52 



• Identification of areas within a State that would not receive coverage at an ele- 

 vation of 10,000 feet by the NEXRAD network (none in South Dakota); 



• Evidence, based upon an operational demonstration of modernized NWS oper- 

 ations, that was considered in concluding that service would not be degraded from 

 such action; 



• A report prepared by the Modernization Transition Committee that evaluates 

 the proposed certification; and 



• If at an airport, an air safety appraisal conducted by the Secretary of Com- 

 merce in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Modernization 

 Transition Committee, determining that such action will not degrade service that 

 affects aircraft safety (on closure only). 



Question. What steps have been taken in this regard? 



Answer. Weather Service staff have briefed a wide range of users, including 

 media and local governments, on Weather Service plans in South Dakota. To date, 

 office facilities are being prepared and systems deliveries begin later this year. As 

 the modernization progresses in South Dakota, the Weather Service will follow the 

 process outlined above. 



Question. I understand that NOAA's budget request did not include funding for 

 the Federal-State Cooperative Weather Modification Program. This program has 

 been ongoing for several years and provides essential funding for six states to con- 

 duct ongoing research on atmospheric modifications. South Dakota is not one of the 

 six, but South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, in Rapid City, participates 

 through the North Dakota and Illinois component of the program. The research con- 

 ducted includes analysis of thunderstorm data and computer modeling for cloud 

 seeding experiments. Are you familiar with this program? Why didn't NOAA include 

 further funding? Will some other federalprogram support this ongoing research? 



Answer. The original Federal/State Cooperative Weather Modification Program 

 funding was a result of a Congressional add-on to the FY 1979 budget. Starting with 

 one State, North Dakota, the research program has grown over the intervening 

 years to include six States (North Dakota, Utah, Nevada, Illinois, Arizona and 

 Texas), with concurrent increases in funding. Traditionally, all funds provided by 

 Congress for this program have been passed through to the individual participating 

 states as grants, with minimal participation by NOAA scientists and managers. 



Although the research conducted in the weather modification program has been 

 good, this type of state oriented cloud physics and precipitation research is more ap- 

 propriately the responsibility of the individual states receiving direct benefits. 

 Therefore, funding for this program was not included in our budget request. Addi- 

 tionally, the National Science Foundation, in the past, has been involved in weather 

 modification research. 



O 



ISBN 0-16-043570-6 



9 78 



Q160"435706 



90000 



