95-27653. Notice of the National Ocean Service's Discontinuation of the Production and Distribution of the Ocean Features Analysis (OFA), Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Analysis, and Surface Feature Tracking (SFT) Analysis as NOS Products

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56319-56320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27653]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Notice of the National Ocean Service's Discontinuation of the 
Production and Distribution of the Ocean Features Analysis (OFA), Sea 
Surface Temperature (SST) Analysis, and Surface Feature Tracking (SFT) 
Analysis as NOS Products

AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National 
Ocean Service is announcing that, effective immediately, NOS is no 
longer producing and distributing the Ocean Features Analysis (OFA), 
Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Analysis, and Surface Feature Tracking 
(SFT) Analysis products.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Richard Barazotto, NOAA/Office of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Silver 
Spring, MD [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since 1975, NOAA/NOS has produced the OFA 
for area covering the East Coast of the U.S. and Gulf of Mexico. The 
graphical analyses were produced five times per week and distributed 
via radio facsimile, subscription facsimile, and autopolling facsimile.
    Since 1993, NOAA/NOS has produced high resolution SST analyses for 
an area covering the East Coast of the U.S. The analyses were produced 
twice per week and distributed via radiofacsimile and autopolling 
facsimile.
    Since 1994, NOAA/NOS has produced SFT analyses for areas covering 
the East Coast of the U.S. and Gulf of Mexico. The analyses were 
produced once per week and distributed via autopolling facsimile. The 
OFA, SST and SFT products were also available via NOS' Ocean Product 
Branch's (OPB) Homepage on the World Wide Web of the Internet.
    Over the past several years, there has been a gradual decrease in 
the funds available to support activities such as the OFA. In FY 1996, 
the budget line item that provides the source of revenue to support the 
production of the OFA and related products will sustain a 33% reduction 
in available funds. Consequently, NOS has terminated the production and 
distribution of OFA, SST and SFT products, effective October 1, 1995. 
In addition to the termination of this product line, the office that 
produces these products, OPB, was disestablished. The termination of 
the OFA and OPB are only two of several painful consequences resulting 
from FY 1995 and FY 1996 budget reductions.
    The primary reason that NOS decided to terminate this suite of 
products, in response to its budget reductions, is that there are 
several government-produced oceanographic analyses, produced for 
different missions, that can be made available to the public as 
replacements for the OPB's products. For example, the Naval 
Oceanographic Office produces an OFA to satisfy its warfighting mission 
needs, and the National Hurricane Center produces both OFA and SST 
analyses to satisfy its life and property hurricane warning and 
forecast mission. A secondary consideration was the concern expressed 
by private sector organizations that these analysis products competed 
with value-added services and products that are produced and 
distributed for profit.
    Although NOS will terminate this product line, Attachment 1 lists 
those government offices that currently either produce or distribute 
similar or related products. In addition, there are several private 
sector value-added companies that have related products and/or 
services. Attachment 2 lists private sector companies known to NOS that 
provide oceanographic value-added services and/or products.
    NOS is publishing this notice consistent with section 8a(6)(j) of 
Office 

[[Page 56320]]
of Management and Budget Circular A-130. Anyone with questions or 
comments regarding the above subject or private printers and 
distributors wishing more information should write, fax or e-mail to: 
NOAA, National Ocean Service Attn: Office of Ocean and Earth Sciences, 
N/OES, 1305 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910, fax 301-713-
4392.

    Dated: October 31, 1995.
David Evans,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal 
Zone Management.

Attachment (1)--Known Alternative Government Sources of Ocean Analysis 
Information

1. Sea Surface Temperature--global, regional, local at various 
resolutions depending on location (14km, 50km, and 100km)
    NOAA/NESDIS, 4401 Suitland Road, Room 2039, Suitland Federal 
Center, FOB #4, Suitland, MD 20233-0001, Point of Contact: Mr. John 
Sapper [phone]
    National Hurricane Center, 11691 S.W. 17th Street, Miami, FL 
33165-2149, Point of Contact: Dr. Steven Baig [phone]
    Weather Service Forecast Office, 21 Grace Hopper Avenue, Stop 5, 
Monterey, CA 93943-5505, Point of Contact: Mr. Ernest Daghir (408) 
656-1716
2. Ocean Thermal Structure Analysis (Ocean Features Analysis) for 
various areas such as Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Stream, etc.
    Naval Atlantic Meteorology and Oceanography Center, 9141 Third 
Avenue, Naval Air Station, Norfolk, VA 23511-2394, Point of Contact: 
Mr. Chuck Weigand [phone], (Product available via radio 
facsimile)
    Naval Oceanographic Office (Code N2211), 1002 Balch Boulevard, 
Stennis Space Center, MS 39522, Point of Contact: Mr. Tom Sandidge 
[phone]
    National Hurricane Center, 11691 S.W. 17th Street, Miami, FL 
33165, Point of Contact: Dr. Steven Baig [phone], Fax (305) 
229-9901
3. Retrospective Ocean Thermal Structure Analysis and Sea Surface 
Temperature Analysis for various areas and resolutions globally, 
regionally, and locally.
    NOAA/NESDIS, National Climatic Data Center, Federal Building, 
Asheville, NC 28801, Point of Contact: Mr. Tom Ross [phone] 
ext 181

Attachment (2)--Value-Added Companies Known to NOS That Provide 
Oceanographic Products

(Should NOS become aware of additional sources, they will be 
identified in future announcements)

1. Weather and Marine USA Limited, 5049 Garfield Street N.W., 
Washington, DC 20016-3450, Attn: Dr. Lee Houchins [phone]
2. Weather Services Incorporated, 131A The Great Road, P.O. Box 890, 
Bedford, MA 01730, Attn: Mr. Ken Campbell [phone]
3. Bob Rice's Weather Window, 842 Sterling Road, Lancaster, MA 
01523, Attn: Mr. Bob Rice [phone]
4. Offshore Services, 339 Herbertville Road, Bricktown, NJ 08724, 
Attn: Mr. Lenny Belcaro [phone]
5. Ocean Imaging, 201 Lomas Sante Fe Drive, Suite 370, Solana Beach, 
CA 92075, Attn: Mr. Mark Hess [phone]
6. Sea Space, 9240 Trade Place, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92126, 
Attn: Dr. Robert Bernstein [phone]
7. ROFFS Ocean Fishing, 2871 S.W. 69th Court, Miami, FL 33155, Attn: 
Dr. Mitch Roffer [phone] or [phone]
8. Gulf Weather Corporation, MTTC Building 1103, Stennis Space 
Center, MS 39529, Attn: Mr. Frank Schatzle [phone]

[FR Doc. 95-27653 Filed 11-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M