Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 1998 / Notices 38557

consolidated into the future Greenville/

Spartanburg and Columbia, South

Carolina and Raleigh/Durham, North

Carolina Weather Forecast Offices

(WFOs);

(2) Fort Wayne, Indiana WSO which

will be automated at FAA Weather

Observation Service Level B and have

its services consolidated into the future

Northern Indiana WFO; and

(3) South Bend, Indiana WSO which

will be automated at FAA Weather

Observation Service Level B and have

its services consolidated into the future

Northern Indiana WFO.

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

September 15, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the

proposed consolidation, automation and

closure 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 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

certifications in the Federal Register.

The documentation supporting these

proposed certifications includes the

following:

(1) A draft memorandum by the

meteorologists-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 Reports, User

Confirmation of Services Reports, 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 WFOs;

(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 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, 1997 MTC meeting 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.’’ These

qualifications have been met for the

above proposed certifications. If a

decision to certify is made, the Secretary

of Commerce must publish final

certifications in the FR and transmit the

certifications to the appropriate

Congressional committees prior to

consolidating, automating, and closing

this office.

John J. Kelly, Jr.,

Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.

[FR Doc. 98–19042 Filed 7–16–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–12–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 070798A]

Marine Mammals; File No. 481–1464

and 782–1355

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of applications for

permit and amendment

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr.

W. John Richardson, LGL Ltd.

Environmental Research Associates, 22

Fisher St., P.O.B. 280, King City,

Ontario L7B 1A6, Canada has applied in

due form for a permit to take bowhead

whales (Balaena mysticetus), ringed

seals (Phoca hispida), bearded seals

(Erignathus barbatus) and beluga

whales (Delphinapterus leucas) for

purposes of scientific research; and Dr.
38558 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 1998 / Notices

Douglas P. DeMaster, Director, National

Marine Mammal Laboratory, National

Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600

Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg.

1, Seattle, WA 98115–0070, has

requested an amendment to scientific

research Permit No. 782–1355.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments

must be received on or before August

17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The application (File No.

481–1464), amendment request (Permit

No. 782–1355), and related documents

are available for review upon written

request or by appointment in the

following office(s):

Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,

1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130,

Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713–

2289);

Regional Administrator, National

Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA,

Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,

AK 99802–1668 (907/586–7221).

Written comments or requests for a

public hearing on this request should be

submitted to the Chief, Permits and

Documentation Division, F/PR1, Office

of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315

East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver

Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals

requesting a hearing should set forth the

specific reasons why a hearing on this

particular amendment request would be

appropriate.

Comments may also be submitted by

facsimile at (301) 713–0376, provided

the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy

submitted by mail and postmarked no

later than the closing date of the

comment period. Please note that

comments will not be accepted by email or other electronic media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara

Shapiro or Ruth Johnson, 301/713–2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

subject permit application and

amendment to Permit No. 782–1355,

issued on July 15, 1997 (62 FR 39826)

are requested under the authority of the

Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,

as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the

Regulations Governing the Taking and

Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR

part 216), the Endangered Species Act of

1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531

et seq.), and the regulations governing

the taking, importing, and exporting of

endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR

222.23).

Dr. Richardson (File No. 481–1464)

requests authorization to study the

feeding ecology of bowhead whales in

the eastern Alaskan Beaufort Sea

through aerial surveys and sampling of

prey species.

Permit No. 782–1355 authorizes the

permit holder to take Pacific Harbor

seals (Phoca vitulina) in the following

manner: Harass during census flights;

capture, restrain, measure (weight

length, girth), sample (flipper punch,

vibrissa, blood, blubber/muscle biopsy,

ultra sound, enema), radio tag, flipper

tag, and release 500 animals; and

incidentally harass up to 2000 during

the conduct of these activities, and

during collection of scat samples from

haulouts. The permit holder requests

authorization to: increase the number of

seals instrumented with time-depth

recorders, biopsy sampled, and

harassed.

In compliance with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial

determination has been made that the

activities proposed are categorically

excluded from the requirement to

prepare an environmental assessment or

environmental impact statement.

Concurrent with the publication of

this notice in the Federal Register,

NMFS is forwarding copies of this

application to the Marine Mammal

Commission and its Committee of

Scientific Advisors.

Dated: July 7, 1998.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98–19122 Filed 7–16–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety

Commission, Washington, DC 20207.

TIME AND DATE: Wednesday, July 22,

1998, 10:00 a.m.

LOCATION: Room 420, East West Towers,

4330 East West Highway, Bethesda,

Maryland.

STATUS: Open to the Public.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:

FY 2000 Budget Request

The Commission will consider issues

related to the Commission’s budget for

fiscal year 2000.

For a recorded message containing the

latest agenda information, call (301)

504–0709.

CONTACT PERSON FOR ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION: Sadye E. Dunn, Office of

the Secretary, 4330 East West Highway,

Bethesda, MD 20207 (301) 504–8000.

Dated: July 13, 1998.

Sadye E. Dunn,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–19267 Filed 7–15–98; 2:48 pm]

BILLING CODE 6355–01–M

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety

Commission, Washington, DC 20207.

TIME AND DATE: Monday, July 27, 1998,

2:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Room 410, East West Towers,

4330 East West Highway, Bethesda,

Maryland.

STATUS: Closed to the Public.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:

Compliance Status Report

The staff will brief the Commission on

the status of various compliance

matters.

For a recorded message containing the

latest agenda information, call (301)

504–0709.

CONTACT PERSON FOR ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION: Sadye E. Dunn, Office of

the Secretary, 4330 East West Highway,

Bethesda, MD 20207, (301) 504–0800.

Dated: July 14, 1998.

Sadye E. Dunn,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–19268 Filed 7–15–98; 2:48 pm]

BILLING CODE 6355–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

TRICARE Senior Demonstration of

Military Managed Care

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant

Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs).

ACTION: Notice of demonstration project.

SUMMARY: This notice is to advise

interested parties of a demonstration

project in which the Department of

Defense (DoD) will provide health care

services to Medicare-eligible military

retirees in a managed care program,

called TRICARE Senior, and receive

reimbursement for such care from the

Medicare Trust Fund. The program is

authorized by section 1896 of the Social

Security Act, amended by section 4015

of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L.

105–33). The statute authorizes DoD and

the Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS) to conduct at six sites

during January 1998 through December

2000, a three-year demonstration under

which dual-eligible beneficiaries will be