[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38901-38905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18913]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 946

[Docket No. 960418114-7140-05]
RIN 0648-AF72


Weather Service Modernization Criteria

AGENCY: National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Weather Service Modernization Act, 15 
U.S.C. 313n. (the Act), the National Weather Service (NWS) is 
publishing an amendment to its criteria for modernization actions 
requiring certification. This amendment adds criteria unique to 
automating a field office at service level D airports to ensure that 
automation actions will not result in any degradation of service. 
Automating a field office occurs after automated surface observing 
system (ASOS) equipment is installed and commissioned at a field office 
and the NWS employees that were performing surface observations at that 
office are removed or reassigned.

EFFECTIVE DATES: October 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of documents described in this notice as 
being available upon request should be sent to Julie Scanlon, NOAA/NWS, 
SSMC2, Room 18366, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicholas Scheller, 301-713-0454.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 2, 1996, the NWS published, for 
comment, proposed modernization criteria unique to automating a field 
office (see 61 FR 19594). In significant part, the proposed criteria 
embodied the levels of service set forth in the Federal Aviation 
Administration's (FAA) Weather Observation Service Standards for level 
A, B, C and D airports (see 61 FR 32887). After consideration of the 
public comments that were received and, after consultations with the 
National Research Council's (NRC) NWS Modernization Committee and the 
Modernization Transition Committee (MTC) in June 1996, the NWS 
established final modernization criteria for automating a field office 
at service levels A, B and C airports (see 61 FR 39862). However, in 
light of the concerns expressed in the public comments specifically on 
the automation criteria proposed for service level D airports, 
establishment of final modernization criteria for automating a field 
office at a service level D airport was deferred pending further study 
and reconsultation with the MTC. Many of these public comments 
expressed concern about either the representativeness of an unaugmented 
ASOS observation and/or the adequacy of a stand-alone ASOS. A list of 
persons submitting comments, the specific comments, and the NWS's 
response were provided in the July 31, 1996 notice that established 
final automation criteria for service levels A, B and C airports (see 
61 FR 39862).
    Between June and September 1996, NWS, in cooperation with the FAA 
and the Airline Owners and Pilots Association's Air Safety Foundation 
(ASF), reassessed the automation criteria proposed for service level D 
airports. A description of this reassessment, the proposal that emerged 
as a result thereof and the rationale behind it is described below.
    With regard to concerns raised by commentors on the 
representativeness of the unaugmented ASOS observation, NWS, FAA and 
ASF reviewed the results of the recently completed ASOS Aviation 
Demonstration. This demonstration was carried out jointly by the NWS, 
the FAA, and the aviation industry, from February 15, 1995 through 
August 15, 1995. During this demonstration, NWS observers were asked to 
record those cases when ASOS observations did not represent the true 
meteorological situation. Based on reports supplied by NWS observers, 
ASOS was found to report the correct individual weather parameters up 
to 98% of the time under all conditions combined. NWS also reexamined 
each of the service level D ASOS sites to determine if there were any 
remaining representativeness issues resulting from poor sensor siting 
or the need for meteorological discontinuity sensors. The need for 
sensor resiting and second ceiling and/or visibility sensors at several 
of these sites had already been identified and corrective actions were 
already in progress.
    With regard to concerns raised by commentors on the adequacy of a 
stand-alone ASOS, the NWS, FAA and ASF focused their attention on the 6 
parameters of the observations that distinguish service level C from 
service level D as described in the Summary Chart of the FAA's Weather 
Observation Service Standards. These are: Thunderstorm occurrence, 
tornadic activity, hail, virga, volcanic ash, and tower visibility. 
Since all service level D airports for which NWS must complete an 
automation certification do not have an FAA tower, tower visibility 
cannot be provided and, consequently, is not applicable. Of the 
remaining 5 parameters, 4 of them (tornadic activity, hail, virga and 
volcanic ash) occur very infrequently. Furthermore, the reporting of 
the occurrence of these 4 parameters is available to users through 
other means such as supplementary observations and complementary data 
sources. On December 13, 1995, NWS published a notice setting forth its 
Supplementary Data Program (see 60 FR 64020). Although information 
about thunderstorm occurrence is available through other sources, NWS, 
FAA and ASF concluded that providing thunderstorm occurrence as part of 
the

