[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52491-52492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25287]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 990921259-9259-01]
Subject: National Weather Service (NWS) Modernization and
Associated Restructuring
AGENCY: 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 the:
(1) Erie, Pennsylvania, Weather Service Office (WSO) which will be
automated at Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Weather Observation
Service Level C and have its services consolidated into the Cleveland,
Ohio, and the Pittsburgh and Central Pennsylvania Forecast Offices; and
(2) Fairbanks, Alaska, WSO which will be automated at FAA Weather
Observation Service Level A and have its services consolidated into the
Fairbanks forecast office.
DATES: comments are requested to be mailed by November 29, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send all comments and requests for copies of proposed
certification packages to Tom Beaver, Room 11426, 1325 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3283.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Beaver at 301-713-0300 extension
136.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 706 of Pub. L. 102-567,
the Secretary of Commerce must certify that consolidation, automation,
and closure of an 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. Having studied and
evaluated the winter weather forecast capabilities and requirements to
ensure no degradation of service to the Erie, Pennsylvania, service
area, the NWS determined removal of the WSR-74C radar would cause a
degradation of service for some lake-effect snow events. Accordingly,
NWS will continue operating the WSR-74C radar at Erie during the winter
season until a new FAA radar is installed at the Erie airport in 2001
and suitability of weather data from the FAA radar is validated by the
NWS in consultation with users. The described actions to be undertaken
by the NWS will prevent any degradation from occurring and, thus,
notice is given of the proposed consolidation, automation, and closure
of the Erie, Pennsylvania, WSO which will be automated at FAA Weather
Observation Service Level C and have its services consolidated into the
Cleveland, Ohio, and the Pittsburgh and Central Pennsylvania Forecast
Offices.
The Fairbanks forecast office is now collocated with the University
of Alaska at Fairbanks. Having transitioned all services to the
Fairbanks forecast office and having verified no degradation of
service, notice is given of the proposed consolidation, automation, and
closure of the Fairbanks, Alaska, WSO which will be automated at FAA
Weather Observation Service Level A and have the remainder of its
services consolidated into the Fairbanks forecast office.
Documentation supporting each of these proposed certifications
includes the following:
(1) A draft memorandum by the meteorologist in charge recommending
the certifications, 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 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);
(6) Evidence, based upon operational demonstration of modernized
NWS operations, which was considered in reaching the preliminary
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, where appropriate;
(7) Evidence, based upon operational demonstration of modernized
NWS operations, which was considered in reaching the preliminary
conclusion that no degradation in service will result from such action,
including the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) commissioning
report;
(8) Three letters between NWS and FAA confirming weather services
will continue in full compliance with applicable flight aviation rules
after ASOS commissioning;
(9) Surface Aviation Observation Transition Checklist documenting
transfer of augmentation and back-up responsibility from NWS to FAA;
(10) Demonstration of the successful resolution of any ASOS user
confirmation of services complaints;
(11) Documentation of an in-place supplementary data program at the
responsible forecast office;
(12) Where appropriate, warning and forecast verification
statistics for pre-modernized and modernized services utilized in
determining services have not been degraded;
(13) An Air Safety Appraisal for offices on an airport; and
(14) A letter appointing a liaison officer for the action.
Section 706 of Pub. L. 102-567 establishes the Modernization
Transition Committee to advise the Secretary of Commerce on proposed
modernization actions. The Committee has the option to submit a report
to the Secretary in accordance with sections 706(b)(6) and 707(c) of
Pub. L. 102-567. For the proposed certifications covered by this
notice, there is no report of the Committee. In December 1995, the
Committee decided to forego the
[[Page 52492]]
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
certification packages can be obtained from the contact listed above.
Once 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 final decision to certify an
office is made, the Secretary of Commerce must publish final
certifications in the FR and transmit them to the appropriate
congressional committees prior to consolidating, automating, and
closing the office.
Dated: September 23, 1999.
Irwin T. David,
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer National Weather
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25287 Filed 9-28-99; 8:45 am]
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