NWS operations also support other agencies’ missions and the nation’s commercial interests. Scope and Methodology

To assess the degree of NWS analysis in support of the planned closure of the southern regional headquarters office, we reviewed NWS documents, including a transition report on the closure, cost comparisons of maintaining a four mainland regional structure versus a three mainland regional structure, alternative plans for keeping the four mainland regional structures intact, and the estimated cost savings associated with the closure of the southern region. Further, NWS officials did not fill 118 vacant positions in fiscal year 1997. The director of the eastern regional headquarters office was very concerned that his office would be taking on far greater responsibilities than could be managed. No Viable, Documented Alternative Developed for Maintaining Current Regional Structure

NWS headquarters did not, according to its deputy for operations, develop any documented alternative plans that would enable it to keep intact the current regional structure of four mainland offices and to meet the budget shortfall and minimize adverse impact to weather service users. This proposal was similarly rejected for exceeding the regional staffing target of 189. By not completing and documenting a risk analysis to support its decision to close the southern regional headquarters office, NWS does not have an adequate basis on which to assure weather service users in that area that they will not be exposed to unnecessary risk. Recommendation

To ensure that weather service users are not adversely affected by a decision to restructure NWS offices, we recommend that, prior to making any decision to close the southern regional headquarters office, the Secretary of Commerce direct that the Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, complete a documented analysis of the risks associated with a range of alternative actions to address NWS budget shortfalls.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed proposed staffing cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS), focusing on the NWS analysis: (1) supporting the planned closure of its southern regional headquarters office; and (2) of alternative plans for maintaining its current regional structure of four mainland offices.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) NWS did not perform any documented risk analysis to support its decision to close its southern regional headquarters office; (2) accelerating the planned closure of this office was one of several actions taken in response to a budget shortfall estimated by both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NWS to be about $47 million for fiscal year 1997; (3) while acknowledging that no risk analysis was conducted, NWS officials stated that, on the basis of their professional judgment, no degradation of service would occur from the closure because the southern region's responsibilities would be transferred to other regional offices; (4) weather service users have raised concerns, however, including whether the closure would adversely affect weather services and jeopardize public safety and the protection of property; (5) several alternative strategies for maintaining the current regional structure were proposed by NWS regional offices; (6) headquarters officials rejected these strategies primarily because they did not meet the agency's overall staffing targets for the regions; and (7) because of uncertainties surrounding NWS funding, the Secretary of Commerce announced on June 25, 1997, that a decision to close the southern regional office would be delayed for 60 days, to give outside experts an opportunity to complete a review of NWS' budget and operations.