[[Page 38902]]

ASOS observation was critical. Consequently, NWS is in the process of 
adding single-site lightning sensors (capable of reporting thunderstorm 
occurrence) to the ASOS sensor suite at the service level D sites 
subject to automation certification, with the exception of Homer, 
Alaska. Upon examination of climatological data for the frequency of 
thunderstorm occurrence, the occurrence at Homer, Alaska was so low 
(0.015%) that a lightning sensor is not warranted at this site. 
Software modifications to ASOS, required to interface with the 
lightning sensor, are being implemented.
    In addition, as a result of the reassessment, NWS reiterated its 
commitment to deploy freezing rain sensors prior to automation 
certification at all NWS sponsored ASOS sites that experience this 
phenomenon, regardless of the assigned service level. Some sites in the 
United States do not experience freezing rain, and consequently, are 
not scheduled to receive freezing rain sensors. Among the service level 
D sites subject to automatic certification, Ely, Nevada and Lander, 
Wyoming will not receive freezing rain sensors.
    Besides the additional automation criteria described above 
resulting from the reassessment, NWS, FAA and ASF agreed that more 
education for pilots on automated observations, as well as pilot 
feedback on the utility of such observations was needed. Accordingly, 
the ASF has undertaken a significant pilot education and outreach 
effort. This effort will be completed prior to any automation 
certifications of service level D airports. The goals of this activity 
are to: (1) Educated pilots as to the differences between human and 
automated observations and how to use automated observations in 
conjunction with other weather information to make safe pre-flight and 
in-flight decisions; (2) notify a representative sample of the 
approximately 70,000 pilots who regularly use these service level D 
airports that ASOS is in place and give them an opportunity to comment; 
(3) measure understanding and acceptance of automated observing 
systems; and (4) identify and correct any systemic or site specific 
problems with the automated observations. The ASF assessment of pilot 
understanding and acceptance of ASOS observations is being conducted 
during a portion of the 1997 severe weather season (May through July), 
with 10 of the service level D sites having lightning sensors installed 
and operational. The ASF is responsible for preparing and disseminating 
the educational materials; collecting and statistically analyzing any 
pilot feedback; and sharing the results with both the NWS and FAA for 
additional evaluation. The results of this activity will be reported to 
the MTC at its September 1997 meeting.
    The NRC's NWS Modernization Committee was advised of the additional 
automation criteria being contemplated by NWS on September 9, 1996. In 
addition, during its consultation with the MTC on September 19, 1996, 
the NWS proposed to supplement the service level D automation criteria 
as discussed above and briefed the MTC on the ASF pilot education and 
outreach effort at service level D airports. In response, the MTC 
endorsed the NWS proposal concluding that the additional criteria, when 
applied in conjunction with previously proposed automation criteria, 
and after completion of the pilot education and outreach effort would 
provide an adequate basis for certifying no degradation in the required 
level of services. The MTC further recognized the importance of the 
integration of the new observational data in order to avoid a 
degradation of service and recommended that both the NWS and FAA 
develop and implement product improvement programs to correct 
deficiencies as they occur and to implement new technology to improve 
observations.
    To implement the proposal endorsed by the MTC, NWS has modified the 
automation criteria for service level D airports as follows. Criterion 
D.4.c. has been added to Appendix A to require that a lightning sensor 
be operational as a prerequisite for automation certification at 
service level D airports, except as noted. Criterion D.4.d. has been 
added to Appendix A to require that a freezing rain sensor be 
operational as a prerequisite for automation certification, except as 
noted. Criterion D.4.b. has also been modified to indicate that 
completion of the transition checklist is applicable to service level 
A, B and C airports only, since transfer of augmentation/back-up 
responsibility from NWS to FAA does not occur at service level D 
airports. An additional Criterion 5. has been added for service level D 
airports which requires completion of the above pilot education and 
outreach effort and that the MTC has had an opportunity to review the 
results.
    The May 2, 1996 publication of proposed modernization criteria 
unique to automating a field office (see 61 FR 19594) included a total 
of 27 airports in the service level D category. In April 1997, NWS 
completed a reexamination of these 27 service level D airports and 
ascertained that 2 of them had FAA Automated Flight Service Stations 
(AFSS). Because an AFSS constitutes a qualified Federal presence, FAA 
reclassified these two airports (i.e., Elkins, WV and Huron, SD) from 
service level D to service level C. In both cases, the AFSS will 
provide augmentation and back-up of the ASOS. Consequently, Appendix B 
is amended to reflect this reclassification and add the remaining 25 
service level D airports for which NWS must complete an automation 
certification.

