[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 122 (Monday, June 26, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32943-32945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15511]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service Modernization and Associated
Restructuring; Notice and Opportunity for Public Comment
SUMMARY: The National Weather Service (NWS) is publishing proposed
certifications for:
(1) The proposed consolidation of the Galveston Weather Service
Office (WSO) into the future Houston/Galveston Weather Forecast Office
(WFO); and
(2) The proposed consolidation of the residual Los Angeles WSO into
the future Los Angeles WFO.
In accordance with Pub. Law 102-567, the public will have 60 days
in which to comment on these proposed certifications.
DATES: Comments are requested by August 25, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the proposed consolidation packages
should be sent to Janet Gilmer, Room 12316, 1325 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone 301-713-0276. All comments should be
sent to Janet Gilmer at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Julie Scanlon at 301-713-1413.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NWS anticipates consolidating:
(1) The Galveston WSO with the future Houston/Galveston WFO, and
(2) The residual Los Angeles WSO with the future Los Angeles WFO.
In accordance with section 706 of Pub. Law 102-567, the Secretary
of Commerce must certify that these consolidations will not result in
any degradation of service to the affected areas of responsibility and
must publish the proposed consolidation certifications in the FR. The
documentation supporting each proposed certification includes the
following:
(1) A draft memorandum by the meteorologist-in-charge recommending
the certification, the final of which will be endorsed by the Regional
Director and the Assistant Administrator of the NWS if appropriate,
after consideration of public comments and completion of consultation
with the Modernization Transition Committee (the Committee);
(2) A description of local weather characteristics and weather-
related concerns which affect the weather services provided within the
service area;
(3) A comparison of the services provided within the service area
and the services to be provided after such action;
(4) A description of any recent or expected modernization of NWS
operation which will enhance services in the service area;
(5) An identification of any area within the affected service area
which would not receive coverage (at an elevation of 10,000 feet) by
the next generation weather radar network;
(6) Evidence, based upon operational demonstration of modernized
NWS operations, which was considered in reaching the conclusion that no
degradation in service will result from such action including the WSR-
88D Radar Commissioning Report, User Confirmation of Services Report,
and the Decommissioning Readiness Report; and
(7) A letter appointing the liaison officer.
These proposed certifications do not include any report of the
Committee which could be submitted in accordance with sections
706(b)(6) and 707(c) of Public Law 102-567. At its June 14, 1995
meeting the Committee concluded that the information presented did not
reveal any potential degradation of service and decided not to issue a
report. The Committee did offer several recommendations on these
proposed certifications, which are attached to this notice.
The documentation supporting the proposed certifications is too
voluminous to publish in its entirety. Copies of the supporting
documentation can be obtained through the contact listed above.
Attached to this notice are:
(1) Draft memoranda by the respective meteorologists-in-charge
recommending the certifications, and
(2) Recommendations of the Committee on these proposed
certifications.
Once all public comments have been received and considered, the NWS
will complete consultation with the Committee and determine whether to
proceed with the final certifications. If decisions to certify are
made, the Secretary of Commerce must publish the final certifications
in the FR and transmit the certifications to the appropriate
Congressional committees prior to consolidating the offices.
Dated: June 20, 1995.
Nicholas R. Scheller,
National Implementation Staff.
Memorandum for: Harry S. Hassel, Director, Southern Region
From: Bill Read, MIC, NWSO Houston/Galveston
Subject: Recommendation for Consolidation Certification
After reviewing the attached documentation, I have determined,
in my professional judgment, consolidation of the Galveston Weather
Service Office (WSO) with the future Houston/Galveston Weather
Forecast Offices (WFO) will not result in any degradation in weather
services to the Galveston service area. This proposed certification
is in accordance with the advance notification provided in the
National Implementation Plan. Accordingly, I am recommending you
approve this action in accordance with section 706 of Public Law
102-567 . If you concur, please endorse this recommendation and
forward this package to the Assistant Administrator for Weather
Services for final certification. If Dr. Friday approves, he will
forward the certification to the Secretary for approval and
transmittal to Congress.
