Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 5.djvu/668

 106 STAT. 4306 PUBLIC LAW 102-567 —OCT. 29, 1992 Federal Register, publication. Federal Register, publication. to operate the system, technical coordination with weather service users has been completed, and the radar being commissioned satisfactorily supports field office operations. The decommissioning report shall document that the replacement radar has been commissioned, technical coordination with service users has been completed, and the radar being decommissioned is no longer needed to support field office operations. (c) SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM COMMISSIONING. —The Secretary may not commission an automated surface observing system located at an airport unless it is determined, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, that the weather services provided after commissioning will continue to be in full compliance with applicable flight aviation rules promulgated by the Federal Aviation Administration. SEC. 706. RESTRUCTURING FIELD OFFICES. SEC. 706. (a) PROHIBITION.— The Secretary shall not close, before January 1, 1996, any field office pursuant to implementation of the Strategic Plan. (b) CERTIFICATION. — The Secretary shall not close, consolidate, automate, or relocate any field office, unless the Secretary has certified that such action will not result in any degradation of service. Such certification shall include— (1) a description of local weather characteristics and weather-related concerns which affect the weather services provided within the service area; (2) a detailed comparison of the services provided within the service area and the services to be provided after such action; (3) a description of any recent or expected modernization of National Weather Service operations which will enhance services in the service area; (4) an identification of any area within any State which would not receive coverage (at an elevation of 10,000 feet) by the next generation weather radar network; (5) evidence, based upon operational demonstration of modernized National Weather Service operations, which was considered in reaching the conclusion that no degradation in service will result from such action; and (6) any report of the Committee submitted under section 707(c) that evaluates the proposed certification. (c) PUBLIC REVIEW. —Each certification decision shall be preceded by— (1) publication in the Federal Register of a proposed certification; and (2) a 60-day period after such publication during which the public may provide comments to the Secretary on the proposed certification. (d) FINAL DECISION. —I f after consideration of the public comment received under subsection (c) the Secretary, in consultation with the Committee, decides to close, consolidate, automate, or relocate any such field office, the Secretary shall publish a final certification in the Federal Register and submit the certification to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.

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