(a) Prohibition.—The Secretary shall not close, before January 1, 1996, any field office pursuant to implementation of the Strategic Plan.
“(b) Certification.—The Secretary shall not close, consolidate, automate, or relocate any field office, unless the Secretary has certified that such action will not result in any degradation of service. Such certification shall include—“(1) a description of local weather characteristics and weather-related concerns which affect the weather services provided within the service area;
“(2) a detailed comparison of the services provided within the service area and the services to be provided after such action;
“(3) a description of any recent or expected modernization of National Weather Service operations which will enhance services in the service area;
“(4) an identification of any area within any State which would not receive coverage (at an elevation of 10,000 feet) by the next generation weather radar network;
“(5) evidence, based upon operational demonstration of modernized National Weather Service operations, which was considered in reaching the conclusion that no degradation in service will result from such action; and
“(6) any report of the Committee submitted under section 707(c) that evaluates the proposed certification.
“(c) Public Review.—Each certification decision shall be preceded by—“(1) publication in the Federal Register of a proposed certification; and
“(2) a 60-day period after such publication during which the public may provide comments to the Secretary on the proposed certification.
“(d) Final Decision.—If after consideration of the public comment received under subsection (c) the Secretary, in consultation with the Committee, decides to close, consolidate, automate, or relocate any such field office, the Secretary shall publish a final certification in the Federal Register and submit the certification to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.
“(e) Special Circumstances.—The Secretary may not close or relocate any field office—“(1) which is located at an airport, unless the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Committee, first conducts an air safety appraisal, determines that such action will not result in degradation of service that affects aircraft safety, and includes such determination in the certification required under subsection (b); or
“(2) which is the only office in a State, unless the Secretary first evaluates the effect on weather services provided to in-State users, such as State agencies, civil defense officials, and local public safety offices, and includes in the certification required under subsection (b) the Secretary’s determination that a comparable level of weather services provided to such in-State users will remain.
“(f) Liaison Officer.—The Secretary may not close, consolidate, automate, or relocate a field office until arrangements have been made to maintain for a period of at least 2 years at least one person in the service area to act as a liaison officer who—“(1) provides timely information regarding the activities of the National Weather Service which may affect service to the community, including modernization and restructuring; and
“(2) works with area weather service users, including persons associated with general aviation, civil defense, emergency preparedness, and the news media, with respect to the provision of timely weather warnings and forecasts.