[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10066-10067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4443]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

SUBJECT: National Weather Service Modernization and Associated 
Restructuring.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY; On November 4, 1994, the Department of Commerce requested 
comments identifying service areas where it is believed that current 
weather services may be degraded as existing radars are decommissioned 
or as field offices are closed, consolidated, automated or relocated 
during the modernization of the National Weather Service (59 FR 55254). 
Appendix 1 to the November 4, 1994 notice contained Study Guidelines 
which specified the procedures the Secretary of Commerce will follow 
during modernization of the National Weather Service with respect to 
the identified areas of concern.
    Today's notice lists the areas of concern that were identified as a 
result of the comments that were received, briefly describes the 
remaining steps in the process, and reiterates the modernization 
actions that are prohibited in an identified area of concern until the 
process described in the Study Guidelines is completed. Appendix 1 to 
this notice contains the complete Study Guidelines.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Scanlon at 301-713-1413 or Nick 
Scheller at 301-713-0454.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Comments Received: Over 67,000 
written comments were received during the 60 day public comment period 
which closed on January 3, 1995. Written comments were in the form of 
letters, postcards, facsimile transmissions, electronic mail messages, 
and signed petitions. The Secretary of Commerce appreciates the 
thoughtful and valuable inputs on the National Weather Service and its 
modernization program that were contained in the comments. All such 
comments have been forwarded to the National Academy of Sciences' 
National Research Council (NRC) for consideration during their study on 
the adequacy of planned NEXRAD radar coverage and the effect of field 
office consolidation. A number of late comments were also received, 
i.e., postmarked after January 3, 1995. These late comments have been 
forwarded to the NRC for whatever consideration they may choose to give 
them.
    Areas of Concern: Under the provisions of the Study Guidelines, a 
single timely comment was sufficient to establish an area as an area of 
concern. The areas of concern identified are listed below.

Areas of Concern

WSO Asheville, NC
WSO Astoria, OR
WSO Athens, GA
WSO Baton Rouge, LA
WSO Cape Hatteras, NC
WSO Caribou, ME
WSO Charlotte, NC
WSO Chattanooga, TN
WSO Colorado Springs, CO
WSO Del Rio, TX
WSO Elkins, WV
WSO Erie, PA
WSO Evansville, IN
WSO Fort Smith, AR
WSO Fort Wayne, IN
WSO Grand Island, NE
WSO Greensboro, NC
WSO Harrisburg, PA
WSO Huntsville, AL
WSO International Falls, MN
WSO Kalispell, MT
WSO Key West, FL
WSO Lexington, KY
WSO Montgomery, AL
WSO Redding, CA
WSO South Bend, IN
WSO Toledo, OH
WSO Wichita Falls, TX
WSO Williston, ND
WSO Wilmington, DE
WSO Hondo, TX
central Oregon/central Washington

    Generally, areas of concern are denoted by National Weather Service 
Offices (WSO) and extend throughout the pre-modernization geographical 
area for which what WSO was responsible for providing weather services. 
One area is denoted by a National Weather Service Meteorological 
Observatory (WSMO) and extends throughout the area for which the 
existing radar operated by that WSMO provides coverage. The final area 
of concern listed is identified as central Oregon/central Washington. 
The concerns expressed for this area was not about any specific 
existing radar or weather office, but rather about the general adequacy 
of NEXRAD coverage in central Oregon and central Washington under the 
planned NEXRAD network.
    Remaining Steps in the Process: The NRC will continue the study it 
began in October 1994 under an amendment to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration contract #50-DGNW-0-00041. This study is an 
independent scientific assessment of proposed NEXRAD radar coverage and 
consolidation of field offices in terms of the ``no degradation of 
services'' requirement of Public Law 102-567, and in light of public 
comments received. The NRC will also establish criteria for identifying 
service areas where the decommissioning of existing radars could 
degrade services. The NRC will document its findings and 
recommendations in a report to the Secretary of Commerce. The 
contractually specific date for delivery of this report is May 17, 
1995. The Study Guidelines' due date of 180 days for delivery of this 
report could not be achieved by the NRC.
    The Secretary of Commerce will then apply the NRC's criteria, and 
other applicable criteria previously approved by the NRC pursuant to 
the Weather Service Modernization Act, to the above identified areas of 
concern, and taking into account public comments received, will 
identify where actions to decommission a radar, or to close, 
consolidate, relocate, or automate a field office are not likely to 
satisfy the ``no degradation of services'' requirement of Public Law 
102-567. The Secretary of Commerce will document any recommended 
adjustments to the National Weather Service modernization plan for 
these areas of concern to ensure ``no degradation of services'' in a 
report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives. 
The estimated time frame for delivery of this report is fall 1995.
    Prohibited Actions in an Area of Concern: Until the above process 
is completed and a 30-day grace period from the date of the Secretary 
of Commerce's report to Congress has elapsed, there will be no 
decommissioning of any existing radar; or closure, consolidation, 
relocation, or automation certification at any of the weather offices 
identified as areas of concern as listed above.

