diff --git a/ecf/defs/aqm_cycled.def b/ecf/defs/aqm_cycled.def
index c76f534105..823b195927 100644
--- a/ecf/defs/aqm_cycled.def
+++ b/ecf/defs/aqm_cycled.def
@@ -22,30 +22,30 @@ suite nco_aqm
           family nexus
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_00
               edit NSPT '00'
-              trigger :TIME == 0142
+              trigger :TIME >= 0142 and :TIME < 0742
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_01
               edit NSPT '01'
-              trigger :TIME == 0142
+              trigger :TIME >= 0142 and :TIME < 0742
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_02
               edit NSPT '02'
-              trigger :TIME == 0142
+              trigger :TIME >= 0142 and :TIME < 0742
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_03
               edit NSPT '03'
-              trigger :TIME == 0142
+              trigger :TIME >= 0142 and :TIME < 0742
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_04
               edit NSPT '04'
-              trigger :TIME == 0142
+              trigger :TIME >= 0142 and :TIME < 0742
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_05
               edit NSPT '05'
-              trigger :TIME == 0142
+              trigger :TIME >= 0142 and :TIME < 0742
             task jaqm_nexus_post_split
               trigger ./jaqm_nexus_emission_00==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_01==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_02==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_03==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_04==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_05==complete
           endfamily
           family prep
             task jaqm_make_ics
-              trigger :TIME == 0142
+              trigger :TIME >= 0142 and :TIME < 0742
             task jaqm_make_lbcs
-              trigger :TIME == 0142
+              trigger :TIME >= 0142 and :TIME < 0742
             task jaqm_ics
               trigger ./jaqm_make_ics==complete
             task jaqm_lbcs
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ suite nco_aqm
           endfamily
           family pts_fire_emis
             task jaqm_point_source
-              trigger :TIME == 0142
+              trigger :TIME >= 0142 and :TIME < 0742
             task jaqm_fire_emission
-              trigger :TIME == 0142
+              trigger :TIME >= 0142 and :TIME < 0742
           endfamily
           family forecast
             task jaqm_forecast
@@ -121,30 +121,30 @@ suite nco_aqm
           family nexus
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_00
               edit NSPT '00'
-              trigger :TIME == 0742
+              trigger :TIME >= 0742 and :TIME < 1342
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_01
               edit NSPT '01'
-              trigger :TIME == 0742
+              trigger :TIME >= 0742 and :TIME < 1342
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_02
               edit NSPT '02'
-              trigger :TIME == 0742
+              trigger :TIME >= 0742 and :TIME < 1342
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_03
               edit NSPT '03'
-              trigger :TIME == 0742
+              trigger :TIME >= 0742 and :TIME < 1342
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_04
               edit NSPT '04'
-              trigger :TIME == 0742
+              trigger :TIME >= 0742 and :TIME < 1342
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_05
               edit NSPT '05'
-              trigger :TIME == 0742
+              trigger :TIME >= 0742 and :TIME < 1342
             task jaqm_nexus_post_split
               trigger ./jaqm_nexus_emission_00==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_01==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_02==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_03==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_04==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_05==complete
           endfamily
           family prep
             task jaqm_make_ics
-              trigger :TIME == 0742
+              trigger :TIME >= 0742 and :TIME < 1342
             task jaqm_make_lbcs
-              trigger :TIME == 0742
+              trigger :TIME >= 0742 and :TIME < 1342
             task jaqm_ics
               trigger ./jaqm_make_ics==complete
             task jaqm_lbcs
@@ -152,9 +152,9 @@ suite nco_aqm
           endfamily
           family pts_fire_emis
             task jaqm_point_source
-              trigger :TIME == 0742
+              trigger :TIME >= 0742 and :TIME < 1342
             task jaqm_fire_emission
-              trigger :TIME == 0742
+              trigger :TIME >= 0742 and :TIME < 1342
           endfamily
           family forecast
             task jaqm_forecast
@@ -494,30 +494,30 @@ suite nco_aqm
           family nexus
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_00
               edit NSPT '00'
-              trigger :TIME == 1342
+              trigger :TIME >= 1342 and :TIME < 1942
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_01
               edit NSPT '01'
-              trigger :TIME == 1342
+              trigger :TIME >= 1342 and :TIME < 1942
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_02
               edit NSPT '02'
-              trigger :TIME == 1342
+              trigger :TIME >= 1342 and :TIME < 1942
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_03
               edit NSPT '03'
-              trigger :TIME == 1342
+              trigger :TIME >= 1342 and :TIME < 1942
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_04
               edit NSPT '04'
-              trigger :TIME == 1342
+              trigger :TIME >= 1342 and :TIME < 1942
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_05
               edit NSPT '05'
-              trigger :TIME == 1342
+              trigger :TIME >= 1342 and :TIME < 1942
             task jaqm_nexus_post_split
               trigger ./jaqm_nexus_emission_00==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_01==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_02==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_03==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_04==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_05==complete
           endfamily
           family prep
             task jaqm_make_ics
-              trigger :TIME == 1342
+              trigger :TIME >= 1342 and :TIME < 1942
             task jaqm_make_lbcs
-              trigger :TIME == 1342
+              trigger :TIME >= 1342 and :TIME < 1942
             task jaqm_ics
               trigger ./jaqm_make_ics==complete
             task jaqm_lbcs
@@ -525,9 +525,9 @@ suite nco_aqm
           endfamily
           family pts_fire_emis
             task jaqm_point_source
-              trigger :TIME == 1342
+              trigger :TIME >= 1342 and :TIME < 1942
             task jaqm_fire_emission
-              trigger :TIME == 1342
+              trigger :TIME >= 1342 and :TIME < 1942
           endfamily
           family forecast
             task jaqm_forecast
@@ -867,30 +867,30 @@ suite nco_aqm
           family nexus
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_00
               edit NSPT '00'
-              trigger :TIME == 2042
+              trigger :TIME >= 1942 and :TIME < 2342
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_01
               edit NSPT '01'
-              trigger :TIME == 2042
+              trigger :TIME >= 1942 and :TIME < 2342
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_02
               edit NSPT '02'
-              trigger :TIME == 2042
+              trigger :TIME >= 1942 and :TIME < 2342
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_03
               edit NSPT '03'
-              trigger :TIME == 2042
+              trigger :TIME >= 1942 and :TIME < 2342
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_04
               edit NSPT '04'
-              trigger :TIME == 2042
+              trigger :TIME >= 1942 and :TIME < 2342
             task jaqm_nexus_emission_05
               edit NSPT '05'
-              trigger :TIME == 2042
+              trigger :TIME >= 1942 and :TIME < 2342
             task jaqm_nexus_post_split
               trigger ./jaqm_nexus_emission_00==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_01==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_02==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_03==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_04==complete and ./jaqm_nexus_emission_05==complete
           endfamily
           family prep
             task jaqm_make_ics
-              trigger :TIME == 2042
+              trigger :TIME >= 1942 and :TIME < 2342
             task jaqm_make_lbcs
-              trigger :TIME == 2042
+              trigger :TIME >= 1942 and :TIME < 2342
             task jaqm_ics
               trigger ./jaqm_make_ics==complete
             task jaqm_lbcs
@@ -898,9 +898,9 @@ suite nco_aqm
           endfamily
           family pts_fire_emis
             task jaqm_point_source
-              trigger :TIME == 2042
+              trigger :TIME >= 1942 and :TIME < 2342
             task jaqm_fire_emission
-              trigger :TIME == 2042
+              trigger :TIME >= 1942 and :TIME < 2342
           endfamily
           family forecast
             task jaqm_forecast
diff --git a/ecf/include/head.h b/ecf/include/head.h
index e837221995..2b1c476fd8 100644
--- a/ecf/include/head.h
+++ b/ecf/include/head.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ fi
 modelhome=%PACKAGEHOME:%
 eval "export HOME${model:?'model undefined'}=$modelhome"
 eval "versionfile=\$HOME${model}/versions/run.ver"
+if [ -n "%aqm_ver:%" ]; then export aqm_ver=${aqm_ver:-%aqm_ver:%}; fi
 if [ -f "$versionfile" ]; then
   . $versionfile 
 fi
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/forecast/jaqm_forecast.ecf b/ecf/scripts/forecast/jaqm_forecast.ecf
index 313f01743a..f5f1a7621b 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/forecast/jaqm_forecast.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/forecast/jaqm_forecast.ecf
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=04:00:00
+#PBS -l walltime=03:15:00
 #PBS -l select=14:mpiprocs=128:ompthreads=1:ncpus=128
 #PBS -l place=vscatter:exclhost
 #PBS -l debug=true
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/forecast/jaqm_forecast_manager.ecf b/ecf/scripts/forecast/jaqm_forecast_manager.ecf
index ae7b370e77..7b73914abc 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/forecast/jaqm_forecast_manager.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/forecast/jaqm_forecast_manager.ecf
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=04:00:00
-#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1
+#PBS -l walltime=03:15:00
+#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1:mem=150G:prepost=true
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
 model=aqm
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/nexus/jaqm_nexus_post_split.ecf b/ecf/scripts/nexus/jaqm_nexus_post_split.ecf
index 0501620eea..d775ed3283 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/nexus/jaqm_nexus_post_split.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/nexus/jaqm_nexus_post_split.ecf
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:30:00
-#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1
+#PBS -l walltime=00:15:00
+#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1:mem=32G:prepost=true
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
 model=aqm
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/post/jaqm_post_master.ecf b/ecf/scripts/post/jaqm_post_master.ecf
index fad228c918..62a8594d40 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/post/jaqm_post_master.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/post/jaqm_post_master.ecf
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:15:00
-#PBS -l select=2:mpiprocs=24:ncpus=24
-#PBS -l place=vscatter:exclhost
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
+#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=48:ncpus=48:mem=16G
+#PBS -l place=vscatter
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
 model=aqm
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_ics.ecf b/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_ics.ecf
index ad28218b11..d770169076 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_ics.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_ics.ecf
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:30:00
-#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
+#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1:mem=48G:prepost=true
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
 model=aqm
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_lbcs.ecf b/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_lbcs.ecf
index 6feff0fb68..f5d2c51d51 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_lbcs.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_lbcs.ecf
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:20:00
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
 #PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=128:ncpus=128
+#PBS -l place=vscatter:exclhost
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
 model=aqm
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_make_ics.ecf b/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_make_ics.ecf
index 46a04c8869..35cc39e10c 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_make_ics.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_make_ics.ecf
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:30:00
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
 #PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=128:ncpus=128
 #PBS -l place=vscatter:exclhost
 #PBS -l debug=true
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_make_lbcs.ecf b/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_make_lbcs.ecf
index 53a172e05a..593fefb2a9 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_make_lbcs.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/prep/jaqm_make_lbcs.ecf
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:30:00
+#PBS -l walltime=00:15:00
 #PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=128:ncpus=128
 #PBS -l place=vscatter:exclhost
 #PBS -l debug=true
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_bias_correction_o3.ecf b/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_bias_correction_o3.ecf
index 564108daa8..fcd06faf8b 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_bias_correction_o3.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_bias_correction_o3.ecf
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:30:00
-#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ompthreads=32:ncpus=32:mem=120G
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
+#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ompthreads=32:ncpus=32:mem=128G
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
 model=aqm
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_bias_correction_pm25.ecf b/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_bias_correction_pm25.ecf
index 410a32868e..788591661f 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_bias_correction_pm25.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_bias_correction_pm25.ecf
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:30:00
-#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ompthreads=32:ncpus=32:mem=120G
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
+#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ompthreads=32:ncpus=32:mem=128G
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
 model=aqm
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_post_stat_o3.ecf b/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_post_stat_o3.ecf
index 276307184d..c0e237afa0 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_post_stat_o3.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_post_stat_o3.ecf
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:30:00
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
 #PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1:mem=120G
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_post_stat_pm25.ecf b/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_post_stat_pm25.ecf
index 21652ced73..ef47910395 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_post_stat_pm25.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_post_stat_pm25.ecf
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:30:00
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
 #PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1:mem=120G
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_pre_post_stat.ecf b/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_pre_post_stat.ecf
index 4b3d2834a2..b5bc445251 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_pre_post_stat.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/product/jaqm_pre_post_stat.ecf
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:30:00
-#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
+#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1:mem=4G
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
 model=aqm
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/pts_fire_emis/jaqm_fire_emission.ecf b/ecf/scripts/pts_fire_emis/jaqm_fire_emission.ecf
index 221fb47d4e..b05a788712 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/pts_fire_emis/jaqm_fire_emission.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/pts_fire_emis/jaqm_fire_emission.ecf
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=00:30:00
-#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
+#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1:mem=8G
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
 model=aqm
diff --git a/ecf/scripts/pts_fire_emis/jaqm_point_source.ecf b/ecf/scripts/pts_fire_emis/jaqm_point_source.ecf
index ef7feca984..1c26d38246 100644
--- a/ecf/scripts/pts_fire_emis/jaqm_point_source.ecf
+++ b/ecf/scripts/pts_fire_emis/jaqm_point_source.ecf
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #PBS -S /bin/bash
 #PBS -q %QUEUE%
 #PBS -A %PROJ%-%PROJENVIR%
-#PBS -l walltime=01:00:00
-#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1
+#PBS -l walltime=00:10:00
+#PBS -l select=1:mpiprocs=1:ncpus=1:mem=8G
 #PBS -l debug=true
 
