[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 131 (Friday, July 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37105-37106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17408]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 990624172-9172-01]
National Weather Service Modernization and Associated
Restructuring
AGENCY: National Weather Service (NWS), NOAA, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice and opportunity for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The NWS publishes notice of proposed certifications for the
consolidation, automation, and closure of several Weather Service
Offices (WSO) and Fire Weather Offices (FWO). Notice is given of a
proposed certification for the automation and closure of the Los
Angeles, Aviation WSO which will be automated at Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) Weather Observation Service Level A and have its
services consolidated into the Los Angeles Forecast Office. Notice is
also given of proposed certifications for the consolidation,
automation, and closure of the Redding WSO and FWO which will be
automated at FAA Weather Observation Service Level C and have its
services consolidated into the Sacramento and Eureka, California; Reno,
Nevada; and Medford, Oregon Forecast Offices. Finally, notice is given
of a proposed certification for the closure of the Riverside,
California FWO with services being provided by the San Diego and Los
Angeles, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Phoenix, Arizona Forecast
Offices.
DATES: Comments are requested to be mailed by September 7, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of proposed certification packages
should be sent to Tom Beaver, Room 11426, 1325 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3283, telephone 301-713-0300. All
comments should be sent to Tom Beaver at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Beaver at 301-713-0300 extension
141.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 706 of Pub. L. 102-567,
the Secretary of Commerce must certify that consolidation, automation,
and/or closure of a NWS field office will not result in a degradation
of service to the affected area of responsibility and must propose such
certifications in the FR for 60-days public comment. Notice is given of
a proposed certification for the automation and closure of the Los
Angeles, Aviation WSO which will be automated at Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) Weather Observation Service Level A and have its
services consolidated into the Los Angeles Forecast Office. Notice is
also given of proposed certifications for the consolidation,
automation, and closure of the Redding WSO and FWO which will be
automated at FAA Weather Observation Service Level C and have its
services consolidated into the Sacramento and Eureka, California; Reno,
Nevada; and Medford, Oregon Forecast Offices. Finally, notice is given
of a proposed certification for the closure of the Riverside,
California FWO with services being provided by the San Diego and Los
Angeles, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Phoenix, Arizona Forecast
Offices. Documentation supporting these proposed certifications
includes the following:
For all certifications:
(1) A draft memorandum by the meteorologist in charge recommending
the certification, the final of which will be concurred with 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 services provided within the service area to
services to be provided after such action;
(4) A description of any recent or expected modernization of NWS
operations 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 Doppler weather surveillance radar network (WSR-88D); and
[[Page 37106]]
(6) A letter appointing a liaison officer for the action.
For consolidation certifications: evidence, based upon operational
demonstration of modernized NWS operations, which was considered in
reaching the conclusion that no degradation in service would result
from such action, including the WSR-88D Radar Commissioning Report,
User Confirmation of Services Report, and the Decommissioning Readiness
Report.
For automation certification:
(1) 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
Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) commissioning report;
(2) A series of three letters between NWS and FAA confirming
weather services will continue in full compliance with applicable
flight aviation rules after ASOS commissioning;
(3) Surface Aviation Observation Transition Checklist documenting
transfer of augmentation and back-up responsibility from NWS to FAA;
(4) Successful resolution of ASOS user confirmation of services
complaints; and
(5) An in-place supplementary data program at the responsible
forecast office.
For closure certifications:
(1) Where appropriate, warning and forecast verification statistics
for pre-modernized and modernized services utilized in determining
services have not been degraded; and
(2) An Air Safety Appraisal for offices which are located on an
airport.
For the proposed certifications covered by this notice, there is no
report of the Committee. The Committee has the option to submit a
report in accordance with sections 706(b)(6) and 707(c) of Pub. L. 102-
567. In December 1995, the Committee decided to forego the optional
consultation on proposed certifications. Instead, the Committee decided
to review certifications only after the public comment period closes so
that its consultation includes the benefit of all public comments
received. This notice does not publish the complete certification
packages because they are too voluminous. Copies of the complete
certification packages and supporting documentation can be obtained
from the contact listed above.
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 certification. If a decision to certify is made,
the Secretary of Commerce must publish final certifications in the FR
and transmit the certifications to the appropriate congressional
committees prior to consolidating, automating, and closing the office.
John J. Kelly, Jr.,
Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.
[FR Doc. 99-17408 Filed 7-8-99; 8:45 am]
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