A. Classification Under Executive Order 12866

    These regulations have been determined not to be significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

    These regulations set forth the criteria for certifying that 
certain modernization actions will not result in a degradation of 
service to the affected area. The Assistant General Counsel for 
Legislation and Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to 
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
when these criteria were proposed, that if adopted, they would not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Comments on the proposed regulations were received and based 
on those comments these final regulations have been adjusted 
accordingly and have been determined that they do not effect small 
economic entities. While the final regulations are changed as discussed 
above, these criteria are intended for internal agency use, and the 
impact on small business entities will be negligible. The final 
criteria do not directly affect ``small government jurisdictions'' as 
defined by Public Law 96-354, the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 
Accordingly, the basis for the certification has not changed and no 
final regulatory flexibility analysis was prepared.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980

    These regulations will impose no information collection 
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act.

D. E.O. 12612

    This rule does not contain policies with sufficient Federalism 
implications to warrant preparation of a Federalism assessment under 
Executive Order 12612.

E. National Environmental Policy Act

    NOAA has concluded that issuance of this rule does not constitute a 
major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human 
environment.

[[Page 38903]]

Therefore, an environmental impact statement is not required.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 946

    Administrative practice and procedure, Certification, 
Commissioning, Decommissioning, National Weather Service, Weather 
service modernization.
    Dated: July 14, 1997.
Robert S. Winokur,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 15 CFR part 946 is amended 
as follows:

PART 946--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 946 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Title VII of Pub. L. 102-567, 106 Stat 4303 (15 
U.S.C. 313n.).

Appendix A to Part 946--[Amended]

    2. Appendix A to part 946 is amended by revising Subsection (D) 
under Section II. Criteria for Modernization Actions Requiring 
Certification, to read as follows:

(D) Modernization Criteria Unique to Automation Certifications

    1. Compliance with flight aviation rules (applies on airports 
only): Consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
has verified that the weather services provided after the 
commissioning of the relevant ASOS unit(s) will be in full 
compliance with applicable Federal Aviation Regulations promulgated 
by the FAA.
    2. ASOS Commissioning: The relevant ASOS unit(s) have been 
successfully commissioned in accordance with the criteria set forth 
in section I.A.1 of Appendix A to the Weather Service Modernization 
Regulations, 15 CFR part 946.
    3. User Confirmation of Services: Any valid user complaints 
related to actual system performance received since commissioning of 
the ASOS have been satisfactorily resolved and the issues addressed 
in the MIC's recommendation for certification.
    4. Aviation Observation Requirement: At sites subject to 
automation certification, all surface observations and reports 
required for aviation services can be generated by an ASOS augmented 
as necessary by non-NWS personnel.
    a. The ASOS observation will be augmented/backed-up to the level 
specified in Appendix B as described in the Summary Chart of the 
FAA's Weather Observation Service Standards.
    b. The transition checklist has been signed by the appropriate 
Region Systems Operations Division Chief (applies to service level 
A, B and C airports only).
    c. Thunderstorm occurrence is reported in the ASOS observation 
through the use of a lightning sensor (applies to service level D 
airports only, excluding Homer, Alaska).
    d. Freezing rain occurrence is reported in the ASOS observation 
through the use of a freezing rain sensor. Among service level D 
airports, this criterion is not applicable to Ely, Nevada and 
Lander, Wyoming.
    5. Pilot Education and Outreach Completed: The Air Safety 
Foundation has conducted a pilot education and outreach effort to 
educate pilots on the use of automated observations and measure 
their understanding and acceptance of automated observing systems, 
and the MTC has had an opportunity to review the results of this 
effort (applies to service level D airports only).
    6. General Surface Observation Requirement: The total 
observations available are adequate to support the required 
inventory of services to users in the affected area. All necessary 
hydrometeorological data and information are available through ASOS 
as augmented in accordance with this section, through those elements 
reported as supplementary data by the relevant Weather Forecast 
Office(s), or through other complementary sources. The adequacy of 
the total surface observation is addressed in the MTC's 
recommendation for certification.

