[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 242 (Monday, December 18, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 65056-65058] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-30627] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service Modernization and Associated Restructuring ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On October 27, 1995, the Secretary of Commerce released a report to Congress entitled, Secretary's Report to Congress on Adequacy of NEXRAD Coverage and Degradation of Weather Services under the National Weather Service Modernization for 32 Areas of Concern. This report was prepared by a Departmental team with expertise in radar meteorology, operational weather services, employee relations, and strategic planning. The Secretary's report applied the criteria developed in the National Research Council's (NRC) study, Toward a New National Weather Service--Assessment of NEXRAD Coverage and Associated Weather Services, which was delivered to the Secretary in June, 1995. The Modernization Transition Committee (MTC), a Federal advisory committee established by the Weather Service Modernization Act (WSMA), 15 U.S.C. 313 note, P.L. 102-567, was consulted on the Secretary's Report on October 30, 1995. The Secretary's report assessed the adequacy of Doppler weather surveillance radar (WSR-88D), also known as NEXRAD, coverage and degradation of weather services under the National Weather Service (NWS) modernization plan for 32 geographical areas of concern and identified mitigation actions for areas where degradation was indicated. Late last year, comments from the public were solicited to identify community concerns about possible degradation of weather services under the NWS modernization plan (published November 4, 1994, 59 FR 55254). Over 67,000 public comments were received from 32 different geographical areas. These 32 areas were then established as areas of concern to receive in depth analysis based on the NRC's assessment criteria (published February 23, 1995, 60 FR 10066). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Scanlon at 301-713-1413 or Nick Scheller at 301-713-0454. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Mitigation Recommendations: The mitigation recommendations contained in the report and the Secretary's transmittal letter are: Additional WSR-88Ds and/or WFO--The Secretary's team recommends the acquisition and siting of three additional WSR-88Ds and one Weather Forecast Office (WFO) to provide coverage for: ``(1) Northern Indiana and Northwest Ohio. The Team recommends that the National Weather Service install a WSR-88D, along with a fully staffed WFO, to provide forecast and warning services to the citizens of northern Indiana and northwestern Ohio. The Team finds that this combined area experiences a high frequency of especially severe weather, and that the present NEXRAD configuration will not provide the low level surveillance necessary for detecting reflectivity and velocity signatures associated with tornado formation and other severe weather phenomena. It is the opinion of the Team that the frequency of severe weather, areal extent of radar coverage degradation, increased work load associated with a large spotter network, argues for the establishment of a full-service WFO. In addition, the Team recommends that the NWS re-examine the distribution of county warning responsibility throughout northern Indiana and northwestern Ohio following placement of the WSR-88D. The Team further recommends that the Fort Wayne Weather Service Office and WSR-74C remain in service until the new WSR-88D and WFO are operational. (2) Northern Alabama and Southeast Tennessee. The Team recommends the addition of a WSR-88D optimized for coverage of severe weather phenomena (particularly mini-supercells and [[Page 65057]] macrobursts) in the northern Alabama, southeastern Tennessee, and northwestern Georgia region. The climatology of severe weather for this area is such that there are a significant number of tornadoes whose genesis is observable only from low level radar information. The recommended WSR-88D may be operated as a remote radar due to the accessibility of locations in the region, and reliability of commercial communications. The NWS should re-evaluate the county warning area distribution for future WFOs Nashville, TN, Birmingham, AL, Atlanta, GA, and Morristown, TN in order to determine which WFOs are best positioned to provide primary warning responsibilities for counties assumed from the Chattanooga and Huntsville areas. The Team further recommends that the Chattanooga and Huntsville WSR-74C's remain in service until the NWS commissions the new WSR-88D and achieves confirmation of services with users. (3) Northwest Arkansas/Eastern Oklahoma. The Team recommends that an additional WSR-88D be installed to the southwest of Fort Smith and operated with dedicated communications to both WFO Tulsa and WFO Little Rock. The Fort Smith area experiences a very high frequency of severe thunderstorms and flash floods. The southern portion of the Fort Smith county warning area, comprising the counties of Le Flore, Scott and Polk, is beyond the range of reliable detection of the low, mid and upper altitude radar features used to identify the severe thunderstorms and weak