    [[Page 10067]] Dated: February 17, 1995.
D. James Baker,
Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere.

Appendix 1--Study Guidelines

Section 1

    (a) Modernization of the NWS is essential to public safety and 
should proceed without unnecessary delay.
    (b) The WSMA establishes procedures that assures that the 
modernization of the NWS will not result in the degradation of 
weather services currently provided to the public but these 
procedures do not provide for the independent review of decisions 
until shortly after the actual event; and
    (c) It is appropriate to review the adequacy of the Nation's 
overall NEXRAD coverage, to ensure a solid scientific and technical 
basis for the decision-making process, and to assure meaningful 
participation by the public.

Section 2

    The purposes of this document are to provide the fullest 
opportunity for public participation in the modernization process 
without unduly delaying this process; and to ensure, through the 
application of independent scientific criteria that weather services 
provided in each service area will not be degraded as obsolete 
radars are decommissioned or as field offices are closed, 
consolidated, relocated or automated.

Section 3

    The definitions contained in section 702 of the WSMA shall apply 
to the terms in this document. In addition, the term ``area of 
concern'' means a service area identified in a timely public comment 
in response to the Federal Register notice required by section 4 of 
this document.

Section 4

    Within 30 days the Secretary shall publish a notice in the 
Federal Register requesting comments on service areas where it is 
believed that current weather services may be degraded as existing 
radars are decommissioned or as field offices are closed, 
consolidated, automated or relocated. The notice shall allow 60 days 
for the submission of comments. Persons submitting comments shall 
state the basis for their belief as fully as possible, and shall 
include a description of local weather characteristics (including 
unique weather phenomena) and weather related concerns which involve 
a substantial threat to public safety which they believe affect the 
weather services provided in areas of concern. All comments received 
by the Secretary shall be provided promptly to the NRC.

Section 5

    (a) Within 30 days the Secretary shall contract with the NRC, or 
amend an existing contract as necessary, to conduct an independent 
scientific assessment of proposed NEXRAD radar coverage and 
consolidation of Field Offices in terms of ``no degradation of 
services'' and to establish criteria for identifying service areas 
where the decommissioning of existing radars could degrade service 
to affected users.
    (b) Within 180 days, but not earlier than 60 days after the 
close of the comment period provided in the Federal Register notice 
of Section 4, the NRC shall furnish to the Secretary the assessment 
and criteria required by subsection (a) together with 
recommendations regarding the need and timing for any future 
independent studies by the NRC.

Section 6

    (a) After receipt of the NRC report, the Secretary shall apply 
the NRC criteria and other applicable criteria previously approved 
by the NRC pursuant to the WSMA to areas of concerns and, taking 
into account the comments received in response to the Federal 
Register notice of Section 4, identify those where he/she believes 
that actions to decommission a radar or to close, consolidate, 
relocate, automate a field office noted in the current version of 
the NIP are not likely to satisfy the requirements of the WSMA. The 
Secretary shall report the results of his/her review to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives. If the 
Secretary believes that additional radars are needed to satisfy the 
requirements of the WSMA, he/she shall also identify the number and 
location of the radars needed.
    (b) Submission of a report under this section shall not relieve 
the Secretary from the requirement of Section 706(b) of the WSMA to 
certify no degradation of service when he/she restructures a field 
office. If the field office is located in an area of concern, the 
Secretary shall provide all comments relating to that area of 
concern received pursuant to Section 4 to the MTC during the 
certification process.

Section 7

    (a) The Secretary shall not close, consolidate, relocate, or 
automate any field office or decommission any NWS radar until the 
public has had an opportunity to identify areas of concern.
    (b) Regardless of the contents of the most recent NIP, the 
Secretary shall not decommission a radar or close, consolidate, 
automate or relocate a field office in an area of concern unless--
    (1) The Secretary has reported to the Congress as provided in 
section 6 that he/she believes that the action contemplated would 
not result in a degradation of service; and
    (2) 30 days have expired from the date the report was submitted 
to Congress.

[FR Doc. 94-4443 Filed 2-22-95, 8:45 am]
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