[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 179 (Friday, September 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23012]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 16, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Chapter I, 46 CFR Chapter I, and 49 CFR Chapter IV
[CGD 94-067]
Metrication
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will hold a public meeting to discuss
strategies for converting Coast Guard regulations in titles 33, 46, and
49 of the Code of Federal Regulations to the metric system. The Coast
Guard is converting to the metric system because this system of
measurement has been designated as the preferred system of measurement
for the United States under Executive Order 12770 and the Omnibus Trade
and Competitive Act of 1988.
DATES: The meeting will be held on November 2, 1994, between 9 a.m. and
3 p.m. Comments concerning this public meeting must be received on or
before November 15, 1994.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,
room 2415, 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001.
Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety
Council (G-LRA/3406) (CGD 91-231), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100
Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001 or may be delivered to
room 3406 at the above address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202)
267-1477.
The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this
rulemaking. Comments concerning this public meeting will become part of
this docket (CGD 91-231) and will be available for inspection or
copying in room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Randall N. Crenwelge, Project Manager, Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90)
Staff, (G-MS-A), (202) 267-6740. This number is equipped to record
messages on a 24-hour basis. The fax number is (202) 267-4624. Anyone
wishing to make a presentation is requested to call this number or to
fax a request with the following information: docket number (CGD 94-
067); name; company or organizational affiliation (if any); and the
estimated amount of time needed for the presentation.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Drafting Information
The principal persons involved in drafting this notice are Randall
N. Crenwelge, Project Manager, and Mary-Jo Cooney, Project Counsel, OPA
90 Staff, (G-MS-A).
Background and Discussion
Executive Order 12770 (E.O. 12770), signed on July 25, 1991, and
the Omnibus Trade and Competitive Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418) both
designate the metric system as the preferred system of measurement for
U.S. trade and commerce. E.O. 12770 requires Federal departments and
agencies to use the metric system in their activities, including
procurements, grants, regulations, and agency programs and functions
related to trade, industry, and commerce. Metric usage must be in
accordance with section 3 of the Metric Conversion Act (Pub. L. 94-168,
89 Stat. 1007), as amended by section 5164(b) of the Omnibus Trade and
Competitive Act of 1988.
Federal departments and agencies may claim an exemption from the
requirement to convert, if use of the metric system would be
impractical or likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of
markets to U.S. firms. Proposed exceptions to metric usage must follow
an effective process of review by heads of departments and agencies.
The U.S. Coast Guard's Metric Transition Plan, as required by E.O.
12770, is specified in COMDTINST 5711.2. The Chief of the Office of
Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection has established
the strategy and procedures for metrication in the ``Procedures for
Metrication in the Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental
Protection,'' dated February 26, 1993. A future rulemaking will
implement a portion of that strategy.
English to Metric Conversion Methods
The Coast Guard is considering several methods for converting the
English system measurements in its regulations to the metric system.
The ``soft'' conversion method is also known as ``exact
mathematical conversion.'' It is used to obtain an exact change in
measurement units only. The metric equivalent to an English unit is
determined by multiplying by the appropriate conversion factor. It is
then rounded off to the degree of precision reflected by the original
English value. For example, a soft conversion of 55 miles per hour
(mph) yields 89 kilometers per hour (km/hr).
The ``hard'' metric conversion method is known as ``size
substitution.'' Using this method, an English unit is replaced with an
accepted metric standard size used for a particular purpose. Where
possible, this method is used to convert an English unit to a metric
unit that conforms to an internationally recognized standard. For
example, a hard conversion of the 55 mph yields a speed of 90 km/hr.
The ``dual'' system of measurement and weights is also known as
``adaptive conversion.'' It changes a magnitude in one system to a
magnitude in another that is reasonably equivalent. This process should
result in conversions to magnitudes that are meaningful and practical
in application. Thus, an adaptive conversion of 55 mph equates to 89
km/hr. With the dual method, an equivalent English unit would be placed
in parenthesis after the metric unit.
The Coast Guard also is considering a fourth method of metric
conversion called the ``hybrid'' method which combines both the hard
and dual conversion methods. Using the hybrid method, all English units
would be converted to metric using the hard conversion method.
Additionally, an English unit of approximate equivalency, typically the
English standard measurement, would be placed in parenthesis after the
metric unit.
When converting the regulations, existing English standards will be
replaced with metric standards where possible. When industry consensus
standards are used, the Coast Guard will attempt to incorporate by
reference industry standards which use standard metric sizes that are
equivalent to the original English standards. The Coast Guard also will
encourage organizations that establish standards to convert English
standards that are currently incorporated into Coast Guard regulations
to metric. All conversions will be made so that the final values are
within the original safe limits or constraints of the engineering
equation. Conversions will be made so that vessels will not be required
to meet a different set of standards or new requirements.
Some statutes under which the Coast Guard operates contain
measurements in English units. In such cases, the Coast Guard would
apply a direct mathematical conversion so that use of the metric
measurement would not change the statutory measurement. For example, 79
feet would be converted to 24.3 meters. This soft conversion method
would also be implemented where adoption of the hard conversion method
might cause a change in magnitude and inadvertently result in
application of a different regulatory standard. The Coast Guard does
not intend conversion to the metric system to result in the application
of different compliance standards.
Request for Comments
The Coast Guard is interested in obtaining information on the
impacts on commercial ship operators, shipyards, and marine suppliers
of converting its regulations to metric units and dimensions. The Coast
Guard is especially interested in the public's evaluation of the
impacts of metric conversion on vessel design and personnel safety, and
the economic feasibility of converting to the metric system for all
segments of the marine industry.
The Coast Guard requests additional information on costs, required
retooling or replacement of equipment or materials, extra work
requirements, current metric system usage, and the impact of
metrication on small entities. The Coast Guard also requests comments
on which system of metric conversion is most appropriate for the type
of vessel and its trade, or any other appropriate considerations. The
Coast Guard is concerned that conversion to the metric system using
specific conversion methods may result in industry's converting without
the necessary training for its personnel.
To adequately address the issues and obtain additional information,
the Coast Guard will hold a public meeting at the time and place
indicated in this notice. Responses to the following questions would be
particularly useful in developing a future notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM).
1. In what areas, if any, do you currently use the metric system in
your business?
2. What method of metric conversion would be most appropriate for
your business (hard, soft, dual, or hybrid)?
3. Is it more important to have an exact mathematical conversion
(soft) or a convenient unit of measurement (hard)?
4. What potential benefits do you see in using the metric system?
5. Would a conversion to the metric system require the replacement
of any equipment or material currently in use? If so, what equipment or
material would be replaced, would it be replaced by new equipment, and
at what costs?
6. What is the estimated cost of dollars and hours for your company
to convert to the metric system?
7. Would conversion to the metric system affect the cost of your
day-to-day operations? If so, how much and why?
8. Would a conversion to the metric system present an extra burden
of compliance hours? If so, what areas would be burdensome, and how
many hours of extra work would you expect to result from a conversion
to the metric system?
9. What section(s) of the Code of Federal Regulations do you use
most frequently?
Dated: September 12, 1994.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 94-23012 Filed 9-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
