Jane Lubchenco, administrator of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is at the Western Governors Association today to sign a memorandum of understanding on making crucial weather and climate science information more broadly available to the states and others in the west. "I think it goes without saying that few environmental factors affect our economy ... businesses and lives ... more than weather and climate," Lubchenko said. She noted the "extraordinary does of severe weather" the nation suffered this spring. Preliminary estimates put the damage at more than $20 billion, she said. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said, "We're very excited about signing this agreement to memorialize our great working relationship," shortly before the WGA voted unanimously to approve it. Said Lubchenko, "I look forward to a long and very robust working relationship with WGA on these issues." Here's a link to a full announcement from the WGA.

---

---