Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 1991 / Presidential Documents 35801
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Presidential Documents

Executive Order 12770 of July 25, 1991

Metric Usage in Federal Government Programs

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of
the United States of America, including the Metric Conversion Act of 1975,
Public Law 94-168 (15 U.S.C. 205a et seq.) (“the Metric Conversion Act”), as
amended by section 5164 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of
1988, Public Law 100-418 (“the Trade and Competitiveness Act”), and in order
to implement the congressional designation of the metric system of measure-
ment as the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade
and commerce, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Coordination by the Department of Commerce. (a) The Secretary of
Commerce (“Secretary”) is designated to direct and coordinate efforts by
Federal departments and agencies to implement Government metric usage in
accordance with section 3 of the Metric Conversion Act (15 U.S.C. 205b), as
amended by section 5164(b) of the Trade and Competitiveness Act.

(b) In furtherance of his duties under this order, the Secretary is authorized:

(1) to charter an Interagency Council on Metric Policy (“ICMP”), which will
assist the Secretary in coordinating Federal Government-wide implementation
of this order. Conflicts and questions regarding implementation of this order
shall be resolved by the ICMP. The Secretary may establish such subcommit-
tees and subchairs within this Council as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of this order.

(2) to form such advisory committees representing other interests, including
State and local governments and the business community, as may be neces-
sary to achieve the maximum beneficial effects of this order; and

(3) to issue guidelines, to promulgate rules and regulations, and to take such
actions as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. Regula-
tions promulgated by the Secretary shall function as policy guidelines for
other agencies and departments.

(c) The Secretary shall report to the President annually regarding the progress
made in implementing this order. The report shall include:

(1) an assessment of progress made by individual Federal agencies towards
implementing the purposes underlying this order;

(2) an assessment of the effect that this order has had on achieving the
national goal of establishing the metric system as the preferred system of
weights and measures for United States trade and commerce; and

(3) on October 1, 1992, any recommendations which the Secretary may have

for additional measures, including proposed legislation, needed to achieve the
full economic benefits of metric usage.
Sec. 2. Department and Agency Responsibilities. All executive branch depart-
ments and agencies of the United States Government are directed to take all
appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this
order. Consistent with this mission, the head of each executive department
and agency shall:

(a) use, to the extent economically feasible by September 30, 1992, or by
such other date or dates established by the department or agency in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Commerce, the metric system of measurement in
Federal Government procurements, grants, and other business-related activi-

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Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 1991 / Presidential Documents
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ties. Other business-related activities include all use of measurement units in
agency programs and functions related to trade, industry, and commerce.

(1) Metric usage shall not be required to the extent that such use is impractical
or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to United
States firms.

(2) Heads of departments and agencies shall establish an effective process for
a policy-level and program-level review of proposed exceptions to metric
usage. Appropriate information about exceptions granted shall be included in
the agency annual report along with recommendations for actions to enable
future metric usage.

(b) seek out ways to increase understanding of the metric system of
measurement through educational information and guidance and in Govern-
ment publications. The transition to use of metric units in Government publi-
cations should be made as publications are revised on normal schedules or
new publications are developed, or as metric publications are required in
support of metric usage pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) seek the appropriate aid, assistance, and cooperation of other affected
parties, including other Federal, State, and local agencies and the private
sector, in implementing this order. Appropriate use shall be made of govern-
mental, trade, professional, and private sector metric coordinating groups to
secure the maximum benefits of this order through proper communication
among affected sectors.

(d) formulate metric transition plans for the department or agency which
shall incorporate the requirements of the Metric Conversion Act and this
order, and which shall be approved by the department or agency head and be
in effect by November 30, 1991. Copies of approved plans shall be forwarded
to the Secretary of Commerce. Such metric transition plans shall specify,
among other things:

(1) the total scope of the metric transition task for that department or agency,
including firm dates for all metric accomplishment milestones for the current
and subsequent fiscal year;

(2) plans of the department or agency for specific initiatives to enhance
cooperation with industry, especially small business, as it voluntarily converts
to the metric system, and with all affected parties in undertaking the require-
ments of paragraph (a) of this section; and

(3) specific steps and associated schedules through which the department or
agency will seek to increase understanding of the metric system through
educational information and guidance, and in department or agency publica-
tions.

{e) designate a senior-level official as the Metric Executive for the depart-
ment or agency to assist the head of each executive department or agency in
implementing this order. The responsibilities of the Metric Executive shall
include, but not be limited to:

(1) acting as the department's or agency's policy-level representative to the
ICMP and as a liaison with other government agencies and private sector

groups:

(2) management oversight of department or agency outreach and response to
inquiries and questions from affected parties during the transition to metric
system usage; and

(3) management oversight of preparation of the department's or agency's
metric transition plans and progress reports, including the Annual Metric
Report required by 15 U.S.C. 205) and OMB Circular A-11.

(4) preparation by June 30, 1992, of an assessment of agency progress and
problems, together with recommendations for steps to assure successful imple-
mentation of the Metric Conversion Act. The assessment and recommenda-
tions shall be approved by the head of the department or agency and provided

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Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 1991 / Presidential Documents 35803
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[FR Doc. 91-18028
Filed 7-25-91; 3:06 pm]
Billing code 3195-01-M

to the Secretary by June 30, 1992, for inclusion in the Secretary's October 1,
1992, report on implementation of this order.

Sec. 3. Application of Resources. The head of each executive department and
agency shall be responsible for implementing and applying the necessary
resources to accomplish the goals set forth in the Metric Conversion Act and
this order.

Sec. 4. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve the internal
management of the executive branch and is not intended to create any right or
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by a party against the
United States, its agencies, its officers, or any other person.

But

THE WHITE HOUSE,
July 25, 1991.

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