[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 134 (Thursday, July 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36553-36554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17684]


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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.

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SUMMARY: The NWS is publishing proposed certifications for the proposed 
consolidations of:
    (1) Residual Des Moines Weather Service Office (WSO) into the 
future Des Moines Weather Forecast Office (WFO);
    (2) Residual Louisville WSO into the future Louisville WFO;
    (3) Residual St. Louis WSO into the future St. Louis WFO;
    (4) Columbia WSO into the future Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, 
Springfield, and St. Louis WFOs;
    (5) Lansing WSO into the future Grand Rapids WFO;
    (6) Lexington WSO into the future Louisville and Cincinnati WFOs;
    (7) Lincoln WSO into the future Omaha WFO;
    (8) Sioux City WSO into the future Omaha and Sioux Falls WFOs;
    (9) Baton Rouge WSO into the future New Orleans/Baton Rouge, Lake 
Charles, and Jackson WFOs; and
    (10) Montgomery WSO into the future Birmingham, Mobile, and 
Tallahassee WFOs.
    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 September 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the proposed consolidation packages 
should be sent to Tom Beaver, Room 12314, 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:
Julie Scanlon at 301-713-1413.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NWS anticipates consolidating:
    (1) The Residual Des Moines Weather Service Office (WSO) with the 
future Des Moines Weather Forecast Office (WFO);
    (2) The Residual Louisville WSO with the future Louisville WFO;
    (3) The Residual St. Louis WSO with the future St. Louis WFO;
    (4) The Columbia WSO with the future Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, 
Springfield, and St. Louis WFOs;
    (5) The Lansing WSO with the future Grand Rapids WFO;
    (6) The Lexington WSO with the future Louisville and Cincinnati 
WFOs;
    (7) The Lincoln WSO with the future Omaha WFO;
    (8) The Sioux City WSO with the future Omaha and Sioux Falls WFOs;
    (9) The Baton Rouge WSO with the future New Orleans/Baton Rouge, 
Lake Charles, and Jackson WFOs; and
    (10) The Montgomery WSO with the future Birmingham, Mobile, and 
Tallahassee WFOs.
    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

[[Page 36554]]

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 members ``. . . 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.''
    Documentation supporting the proposed certifications is too 
voluminous to publish. Copies of the supporting documentation can be 
obtained through the contract 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: July 8, 1996.
Louis J. Boezi,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Modernization.
[FR Doc. 96-17684 Filed 7-10-96; 8:45 am]
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