[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 122 (Monday, June 26, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32943-32945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15511]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Weather Service Modernization and Associated 
Restructuring; Notice and Opportunity for Public Comment

SUMMARY: The National Weather Service (NWS) is publishing proposed 
certifications for:
    (1) The proposed consolidation of the Galveston Weather Service 
Office (WSO) into the future Houston/Galveston Weather Forecast Office 
(WFO); and
    (2) The proposed consolidation of the residual Los Angeles WSO into 
the future Los Angeles WFO.
    In accordance with Pub. Law 102-567, the public will have 60 days 
in which to comment on these proposed certifications.

DATES: Comments are requested by August 25, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the proposed consolidation packages 
should be sent to Janet Gilmer, Room 12316, 1325 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone 301-713-0276. All comments should be 
sent to Janet Gilmer at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Julie Scanlon at 301-713-1413.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NWS anticipates consolidating:
    (1) The Galveston WSO with the future Houston/Galveston WFO, and
    (2) The residual Los Angeles WSO with the future Los Angeles WFO.
    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, User Confirmation of Services Report, 
and the Decommissioning Readiness Report; 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 Public Law 102-567. At its June 14, 1995 
meeting the Committee concluded that the information presented did not 
reveal any potential degradation of service and decided not to issue a 
report. The Committee did offer several recommendations on these 
proposed certifications, which are attached to this notice.
    The documentation supporting the proposed certifications is too 
voluminous to publish in its entirety. Copies of the supporting 
documentation can be obtained through the contact listed above.
    Attached to this notice are:
    (1) Draft memoranda by the respective meteorologists-in-charge 
recommending the certifications, and
    (2) Recommendations of the Committee on these proposed 
certifications.
    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: June 20, 1995.
Nicholas R. Scheller,
National Implementation Staff.
Memorandum for: Harry S. Hassel, Director, Southern Region
From: Bill Read, MIC, NWSO Houston/Galveston
Subject: Recommendation for Consolidation Certification

    After reviewing the attached documentation, I have determined, 
in my professional judgment, consolidation of the Galveston Weather 
Service Office (WSO) with the future Houston/Galveston Weather 
Forecast Offices (WFO) will not result in any degradation in weather 
services to the Galveston service area. This proposed certification 
is in accordance with the advance notification provided in the 
National Implementation Plan. Accordingly, I am recommending you 
approve this action in accordance with section 706 of Public Law 
102-567 . If you concur, please endorse this recommendation and 
forward this package to the Assistant Administrator for Weather 
Services for final certification. If Dr. Friday approves, he will 
forward the certification to the Secretary for approval and 
transmittal to Congress.
    My recommendation is based on my review of the pertinent 
evidence and application of the modernization criteria for 
consolidation of a field office. In summary: [[Page 32944]] 
    1. A description of local weather characteristics and weather-
related concerns affecting the weather services provided in the 
Galveston service area is included as attachment A. As discussed 
below, I find that providing the services which address these 
characteristics and concerns from Houston/Galveston WFO will not 
degrade these services.
    2. A detailed list of the services currently provided within the 
Galveston service area from the Galveston WSO location and a list of 
services to be provided from the Houston/Galveston WFO location 
after consolidation is included as attachment B. Comparison of these 
services shows that all services currently provided will continue to 
be provided after the proposed consolidation. Also, the enclosed map 
shows the WSO Galveston Area of Responsibility (i.e. ``Affected 
Service Area'' and the future WFO Houston/Galveston Area of 
Responsibility. As discussed below, I find that there will be no 
degradation in the quality of these services as a result of the 
consolidation.
    3. A description of the recent or expected modernization of 
National Weather Service (NWS) operations which will enhance 
services in the WSO Galveston service area is included as attachment 
C. The new technology (i.e. ASOS, WSR-88D, and AWIPS) has or will be 
installed and will enhance services.
    4. A map showing planned NEXRAD coverage at an elevation of 
10,000 feet for Texas is included as attachment D. NWS operational 
radar coverage for the Galveston service area will be increased and 
no area will be missed in coverage.
    5. The following evidence, based upon operational demonstration 
of modernized NWS operations played a key role in concluding there 
will be no degradation of service.
    A. The WSR-88D RADAR Commissioning Report, attachment E, 
validates that the WSR-88D meets technical specifications 
(acceptance test); is fully operational (satisfactory operation of 
system interfaces and satisfactory support of associated NWS 
forecasting and warning services); service backup capabilities are 
functioning properly; a full set of operations and maintenance 
documentation is available; and spare parts and test equipment and 
trained operations and maintenance personnel are available on site. 
Training was completed but two national work-arounds remain in 
effect.
    B. The User Confirmation of Services, attachment F, documents 
that only two negative comments were received. Both of the negative 
comments have been answered to the satisfaction of the commentors as 
stated in the service Confirmation Report.
    C. The Decommissioning Readiness Report, attachment G, verifies 
that the existing Galveston WSR-57 radar is no longer needed to 
support services or products for local office operations.
    6. A memorandum assigning the liaison officer for the Galveston 
service area is included as attachment H.
    I have considered recommendations of the Modernization 
Transition Committee (attachment 1) and the ______ public comments 
received during the comment period (attachment J). On __________, 
the Committee voted to endorse the proposed consolidation 
(attachment K). I believe all negative comments have been addressed 
to the satisfaction of our customers and I continue to recommend 
this certification.