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Appendix B to Part B--[Revised]

    Appendix B to Part 946 is revised to read as follows:

                 Appendix B to Part 946--Airport Tables                 
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``A'' Level Service Airports:                                           
  *Akron, OH..................................  CAK                     
  *Albany, NY.................................  ALB                     
  *Atlanta, GA................................  ATL                     
  *Baltimore, MD..............................  BWI                     
  *Boston, MA.................................  BOS                     
  Charlotte, NC...............................  CLT                     
  *Chicago-O'Hare (AV), IL....................  ORD                     
  Cincinnati, OH..............................  CVG                     
  Columbus, OH................................  CMH                     
  *Dayton, OH.................................  DAY                     
  *Des Moines, IA.............................  DSM                     
  *Detroit, MI................................  DTW                     
  *Fairbanks, AK..............................  FAI                     
  *Fresno, CA.................................  FAT                     
  *Greensboro, NC.............................  GSO                     
  *Hartford, CT...............................  BDL                     
  Indianapolis, IN............................  IND                     
  *Kansas City, MO............................  MCI                     
  *Lansing, MI................................  LAN                     
  Las Vegas, NV...............................  LAS                     
  Los Angeles (AV), CA........................  LAX                     
  *Louisville, KY.............................  SDF                     
  *Milwaukee, WI..............................  MKE                     
  *Minneapolis, MN............................  MSP                     
  *Newark, NJ.................................  EWR                     
  *Oklahoma City, OK..........................  OKC                     
  Phoenix, AZ.................................  PHX                     
  *Portland, OR...............................  PDX                     
  *Providence, RI.............................  PVD                     
  *Raleigh, NC................................  RDU                     
  *Richmoind, VA..............................  RIC                     
  *Rochester, NY..............................  ROC                     
  *Rockford, IL...............................  RFD                     
  *San Antonio, TX............................  SAT                     
  San Diego, CA...............................  SAN                     
  *San Francisco, CA..........................  SFO                     
  *Spokane, WA................................  GEG                     
  *Syracuse, NY...............................  SYR                     
  Tallahassee, FL.............................  TUL                     
  Tulsa, OK...................................  TUL                     
``B'' Level Service Airports:                                           
  *Baton Rouge, LA............................  BTR                     
  *Billings, MT...............................  BIL                     
  *Charleston, WV.............................  CRW                     
  *Chattanooga, TN............................  CHA                     
  Colorado Springs, CO........................  COS                     
  Daytona Beach, FL...........................  DAB                     
  El Paso, TX.................................  ELP                     
  Flint, MI...................................  FNT                     
  Fort Wayne, IN..............................  FWA                     
  Honolulu, HI................................  HNL                     
  *Huntsville, AL.............................  HSV                     
  *Knoxville, TN..............................  TYS                     
  *Lincoln, NE................................  LNK                     
  Lubbock, TX.................................  LBB                     
  *Madison, WI................................  MSN                     
  *Moline, IL.................................  MLI                     
  *Montgomery, AL.............................  MGM                     
  *Muskegon, MI...............................  MKG                     
  *Norfolk, VA................................  ORF                     
  Peoria, IL..................................  PIA                     
  *Savannah, GA...............................  SAV                     
  *South Bend, IN.............................  SBN                     
  Tucson, AZ..................................  TUS                     
  *West Palm Beach, FL........................  PBI                     
  *Youngstown, OH.............................  YNG                     
``C'' Level Service Airports:                                           
  Abilene, TX.................................  ABI                     
  Allentown, PA...............................  ABE                     
  Asheville, NC...............................  AVL                     
  Athens, GA..................................  AHN                     
  Atlantic City, NJ...........................  ACY                     
