[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 5616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2572]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

[Docket No. 000131021-0021-01]


National Weather Service (NWS) Modernization and Associated 
Restructuring; Final Certification of No Degradation of Service for the 
Combined Consolidation and/or Automation and Closure of Eight Weather 
Service Offices (WSO)

AGENCY:  NWS, NOAA, Commerce.

ACTION:  Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  On January 28, 2000, the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Oceans and Atmosphere transmitted to Congress notice of Consolidation 
and/or Automation and Closure certification approval for WSOs Hartford, 
Connecticut; Kahului, Hawaii; Portland, Maine; Boston and Worcester, 
Massachusetts; Concord, New Hampshire; Providence, Rhode Island; and 
Beckley, West Virginia. Pub. L. 102-567 requires the final 
certifications be published in the FR. This notice is intended to 
satisfy that requirement.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  February 4, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Requests for copies of the final certification packages 
should be sent to Tom Beaver, Room 11426, 1325 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3283.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Tom Beaver at 301-713-0300 ext. 136.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These eight certifications were proposed in 
the March 26, 1999, FR for public comment. The 60-day public comment 
period closed on May 26, 1999. One public comment was received from Mr. 
Jack W. Ferns, Director, State of New Hampshire Department of 
Transportation, pertaining to WSO Concord. The comment and the NWS 
response is set forth here for reference.
    Comment on Concord: Mr. Ferns wrote, ``A number of years ago our 
office opposed the consolidation of Flight Service Stations (FSS) and 
specifically the closure of the FSS at Concord. We felt strongly, at 
the time, that loosing [sic] the FSS would compromise aviation safety. 
Now with the proposed closure of the NWS we feel that Concord has been 
dealt a second blow.
    While we understand the effects of automation on our economy and 
the existing modernization process, we continue to recognize that 
weather services available on a person to person basis is becoming 
obsolete.
    Our Department supports your effort to commission and certify an 
Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at Concord. Thank you for the 
opportunity to respond.''
    NWS Response: Mr. John Jensenius, Liaison Officer for WS Concord, 
spoke with Mr. Ferns to assure him of the NWS commitment to provide 
continued support to the Concord area. Mr. Ferns said he is 
disappointed he will no longer be able to walk to the Concord office 
and discuss the weather with NWS personnel. Mr. Jensenius told him he 
could call the Portland forecast office, located in Gray, Maine, 
anytime for a weather briefing and offered to provide Mr. Ferns with a 
tour of the Portland office. Mr. Ferns stated he would try to work a 
tour into his schedule.
    At its June 25, 1999, meeting, the Modernization Transition 
Committee (MTC) endorsed these certifications as not resulting in a 
degradation of service.
    After consideration of the public comment received and the MTC 
endorsements, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere 
approved these eight combined consolidation and/or automation and 
closure certifications and transmitted notice of approval to Congress 
on January 28, 2000. Certification approval authority was delegated 
from the Secretary of Commerce to the Under Secretary in June 1996. The 
NWS is now completing the certification requirements of Pub. L. 102-567 
by publishing the final consolidation and/or automation and closure 
certification notice in the FR.

    Dated: February 1, 2000.
John E. Jones, Jr.,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.
[FR Doc. 00-2572 Filed 2-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P