Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 70 / Friday, April 11, 1997 / Notices 17785

(c) NMFS lobster research activities;

industry concerns about the fishery;

summary of Review Panel’s report/

recommendations; Crustacean Plan

Team/Hawaii-Crustacean Advisory

Panel recommendations; SSC

recommendations; public hearing; and

(d) other issues.

7. Reports from fishery agencies and

organizations.

8. Bottomfish issues, including:

(a) overfished Main Hawaiian Islands

(MHI) onaga and ehu (State of Hawaii

Draft Management Plan and Council’s

Management Plan);

(b) status of NWHI management

system;

(c) SSC recommendations;

(d) public hearing; and

(e) other issues.

9. Native rights and indigenous

fishing issues, including:

(a) PIAFA requirements such as

conservation plans for American Samoa,

Guam, the NMI and other U.S.

possessions;

(b) report of PIAFA Working Group;

(c) status of AP for demonstration

projects;

(d) status of Commonwealth of NMI

turtle study;

(e) SSC recommendations;

(f) Native Rights Committee

recommendations;

(g) public hearing; and

(h) other issues.

10. Ecosystems and Habitat,

including:

(a) summary of recent activities; and

(b) SSC recommendations.

11. Precious corals, including:

(a) application for permit to harvest

precious corals;

12. Program planning, including:

(a) education and outreach program;

and

(b) status of WpacFIN.

13. Administrative matters, including:

(a) Statement of Organization,

Practices, and Procedures revision;

(b) administrative reports;

(c) future meetings and travel; and

(d) other business as required.

Special Accommodations

This meeting is physically accessible

to people with disabilities. Requests for

sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to

Kitty M. Simonds, 808–522–8220

(voice) or 808–522–8226 (fax), at least 5

days prior to meeting date.

Dated: April 3, 1997.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–9325 Filed 4–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6210–01–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 National Weather Service

(NWS) is publishing proposed

certifications for the proposed

consolidations of:

(1) International Falls Weather

Service Office (WSO) into the future

Duluth and Eastern North Dakota

Weather Forecast Offices (WFO);

(2) Abilene WSO into the future San

Angelo WFO; and

(3) Victoria WSO into the future

Corpus Christi WFO. In accordance with

Pub. Law 102–567, the public will have

60-days in which to comment on these

proposed consolidation certifications.

DATES: Comments are requested by June

10, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the

proposed consolidation packages should

be sent to Tom Beaver, Room 09356,

1235 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 will not result in any

degradation of service to the affected

areas of responsibility and must publish

the proposed consolidation

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); and

(7) 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. At their December

14, 1995 meeting the numbers ‘‘* * *

resolved that the MTC modify its

procedure to eliminate proposed

certification consultations of

noncontroversial closings,

consolidations, relocations, and

automation certifications but will

provide final consultation on

certifications after public comment and

before final submission to the Secretary

of Commerce.’’

The above actions are all considered

noncontroversial by the NWS. Also

these proposed certifications do not

include the documentation supporting

them which is too voluminous to

publish. Copies of the 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 the offices.

Dated: April 7, 1997.

Elbert W. Friday, Jr.,

Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.

[FR Doc. 97–9327 Filed 4–10–97; 8:45 am]

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