 model=aqm
diff --git a/parm/config/data_table b/parm/config/data_table
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2..0000000000
diff --git a/parm/config/var_defns.sh.template b/parm/config/var_defns.sh.template
index 6268efac60..fb2b9f8a9a 100644
--- a/parm/config/var_defns.sh.template
+++ b/parm/config/var_defns.sh.template
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ TEST_ALT_EXTRN_MDL_SYSBASEDIR_ICS=''
 TEST_ALT_EXTRN_MDL_SYSBASEDIR_LBCS=''
 TEST_VX_FCST_INPUT_BASEDIR=''
 FIXgsm='@HOMEaqm@/fix/fix_am'
-EXTRN_MDL_DATA_STORES='hpss aws nomads'
+EXTRN_MDL_DATA_STORES=''
 
 # [workflow]
 WORKFLOW_ID='id_1697644234'
@@ -82,13 +82,11 @@ AQM_RC_FN='aqm.rc'
 AQM_RC_TMPL_FN='aqm.rc'
 FV3_NML_BASE_SUITE_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/input.nml.FV3'
 FV3_NML_YAML_CONFIG_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/FV3.input.yml'
-DATA_TABLE_TMPL_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/data_table'
 DIAG_TABLE_TMPL_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/diag_table_aqm.FV3_GFS_v16'
 FIELD_TABLE_TMPL_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/field_table_aqm.FV3_GFS_v16'
 MODEL_CONFIG_TMPL_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/model_configure'
 NEMS_CONFIG_TMPL_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/nems.configure'
 AQM_RC_TMPL_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/aqm.rc'
-DATA_TABLE_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/config/data_table'
 FIELD_TABLE_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/config/field_table'
 NEMS_CONFIG_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/config/nems.configure'
 FV3_NML_FP='@HOMEaqm@/parm/config/input.nml'
@@ -617,7 +615,7 @@ AQM_DUST_FILE_PREFIX='FENGSHA_p8_10km_inputs'
 AQM_DUST_FILE_SUFFIX='.nc'
 AQM_CANOPY_FILE_PREFIX='gfs.t12z.geo'
 AQM_CANOPY_FILE_SUFFIX='.canopy_regrid.nc'
-DCOMINfire='/lfs/h1/ops/prod/dcom'
+DCOMINfire='@DCOMROOT@'
 AQM_FIRE_FILE_PREFIX='Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km'
 AQM_FIRE_FILE_SUFFIX='_h72.nc'
 AQM_RC_FIRE_FREQUENCY='hourly'
@@ -639,7 +637,7 @@ NEXUS_GRID_FN='grid_spec_793.nc'
 NUM_SPLIT_NEXUS='6'
 NEXUS_GFS_SFC_ARCHV_DIR='/NCEPPROD/hpssprod/runhistory'
 FIXemispt='@HOMEaqm@/fix/emission/nei2016v1-pt'
-DCOMINairnow='/lfs/h1/ops/prod/dcom'
+DCOMINairnow='@DCOMROOT@'
 COMINbicor='@COMaqm@'
 COMOUTbicor='@COMaqm@'
 
diff --git a/parm/data_table b/parm/data_table
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2..0000000000
diff --git a/parm/diag_table_aqm.FV3_GFS_v16 b/parm/diag_table_aqm.FV3_GFS_v16
index ba86d0ba57..2c81a91c76 100644
--- a/parm/diag_table_aqm.FV3_GFS_v16
+++ b/parm/diag_table_aqm.FV3_GFS_v16
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 "grid_spec",              -1,  "months",  1, "days",  "time"
 #"atmos_4xdaily",           6,  "hours",   1, "days",  "time"
 "atmos_static",           -1,  "hours",   1, "hours", "time"
-"fv3_history",             1,  "years",   1, "hours", "time"
-"fv3_history2d",           1,  "years",   1, "hours", "time"
+"fv3_history",            -1,  "years",   1, "hours", "time"
+"fv3_history2d",          -1,  "years",   1, "hours", "time"
 