to moderate tornadoes associated with squall lines and intersecting outflow boundaries. Many of the storms move into the area from the southwest of these counties--an area also too far from surrounding WSR-88Ds for reliable severe weather identification. The Team further recommends that the Fort Smith WSR-74C remain in service until the NWS commissions the new WSR-88 and achieves confirmation of services with users.'' Continuation of Office Operations--The Secretary's team recommends the continuation of office operations at the following sites: (1) Caribou, Maine. The Team recommends continued operations at Caribou, Maine, until the NWS can: (a) Validate reliable communications and maintenance for the Hodgdon WSR-88D site; and (b) certify that other distance- and time-sensitive service considerations have been reconciled, including maintenance of equipment and the coordination of northern Maine emergency management requirements and community outreach. If solutions to remote radar (and other equipment) communications and maintenance reliability concerns cannot be found, and if adequate community coordination and outreach cannot be assured, the Team recommends that a nearby WFO be established. The office should incorporate, at a minimum, adequate staffing for maintaining and operating the radar for severe weather observations and the dissemination of warnings, and for coordinating outreach activities with northern Maine communities. (2) Key West, Florida. The Team recommends continued operations at Key West, Florida, until the NWS can validate reliable communications and maintenance between the Key West WSR-88D site and WFO Miami. If solutions to remote radar communications and maintenance reliability concerns cannot be found, the Team recommends a continued NWS presence at Key West, with, at a minimum, adequate staffing for maintaining and operating the radar for severe weather observations and the dissemination of warnings.'' Continuation of Radar Operations--The Secretary's team recommends continued radar operations at the following sites, in addition to those listed above: ``(1) Erie, Pennsylvania. As a result of the degraded radar coverage for certain lake-effect snow events, the Team recommends the continued operation of WSO Erie's WRS-74C pending the results of ``The Lake Effect Snow Study.'' This assessment should compare the adequacy of existing WSR-88D information, and other data sources (the composite system) with the local warning radar to determine capabilities for lake effect snow identification. The Team recommends that the NWS remote the WSR-74C data to WFO Cleveland in order to facilitate the schedule spindown of WSO Erie. (2) South Bend, Indiana. As a result of the degraded radar coverage for certain lake-effect snow events, the Team recommends continued radar operations at WSO South Bend pending the results of the lake effect snow study. This assessment should compare the adequacy of existing WSR-88D information, and other data sources (the composite system) with the local warning radar to determine capabilities for lake effect snow identification.'' Continuation of Office and Radar Operations--The Secretary decided to continue office and radar operations in the Williston, North Dakota, area. The following was extracted from the Secretary's transmittal letter: ``However, I remain concerned about the team's finding of significant degradation of radar coverage at the lower levels for the Williston, North Dakota, area. In this location, the team concluded that weather services should not be degraded, although their assessment included the finding that low-altitude radar coverage would be degraded over portions of all eight counties of the county warning area for certain weather phenomena. The geographic area which would experience some level of degradation of radar information is far more extensive than for any of the other areas examined. Therefore, I have decided that the NWS will maintain the operations of the Williston Weather Service Office and its associated radar for a period of two years before implementing the team's recommendation to proceed with planned radar decommissioning and weather office closure. During this time, the NWS will conduct an operational evaluation to assess whether mid- and upper-altitude NEXRAD data and information from composite system sources provide adequate information to detect, and warn for, all weather phenomena of concern. The team concurs with my decision.'' Funding for Mitigation Recommendations: There are no resources (dollars or work force positions) in the current NWS budget for additional radars or offices beyond those already identified in the strategic plan for NWS modernization. Additional radars and offices identified in the Secretary's report will require additional funding authority and appropriations. Recommended mitigation actions, identified in the Secretary's report, will be reflected in the normal budget process beginning in fiscal year 1997. Release of Remaining Areas of Concern: Actions to close, consolidate, relocate, or automate any field office or decommission any NWS radar in an area of concern were prohibited until the Secretary had reported to Congress that he believed that such actions would not result in a degradation of service and a 30-day grace period