Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 4 / Tuesday, January 7, 1997 / Notices 983

National Weather Service

Modernization and Associated

Restructuring

AGENCY: National Weather Service

(NWS), NOAA, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and opportunity for

public comment.

SUMMARY: The NWS is publishing

proposed certifications for the

consolidation, automation, and closure

of the following Weather Service offices

at the indicated FAA Weather

Observation Service Level:

(1) Fargo Weather Service Office

(WSO) which will be automated at FAA

Weather Observation Service Level C

and have its services consolidated into

the future Eastern North Dakota,

Bismarck, Aberdeen, and Minneapolis

Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs);

(2) Muskegon WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level B and have its services

consolidated into the future Grand

Rapids and North Central Lower

Michigan WFOs;

(3) Residual Rapid City WSO which

will be automated at FAA Weather

Observation Service Level C and have

its services consolidated into the future

Rapid City WFO;

(4) Springfield WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level C and have its services

consolidated into the future Central

Illinois and St. Louis WFOs;

(5) Asheville WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level C and have its services

consolidated into the future Greenville/

Spartanburg, Knoxville/Tri-Cities, and

Roanoke WFOs;

(6) Cincinnati WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level A and have its services

consolidated into the future Cincinnati

WFO;

(7) Greensboro WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level A and have its services

consolidated into the future Raleigh/

Durham, Greenville/Spartanburg, and

Roanoke WFOs;

(8) Augusta WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level C and have its services

consolidated into the future Columbia,

Charleston, and Atlanta WFOs;

(9) Meridian WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level C and have its services

consolidated into the future Jackson,

Mobile, and Birmingham WFOs;

(10) Savannah WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level B and have its services

consolidated into the future Charleston,

Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Atlanta

WFOs; and

(11) Lewiston WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level C and have its services

consolidated into the future Spokane,

Pendleton, and Missoula WFOs.

In accordance with Pub. Law 102–

567, the public will have 60-days in

which to comment on these proposed

consolidation, automation, and closure

certifications.

DATES: Comments are requested by

March 10, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the

proposed consolidation, automation and

closure packages should be sent to Tom

Beaver, Room 09356, 1325 East-West

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910,

telephone 301–713–0300. all comments

should be sent to Tom Beaver at the

above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie

Scanlon at 301–713–1698 ext 151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In

accordance with section 706 of Pub.

Law 102–567, the Secretary of

Commerce must certify that these

consolidations, automations, and

closures will not result in any

degradation of service to the affected

areas of responsibility and must publish

the proposed consolidation, automation,

and closure certification in the FR. The

documentation supporting each

proposed certification includes the

following:

(1) A draft memorandum by the

meteorologist(s)-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(s), User

Confirmation of Services Report(s), and

the Decommissioning Readiness Report

(as applicable);

(7) 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 ASOS

Commissioning Report; series of three

letters between NWS and FAA

confirming that weather services will

continue in full compliance with

applicable flight aviation rules after

ASOS commissioning; Surface Aviation

Observation Transition Checklist

documenting transfer of augmentation

and backup responsibility from NWS to

FAA; successful resolution of ASOS

user confirmation of services

complaints; and an in-place

supplementary data program at the

responsible WFO(s);

(8) Warning and forecast verification

statistics for pre-modernized and

modernized service which were utilized

in determining that services have not

been degraded;

(9) An Air Safety Appraisal for offices

which are located on an airport; and

(10) 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

Pub. Law 102–567. In December 1995

the Committee decided that, in general,

they would forego the optional

consultation on proposed certification.

Instead, the Committee would just

review certification after the public

comment period had closed so their

consultation would be with the benefit

of public comments that had been

submitted.

This notice does not include the

complete certification packages because

they are too voluminous to publish.

Copies of the certification packages and

supporting documentation can be

obtained through the contact listed

above.

Once all public comment 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 the final

certification in the FR and transmit the

certification to the appropriate

Congressional committees prior to

consolidating, automating, and closing

these offices.
984 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 4 / Tuesday, January 7, 1997 / Notices

Dated: December 31, 1996.

Elbert W. Friday, Jr.,

Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.

[FR Doc. 97–225 Filed 1–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–12–M

National Weather Service

Modernization and Associated

Restructuring

AGENCY: National Weather Service

(NWS), NOAA, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and opportunity for

public comment.

SUMMARY: The National Weather Service

(NWS) is publishing proposed

certifications for the proposed

consolidations and closures of:

(1) Omaha Residual Weather Service

Office (RWSO) which will have its

services consolidated into the future

Omaha Weather Forecast Office (WFO);

and

(2) Sacramento RWSO which will

have its services consolidated into the

future Sacramento WFO. In accordance

with Pub. Law 102–567, the public will

have 60-days in which to comment on

these proposed consolidation and

closure certifications.

DATES: Comments are requested by

March 10, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the

proposed consolidation and closure

packages should be sent to Tom Beaver,

Room 09356, 1325 East-West Highway,

Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone

301–713–0300. All comments should be

sent to Tom Beaver at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Julie Scanlon at 301–713–1698 ext 151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In

accordance with section 706 of Pub.

Law 102–567, the Secretary of

Commerce must certify that these

consolidations and closures will not

result in any degradation of service to

the affected areas of responsibility and

must publish the proposed

consolidation and closure 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(s), User

Confirmation of Services Report(s), and

the Decommissioning Readiness Report

(as applicable);

(7) Warning and forecast verification

statistics for pre-modernized and

modernized services which were

utilized in determining that services

have not been degraded;

(8) An Air Safety Appraisal, if

applicable, for offices which are located

on an airport; and

(9) 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

Pub. Law 102–567. In December 1995

the Committee decided that, in general,

they would forego the optional

consultation on proposed certifications.

Instead, the Committee would just

review certifications after the public

comment period had closed so their

consultation would be with the benefit

of public comments that had been

submitted.

This notice does not include the

complete certification packages because

they are too voluminous to publish.

Copies of the certification packages and

supporting documentation can be

obtained through 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 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 and closing the

offices.

Dated: December 31, 1996.

Elbert W. Friday, Jr.,

Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.

[FR Doc. 97–226 Filed 1–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–12–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. EG97–16–000]

Amoco Power Finance (BVI) Limited;

Notice of Amendment to Application

for Commission Determination of

Exempt Wholesale Generator Status

December 31, 1996.

Take notice that on December 19,

1996, Amoco Power Finance (BVI)

Limited tendered for filing an

amendment to its application for

exempt wholesale generator status filed

in the above-referenced docket on

November 8, 1996.

Any person desiring to be heard

concerning the amendment to the

Application should file a motion to

intervene or comments with the Federal

Energy Regulatory Commission, 888

First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.

20426, in accordance with Rules 211

and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of

Practice and Procedure. The

Commission will limit its consideration

of comments to those that concern the

adequacy or accuracy of the application.

All such motions and comments should

be filed on or before January 10, 1997

and must be served on the Applicant.

Any person wishing to become a party

must file a motion to intervene. Copies

of this filing are on file with the

Commission and are available for public

inspection.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–205 Filed 1–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

[Docket No. GT97–16–000]

Columbia Gas Transmission

Corporation; Notice of Proposed

Changes in FERC Gas Tariff

December 31, 1996.

Take notice that on December 20,

1996, Columbia Gas Transmission

Corporation (Columbia) tendered for

filing Attachment A to the filing which

details, by customer, the historical load

factors calculated using total firm

entitlements for the 12-month period

ended October 31, 1996. Columbia

proposes to charge its firm customers

the GRI demand rate indicated by these