 #
 #=======================
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_bias_correction_o3.sh b/scripts/exaqm_bias_correction_o3.sh
index 6dcee2ec05..a7ce29116e 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_bias_correction_o3.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_bias_correction_o3.sh
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ mkdir -p "${DATA}/data"
     mkdir -p "${cvt_output_dir}/${cvt_yyyy}/${cvt_pdy}"
 
     if [ "$(ls -A ${DCOMINairnow}/${cvt_pdy}/airnow)" ]; then
-      cp ${DCOMINairnow}/${cvt_pdy}/airnow/HourlyAQObs_${cvt_pdy}*.dat "${cvt_input_dir}/${cvt_yyyy}/${cvt_pdy}"
+      cpreq ${DCOMINairnow}/${cvt_pdy}/airnow/HourlyAQObs_${cvt_pdy}*.dat "${cvt_input_dir}/${cvt_yyyy}/${cvt_pdy}"
     else
       message_warning="WARNING: airnow data missing. skip this date ${cvt_pdy}"
       print_info_msg "${message_warning}"
@@ -186,8 +186,8 @@ if [ -d "${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}" ]; then
 fi
 
 mkdir -p "${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}"
-cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.*.nc ${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}
-cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.met_sfc.*.nc ${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}
+cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.*.nc ${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}
+cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.met_sfc.*.nc ${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # STEP 3:  Intepolating CMAQ O3 into AIRNow sites
@@ -198,9 +198,9 @@ mkdir -p ${DATA}/data/site-lists.interp
 mkdir -p ${DATA}/out/ozone/${yyyy}
 mkdir -p ${DATA}/data/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/ozone/${yyyy} 
 
-cp ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/sites.valid.ozone.20230331.12z.list ${DATA}/data/site-lists.interp
-cp ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/aqm.t12z.chem_sfc.f000.nc ${DATA}/data/coords
-cp ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/config.interp.ozone.7-vars_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${DATA}
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/sites.valid.ozone.20230331.12z.list ${DATA}/data/site-lists.interp
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/aqm.t12z.chem_sfc.f000.nc ${DATA}/data/coords
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/config.interp.ozone.7-vars_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${DATA}
 
 startmsg
 eval ${RUN_CMD_SERIAL} ${EXECaqm}/aqm_bias_interpolate config.interp.ozone.7-vars_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${cyc}z ${PDY} ${PDY} ${REDIRECT_OUT_ERR} >> $pgmout 2>errfile
@@ -208,32 +208,32 @@ export err=$?; err_chk
 if [ -e "${pgmout}" ]; then
    cat ${pgmout}
 fi
-cp ${DATA}/out/ozone/${yyyy}/*nc ${DATA}/data/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/ozone/${yyyy}
+cpreq ${DATA}/out/ozone/${yyyy}/*nc ${DATA}/data/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/ozone/${yyyy}
 
 if [ "${DO_AQM_SAVE_AIRNOW_HIST}" = "TRUE" ]; then
   mkdir -p ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/ozone/${yyyy}
-  cp ${DATA}/out/ozone/${yyyy}/*nc ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/ozone/${yyyy}
+  cpreq ${DATA}/out/ozone/${yyyy}/*nc ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/ozone/${yyyy}
 
   # CSV files
   mkdir -p ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/airnow/csv/${yyyy}/${PDY}
-  mkdir -p ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m1}/airnow/csv/${yyyy_m1}/${PDYm1}
-  mkdir -p ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m2}/airnow/csv/${yyyy_m2}/${PDYm2}
-  mkdir -p ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m3}/airnow/csv/${yyyy_m3}/${PDYm3}
-  cp ${DCOMINairnow}/${PDYm1}/airnow/HourlyAQObs_${PDYm1}*.dat ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m1}/airnow/csv/${yyyy_m1}/${PDYm1}  
-  cp ${DCOMINairnow}/${PDYm2}/airnow/HourlyAQObs_${PDYm2}*.dat ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m2}/airnow/csv/${yyyy_m2}/${PDYm2}  
-  cp ${DCOMINairnow}/${PDYm3}/airnow/HourlyAQObs_${PDYm3}*.dat ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m3}/airnow/csv/${yyyy_m3}/${PDYm3}
+  for i in {1..3}; do
+    yyyymm_m="yyyymm_m${i}"
+    yyyy_m="yyyy_m${i}"
+    PDYm="PDYm${i}"
+    cpreq "${DATA}/data/bcdata.${!yyyymm_m}/airnow/csv/${!yyyy_m}/${!PDYm}/HourlyAQObs_${!PDYm}"*.dat "${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${!yyyymm_m}/airnow/csv/${!yyyy_m}/${!PDYm}"
+  done
 
   # NetCDF files
   mkdir -p ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/airnow/netcdf/${yyyy}/${PDY}
-  mkdir -p ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m1}/airnow/netcdf/${yyyy_m1}/${PDYm1}
-  mkdir -p ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m2}/airnow/netcdf/${yyyy_m2}/${PDYm2}
-  mkdir -p ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m3}/airnow/netcdf/${yyyy_m3}/${PDYm3}
-  cp ${DATA}/data/bcdata.${yyyymm_m1}/airnow/netcdf/${yyyy_m1}/${PDYm1}/HourlyAQObs.${PDYm1}.nc ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m1}/airnow/netcdf/${yyyy_m1}/${PDYm1}  
-  cp ${DATA}/data/bcdata.${yyyymm_m2}/airnow/netcdf/${yyyy_m2}/${PDYm2}/HourlyAQObs.${PDYm2}.nc ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m2}/airnow/netcdf/${yyyy_m2}/${PDYm2}  
-  cp ${DATA}/data/bcdata.${yyyymm_m3}/airnow/netcdf/${yyyy_m3}/${PDYm3}/HourlyAQObs.${PDYm3}.nc ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm_m3}/airnow/netcdf/${yyyy_m3}/${PDYm3}
+  for i in {1..3}; do
+    yyyymm_m="yyyymm_m${i}"
+    yyyy_m="yyyy_m${i}"
+    PDYm="PDYm${i}"
+    cpreq "${DATA}/data/bcdata.${!yyyymm_m}/airnow/netcdf/${!yyyy_m}/${!PDYm}/HourlyAQObs.${!PDYm}.nc" "${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${!yyyymm_m}/airnow/netcdf/${!yyyy_m}/${!PDYm}"
+  done
 
   mkdir -p  "${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/grid/${cyc}z/${PDY}"
-  cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.*_sfc.f*.nc ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/grid/${cyc}z/${PDY}
+  cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.*_sfc.f*.nc ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/grid/${cyc}z/${PDY}
 fi
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ rm -rf ${DATA}/data/bcdata*
 ln -sf ${COMINbicor}/bcdata* "${DATA}/data"
 
 mkdir -p ${DATA}/data/sites
-cp ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/config.ozone.bias_corr_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${DATA}
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/config.ozone.bias_corr_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${DATA}
 
 startmsg
 eval ${RUN_CMD_SERIAL} ${EXECaqm}/aqm_bias_correct config.ozone.bias_corr_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${cyc}z ${BC_STDAY} ${PDY} ${REDIRECT_OUT_ERR} >> $pgmout 2>errfile
@@ -253,17 +253,17 @@ export err=$?; err_chk
 if [ -e "${pgmout}" ]; then
    cat ${pgmout}
 fi
-cp ${DATA}/out/ozone.corrected* ${COMOUT}
+cpreq ${DATA}/out/ozone.corrected* ${COMOUT}
 
 if [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
-  cp ${DATA}/data/sites/sites.valid.ozone.${PDY}.${cyc}z.list ${DATA}
+  cpreq ${DATA}/data/sites/sites.valid.ozone.${PDY}.${cyc}z.list ${DATA}
 fi
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # STEP 5:  converting netcdf to grib format
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.${cyc}z.nc .
+cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.${cyc}z.nc .
 