My recommendation is based on my review of the pertinent
evidence and application of the modernization criteria for
consolidation of a field office. In summary: [[Page 32944]]
1. A description of local weather characteristics and weather-
related concerns affecting the weather services provided in the
Galveston service area is included as attachment A. As discussed
below, I find that providing the services which address these
characteristics and concerns from Houston/Galveston WFO will not
degrade these services.
2. A detailed list of the services currently provided within the
Galveston service area from the Galveston WSO location and a list of
services to be provided from the Houston/Galveston WFO location
after consolidation is included as attachment B. Comparison of these
services shows that all services currently provided will continue to
be provided after the proposed consolidation. Also, the enclosed map
shows the WSO Galveston Area of Responsibility (i.e. ``Affected
Service Area'' and the future WFO Houston/Galveston Area of
Responsibility. As discussed below, I find that there will be no
degradation in the quality of these services as a result of the
consolidation.
3. A description of the recent or expected modernization of
National Weather Service (NWS) operations which will enhance
services in the WSO Galveston service area is included as attachment
C. The new technology (i.e. ASOS, WSR-88D, and AWIPS) has or will be
installed and will enhance services.
4. A map showing planned NEXRAD coverage at an elevation of
10,000 feet for Texas is included as attachment D. NWS operational
radar coverage for the Galveston service area will be increased and
no area will be missed in coverage.
5. The following evidence, based upon operational demonstration
of modernized NWS operations played a key role in concluding there
will be no degradation of service.
A. The WSR-88D RADAR Commissioning Report, attachment E,
validates that the WSR-88D meets technical specifications
(acceptance test); is fully operational (satisfactory operation of
system interfaces and satisfactory support of associated NWS
forecasting and warning services); service backup capabilities are
functioning properly; a full set of operations and maintenance
documentation is available; and spare parts and test equipment and
trained operations and maintenance personnel are available on site.
Training was completed but two national work-arounds remain in
effect.
B. The User Confirmation of Services, attachment F, documents
that only two negative comments were received. Both of the negative
comments have been answered to the satisfaction of the commentors as
stated in the service Confirmation Report.
C. The Decommissioning Readiness Report, attachment G, verifies
that the existing Galveston WSR-57 radar is no longer needed to
support services or products for local office operations.
6. A memorandum assigning the liaison officer for the Galveston
service area is included as attachment H.
I have considered recommendations of the Modernization
Transition Committee (attachment 1) and the ______ public comments
received during the comment period (attachment J). On __________,
the Committee voted to endorse the proposed consolidation
(attachment K). I believe all negative comments have been addressed
to the satisfaction of our customers and I continue to recommend
this certification.
Endorsement
I Harry S. Hassel, Director, Southern Region, endorse this
consolidation certification.
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Harry S. Hassel
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Date
Attachments
May 23, 1995.
Memorandum for: Thomas D. Potter, Director, Western Region
From: Todd Morris, AM/MIC, NWSFO Los Angeles
Subject: Recommendation for Consolidation Certification
A change of operations occurred at the Los Angeles Weather
Service Forecast Office (WSFO) in October 1993 when most personnel
were transferred to the facility of the future Los Angeles Weather
Forecast Office (WFO) in Oxnard, California to operate the WSR-88D
and assume forecast and warning responsibility for the Los Angeles
service area. At the same time this office has been designated a
Residual Weather Service Office (RWSO) at the original WSFO location
to continue operating the existing WSR-74C radar.
After reviewing the attached documentation, I have determined,
in my professional judgement, consolidation of the Los Angeles
Residual Weather Service Office (RWSO) with the future Los Angeles/
Oxnard Weather Forecast Office (WFO) will not result in any
degradation in weather services to the Los Angeles service area.
This proposed certification is in accordance with the advance
notification provided in the National Implementation Plan.
Accordingly, I am recommending that you approve this action in
accordance with section 706 of Public Law 102-567. If you concur,
please endorse this recommendation and forward this package to the
Assistant Administrator for Weather Services for final
certification. If Dr. Friday approves, he will forward the
certification to the Secretary for approval and transmittal to
Congress.
