Grant and cooperative agreement awards: Operational meteorology, education, and training cooperative program (COMET); University Corporation for Atmospheric Research,

[Federal Register: December 7, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 234)]

[Notices]

[Page 67460-67461]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr07de98-41]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training (COMET)

AGENCY: National Weather Service (NWS).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Issue Notice of Noncompetitive Financial Assistance Award.

SUMMARY: NOAA issues this notice to announce its fiscal year 1999 plan to continue its financial support of the COMET Cooperative Agreement sponsored by the NWS. The COMET program, which is part of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), establishes scientific training in meteorology for Federal agencies, the private sector, and universities; expedites the transfer of scientific knowledge; provides for formal collaborative research agreements between the NWS and participating universities and other groups; and finds innovative ways to enhance the performance of weather forecasters and improve the utilization of weather products by the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LeRoy Spayd, Chief, Science and Training Core, Office of Meteorology, NWS, Room 13308, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Telephone: 301-713-1970 x 194. E-mail: leroy.spayd@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The COMET cooperative agreement represents a close link between NOAA staff and universities, enabling the

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participating university staff, students, and NWS operational staff to share observations, interpretations, and theory of the complex atmospheric circulations, which are now observable with new information obtained through the modernization of the NWS. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) exists between UCAR and NOAA although no financial assistance is provided through the MOA. The research is currently funded by a cooperative agreement. The period of the cooperative agreement starting with the fiscal year 1999 funding cycle will be for 3 years.

Subject to the availability of funds, NOAA intends to continue support to the COMET program during the fiscal year 1999 funding cycle. The COMET program is a cooperative agreement between the NWS and the UCAR, which represents all universities with meteorology and oceanographic graduate and undergraduate programs. We believe UCAR is the only entity which can draw on all of the talent of the participating universities to provide the programs needed by the Federal and university meteorological community.

NOAA does not intend to establish or fund new cooperative agreements at this time. This notice is not a solicitation for proposals.

Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance: The NWS COMET program is listed in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance under number 11.467, Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development.

Classification: This action has been determined not to be significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.

Dated: December 1, 1998. John J. Kelly, Jr., Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.

[FR Doc. 98-32450Filed12-4-98; 8:45 am]

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