trend toward probable complete metrication of environmental quality activities under its cognizance. Impact of increasing worldwide and domestic metric usage on these agencies' pollution control activities has been negligible to trivial, with some cases of moderate impact. The Department of Agriculture reported some changes of measuring devices, and some dual usage with attendant conversions; soil surveys are now published in dual measurement language. To meet the needs of scientific users ESSA provides some data in dual units-tide predictions are so published. The U.S. Coast Guard stated that in maritime pollution control, measuring instruments and technical activities have used the metric system for years. If there is no national effort toward orderly metric conversion, some of these agencies expect little or no effect. However, the Federal Water Quality Administration (Department of the Interior) stated that continued U.S. use of the customary measurement system will increasingly hinder transfer to the U.S. of technology developed in metric countries. The Agriculture Department anticipates growing cost impacts from evolutionary metrication and increasing difficulties for the Department in performing its pollution control mission. The U.S. Coast Guard foresees some increasing inconvenience. The Tennessee Valley Authority anticipates some recalibration costs, but no real difficulties. Six of these agencies said U.S. adoption of metric usage would improve their effectiveness in the environmental quality field, and three others suggested that metrication would have very little effect on their mission capability. The Federal Power Commission stated that the impact of metrication on pollution control in its area has been negligible so far and "would continue to be so unless there were concerted action to increase use of metric engineering standards,” — leaving it at that. USDA observed that U.S. metrication would result in greater international use of our soil and water conservation practices, and greater U.S. use of other countries' technology. USDA and AEC cited facilitated data processing and calculating activities as expected benefits. ESSA pointed out that after metric conversion, instrument makers would no longer have to produce dual lines of products, and present generally unsatisfactory dual usage would be eliminated. The Environmental Health Service cited possible costs for conversion of existing pollution control equipment and spare parts problems, as well as possible benefits to export sales. The Department of Transportation mentioned the potentiality of improved international cooperation, for example on standards in the ocean pollution and aircraft noise areas. TVA expects reduced likelihood of errors and facilitated reporting and interpretation in scientific articles; TVA's environmental engineers, who do not favor metrication, foresee possible impairment of their work during transition in view of conversion costs for maps and charts and the necessity of dual usage during conversion. Most of these agencies, in respect to their environmental pollution control responsibilities, favor some form of Federal Government action to increase U.S. use of the metric system. The Department of Agriculture, ESSA, USCG, AEC, and TVA all endorse a nationally planned program of metri cation, or otherwise "encouraging early adoption" of the metric system. The Department of the Interior suggested that “Government encourage the efforts of industry to convert," and HUD recommended the Government “encourage increased use of SI." The Environmental Health Service recommended that the Government "encourage metrication of U.S. industrial and engineering standards as they are revised and as new standards are developed," and critically evaluate cost effects of metrication on an industry by industry basis. USDA, alluding to the costs of dual-system operation during transition, urged conversion "as quickly as possible, after thorough development of plans." On the other hand, the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Health Service, doubtless having the problems of equipment conversion in mind, suggested a transition period of 10 to 20 years. Variances of the optimum transition periods for different kinds of activities would have to be considered in developing a national metrication plan. N. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRADE Department of State Bureau of Economic Affairs Department of the Treasury Department of Agriculture (USDA) Department of Commerce Bureau of International Commerce (BIC) In general the metric system is used in less than one-quarter of measurement applications in international affairs and trade, and evolutionary measurement change has had generally little impact on these agencies and their areas of national responsibility. In industrial commodities the U.S. is usually able to provide equipment compatible with metric-based systems where this is a condition of sale, and foreign, metric countries wishing to sell on the U.S. market have usually been able to provide non-metric equipment when necessary. The Department of Agriculture reported that, with the widespread use of dual dimensioning in its international affairs area, between one-quarter and three-quarters of measurement applications are in metric. Use of metric in international trade activities is definitely increasing. More and more statistics for international comparisons and world or regional totals are being published using metric units. Foreign markets and customers are important for U.S. agriculture. Without a national program for orderly U.S. metrication, USDA expects there will be slowly increasing metric usage in this area with continued confusion, increased conversion errors, more problems in meeting other countries' standards, and increasing difficulties in performing its international affairs mission. The Bureau of International Commerce (Department of Commerce) estimates that the competitive position of the U.S. in world trade will probably suffer if the rest of the world continues to "go metric" while the U.S. makes no national effort to do so. This would result from (1) the decline in markets for non-metric goods, and (2) increased competition of metric producing nations in metric markets. The Bureau of Economic Affairs (Department of State) reported its experience that diversity of units of measure or standards among nations acts as a barrier to trade, while uniformity facilitates it. The Bureau believes that “metrication would tend to advance the economic goals of the U.S. and