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To: U.S. National Science Foundation
Re: NSF Intent to Restructure Critical Weather Infrastructure
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) intent to restructure the critical weather infrastructure at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The Boulder County Commissioners are taking this opportunity to express our strong support for the continuation of NCAR and its critical weather, climate, and air quality research that informs decision making at the county and state level. Boulder County strongly opposes any efforts to dismantle NCAR, privatize any of its programs, or reorganize its functions.
We realize that while the NSF is seeking concrete information on how to restructure the Boulder lab going forward, Boulder County wishes to express our support for the existing work NCAR does and demonstrate how useful the research is for the county and our community. The NSF is seeking input on NCAR’s weather modeling and atmospheric observing capabilities, and Boulder County would like to offer the following examples of how NCAR’s current work is essential to the county’s work.
Boulder County has experienced many climate-driven disasters in recent years and NCAR’s research and data assists the county as we work on resilience to better prepare and protect our residents. Weather and climate science are intertwined and all these experts are crucial to our safety. The Boulder Office of Disaster Management for Boulder County and the City of Boulder utilize the pass-through work that NCAR does in research, modeling, and climate forecasting locally in our preparedness and response to natural hazards. The office utilizes the meteorological and climate expertise of NCAR through reports, seminars and data access to help with understanding atmospheric elements such as wind, precipitation, and severe weather pattern analysis to adjust preparedness work with responders and the community. In addition, NCAR’s work greatly assists in analyzing storms, flash floods, wildfires, and space weather forecasts. The NCAR relationship has improved public safety and saved lives in Boulder County.
In the areas of air quality and climate policy, Boulder County relies on many studies and data compiled by NCAR when we engage on local, state, and federal policy, including in our regulatory and legislative work. For example, Boulder County has used these studies in briefs submitted to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) as part of rulemaking hearings. One invaluable example of NCAR’s research has been the Front Range Air Pollution and Photochemistry Éxperiment (FRAPPÉ), a major field campaign that studied summertime ozone pollution in the Northern Colorado Front Range Metropolitan Area (NFRMA). The county has used this study in briefs submitted along with many other local governments in the NFRMA ozone nonattainment area to demonstrate why we need stronger public health protections from the unhealthy high ozone pollution that our communities have suffered from for many years.
These are just a few examples of the type of studies and activities conducted by NCAR that are not duplicated at any other organizations or entities. NCAR is a world-class institution that not only provides invaluable weather information but that is also an economic engine for Colorado, employing more than 800 people. Their expertise and public service is one of the great assets of our community. In addition to the grave consequences to climate research, closing NCAR would severely impact Boulder County's economy. NCAR hosts hundreds of scientists, many who live in, and are community members and taxpayers of, Boulder County. Eliminating or moving these vital jobs would impact our tax base and our ability to provide the programs and services Boulder County residents rely on.
During the days in December when news was breaking about plans to dismantle NCAR, the Boulder area around it was experiencing Colorado’s first “particularly dangerous situation” issued for fire weather with record high temperatures, low humidity, and wind gusts approaching 100 miles per hour. A Public Safety Power Shutoff was put in place for much of our community to protect life and property. Without the collaboration of NCAR, NOAA, and NWS, we would not have the warning we need to predict, prepare for, and withstand increasingly threatening weather year-round. Increasingly dangerous weather doesn’t just affect our community - from Texas to North Carolina, Washington State to Washington DC, communities rely on this foresight to stay safe and prosperous.
Thank you for your consideration of our comments.
Claire Levy, Commissioner
Marta Loachamin, Commissioner
Ashley Stolzman, Commissioner
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