[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 234 (Monday, December 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67460-67461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32450]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)


Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and 
Training (COMET)

AGENCY: National Weather Service (NWS).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Issue Notice of Noncompetitive Financial 
Assistance Award.

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SUMMARY: NOAA issues this notice to announce its fiscal year 1999 plan 
to continue its financial support of the COMET Cooperative Agreement 
sponsored by the NWS. The COMET program, which is part of the 
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), establishes 
scientific training in meteorology for Federal agencies, the private 
sector, and universities; expedites the transfer of scientific 
knowledge; provides for formal collaborative research agreements 
between the NWS and participating universities and other groups; and 
finds innovative ways to enhance the performance of weather forecasters 
and improve the utilization of weather products by the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LeRoy Spayd, Chief, Science and 
Training Core, Office of Meteorology, NWS, Room 13308, 1325 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Telephone: 301-713-1970 x 194. 
E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The COMET cooperative agreement represents a 
close link between NOAA staff and universities, enabling the

[[Page 67461]]

participating university staff, students, and NWS operational staff to 
share observations, interpretations, and theory of the complex 
atmospheric circulations, which are now observable with new information 
obtained through the modernization of the NWS. A Memorandum of 
Agreement (MOA) exists between UCAR and NOAA although no financial 
assistance is provided through the MOA. The research is currently 
funded by a cooperative agreement. The period of the cooperative 
agreement starting with the fiscal year 1999 funding cycle will be for 
3 years.
    Subject to the availability of funds, NOAA intends to continue 
support to the COMET program during the fiscal year 1999 funding cycle. 
The COMET program is a cooperative agreement between the NWS and the 
UCAR, which represents all universities with meteorology and 
oceanographic graduate and undergraduate programs. We believe UCAR is 
the only entity which can draw on all of the talent of the 
participating universities to provide the programs needed by the 
Federal and university meteorological community.
    NOAA does not intend to establish or fund new cooperative 
agreements at this time. This notice is not a solicitation for 
proposals.
    Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance: The NWS COMET program is 
listed in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance under number 
11.467, Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development.
    Classification: This action has been determined not to be 
significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.

    Dated: December 1, 1998.
John J. Kelly, Jr.,
Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.
[FR Doc. 98-32450 Filed 12-4-98; 8:45 am]
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