The report that was compiled by a team from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sent to investigate the festering mistrust of Bill Proenza by many of the hurricane forecasters that work for him was released today:

“The current TPC director should be reassigned and not be allowed to return to his position at the center. This should be done due to his failure to demonstrate leadership within the TPC,” according to the report obtained by ABC News.

The report harshly criticizes Proenza and notes the rift between him and his staff compromised the work being done at the center — a potential public safety issue.

“The short term ability of the TPC to provide accurate and timely information was put at risk due to the TPC director’s disruptive conduct and the lack of trust between many staff and the director,” according to the report. “The negative work environment, exacerbated by the director, has had — and is likely to continue to have — a major deleterious impact on the center’s ability to fulfill its mission, if he is allowed to return to his position.”

Despite the reports findings Proenza told congress he wants his job back. (More after the jump.)

“I am still the center’s director,” he told lawmakers. “I need to get back to work. I am ready to repair bruised relationships, wherever they may be, with whatever mediators and things that we feel may be the best way to move forward.”

He continued, however, to assert that the loss of QuikScat would be like “losing a limb” and would set hurricane forecasting back seven years.

“I dared to call attention to it. And by golly I am going to pay the price for bringing this to the attention of the American people,” Proenza said.

Proenza testified at a joint hearing of the House Energy and Environment and Investigations and Oversight subcommittees.

It is hard to know what exactly went on down in Miami at the NHC. You go back to Brendan’s post on June 17th, 2007 “NHC director bullied for making sensible demands” it seemed most of us were on his side. It appeared he was standing up for his office and wanted the government to help make sure the responsibilities of the TPC were not hindered in any way.

Fast forward to July and all of a sudden it went from poor Bill to what is going on down there. NOAA sends in a surprise inspection, a full blown mutiny takes place and then Bill Proenza loses his job.

I think the end of the ABC News report does a good job at summarizing just how most of us feel about this issue.

Lawmakers urged the NOAA and the hurricane center to put aside the dispute and

get back to its primary mission of providing the best hurricane predictions possible

.

“I think the public is tired of hearing about this debate,” said Rep. Ron Klein, D-Fla. “I think the public is much more interested in making sure that public safety is No. 1.”

NOAA administrator Conrad Lautenbacher also appeared before the committee, reassuring members that his agency is ready.

“NOAA, the National Weather Serivce and the Tropical Prediction Center are fully prepared for this hurricance season,” Lautenbacher said. “Our forecasting ability continues to improve, and the American people can expect nothing less than the full capabilities of the National Hurricane Center.”

So lets get on with Hurricane season, and as Brendan said in a previous post on this topic, “I Miss Max Mayfield.”

Also if you have time you can check out my weather blog WX-Man.com. It mainly focuses on Erie, PA weather but from time to time I talk about other weather topics. Feel free to leave your input, always looking for ways to improve on my site.