 #
 cat >bias_cor.ini <<EOF1
@@ -282,16 +282,16 @@ export err=$?; err_chk
 if [ -e "${pgmout}" ]; then
    cat ${pgmout}
 fi
-cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.awpozcon*bc*.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.awpozcon*bc*.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# STEP 6: calculating 24-hr ave PM2.5
+# STEP 6: calculating 1hr and 8hr max O3
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 . prep_step
 
 if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
-  cp ${COMOUT}/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.${cyc}z.nc a.nc 
+  cpreq ${COMOUT}/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.${cyc}z.nc a.nc 
 
   chk=1 
   chk1=1 
@@ -309,9 +309,9 @@ EOF1
   # 06z needs b.nc to find current day output from 04Z to 06Z
   if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ]; then
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/00/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMIN}/00/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMIN}/00/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc b.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/ozone.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/ozone.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/ozone.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc b.nc
       chk=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -321,9 +321,9 @@ EOF1
   if [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
     # 12z needs b.nc to find current day output from 04Z to 06Z
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/00/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMIN}/00/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMIN}/00/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc b.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/ozone.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/ozone.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/ozone.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc b.nc
       chk=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -331,9 +331,9 @@ EOF1
 
     # 12z needs c.nc to find current day output from 07Z to 12z
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/06/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.06z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMIN}/06/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.06z.nc c.nc
+      cpreq ${COMIN}/06/ozone.corrected.${PDY}.06z.nc c.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/ozone.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/ozone.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc c.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/ozone.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc c.nc
       chk1=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ EOF1
     wgrib2 ${NET}.${cycle}.max_8hr_o3_bc.${id_domain}.grib2 -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${grid227} ${NET}.${cycle}.max_8hr_o3_bc.227.grib2
     wgrib2 ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_o3_bc.${id_domain}.grib2 -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${grid227} ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_o3_bc.227.grib2
 
-    cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_*hr_o3_bc.*.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+    cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_*hr_o3_bc.*.grib2 ${COMOUT}
    
     if [ "$SENDDBN" = "YES" ]; then
       ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_MAX ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_o3_bc.227.grib2
@@ -368,31 +368,6 @@ EOF1
 #      ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_MAX ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_8hr_o3_bc.793.grib2
     fi
    
-    # Add WMO header for daily 1h and 8h max O3 
-    for hr in 1 8; do
-      echo 0 > filesize
-      export XLFRTEOPTS="unit_vars=yes"
-      export FORT11=${NET}.${cycle}.max_${hr}hr_o3_bc.227.grib2
-      export FORT12="filesize"
-      export FORT51=${NET}-${hr}hro3-maxi.227.grib2.temp
-      tocgrib2super < ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/wmo/grib2_aqm-${hr}hro3-maxi.${cycle}.227
-   
-      echo `ls -l ${NET}-${hr}hro3-maxi.227.grib2.temp | awk '{print $5} '` > filesize
-      export XLFRTEOPTS="unit_vars=yes"
-      export FORT11=${NET}-${hr}hro3-maxi.227.grib2.temp
-      export FORT12="filesize"
-      export FORT51=awpaqm.${cycle}.${hr}ho3-max-bc.227.grib2
-      tocgrib2super < ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/wmo/grib2_aqm-${hr}hro3-maxi.${cycle}.227
-    done
-   
-    # Post Files to COMOUTwmo
-    cp awpaqm.${cycle}.*o3-max-bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
-
-    # Distribute Data
-    if [ "${SENDDBN_NTC}" = "YES" ] ; then
-      ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert ${DBNALERT_TYPE} ${NET} ${job} ${COMOUTwmo}/awpaqm.${cycle}.1ho3-max-bc.227.grib2
-      ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert ${DBNALERT_TYPE} ${NET} ${job} ${COMOUTwmo}/awpaqm.${cycle}.8ho3-max-bc.227.grib2
-    fi
   fi
 fi
 
@@ -403,7 +378,7 @@ fhr=01
 while [ "${fhr}" -le "${FCST_LEN_HRS}" ]; do
   fhr3d=$( printf "%03d" "${fhr}" )
   
-  cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.awpozcon_bc.f${fhr3d}.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+  cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.awpozcon_bc.f${fhr3d}.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 
   # create GRIB file to convert to grid 227 then to GRIB2 for NDFD
   cat ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.awpozcon_bc.f${fhr3d}.${id_domain}.grib2 >> tmpfile
@@ -427,13 +402,13 @@ newgrib2file2=${NET}.${cycle}.ave_8hr_o3_bc.227.grib2
 grid227="lambert:265.0000:25.0000:25.0000 226.5410:1473:5079.000 12.1900:1025:5079.000"
 
 wgrib2 tmpfile.1hr -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${grid227} ${newgrib2file1} 
-cp tmpfile.1hr ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_o3_bc.${id_domain}.grib2
-cp ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_o3_bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+cpreq tmpfile.1hr ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_o3_bc.${id_domain}.grib2
+cpreq ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_o3_bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 
 if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
   wgrib2 tmpfile.8hr -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${grid227} ${newgrib2file2} 
-  cp tmpfile.8hr ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_8hr_o3_bc.${id_domain}.grib2
-  cp ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_8hr_o3_bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+  cpreq tmpfile.8hr ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_8hr_o3_bc.${id_domain}.grib2
+  cpreq ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_8hr_o3_bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 fi
 
 if [ "${SENDDBN}" = "YES" ] ; then
@@ -447,7 +422,7 @@ if [ "${SENDDBN}" = "YES" ] ; then
 fi
 
 #################################################
-#    Part III:  Insert WMO header to GRIB files
+# STEP 7:  Insert WMO header to GRIB files
 #################################################
 
 if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
@@ -483,11 +458,11 @@ if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
     tocgrib2super < ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/wmo/grib2_aqm-${hr}hro3_bc-maxi.${cycle}.227
 
     # Post Files to COMOUTwmo
-    cp awpaqm.${cycle}.${hr}ho3-bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
-    cp awpaqm.${cycle}.${hr}ho3-max-bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
+    cpreq awpaqm.${cycle}.${hr}ho3-bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
+    cpreq awpaqm.${cycle}.${hr}ho3-max-bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
 
     # Distribute Data
-    if [ "${SENDDBN}" = "YES" ]; then
+    if [ "${SENDDBN_NTC}" = "YES" ]; then
       ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert ${DBNALERT_TYPE} ${NET} ${job} ${COMOUTwmo}/awpaqm.${cycle}.${hr}ho3-bc.227.grib2
       ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert ${DBNALERT_TYPE} ${NET} ${job} ${COMOUTwmo}/awpaqm.${cycle}.${hr}ho3-max-bc.227.grib2
     fi
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_bias_correction_pm25.sh b/scripts/exaqm_bias_correction_pm25.sh
index 9c2ed7e497..6ed6f81233 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_bias_correction_pm25.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_bias_correction_pm25.sh
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ mkdir -p "${DATA}/data"
     mkdir -p "${cvt_input_dir}/${cvt_yyyy}/${cvt_pdy}"
     mkdir -p "${cvt_output_dir}/${cvt_yyyy}/${cvt_pdy}"
     if [ "$(ls -A ${DCOMINairnow}/${cvt_pdy}/airnow)" ]; then
-      cp ${DCOMINairnow}/${cvt_pdy}/airnow/HourlyAQObs_${cvt_pdy}*.dat "${cvt_input_dir}/${cvt_yyyy}/${cvt_pdy}"
+      cpreq ${DCOMINairnow}/${cvt_pdy}/airnow/HourlyAQObs_${cvt_pdy}*.dat "${cvt_input_dir}/${cvt_yyyy}/${cvt_pdy}"
     else
       message_warning="WARNING: airnow data missing. skip this date ${cvt_pdy}"
       print_info_msg "${message_warning}"
@@ -184,8 +184,8 @@ if [ -d "${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}" ]; then
 fi
 
 mkdir -p "${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}"
-cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.*.nc ${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}
-cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.met_sfc.*.nc ${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}
+cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.*.nc ${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}
+cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.met_sfc.*.nc ${DATA_grid}/${cyc}z/${PDY}
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 # STEP 3:  Intepolating CMAQ PM2.5 into AIRNow sites
@@ -196,9 +196,9 @@ mkdir -p ${DATA}/data/site-lists.interp
 mkdir -p ${DATA}/out/pm25/${yyyy}
 mkdir -p ${DATA}/data/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/pm25/${yyyy}
 
