Martin, those channels are well established and are used. The U.S. is a
signatory nation to the Treaty of the Meter and has representation on
the CGPM, CIPM, and various consultative committees (CCs).
When we "interpret" the SI for use in the U.S., that perhaps means
something other than what comes to some folks' minds. Consider it more a
"regionalization" or "nationalization" than an "explanation". This is
where spelling differences, style of indicating the decimal point, etc.
come in. No changes are made to the definitions and realizations of the SI.
The official U.S. interpretation of the SI is found in NIST Special
Publication 330. The Foreword in this document should answer your
questions. See
http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP330/contents.html
Other nations publish similar documents, reflecting their various languages.
Jim
Martin Vlietstra wrote:
May I suggest that this places the onus on the Secretary of Commerce to
contact the CGPM via the appropriate channels should there be an area where
interpretation is required.
There are at least two areas where SI permits local variations - the choice
of decimal delimiter (comma or dot) and the choice of upper or lower case L
for litres. Again, this suggests to me that the Secretary of Commerce can
decide on behalf of the US.
Finally, this suggests to me that the Secretary of Commerce has the power to
require that "metre" and "litre" be spelt to UK way instead of the US way
(not that he would ever do such a thing).
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
Sent: 07 February 2009 01:45
To: U.S. Metric Association
Cc: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:42912] Re: Boston Globe article on Sen. Judd Gregg
The statutory U.S. definition of the SI provides the Secretary of Commerce
can
interpret or modify it for the United States.
Quoting Jeremiah MacGregor <[email protected]>:
Paul,
Why does SI need to be "interpreted and modified"? Isn't the rules
self-explanatory and what possibly would need to be modified? Doesn't
that
interfere with the universality of metrics?
Jerry
________________________________
From: Paul Trusten <[email protected]>
To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 11:03:05 AM
Subject: [USMA:42869] Boston Globe article on Sen. Judd Gregg
After fits and starts in the nomination/confirmation process, New
Hampshire
Senator Judd Gregg is poised to become the next U.S. Secretary of
Commerce.
The Commerce Department includes the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST). Federal law gives the Secretary of Commerce the
authority
to "interpret or modify" the International System of Units for the United
States.
See the Boston Globe at
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/02/04/for_gregg_a
n_unlikely_new_assignment/
Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
Public Relations Director
U.S. Metric Association, Inc.
www.metric.org
3609 Caldera Blvd. Apt. 122
Midland TX 79707-2872 US
+1(432)528-7724
[email protected]
--
Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
Public Relations Director
U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc.
www.metric.org
3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apartment 122
Midland TX 79707-2872 US
+1(432)528-7724
mailto:[email protected]
--
James R. Frysinger
632 Stony Point Mountain Road
Doyle, TN 38559-3030
(C) 931.212.0267
(H) 931.657.3107
(F) 931.657.3108