Endorsement

    I Harry S. Hassel, Director, Southern Region, endorse this 
consolidation certification.
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Harry S. Hassel

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Date

Attachments
May 23, 1995.
Memorandum for: Thomas D. Potter, Director, Western Region
From: Todd Morris, AM/MIC, NWSFO Los Angeles
Subject: Recommendation for Consolidation Certification

    A change of operations occurred at the Los Angeles Weather 
Service Forecast Office (WSFO) in October 1993 when most personnel 
were transferred to the facility of the future Los Angeles Weather 
Forecast Office (WFO) in Oxnard, California to operate the WSR-88D 
and assume forecast and warning responsibility for the Los Angeles 
service area. At the same time this office has been designated a 
Residual Weather Service Office (RWSO) at the original WSFO location 
to continue operating the existing WSR-74C radar.
    After reviewing the attached documentation, I have determined, 
in my professional judgement, consolidation of the Los Angeles 
Residual Weather Service Office (RWSO) with the future Los Angeles/
Oxnard Weather Forecast Office (WFO) will not result in any 
degradation in weather services to the Los Angeles service area. 
This proposed certification is in accordance with the advance 
notification provided in the National Implementation Plan. 
Accordingly, I am recommending that you approve this action in 
accordance with section 706 of Public Law 102-567. If you concur, 
please endorse this recommendation and forward this package to the 
Assistant Administrator for Weather Services for final 
certification. If Dr. Friday approves, he will forward the 
certification to the Secretary for approval and transmittal to 
Congress.
    My recommendation is based on my review of the pertinent 
evidence and application of the modernization criteria for 
consolidation of a field office. In summary:
    1. A description of local weather characteristics and weather-
related concerns affecting the weather services provided in the pre-
modernized Los Angeles service area is included as attachment A. As 
discussed below, I find that providing the services which address 
these characteristics and concerns from the Los Angeles/Oxnard WFO 
will not degrade these services.
    2. A detailed list of the services currently provided from the 
Los Angeles RWSO location and comparable services to be provided 
from the Los Angeles/Oxnard WFO location after consolidation is 
included as attachment B. Comparison of these services shows that 
all services currently provided will continue to be provided after 
the proposed consolidation. I find that there will be no degradation 
in the quality of these services as a result of the consolidation.
    3. A description of the recent or expected modernization of 
National Weather Service (NWS) operations which will enhance 
services in the pre-modernized Los Angeles service area is included 
as attachment C. The new technology (i.e. ASOS, WSR-88D, and AWIPS) 
has or will be installed and will enhance services.
    4. A map showing planned NEXRAD coverage at an elevation of 
10,000 feet for California is included as attachment D. NWS 
operational radar coverage for the Los Angeles service area will be 
vastly increased and will not degrade services.
    It should be noted that neither the old Radar network nor the 
NEXRAD include coverage of a small mountainous area in the northeast 
corner of the service area. Therefore this does not represent a 
degradation of Radar coverage or services.
    5. The following evidence, based upon operational demonstration 
of modernized NWS operations, played a key role in concluding there 
will be no degradation of service.
    A. The WSR-88D RADAR Commissioning Report, attachment E, 
validates that the WSR-88D meets technical specifications 
(acceptance test); is fully operational (satisfactory operation of 
system interfaces and satisfactory support of associated NWS 
forecasting and warning services); service backup capabilities are 
functioning properly; a full set of operations and maintenance 
documentation is available; and spare parts and test equipment and 
trained operations and maintenance personnel are available on site. 
Training was completed. There were two national work-arounds. One of 
these has been satisfied while the other one remains in effect.
    B. The User Confirmation of Services, attachment F, documents 
that only two negative comments were received. Both of the negative 
comments have been answered to the satisfaction of the commentors as 
stated in the service Confirmation Report.
    C. The Decommissioning Readiness Report, attachment G, verifies 
that the existing Los Angeles WSR-74C radar is no longer needed to 
support services or products for local office operations.
    6. A memorandum assigning the liaison officer for the Los 
Angeles service area is included as attachment H.
    I have considered recommendations of the Modernization 
Transition Committee (attachment I) and the ______ public comments 
received during the comment period (attachment J). On __________ the 
Committee voted to endorse the proposed consolidation (attachment 
K). I believe all negative comments have been addressed to the 
satisfaction of our customers and I continue to recommend this 
certification.

Endorsement

    I, Thomas D. Potter, Director, Western Region, endorse this 
consolidation certification.
 [[Page 32945]] ------------------------------------------------------
Thomas D. Potter

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Date

Attachments

Modernization Transition Committee

Completion of Initial Consultation on Proposed Consolidation for 
Galveston and Los Angeles

    The Modernization Transition Committee (MTC) has reviewed the 
consolidation certifications for the Houston/Galveston and Los Angeles/
Oxnard consolidations and has determined that these actions will not 
result in degradation of services. In fact, contrary to the degradation 
of service, the Committee has concluded that these consolidations have 
improved the levels of service in these areas.
    In addition, the committee makes the following recommendations to 
further improve, and maintain such levels of service:
    (1) Continue to improve precipitation data assimilation and 
analysis capabilities.
    (2) The Los Angeles/Oxnard WFO local weather description summary 
should include reference to weather related threats to public safety 
such as fire and mudslides.
    (3) The Los Angeles/Oxnard WFO should implement a program of 
nonstructural mitigation to minimize the effects of earthquakes and 
other collapsed structure incidents on the provision of weather 
forecasting services.

    Dated: June 14, 1995.
Peter R. Leavitt,
Chair, Modernization Transition Committee.
[FR Doc. 95-15511 Filed 6-23-95; 8:45 am]
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