Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices 51643

Consultation

Under section 7 of the ESA, NMFS

has completed consultations on the

issuance of this authorization.

NEPA

In conjunction with the notice of

proposed authorization, NMFS released

a draft EA that addresses the impacts on

the human environment from issuance

of the authorization and the alternatives

to the proposed action. Comments

received on the draft EA, while leading

to an improved EA, did not provide

sufficient information that

implementation of either the proposed

action or the alternatives to that action

would have a significant effect on the

human environment. Therefore, as a

result of the findings made in the EA,

NMFS has concluded that

implementation of either the preferred

alternative or other identified

alternatives would not have a significant

impact on the human environment. As

a result of that finding, an EIS will not

be prepared. A copy of the EA is

available upon request (see ADDRESSES).

Conclusions

NMFS has determined that the shortterm impact of exploration drilling and

related activities in the Beaufort Sea

will result, at worst, in a temporary

modification in behavior by certain

species of pinnipeds, and possibly some

individual bowhead or beluga whales.

While behavioral modifications may be

made by these species of marine

mammals to avoid the resultant noise

from tugs either towing the CIDS or

transporting supplies, or due to drilling

activities, this behavioral change is

expected to have a negligible impact on

the animals.

While the number of potential

incidental harassment takes will depend

on the distribution and abundance of

marine mammals (which vary annually

due to variable ice conditions and other

factors) in the activity area, the number

of potential harassment takings is

estimated to be small. In addition, no

take by injury and/or death is

anticipated and takes will be at the

lowest level practicable due to

incorporation of the mitigation

measures mentioned above. No

rookeries, mating grounds, areas of

concentrated feeding, or other areas of

special significance for marine

mammals occur within or near the

planned area of operations during the

season of operations.

Because bowhead whales are in the

Canadian Beaufort Sea until late

August/early September, moving the

CIDS during August will not impact

subsistence hunting of bowhead whales.

Appropriate mitigation measures to

avoid an unmitigable adverse impact on

the availability of bowhead whales for

subsistence needs was the subject of

consultation between ARCO and

subsistence users. As a result of

discussions between the two parties, a

Conflict and Avoidance Agreement has

been concluded. This Agreement

consists of three main components: (1)

Communications, (2) conflict avoidance,

and (3) dispute resolution.

Since NMFS is assured that the taking

will not result in more than the

incidental harassment (as defined by the

MMPA) of small numbers of certain

species of marine mammals, would have

only a negligible impact on these stocks,

will not have an unmitigable adverse

impact on the availability of these

stocks for subsistence uses, and would

result in the least practicable impact on

the stocks, NMFS has determined that

the requirements of section 101(a)(5)(D)

have been met and the authorization can

be issued.

Authorization

Accordingly, NMFS has issued an

IHA to ARCO Alaska for the above

described oil exploration drilling

activities in Camden Bay, Beaufort Sea,

AK, provided the mitigation, monitoring

and reporting requirements described in

the authorization are undertaken.

Dated: September 25, 1997.

Patricia A. Montanio,

Deputy Director, Office of Protected

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–26060 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

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

proposed certifications for the

consolidation, automation, and closure

of the following Weather Service offices

at the indicated FAA Weather

Observation Service Level:

(1) Alamosa, CO Weather Service

Office (WSO) which will be automated

at FAA Weather Observation Service

Level D and have its services

consolidated into the future Pueblo and

Grand Junction Weather Forecast

Offices (WFOs);

(2) Alpena, MI WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and have its services

consolidated into the future North

Central Lower Michigan WFO;

(3) Houghton Lake, MI WSO which

will be automated at FAA Weather

Observation Service Level D and have

its services consolidated into the future

North Central Lower Michigan and

Grand Rapids WFOs;

(4) Kalispell, MT WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and have its services

consolidated into the future Missoula

WFO;

(5) Lander, WY WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and have its services

consolidated into the future Riverton

WFO;

(6) Norfolk, NE WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and have its services

consolidated into the future Omaha and

North Platte WFOs;

(7) Sault Ste. Marie, MI WSO which

will be automated at FAA Weather

Observation Service Level D and have

its services consolidated into the future

North Central Lower Michigan and

Marquette WFOs;

(8) Scottsbluff, NE WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and have its services

consolidated into the future Cheyenne

and North Platte WFOs;

(9) Sheridan, WY WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and have its services

consolidated into the future Billings and

Riverton WFOs; and

(10) St. Cloud, MN WSO which will

be automated at FAA Weather

Observation Service Level D and have

its services consolidated into the future

Minneapolis and Aberdeen WFOs.

In accordance with Pub. L. 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

December 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the

proposed consolidation, 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.
51644 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices

102–567, the Secretary of Commerce

must certify that these consolidation,

automation, and closure certifications

will not result in any degradation of

service to the affected areas of

responsibility and must publish the

proposed consolidation, 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(s), 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, where

required, 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 services 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. 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 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. 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 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

consolidating, automating, and closing

these offices.

Dated: September 26, 1997.

Robert S. Winokur,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Weather

Services.

[FR Doc. 97–26127 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

proposed certifications for the

automation and closure of the following

Weather Service offices at the indicated

FAA Weather Observation Service

Level:

(1) Abilene, TX Weather Service

Office (WSO) which will be automated

at FAA Weather Observation Service

Level C and with services being

provided by the future San Angelo,

Dallas/Fort Worth, Lubbock, and

Midland/Odessa Weather Forecast

Offices (WFOs);

(2) Concordia, KS WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and with Services being

provided by the future Topeka, Wichita,

and Hastings WFOs;

(3) Ely, NV WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and with services being

provided by the future Elko WFO;

(4) Havre, MT WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and with services being

provided by the future Great Falls WFO;

(5) International Falls, MN WSO

which will be automated at FAA

Weather Observation Level D and with

services by the future Duluth and

Eastern North Dakota WFOs;

(6) Santa Maria, CA WSO which will

be automated at FAA Weather

Observation Service Level C and with

services being provided by the future

Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay

Area WFOs;

(7) Tupelo, MS WSO which will be

automated at FAA Weather Observation

Service Level D and with services being

provided by the future Memphis and

Jackson WFOs;