[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 15, Volume 3]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 15CFR946.6]



[Page 278]

 

                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE

 

CHAPTER IX--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 

                               OF COMMERCE

 

PART 946_MODERNIZATION OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE--Table of Contents

 

Sec. 946.6  Change in operations--transferring responsibility and moving 

field offices.



    (a) After providing any notification required by Sec. 946.3(b), NWS 

may change operations at a field office to implement the Strategic Plan, 

including:

    (1) Transferring official responsibility for taking radar 

observations to a NEXRAD Weather Service Forecast Office (NWSFO) or a 

NEXRAD Weather Service Office (NWSO) that is being established as a 

future Weather Forecast Office following commissioning of the NEXRAD at 

the new office;

    (2) Transferring official responsibility for taking observations 

from a Category 1 radar to a backup radar or radars prior to 

constructing and/or operating a replacement NEXRAD. Before transferring 

responsibility, the Responsible Meteorologist shall document that 

technical coordination with users has been completed and that the 

transition to the replacement NEXRAD can be completed expeditiously;

    (3) Transferring its service responsibility for issuing watches, 

warnings, forecasts and other products to a NWSFO or NWSO;

    (4) Significantly reducing its staffing level by transferring or 

reassigning personnel to support the service responsibilities 

transferred under paragraph (a)(3) of this section provided that the 

field office continues to assign the appropriate number of positions 

established by the NWS Operations Manual to carry out its observation 

responsibilities; and

    (5) Moving an entire field office to a location within the local 

commuting and service area of that office.

    (b) A field office may not significantly reduce its staffing level 

assigned to support any observation responsibility, including those 

responsibilities transferred under paragraph (a)(2) of this section and 

those retained under paragraph (a)(4) of this section, until the 

Secretary has certified that the automation and/or consolidation will 

not degrade service in accordance with Sec. 946.7.