improve well-being in the world at large by removing a 'trade barrier' and encouraging freer flow of goods and services among nations." Most of our export markets are, or soon will be "on" the metric system, and both the relative and absolute importance of these markets are growing constantly. The Treasury Department observed that U.S. metrication would also facilitate imports, but the increase would not be significant. "Given the vast size of the U.S. market, foreign producers presently make the adjustments in their products necessary to sell them in the U.S. under the English (customary) system." It is a consensus of these respondents that the overall impact on the U.S. balance of payments of a harmonized, worldwide measurement system would, if significant, be favorable. The Bureau of International Commerce does feel that imports of metric capital goods might expand temporarily during the transition period. USDA, as in its other activities, favors as short a transition period as feasible, to minimize the confusion and problems of dual usage. BIC suggests the optimum period for transition would depend on the average depreciation period of production equipment for exports. Since machine tools would be the export most affected by the change, the optimum time for conversion would appear to lie between 10 and 20 years. In general these agencies feel that U.S. adoption of metric usage would improve their effectiveness in international affairs and trade. International dealings would be facilitated, and there would be lower costs and fewer errors. USDA believes the Government should initiate action to convert, and lead the country. To facilitate comparisons and bargaining with other countries, "U.S. specific import tariff rates and import quotas (copra, sugar, meat, etc.) should be expressed in metric units." The effects of metrication on this area would be reflected in the balance of trade accounts. However, in view of the many factors influencing exports and imports, it would be difficult to identify specific consequences of metric conversion. USDA suggested that changes in export statistics on specified commodities and packaging might be partial indicators. (The Department noted there have already been instances where a U.S. product was unacceptable to a foreign country because of its packaging in a non-metric size.) O. ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: TAXATION Department of the Treasury Metric measurements are currently used to a limited extent in the taxation field in the U.S. If there is no U.S. program for metric conversion, increasing worldwide and domestic use of metric measures and standards is likely to have little, if any, effect in this field. If a nationally planned program of U.S. metrication is adopted, the department would have to adapt the relevant tax laws, regulations and forms.3 Special attention would be required by specific excise tax rates. In view of the negligible impact of evolutionary measurement usage change on taxation, the Treasury respondents see no need for U.S. action on metrication. 3 See app. 6 Public Law 90-472 An Act To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make a study to determine the advan- 82 STAT. 693 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of Metric system. Commerce is hereby authorized to conduct a program of investigation, Study. research, and survey to determine the impact of increasing worldwide use of the metric system on the United States; to appraise the desirability and practicability of increasing the use of metric weights and measures in the United States; to study the feasibility of retaining and promoting by international use of dimensional and other engineering standards based on the customary measurement units of the United States; and to evaluate the costs and benefits of alternative courses of action which may be feasible for the United States. SEC. 2. In carrying out the program described in the first section of Investigation this Act, the Secretary, among other things, shall and appraisal (1) investigate and appraise the advantages and disadvantages requirements. to the United States in international trade and commerce, and in military and other areas of international relations, of the increased use of an internationally standardized system of weights and measures; (2) appraise economic and military advantages and disadvantages of the increased use of the metric system in the United States or of the increased use of such system in specific fields and the impact of such increased use upon those affected; (3) conduct extensive comparative studies of the systems of weights and measures used in educational, engineering, manufacturing, commercial, public, and scientific areas, and the relative advantages and disadvantages, and degree of standardization of each in its respective field; (4) investigate and appraise the possible practical difficulties which might be encountered in accomplishing the increased use of the metric system of weights and measures generally or in specific fields or areas in the United States; (5) permit appropriate participation by representatives of United States industry, science, engineering, and labor, and their associations, in the planning and conduct of the program authorized by the first section of this Act, and in the evaluation of the information secured under such program; and (6) consult and cooperate with other government agencies, Federal, State, and local, and, to the extent practicable, with foreign governments and international organizations. SEC. 3. In conducting the studies and developing the recommenda- Results of tions required in this Act, the Secretary shall give full consideration to changes in the advantages, disadvantages, and problems associated with possible measurement changes in either the system of measurement units or the related di- system. mensional and engineering standards currently used in the United States, and specifically shall (1) investigate the extent to which substantial changes in the size, shape, and design of important industrial products would be necessary to realize the benefits which might result from general use of metric units of measurement in the United States; (2) investigate the extent to which uniform and accepted engi- SEC. 4. The Secretary shall submit to the Congress such interim Report to SEC. 5. From funds previously appropriated to the Department of Funds. SEC. 6. This Act shall expire thirty days after the submission of the Expiration final report pursuant to section 3. Approved August 9, 1968. date. |