Weather Service Modernization Criteria

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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