-cp ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/sites.valid.pm25.20230331.12z.list ${DATA}/data/site-lists.interp
-cp ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/aqm.t12z.chem_sfc.f000.nc ${DATA}/data/coords
-cp ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/config.interp.pm2.5.5-vars_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${DATA}
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/sites.valid.pm25.20230331.12z.list ${DATA}/data/site-lists.interp
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/aqm.t12z.chem_sfc.f000.nc ${DATA}/data/coords
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/config.interp.pm2.5.5-vars_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${DATA}
 
 startmsg
 eval ${RUN_CMD_SERIAL} ${EXECaqm}/aqm_bias_interpolate config.interp.pm2.5.5-vars_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${cyc}z ${PDY} ${PDY} ${REDIRECT_OUT_ERR} >> $pgmout 2>errfile
@@ -206,11 +206,11 @@ export err=$? err_chk
 if [ -e "${pgmout}" ]; then
    cat ${pgmout}
 fi
-cp ${DATA}/out/pm25/${yyyy}/*nc ${DATA}/data/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/pm25/${yyyy}
+cpreq ${DATA}/out/pm25/${yyyy}/*nc ${DATA}/data/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/pm25/${yyyy}
 
 if [ "${DO_AQM_SAVE_AIRNOW_HIST}" = "TRUE" ]; then
 mkdir -p  ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/pm25/${yyyy}
-cp ${DATA}/out/pm25/${yyyy}/*nc ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/pm25/${yyyy}
+cpreq ${DATA}/out/pm25/${yyyy}/*nc ${COMOUTbicor}/bcdata.${yyyymm}/interpolated/pm25/${yyyy}
 fi
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -220,29 +220,32 @@ fi
 rm -rf ${DATA}/data/bcdata*
 
 ln -sf ${COMINbicor}/bcdata* "${DATA}/data"
-
+if [ $(find . -xtype l|wc -l) -gt 0 ]; then
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR broken file or dir link found under ${DATA}"
+  err_exit "${message_txt}"
+fi 
 mkdir -p ${DATA}/data/sites
 
-cp ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/config.pm2.5.bias_corr_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${DATA}
-cp ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/site_blocking.pm2.5.2021.0427.2-sites.txt ${DATA}
-cp ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/bias_thresholds.pm2.5.2015.1030.32-sites.txt ${DATA}
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/config.pm2.5.bias_corr_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${DATA}
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/site_blocking.pm2.5.2021.0427.2-sites.txt ${DATA}
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/bias_correction/bias_thresholds.pm2.5.2015.1030.32-sites.txt ${DATA}
 
 eval ${RUN_CMD_SERIAL} ${EXECaqm}/aqm_bias_correct config.pm2.5.bias_corr_${id_domain}.${cyc}z ${cyc}z ${BC_STDAY} ${PDY} ${REDIRECT_OUT_ERR} >> $pgmout 2>errfile
 export err=$?; err_chk
 if [ -e "${pgmout}" ]; then
    cat ${pgmout}
 fi
-cp $DATA/out/pm2.5.corrected* ${COMOUT}
+cpreq $DATA/out/pm2.5.corrected* ${COMOUT}
 
 if [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
-  cp ${DATA}/data/sites/sites.valid.pm25.${PDY}.${cyc}z.list ${DATA}
+  cpreq ${DATA}/data/sites/sites.valid.pm25.${PDY}.${cyc}z.list ${DATA}
 fi
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # STEP 5:  converting netcdf to grib format
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.${cyc}z.nc .
+cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.${cyc}z.nc .
 
 # convert from netcdf to grib2 format
 cat >bias_cor.ini <<EOF1
@@ -260,7 +263,7 @@ export err=$?; err_chk
 if [ -e "${pgmout}" ]; then
    cat ${pgmout}
 fi
-cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.pm25*bc*.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.pm25*bc*.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 # STEP 6: calculating 24-hr ave PM2.5
@@ -269,7 +272,7 @@ cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.pm25*bc*.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 . prep_step
 
 if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
-  cp ${COMOUT}/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.${cyc}z.nc  a.nc 
+  cpreq ${COMOUT}/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.${cyc}z.nc  a.nc 
 
   chk=1 
   chk1=1 
@@ -287,9 +290,9 @@ EOF1
   # 06z needs b.nc to find current day output from 04Z to 06Z
   if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ]; then
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/00/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMIN}/00/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc  b.nc 
+      cpreq ${COMIN}/00/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc  b.nc 
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/pm2.5.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/pm2.5.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc  b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/pm2.5.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc  b.nc
       chk=0
     else 
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -299,9 +302,9 @@ EOF1
   if [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
     # 12z needs b.nc to find current day output from 04Z to 06Z
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/00/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMIN}/00/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc  b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMIN}/00/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.00z.nc  b.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/pm2.5.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/pm2.5.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc  b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/pm2.5.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc  b.nc
       chk=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -309,9 +312,9 @@ EOF1
 
     # 12z needs c.nc to find current day output from 07Z to 12z
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/06/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.06z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMIN}/06/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.06z.nc c.nc
+      cpreq ${COMIN}/06/pm2.5.corrected.${PDY}.06z.nc c.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/pm2.5.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/pm2.5.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc  c.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/pm2.5.corrected.${PDYm1}.12z.nc  c.nc
       chk1=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -331,8 +334,8 @@ EOF1
     wgrib2 aqm-pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2  |grep  "PMTF"   | ${WGRIB2} -i  aqm-pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2  -grib aqm.t${cyc}z.ave_24hr_pm25_bc.793.grib2 
     wgrib2 aqm-pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2  |grep  "PDMAX1" | ${WGRIB2} -i  aqm-pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2  -grib aqm.t${cyc}z.max_1hr_pm25_bc.793.grib2 
    
-    cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
-    cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+    cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+    cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
   fi
 
   # interpolate to grid 227
@@ -346,10 +349,10 @@ EOF1
   newgrib2file2=${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25_bc.227.grib2
   wgrib2 ${oldgrib2file2} -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${grid227}  ${newgrib2file2}
 
-  cp ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2   ${COMOUT}
-  cp ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2  ${COMOUT}
-  cp ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25_bc.227.grib2   ${COMOUT}
-  cp ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25_bc.227.grib2  ${COMOUT}
+  cpreq ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2   ${COMOUT}
+  cpreq ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2  ${COMOUT}
+  cpreq ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25_bc.227.grib2   ${COMOUT}
+  cpreq ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25_bc.227.grib2  ${COMOUT}
 
   if [ "${SENDDBN}" = "YES" ]; then
     ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_MAX ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25_bc.227.grib2
@@ -369,8 +372,8 @@ done
 grid227="lambert:265.0000:25.0000:25.0000 226.5410:1473:5079.000 12.1900:1025:5079.000"
 wgrib2 tmpfile_pm25_bc -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${grid227} ${NET}.${cycle}.grib2_pm25_bc.227
 
-cp tmpfile_pm25_bc ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2
-cp ${NET}.${cycle}.grib2_pm25_bc.227 ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25_bc.227.grib2
+cpreq tmpfile_pm25_bc ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25_bc.${id_domain}.grib2
+cpreq ${NET}.${cycle}.grib2_pm25_bc.227 ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25_bc.227.grib2
 if [ "${SENDDBN}" = "YES" ]; then
   ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_PM ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25_bc.227.grib2
 #  ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_PM ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25_bc.793.grib2
@@ -429,9 +432,9 @@ if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
   tocgrib2super < ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/wmo/grib2_aqm_ave_24hrpm25_bc_awp.${cycle}.227
 
   # Post Files to COMOUTwmo
-  cp awpaqm.${cycle}.1hpm25-bc.227.grib2             ${COMOUTwmo}
-  cp awpaqm.${cycle}.daily-1hr-pm25-max-bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
-  cp awpaqm.${cycle}.24hr-pm25-ave-bc.227.grib2      ${COMOUTwmo}
+  cpreq awpaqm.${cycle}.1hpm25-bc.227.grib2             ${COMOUTwmo}
+  cpreq awpaqm.${cycle}.daily-1hr-pm25-max-bc.227.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
+  cpreq awpaqm.${cycle}.24hr-pm25-ave-bc.227.grib2      ${COMOUTwmo}
 
