Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices 51645

(8) Valentine, NE WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and with services being

provided by the future North Platte

WFO;

(9) Victoria, TX WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and with services being

provided by the future Corpus Christi,

Austin/San Antonio, and Houston/

Galveston WFOs;

(10) Wichita Falls, TX WSO which

will be automated at FAA Weather

Observation Service Level D and with

services being provided by the future

Oklahoma City and Dallas/Fort Worth

WFOs; and

(11) Winnemucca, NV WSO which

will be automated at FAA Weather

Observation Service Level D and with

services being provided by the future

Elko WFO.

In accordance with Public Law 102–

567, the public will have 60-day in

which to comment on these proposed

automation and closure certifications.

DATES: Comments are requested by

December 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the

proposes automation and closure

packages should be sent to Tom Beaver,

Room 11426, 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:

Tom Beaver at 301–713–0300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In

accordance with section 706 of Pub. L.

102–567, the Secretary of Commerce

must certify that these automations and

closures will not result in any

degradation of service to the affected

areas of responsibility and must publish

the proposed automation and closure

certifications 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 ASOS

Commissioning Report; services 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, where

required, documenting transfer of

augmentation and backup responsibility

from NWS to FAA; successful resolution

of ASOS users confirmation of services

complaints; and an in-place

supplementary data program at the

responsible WFO(s);

(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 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. L. 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 pubic

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 certification. At

the June 25, 1997 and the September 24,

1997 MTC meetings the Committee

stated that its endorsement of

certifications is ‘‘subject to the following

qualification:

(1) The number of trained staff in each

modernized field office meets staffing

requirements as established by the

modernization criteria and documented

in the National Implementation Plan

and the Human Resources Plan (WBS

1100). Delays in training or failure to fill

required positions will increase the risk

of degradation of service;

(2) The availability of operational

systems in each modernized field office

meets requirements as established by

the modernization criteria and

documented in the System

Commissioning and Support Function

Demonstration Plans; and

(3) The operational and

administrative infrastructures and

technical development needed to

support the modernized field offices be

maintained as required by the

modernization plan.’’ It is expected that

these qualifications can be met for the

above proposed certifications. If these

qualifications can not be met prior to

the December MTC meeting, these

proposed certifications may or may not

be presented to the Committee. 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

automating and closing these offices.

Dated: September 26, 1997.

Robert S. Winokur,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Weather

Services.

[FR Doc. 97–26128 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–12–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

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 a

proposed certification for the

automation of the Williston, ND,

Weather Service Office which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and with services being

provided by the future Bismarck

Weather Forecast Office (WFO).

In accordance with Pub. L. 102–567,

the public will have 60 days in which

to comment on this proposed

automation certification.
51646 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices

DATES: Comments are requested by

December 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the

proposed automation package should be

sent to Tom Beaver, Room 11426, 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: Tom

Beaver at 301–713–0300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In

accordance with section 706 of Pub. L.

102–567, the Secretary of Commerce

must certify that this automation will

not result in any degradation of service

to the affected area of responsibility and

must publish the proposed automation

certification in the Federal Register.

The documentation supporting the

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 services provided

in 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 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; successful

resolution of ASOS user confirmation of

services complaints; and an in-place

supplementary data program at the

responsible WFO; and

(7) a letter appointing the liaison

officer.

This proposed certification does 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. 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 package because

it is too voluminous to publish. Copies

of the certification package 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 certification. At

the June 25, and September 24, 1997

MTC meetings the Committee stated

that its endorsement of certifications is

‘‘subject to the following qualifications:

(1) The number of trained staff in each

modernized field office meets staffing

requirements as established by the

modernization criteria and documented

in the National Implementation Plan

and the Human Resources Plan (WBS

1100). Delays in training or failure to fill

required positions will increase the risk

of degradation of service;

(2) The availability of operational

systems in each modernized field office

meets requirements as established by

the modernization criteria and

documented in the System

Commissioning and Support Function

Demonstration Plans; and

(3) The operational and

administrative infrastructures and

technical development needed to

support the modernized field offices be

maintained as required by the

modernization plan.’’ It is expected that

these qualifications can be met for this

proposed certification. If the

qualifications can not be met prior to

the December MTC meeting, this

proposed certification may or may not

be presented to the Committee.

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

automating this office.

Dated: September 26, 1997.

Robert S. Winokur,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Weather

Services.

[FR Doc. 97–26129 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–12–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 092497A]

Marine Mammals

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Denial of public display permit

(PHF870–1391)

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

the National Marine Fisheries Service

has denied issuance of a permit to M &

M Amusement Park to import marine

mammals for public display purposes.

ADDRESSES: Documents submitted in

connection with the above application

are available for review upon written

request or by appointment in the

following office(s):

Permits and Documentation Division,

F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources,

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room

13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/

713–2289); and

Regional Administrator, Southeast

Region, NMFS, NOAA, 9731 Executive

Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL

33702 (813/570–5301).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann

Hochman, 301/713–2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Friday,

July 25, 1997, notice was published in

the Federal Register (62 FR 40050) that

an application had been filed by M & M

Amusement Park, Calle Gilberto Rolin

L16, Caguas, PR 00725. A public display

permit was requested to import two

bottlenose dolphins (Delphinapterus

leucas) and three South American sea

lions (Otaria flavescens) from Venezuela

where they are currently on tour with

Waterland - Mundo Marino of Valle,

Colombia, into Puerto Rico for public

display at several sites including San

Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez. The

requested permit has been denied

subject to the provisions of the Marine

Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations

Governing the Taking and Importing of

Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), and

the conditions set forth therein. Most

importantly, the applicant was not

registered under nor held a license

issued under 7 U.S.C. 2131, et seq.

Dated: September 26, 1997

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation, Office of

Protected Resources, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–26059 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F