16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

This publication reports the findings of a survey to ascertain the views of the civilian agencies of the Federal Government on the issues raised by the U.S. Metric Study Act. With regard to internal operations of the Federal agencies, the report covers present metric (International System of Units, or SI) usage and its advantages and disadvantages, expectations of future changes in measurement usage if the U.S. continues its laissez faire policy toward the SI, and attitudes toward a possible nationally coordinated metrication program. In the latter connection, the report contains estimates of added cost or savings impacts on agency internal operating budgets to be expected from a nominally 10-year planned metrication program, both during the transition and thereafter. The survey also assessed the impacts of metric usage and of its increase on the areas of responsibility of the Federal agencies in the society at large (e.g., communications, science and technology, health, labor affairs, international affairs and trade), and on the agencies' interfaces therewith.

17. KEY WORDS (Alphabetical order, separated by semicolons) Federal Government; International System of Units; metric conversion; metric system; metric usage; metrication; metrication, attitudes toward; metrication, costs and benefits of; 'metrication, 'impact of; SI; U.S.

Metric Study

18. AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

X UNLIMITED.

U.S. METRIC SUBSTUDY REPORTS

The results of substudies of the U.S. Metric Study, while being evaluated for the preparation of a comprehensive report to the Congress, are being published in the interim as a series of NBS Special Publications. The titles of the individual reports are listed below.

REPORTS ON SUBSTUDIES

NBS SP345-1:

NBS SP345-2:

NBS SP345-3:

NBS SP345-4:

NBS SP345-5:

International Standards (issued December 1970, SD
Catalog No. C13.10:345-1, price $1.25)

Federal Government: Civilian Agencies (issued
July 1971, SD Catalog No. C13.10:345-2, price
$2.25)

Commercial Weights and Measures (this publica-
tion)

The Manufacturing Industry (issued July 1971,
SD Catalog No. C13.10:345-4, price $1.25)

Nonmanufacturing Businesses (in press)

NBS SP345-8:

NBS SP345-9:

International Trade (in press)

Department of Defense (issued July 1971, SD
Catalog No. C13.10:345-9, price $1.25)

NBS SP345-10: A History of the Metric System Controversy in the
United States (in press)

NBS SP345-11: Engineering Standards (issued July 1971, SD Catalog No. C13.10:345-11. price $2.00)

NBS SP345-12: Testimony of Nationally Representative Groups (in press)

COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE U.S. METRIC STUDY

NBS SP345: To be published in August 1971

Those publications with catalog numbers have already been issued, and may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 for the prices indicated. Add onefourth of the purchase price if the publication ordered is to be sent to a foreign address. Be sure to include the SD Catalog number with your order.