My recommendation is based on my review of the pertinent
evidence and application of the modernization criteria for
consolidation of a field office. In summary:
1. A description of local weather characteristics and weather-
related concerns affecting the weather services provided in the pre-
modernized Los Angeles service area is included as attachment A. As
discussed below, I find that providing the services which address
these characteristics and concerns from the Los Angeles/Oxnard WFO
will not degrade these services.
2. A detailed list of the services currently provided from the
Los Angeles RWSO location and comparable services to be provided
from the Los Angeles/Oxnard WFO location after consolidation is
included as attachment B. Comparison of these services shows that
all services currently provided will continue to be provided after
the proposed consolidation. I find that there will be no degradation
in the quality of these services as a result of the consolidation.
3. A description of the recent or expected modernization of
National Weather Service (NWS) operations which will enhance
services in the pre-modernized Los Angeles service area is included
as attachment C. The new technology (i.e. ASOS, WSR-88D, and AWIPS)
has or will be installed and will enhance services.
4. A map showing planned NEXRAD coverage at an elevation of
10,000 feet for California is included as attachment D. NWS
operational radar coverage for the Los Angeles service area will be
vastly increased and will not degrade services.
It should be noted that neither the old Radar network nor the
NEXRAD include coverage of a small mountainous area in the northeast
corner of the service area. Therefore this does not represent a
degradation of Radar coverage or services.
5. The following evidence, based upon operational demonstration
of modernized NWS operations, played a key role in concluding there
will be no degradation of service.
A. The WSR-88D RADAR Commissioning Report, attachment E,
validates that the WSR-88D meets technical specifications
(acceptance test); is fully operational (satisfactory operation of
system interfaces and satisfactory support of associated NWS
forecasting and warning services); service backup capabilities are
functioning properly; a full set of operations and maintenance
documentation is available; and spare parts and test equipment and
trained operations and maintenance personnel are available on site.
Training was completed. There were two national work-arounds. One of
these has been satisfied while the other one remains in effect.
B. The User Confirmation of Services, attachment F, documents
that only two negative comments were received. Both of the negative
comments have been answered to the satisfaction of the commentors as
stated in the service Confirmation Report.
C. The Decommissioning Readiness Report, attachment G, verifies
that the existing Los Angeles WSR-74C radar is no longer needed to
support services or products for local office operations.
6. A memorandum assigning the liaison officer for the Los
Angeles service area is included as attachment H.
I have considered recommendations of the Modernization
Transition Committee (attachment I) and the ______ public comments
received during the comment period (attachment J). On __________ the
Committee voted to endorse the proposed consolidation (attachment
K). I believe all negative comments have been addressed to the
satisfaction of our customers and I continue to recommend this
certification.
Endorsement
I, Thomas D. Potter, Director, Western Region, endorse this
consolidation certification.
[[Page 32945]] ------------------------------------------------------
Thomas D. Potter
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Date
Attachments
Modernization Transition Committee
Completion of Initial Consultation on Proposed Consolidation for
Galveston and Los Angeles
The Modernization Transition Committee (MTC) has reviewed the
consolidation certifications for the Houston/Galveston and Los Angeles/
Oxnard consolidations and has determined that these actions will not
result in degradation of services. In fact, contrary to the degradation
of service, the Committee has concluded that these consolidations have
improved the levels of service in these areas.
In addition, the committee makes the following recommendations to
further improve, and maintain such levels of service:
(1) Continue to improve precipitation data assimilation and
analysis capabilities.
(2) The Los Angeles/Oxnard WFO local weather description summary
should include reference to weather related threats to public safety
such as fire and mudslides.
(3) The Los Angeles/Oxnard WFO should implement a program of
nonstructural mitigation to minimize the effects of earthquakes and
other collapsed structure incidents on the provision of weather
forecasting services.
Dated: June 14, 1995.
Peter R. Leavitt,
Chair, Modernization Transition Committee.
[FR Doc. 95-15511 Filed 6-23-95; 8:45 am]
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