  Augusta, GA.................................  AGS                     
  Austin, TX..................................  AUS                     
  Bakersfield, CA.............................  BFL                     
  Bridgeport, CT..............................  BDR                     
  Bristol, TN.................................  TRI                     
  Casper, WY..................................  CPR                     
  Columbia, MO................................  COU                     
  Columbus, GA................................  CSG                     
  Dubuque, IA.................................  DBQ                     
  Elkins, WV..................................  EKN                     
  Erie, PA....................................  ERI                     
  Eugene, OR..................................  EUG                     
  Evansville, IN..............................  EVV                     
  Fargo, ND...................................  FAR                     
  Fort Smith, AR..............................  FSM                     
  Grand Island, NE............................  GRI                     
  Helena, MT..................................  HLN                     
  Huntington, WV..............................  HTS                     
  Huron, SD...................................  HON                     
  Kahului, HI.................................  OGG                     
  Key West, FL................................  EYW                     
  Lewiston, ID................................  LWS                     
  Lexington, KY...............................  LEX                     
  Lynchburg, VA...............................  LYH                     
  Macon, GA...................................  MCN                     
  Mansfield, OH...............................  MFD                     
  Meridian, MS................................  MEI                     
  Olympia, WA.................................  OLM                     
  Port Arthur, TX.............................  BPT                     
  Portland, ME................................  PWM                     
  Rapid City, SD..............................  RAP                     
  Redding, CA.................................  RDD                     
  Reno, NV....................................  RNO                     
  Roanoke, VA.................................  ROA                     
  Rochester, MN...............................  RST                     
  Salem, OR...................................  SLE                     
  Santa Maria, CA.............................  SMX                     
  Sioux City, IA..............................  SUX                     
  Springfield, IL.............................  SPI                     
  Stockton, CA................................  SCK                     
  Toledo, OH..................................  TOL                     
  Waco, TX....................................  ACT                     
  Waterloo, IA................................  ALO                     
  Wilkes-Barre, PA............................  AVP                     
  Williamsport, PA............................  IPT                     
  Wilmington, DE..............................  ILG                     
  Worcester, MA...............................  ORH                     
  Yakima, WA..................................  YKM                     
``D'' Level Service Airports:                                           
  Alamosa, CO.................................  ALS                     
  Alpena, MI..................................  APN                     
  Astoria, OR.................................  AST                     
  Beckley, WV.................................  BKW                     
  Caribou, ME.................................  CAR                     
  Concordia, KS...............................  CNK                     
  Concord, NH.................................  CON                     
  Ely, NV.....................................  ELY                     
  Havre, MT...................................  HVR                     
  Homer, AK...................................  HOM                     
  Houghton Lake, MI...........................  HTL                     
  International Falls, MN.....................  INL                     
  Kalispell, MT...............................  FCA                     
  Lander, WY..................................  LND                     
  Norfolk, NE.................................  OFK                     
  Sault Ste. Marie, MI........................  SSM                     
  Scottsbluff, NE.............................  BFF                     
  Sheridan, WY................................  SHR                     
  St. Cloud, MN...............................  STC                     
  Tupelo, MS..................................  TUP                     
  Valentine, NE...............................  VTN                     
  Victoria, TX................................  VCT                     
  Wichita, Falls, TX..........................  SPS                     
  Williston, ND...............................  ISN                     
  Winnemucca, NV..............................  WMC                     
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* Long-line RVR designated site.                                        

[FR Doc. 97-18913 Filed 7-18-97; 8:45 am]
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