had elapsed. The Secretary's report was submitted to Congress on October 27, 1995, and the 30-day grace period elapsed on November 27, 1995. Thus the prohibition on actions to close, consolidate, relocate, or automate any field office or decommission any NWS radar in an area of concern is removed for the following areas of concern where the Secretary's report found no degradation of service: [[Page 65058]] WSO Asheville, NC WSO Astoria, OR WSO Athens, GA WSO Baton Rouge, LA WSO Cape Hatteras, NC WSO Charlotte, NC WSO Colorado Springs, CO WSO Del Rio, TX WSO Elkins, WV WSO Evansville, IN WSO Grand Island, NE WSO Greensboro, NC WSO Harrisburg, PA WSO International Falls, MN WSO Kalispell, MT WSO Lexington, KY WSO Montgomery, AL WSO Redding, CA WSO Toledo, OH WSO Wichita Falls, TX WSO Wilmington, DE WSO Hondo, TX Central Oregon/Central Washington The Secretary is still required to satisfy the requirement of sec. 706(b) of the WSMA to certify no degradation of service when she/he restructures a filed office. If the field office is located in an area of concern, the Secretary is required to provide all public comments relating to that area of concern to the Modernization Transition Committee during the certification process. Obtaining Copies of the Secretary's Report: The Secretary's report consists of two volumes. Volume 1 provides the overall report and includes the methodology used by the Secretary's team and a summary of assessment results for each of the 32 areas of concern. Volume 2 consists of an individual package of information for each of the 32 areas of concern. Each package includes all the detailed information considered by the team in making its assessment of potential degradation of service. The report has been submitted to the U.S. Government Printing Office for printing. Copies should be available in February 1996. Distribution of Volume 1 is planned throughout NWS and to Congress and people who submitted the public comments that established the areas of concern. Volume 2 will be available by request only. If you would like a copy of Volume 1 and/or Volume 2 mailed to you, please specify which area(s) of concern you want and send your name and address to: National Weather Service, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3283, Attn: Wx21-Patricia Daenecke. In the interim, copies of the report are available to the public at centrally located libraries in each of the 32 areas of concern. A list of these libraries is attached to this notice. Dated: December 7, 1995. Louis J. Boezi, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Modernization. List of Libraries Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801 Astoria Public Library, 459 Tenth Street, Astoria, OR 97103 Athens/Clark County Library, 2025 Baxter Street, Athens, GA 30606 East Baton Rouge Parish, Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Dare County Library Hatteras Branch, Hatteras Community Center, P.O. Box 309, Hatteras, NC 27943 Caribou Public Library, 30 High Street, Caribou, ME 04736 Deschutes County Library, 507 NW Wall Street, Bend, OR 97701 Yakima Valley Regional Library, 102 North 3rd Street, Yakima, WA 98901 The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, 310 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 Chattanooga/Hamilton County Bicentennial Library, 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402 Pikes Peak Library District, 5550 North Union Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO 80901 Val Verde County Public Library, 300 Spring Street, Del Rio, TX 78840 Elkins-Randolph Public Library, 416 Davis Avenue, Elkins, WV 26241 Erie County Library, 27 South Park Row, Erie, PA 16501-1102 Evansville-Vanderburgh County Public Library, 22 Southeast Fifth Street, Evansville, IN 47708-1604 Fort Smith Public Library, 61 South 8th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901 Allen County Public Library, P.O. Box 2270, Fort Wayne, IN 46801 Edith Abbott Memorial Library, 211 North Washington, Grand Island, NE 68801-5855 Greensboro Public Library, 201 North Greene Street, P.O. Box 3178, Greensboro, NC 27402 Dauphin County Library System, 101 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-234-4961 Hondo Public Library, 1011 19th Street, Hondo, TX 78861 Huntsville/Madison County Public Library, 915 Monroe Street, Huntsville, AL 35801 International Falls Public Library, 750 Fourth Street, International Falls, MN 56649 Flathead County Library, 247 1st Avenue East, Kalispell, MT 59901 Monroe County Library, 700 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040-6897 Lexington Public Library, 140 East Main, Lexington, KY 40507-1376 Montgomery City/County Library, 245 High Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 Shasta County Public Library, 1855 Shasta Street, Redding, CA 96001 Saint Joseph County Public Library, 304 South Main, South Bend, IN 46601-2125 Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, 325 North Michigan Street, Toledo, Ohio 43624 Wichita Falls Public Library, 1300 Lamar, Wichita Falls, TX 76301 Williston Community Library, 1302 Davidson Drive, Williston, ND 58801 Wilmington Institute Library, 10th and Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 FR Doc. 95-30627 Filed 12-15-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-12-M