Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 5.djvu/669

 PUBLIC LAW 102-567—OCT. 29, 1992 106 STAT. 4307 (e) SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. —The Secretary may not close or relocate any field office— (1) which is located at an airport, unless the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Committee, first conducts an air safety appraisal, determines that such action will not result in degradation of service that affects aircraft safety, and includes such determination in the certification required under subsection (b); or (2) which is the only office in a State, unless the Secretary first evaluates the effect on weather services provided to in- State users, such as State agencies, civil defense officials, and local public safety offices, and includes in the certification required under subsection (b) the Secretary's determination that a comparable level of weather services provided to such in-State users will remain. (f) LIAISON OFFICER.—The Secretary may not close, consolidate, automate, or relocate a field office until arrangements have been made to maintain for a period of at least 2 years at least one person in the service area to act as a liaison officer who— (1) provides timely information regarding the activities of the National Weather Service which may affect service to the community, including modernization and restructuring; and (2) works with area weather service users, including persons associated with general aviation, civil defense, emergency preparedness, and the news media, with respect to the provision of timely weather warnings and forecasts. SEC. 707. MODERNIZATION TRANSITION COMMITTEE. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— There is established a committee of 12 members to be known as the Modernization Transition Committee. (b) MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS. —(1) The Committee shall consist of— (A) five members representing agencies and departments of the United States which are responsible for providing or using weather services, including out not limited to the National Weather Service, the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and (B) seven members to be appointed by the Secretary from civil defense and public safety organizations, news media, any labor organization certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority as an exclusive representative of weather service employees, meteorological experts, and private sector users of weather information such as pilots and farmers. (2) The terms of office of a member of the Committee shall be 3 years; except that, of the original membership, four shall serve a 5-year term, four shall serve a 4-year term, and four shall serve a 3-year term. No individual may serve for more than one additional 3-year term. (3) The Secretary shall designate a chairman of the Committee from among its members. (c) DUTIES.—(1) The Committee may review any proposed certification under section 706 for which the Secretary nas provided a notice of intent to certify in the Plan, and should review such a proposed certification if there is a significant possibility of degradation of service within the affected service area. Upon the request of the Committee, the Secretary shall make available to

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