   # Distribute Data
   if [ "${SENDDBN_NTC}" = "YES" ] ; then
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_fire_emission.sh b/scripts/exaqm_fire_emission.sh
index 6a7913515b..74021a1bb3 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_fire_emission.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_fire_emission.sh
@@ -82,29 +82,29 @@ aqm_fire_file_fn="${AQM_FIRE_FILE_PREFIX}_${yyyymmdd}_t${hh}z${AQM_FIRE_FILE_SUF
 
 # Check if the fire file exists in the designated directory
 if [ -e "${DCOMINfire}/${aqm_fire_file_fn}" ]; then
-  cp "${DCOMINfire}/${aqm_fire_file_fn}" "${FIRE_EMISSION_STAGING_DIR}"
+  cpreq "${DCOMINfire}/${aqm_fire_file_fn}" "${FIRE_EMISSION_STAGING_DIR}"
 else
   # Copy raw data 
   for ihr in {0..23}; do
     download_time=`$NDATE -$ihr ${yyyymmdd_mh1}${hh_mh1}`
     FILE_curr=Hourly_Emissions_13km_${download_time}00_${download_time}00.nc
-    FILE_13km=RAVE-HrlyEmiss-13km_v1r3_blend_s${download_time}00000_e${download_time}59590_c*.nc
+    FILE_13km=RAVE-HrlyEmiss-13km_v*_blend_s${download_time}00000_e${download_time}59590_c*.nc
     yyyymmdd_dn=${download_time:0:8}
     hh_dn=${download_time:8:2}
     missing_download_time=`$NDATE -24 ${yyyymmdd_dn}${hh_dn}`
     yyyymmdd_dn_md1=${missing_download_time:0:8}
-    FILE_13km_md1=RAVE-HrlyEmiss-13km_v1r3_blend_s${missing_download_time}00000_e${missing_download_time}59590_c*.nc
+    FILE_13km_md1=RAVE-HrlyEmiss-13km_v*_blend_s${missing_download_time}00000_e${missing_download_time}59590_c*.nc
     if [ -s `ls ${DCOMINfire}/${yyyymmdd_dn}/rave/${FILE_13km}` ] && [ $(stat -c %s `ls ${DCOMINfire}/${yyyymmdd_dn}/rave/${FILE_13km}`) -gt 4000000 ]; then
-      cp -p ${DCOMINfire}/${yyyymmdd_dn}/rave/${FILE_13km} ${FILE_curr}
+      cpreq -p ${DCOMINfire}/${yyyymmdd_dn}/rave/${FILE_13km} ${FILE_curr}
     elif [ -s `ls ${DCOMINfire}/${yyyymmdd_dn_md1}/rave/${FILE_13km_md1}` ] && [ $(stat -c %s `ls ${DCOMINfire}/${yyyymmdd_dn_md1}/rave/${FILE_13km_md1}`) -gt 4000000 ]; then
       echo "WARNING: ${FILE_13km} does not exist or broken. Replacing with the file of previous date ..."
-      cp -p ${DCOMINfire}/${yyyymmdd_dn_md1}/rave/${FILE_13km_md1} ${FILE_curr}
+      cpreq -p ${DCOMINfire}/${yyyymmdd_dn_md1}/rave/${FILE_13km_md1} ${FILE_curr}
     else
-      message_txt="Fire Emission RAW data does not exist or broken:
+      message_txt="WARNING Fire Emission RAW data does not exist or broken:
   FILE_13km_md1 = \"${FILE_13km_md1}\"
   DCOMINfire = \"${DCOMINfire}\""
 
-        cp -p ${FIXaqmfire}/Hourly_Emissions_13km_dummy.nc ${FILE_curr}
+        cpreq -p ${FIXaqmfire}/Hourly_Emissions_13km_dummy.nc ${FILE_curr}
         message_warning="WARNING: ${message_txt}. Replacing with the dummy file :: AQM RUN SOFT FAILED."
         print_info_msg "${message_warning}"
 #        if [ ! -z "${maillist_group2}" ]; then
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ else
   ncks -O -h --mk_rec_dmn time Hourly_Emissions_13km_${download_time}00_${download_time}00.nc temp.nc
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to NCKS returned with nonzero exit code."
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to NCKS returned with nonzero exit code."
       err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ else
   ncrcat -h Hourly_Emissions_13km_*.nc Hourly_Emissions_13km_${yyyymmdd}0000_${yyyymmdd}2300.t${cyc}z.nc
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to NCRCAT returned with nonzero exit code."
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to NCRCAT returned with nonzero exit code."
       err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 
@@ -143,30 +143,30 @@ else
   ${USHaqm}/aqm_utils_python/RAVE_remake.allspecies.aqmna13km.g793.py --date "${yyyymmdd}" --cyc "${hh}" --input_fire "${input_fire}" --output_fire "${output_fire}"
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to python script \"RAVE_remake.allspecies.py\" returned with nonzero exit code."
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"RAVE_remake.allspecies.py\" returned with nonzero exit code."
       err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 
   ncks --mk_rec_dmn Time Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_new24.t${cyc}z.nc -o Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24.nc
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to NCKS returned with nonzero exit code."
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to NCKS returned with nonzero exit code."
       err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 
-  cp Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24.nc Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24_1.nc 
-  cp Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24.nc Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24_2.nc
+  cpreq Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24.nc Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24_1.nc 
+  cpreq Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24.nc Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24_2.nc
 
   ncrcat -O -D 2 Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24.nc Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24_1.nc Hourly_Emissions_regrid_NA_13km_${yyyymmdd}_t${cyc}z_h24_2.nc ${aqm_fire_file_fn}
 
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to NCRCAT returned with nonzero exit code."
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to NCRCAT returned with nonzero exit code."
       err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 
   # Copy the final fire emission file to STAGING_DIR 
-  cp "${DATA}/${aqm_fire_file_fn}" "${FIRE_EMISSION_STAGING_DIR}"
+  cpreq "${DATA}/${aqm_fire_file_fn}" "${FIRE_EMISSION_STAGING_DIR}"
 
 fi
 #
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_forecast.sh b/scripts/exaqm_forecast.sh
index 10876cba5d..00339dc565 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_forecast.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_forecast.sh
@@ -371,9 +371,13 @@ input files in the main experiment directory..."
 #
 relative_link_flag="FALSE"
 
-create_symlink_to_file target="${DATA_TABLE_FP}" \
-                       symlink="${DATA}/${DATA_TABLE_FN}" \
-                       relative="${relative_link_flag}"
+#create_symlink_to_file target="${DATA_TABLE_FP}" \
+#                       symlink="${DATA}/${DATA_TABLE_FN}" \
+#                       relative="${relative_link_flag}"
+if [[ ! -s ${DATA}/${DATA_TABLE_FN} ]]; then
+  cat > ${DATA}/${DATA_TABLE_FN} << EOF
+EOF
+fi
 
 create_symlink_to_file target="${FIELD_TABLE_FP}" \
                        symlink="${DATA}/${FIELD_TABLE_FN}" \
@@ -434,7 +438,7 @@ if [ "${DO_ENSEMBLE}" = TRUE ] && ([ "${DO_SPP}" = TRUE ] || [ "${DO_SPPT}" = TR
       --cdate "$CDATE"
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to function to create the ensemble-based namelist
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to function to create the ensemble-based namelist
 for the current cycle's (cdate) run directory (DATA) failed:
   cdate = \"${CDATE}\"
   DATA = \"${DATA}\""
@@ -469,7 +473,7 @@ if [ "${DO_FCST_RESTART}" = "TRUE" ] && [ $coupler_res_ct -gt 0 ] && [ $FCST_LEN
     --restart
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to function to update the FV3 input.nml file for restart 
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to function to update the FV3 input.nml file for restart 
 for the current cycle's (cdate) run directory (DATA) failed:
   cdate = \"${CDATE}\"
   DATA = \"${DATA}\""
@@ -541,7 +545,7 @@ if [ "${CPL_AQM}" = "TRUE" ]; then
     --init_concentrations "${init_concentrations}"
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to function to create an aqm.rc file for the current
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to function to create an aqm.rc file for the current
 cycle's (cdate) run directory (DATA) failed:
   cdate = \"${CDATE}\"
   DATA = \"${DATA}\""
@@ -567,7 +571,7 @@ fi
   --dt-atmos "${DT_ATMOS}"
 export err=$?
 if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-  message_txt="Call to function to create a model configuration file 
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to function to create a model configuration file 
 for the current cycle's (cdate) run directory (DATA) failed:
   cdate = \"${CDATE}\"
   DATA = \"${DATA}\""
@@ -586,7 +590,7 @@ fi
   --run-dir "${DATA}"
 export err=$?
 if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-  message_txt="Call to function to create a diag table file for the current 
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to function to create a diag table file for the current 
 cycle's (cdate) run directory (DATA) failed:
   DATA = \"${DATA}\""
     err_exit "${message_txt}"
@@ -604,7 +608,7 @@ fi
   --run-dir "${DATA}"
 export err=$?
 if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-  message_txt="Call to function to create a NEMS configuration file for 
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to function to create a NEMS configuration file for 
 the current cycle's (cdate) run directory (DATA) failed:
   DATA = \"${DATA}\""
   err_exit "${message_txt}"
@@ -689,7 +693,7 @@ if [ -e "$pgmout" ]; then
 fi
 
