FISCAL YEAR 1997
FCM P1-1996
JUNE 1996
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Since 1965, the Office of the Federal Coordinator has developed a federal plan which articulates the meteorological services provided and supporting research conducted by agencies of the federal government. As in the past, it provides Congress and the Executive Branch a comprehensive plan for meteorological services and supporting research within the federal meteorological community. "Supporting" research is defined as those research and development (R&D) programs that directly support and improve meteorological services. The plan reviews agency programs for FY 1996 and documents proposed programs for FY 1997.
Section 1 provides an overview and general summary of the entire document. Section 2 highlights interagency cooperation that is essential to meet the federal government's requirements for meteorological services. Section 3 contains a discussion of resources requested in the President's budget for FY 1997 as compared to those resources that Congress appropriated for FY 1996. This budget information along with other significant aspects are summarized in graphical format throughout this section and are current as of the end of June 1996. The emphasis is on changes in resources and the related changes in programs. Section 4 is a review article entitled Space Weather--A Challenge for Meteorologists. Appendices A through D describe individual agency weather activities and programs; Appendix E describes the World Weather Program; and Appendix F contains a list of acronyms.
The policy and program guidance for coordinating weather activities and programs is provided by the interagency committees shown on the inside front cover. These committees and the supporting organizational structure shown on the inside of the back cover conduct systematic and continuous reviews of federal programs and requirements for meteorological services and supporting research according to guidelines initially set forth in the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-62.
This edition of the Federal Plan contains some modifications to format and presentation of information. For example, the focus of Section 2 is now on OFCM's coordination and planning activities for the past year rather than descriptive, historical program information.
Lastly, the FY 1997 Federal Plan will be the first edition available on the Internet. In the near future, other OFCM publications will be converted to HTML format and available for viewing and distribution via our Web site--WWW.OFCM.GOV.
Julian M. Wright, Jr.
Federal Coordinator for Meteorological
Services
and Supporting Research