48

             CFR), accept, without prejudice, products and services

             dimensioned in metric when they are offered at competitive prices

             and meet the needs of the Government, and ensure that acquisition

             planning considers metric requirements.

        Sec. 1170.5 Recommendations for Agency Organization.

             Each agency shall:

        (a)  Participate, as appropriate, in the Interagency Council on Metric

             Policy (ICMP), and/or its working committee, the Metrication

             Operating Committee (MOC), in coordinating and providing policy

             guidance for the U.S. Government's transition to use of the

             metric system.

        (b)  Designate a senior policy official to be responsible for agency

             metric policy and to represent the agency on the ICMP.

        (c)  Designate an appropriate official to represent the agency on the

             Metrication Operating Committee (MOC), an interagency committee

             reporting to the ICMP.

        (d)  Maintain liaison with private sector groups (such as the American

             National Metric Council and the U.S. Metric Association) that are

             involved in planning for or coordinating National transition to

             the metric system.

        (e)  Provide for internal guidelines, training and documentation to

             assure employee awareness and understanding of agency metric

             policies and programs.



        Sec. 1170.6 Reporting Requirement.

        Each Federal agency shall, as part of its annual budget submission

        each fiscal year, report to the Congress on the metric implementation

        actions it has taken during the previous fiscal year. The report will

        include the agency's implementation plans, with a current timetable

        for the agency's transition to the metric system, as well as actions

        planned for the budget year involved to implement fully the metric

        system, in accordance with this policy.  Reporting shall cease for an

        agency in the fiscal year after it has fully implemented metric usage,

        as prescribed by the Metric Conversion Act (15 U.S.C. Sec 205b(2).)

        Sec. 1170.7 thru 1170.99 [Reserved]

        Date: December 19, 1990

        Robert M. White, Ph.D.

        Under Secretary for Technology

                               Billing Code 3510-18