 
-eval cp -p ${AQM_RC_PRODUCT_FN} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.${AQM_RC_PRODUCT_FN}
+eval cpreq -p ${AQM_RC_PRODUCT_FN} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.${AQM_RC_PRODUCT_FN}
 #
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_forecast_manager.sh b/scripts/exaqm_forecast_manager.sh
index 6ca7ccd7f2..ea72325f73 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_forecast_manager.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_forecast_manager.sh
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ This is the ex-script for the task that copy AQM forecast and RESTART file to CO
 umbrella_forecast_data=${DATAROOT}/${RUN}_forecast_${cyc}_${aqm_ver}
 shared_output_data=${umbrella_forecast_data}/output
 shared_restart_data=${umbrella_forecast_data}/RESTART
-NCP="cp -p"
+NCP="cpreq -p"
 # Configure scan target
 [ ${cyc} = "00" ] && FCST_LEN_HRS=6
 [ ${cyc} = "06" ] && FCST_LEN_HRS=72
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ if [ $cyc = 06 -o $cyc = 12 ]; then
               sleep 60
               time_limit=$(($time_limit+1))
               if [ $time_limit -ge 60 ]; then
-                echo "ABORTING after waiting for forecast output file ${source_log}"
+                echo "FATAL ERROR - ABORTING after waiting for forecast output file ${source_log}"
                 exit 9
               fi
             fi
@@ -145,8 +145,8 @@ if [ $cyc = 06 -o $cyc = 12 ]; then
         if [ $rst_exist = "NO" ]; then
           sleep 60
           (( icnt=icnt+1 ))
-          if [ $icnt -ge 170 ]; then
-            echo "ABORTING after waiting for forecast RESTART file ${shared_restart_data}/${rst_yyyymmdd}.${rst_hh}0000.coupler.res"
+          if [ $icnt -ge 210 ]; then
+            echo "FATAL ERROR - ABORTING after waiting for forecast RESTART file ${shared_restart_data}/${rst_yyyymmdd}.${rst_hh}0000.coupler.res"
             exit 9
           fi
         fi
@@ -191,8 +191,8 @@ else
     else
       sleep 60
       (( icnt=icnt+1 ))
-      if [ $icnt -ge 40 ]; then
-        echo "ABORTING after waiting for forecast RESTART file ${shared_restart_data}/${rst_yyyymmdd}.${rst_hh}0000.coupler.res"
+      if [ $icnt -ge 90 ]; then
+        echo "FATAL ERROR - ABORTING after waiting for forecast RESTART file ${shared_restart_data}/${rst_yyyymmdd}.${rst_hh}0000.coupler.res"
         exit 9
       fi
     fi
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_ics.sh b/scripts/exaqm_ics.sh
index 9400274983..3abe67073b 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_ics.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_ics.sh
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ if [ ! -r ${fv_tracer_file} ]; then
         print_info_msg "
   Tracer file found: \"${fv_tracer_file}\""
       else
-        message_txt="No suitable tracer restart file found."
+        message_txt="FATAL ERROR No suitable tracer restart file ${rst_dir}/${rst_file} found."
           err_exit "${message_txt}"
       fi
     fi
@@ -117,18 +117,18 @@ print_info_msg "
     tracer file: \"${fv_tracer_file}\"
     FV3 IC file: \"${gfs_ic_file}\""
 
-cp ${gfs_ic_file} ${wrk_ic_file}
+cpreq ${gfs_ic_file} ${wrk_ic_file}
 ${USHaqm}/aqm_utils_python/add_aqm_ics.py --fv_tracer_file "${fv_tracer_file}" --wrk_ic_file "${wrk_ic_file}"
 export err=$?
 if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-  message_txt="Call to python script \"add_aqm_ics.py\" failed."
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"add_aqm_ics.py\" failed."
   err_exit "${message_txt}"
 fi
 
 ncatted -a checksum,,d,s, tmp1.nc
 export err=$?
 if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-  message_txt="Call to NCATTED returned with nonzero exit code."
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to NCATTED returned with nonzero exit code."
   err_exit "${message_txt}"
 fi
 
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_lbcs.sh b/scripts/exaqm_lbcs.sh
index cbd39c4bc1..9e2e309adb 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_lbcs.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_lbcs.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ postmsg "$msg"
 
 export pgm=aqm_lbcs
 
+EMAIL_SDM=${EMAIL_SDM:-NO}
+GEFS_AERO_LBCS_CHECK=${GEFS_AERO_LBCS_CHECK:-YES}
+
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # Source the variable definitions file and the bash utility functions.
@@ -106,20 +109,20 @@ if [ ${DO_AQM_CHEM_LBCS} = "TRUE" ]; then
   chem_lbcs_fn=${ext_lbcs_file//<MM>/${mm}}
 
   chem_lbcs_fp=${FIXaqmchem_lbcs}/${chem_lbcs_fn}
-  if [ -f ${chem_lbcs_fp} ]; then
+  if [ -s ${chem_lbcs_fp} ]; then
     #Copy the boundary condition file to the current location
-    cp ${chem_lbcs_fp} .
+    cpreq ${chem_lbcs_fp} .
   else
-    message_txt="The chemical LBC files do not exist:
+    message_txt="WARNING The chemical LBC files do not exist:
     CHEM_BOUNDARY_CONDITION_FILE = \"${chem_lbcs_fp}\""
       err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 
   # Function to check if the file exists
     function check_file_existence() {
-    if [ -f "$1" ]; then
+    if [ -s "$1" ]; then
       echo "Found netCDF file: $1"
-      cp "$1" .
+      cpreq "$1" .
     else
       echo "Error: NetCDF file not found: $1"
      return 1
@@ -141,7 +144,7 @@ if [ ${DO_AQM_CHEM_LBCS} = "TRUE" ]; then
        else
      # File doesn't exist, wait for 5 seconds and decrement the retry count
          sync
-         sleep 60
+         sleep 20
         ((retries--))
        fi
      done
@@ -152,13 +155,13 @@ if [ ${DO_AQM_CHEM_LBCS} = "TRUE" ]; then
      fi
 
     echo "Checking file: ${INPUT_DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.gfs_bndy.tile7.f${fhr}.nc"
-      cp "$netcdf_file" .
+      cpreq "$netcdf_file" .
 
       ncks -A ${chem_lbcs_fn} ${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.gfs_bndy.tile7.f${fhr}.nc
-      cp ${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.gfs_bndy.tile7.f${fhr}.nc ${INPUT_DATA} 
+      cpreq ${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.gfs_bndy.tile7.f${fhr}.nc ${INPUT_DATA} 
       export err=$?
       if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-        message_txt="Call to NCKS returned with nonzero exit code."
+        message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to NCKS returned with nonzero exit code."
           err_exit "${message_txt}"
       fi
   done
@@ -175,6 +178,7 @@ fi
 #
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
+#
 if [ ${DO_AQM_GEFS_LBCS} = "TRUE" ]; then
   AQM_GEFS_FILE_CYC=${AQM_GEFS_FILE_CYC:-"${hh}"}
   AQM_GEFS_FILE_CYC=$( printf "%02d" "${AQM_GEFS_FILE_CYC}" )
@@ -196,7 +200,7 @@ if [ ${DO_AQM_GEFS_LBCS} = "TRUE" ]; then
 check_file_with_recheck() {
   local file_path="$1"
   local max_rechecks=5
-  local wait_time=20
+  local wait_time=5
 
   for recheck_count in $(seq 1 $max_rechecks); do
     if [ -e "$file_path" ]; then
@@ -228,11 +232,18 @@ check_file_with_recheck() {
 	echo "File exists after recheck: $AQM_MOFILE_FHR_FP"
        else
         # File not found even after rechecks
-        echo "File was not found even after rechecks: $AQM_MOFILE_FHR_FP"
+        echo "WARNING File was not found even after rechecks: $AQM_MOFILE_FHR_FP"
+        
+	GEFS_AERO_LBCS_CHECK="NO"
+	 
+        if [ "${EMAIL_SDM^^}" = "YES" ] ; then
+          MAILFROM=${MAILFROM:-"nco.spa@noaa.gov"}
+          #MAILTO=${MAILTO:-"sdm@noaa.gov"}
+          MAILTO=${MAILTO:-"${maillist}"}
+          subject="${cyc}Z ${RUN^^} Output for ${basinname:-} GEFS_AERO LBCS "
+          mail.py -s "${subject}" -v "${MAILTO}" 
+        fi
 
-#        if [ ! -z "${maillist_group1}" ]; then
-#          echo "${message_warning}" | mail.py $maillist_group1
-#        fi
        fi
       fi
   done
@@ -271,7 +282,7 @@ EOF
 
   exec_fn="gefs2lbc_para"
   exec_fp="$EXECaqm/${exec_fn}"
-  if [ ! -f "${exec_fp}" ]; then
+  if [ ! -s "${exec_fp}" ]; then
     print_err_msg_exit "\
 The executable (exec_fp) for GEFS LBCs does not exist:
   exec_fp = \"${exec_fp}\"
@@ -284,20 +295,29 @@ Please ensure that you've built this executable."
 #
 #----------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
+ if [ ${GEFS_AERO_LBCS_CHECK} = "YES" ]; then    
   startmsg
   sync
-  eval ${RUN_CMD_AQMLBC} ${exec_fp} ${REDIRECT_OUT_ERR} >> $pgmout 2>errfile
+   eval ${RUN_CMD_AQMLBC} ${exec_fp} ${REDIRECT_OUT_ERR} >> $pgmout 2>errfile
   export err=$?; err_chk
   if [ -e "${pgmout}" ]; then
    cat ${pgmout}
   fi
-  cp -rp ${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.gfs_bndy.tile7.f*.nc  ${INPUT_DATA}
+  cpreq -rp ${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.gfs_bndy.tile7.f*.nc  ${INPUT_DATA}
 
   print_info_msg "
 ========================================================================
 Successfully added GEFS aerosol LBCs !!!
 ========================================================================"
 #
+ else
+  cpreq -rp ${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.gfs_bndy.tile7.f*.nc  ${INPUT_DATA}
+
+  print_info_msg "
+========================================================================
+ Failed to add GEFS aerosol LBCs due to missing GEFS LBCS ! 
+========================================================================"
+ fi
 fi
 #
 print_info_msg "
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_make_ics.sh b/scripts/exaqm_make_ics.sh
index 16ee68c519..76a2377794 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_make_ics.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_make_ics.sh
@@ -166,8 +166,9 @@ if [ "${RUN_TASK_GET_EXTRN_ICS}" = "FALSE" ]; then
 
   $cmd
   export err=$?
+
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to retrieve_data.py failed with a non-zero exit status.
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to retrieve_data.py failed with a non-zero exit status.
 The command was:
 ${cmd}
 "
@@ -188,8 +189,8 @@ else
    if [ "${WORKLFOW_MANAGER}" = "ecflow" ]; then  
      extrn_mdl_staging_dir="${DATAROOT}/${RUN}_get_extrn_ics_${cyc}.${share_pid}"
      if [ ! -d ${extrn_mdl_staging_dir} ]; then
-       echo "Fatal error extrn_mdl_staging_dir not found in production mode"
-       exit 7
+       message_txt="FATAL ERROR ${extrn_mdl_staging_dir} not found in production mode"
+       err_exit "${message_txt}"
      fi
    else
       extrn_mdl_staging_dir="${DATAROOT}/get_extrn_ics.${share_pid}"
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ case "${CCPP_PHYS_SUITE}" in
     varmap_file="GFSphys_var_map.txt"
     ;;
   *)
-    message_txt="The variable \"varmap_file\" has not yet been specified for 
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR The variable \"varmap_file\" has not yet been specified for 
 this physics suite (CCPP_PHYS_SUITE):
   CCPP_PHYS_SUITE = \"${CCPP_PHYS_SUITE}\""
      err_exit "${message_txt}"
@@ -462,7 +463,7 @@ case "${EXTRN_MDL_NAME_ICS}" in
   ;;
 
 *)
-  message_txt="External-model-dependent namelist variables have not yet been specified
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR external-model-dependent namelist variables have not yet been specified
 for this external IC model (EXTRN_MDL_NAME_ICS):
   EXTRN_MDL_NAME_ICS = \"${EXTRN_MDL_NAME_ICS}\""
     err_exit "${message_txt}"
@@ -488,8 +489,8 @@ hh="${EXTRN_MDL_CDATE:8:2}"
 #
 exec_fn="chgres_cube"
 exec_fp="$EXECaqm/${exec_fn}"
-if [ ! -f "${exec_fp}" ]; then
-  message_txt="The executable (exec_fp) for generating initial conditions 
+if [ ! -s "${exec_fp}" ]; then
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR The executable (exec_fp) for generating initial conditions 
 on the FV3-LAM native grid does not exist:
   exec_fp = \"${exec_fp}\"
 Please ensure that you've built this executable."
@@ -562,7 +563,7 @@ nml_fn="fort.41"
 ${USHaqm}/set_namelist.py -q -u "$settings" -o ${nml_fn}
 err=$?
 if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-  message_txt="Call to python script set_namelist.py to set the variables 
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script set_namelist.py to set the variables 
 in the namelist file read in by the ${exec_fn} executable failed. Parameters 
 passed to this script are:
   Name of output namelist file:
@@ -673,17 +674,16 @@ if [ "${DO_REAL_TIME}" == "TRUE" ] && [ "${CPL_AQM}" == "TRUE" ]; then
       Tracer file: \"${fv_tracer_file1}\" not found."
       print_info_msg "
       Instead using tracer file: \"${fv_tracer_file2}\""
-      cp ${fv_tracer_file2} ${fv_tracer_file1}
-      #cp ${rst_dir2}/${PDY}.${cyc}0000.coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}/coupler.res
-      cp ${rst_dir2}/${PDY}.${cyc}0000.coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}/
+      cpreq ${fv_tracer_file2} ${fv_tracer_file1}
+      cpreq ${rst_dir2}/${PDY}.${cyc}0000.coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}/
     else
       print_info_msg "
       Both tracer files: \"${fv_tracer_file1}\" and
       \"${fv_tracer_file2}\" not found."
       print_info_msg "
       Instead using dummy tracer file: \"${fv_tracer_file_fix}\""
-      cp ${fv_tracer_file_fix} ${fv_tracer_file1}
-      cp ${rst_dir_fix}/coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}
+      cpreq ${fv_tracer_file_fix} ${fv_tracer_file1}
+      cpreq ${rst_dir_fix}/coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}
       sed -i "s/yyyy/$yyyy/g" ${rst_dir1}/coupler.res
       sed -i "s/mm/$mm/g" ${rst_dir1}/coupler.res
       sed -i "s/dd/$dd/g" ${rst_dir1}/coupler.res
@@ -692,9 +692,9 @@ if [ "${DO_REAL_TIME}" == "TRUE" ] && [ "${CPL_AQM}" == "TRUE" ]; then
     fi 
   elif [ -s ${fv_tracer_file2} ]; then
     mkdir -p ${rst_dir1}
-    cp ${fv_tracer_file2} ${fv_tracer_file1} 
-    #cp ${rst_dir2}/${PDY}.${cyc}0000.coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}/coupler.res
-    cp ${rst_dir2}/${PDY}.${cyc}0000.coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}/
+    cpreq ${fv_tracer_file2} ${fv_tracer_file1} 
+    #cpreq ${rst_dir2}/${PDY}.${cyc}0000.coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}/coupler.res
+    cpreq ${rst_dir2}/${PDY}.${cyc}0000.coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}/
     print_info_msg "
     Tracer file: \"${fv_tracer_file1}\" not found."
     print_info_msg "
@@ -706,8 +706,8 @@ if [ "${DO_REAL_TIME}" == "TRUE" ] && [ "${CPL_AQM}" == "TRUE" ]; then
     \"${fv_tracer_file2}\" not found."
     print_info_msg "
     Instead using dummy tracer file: \"${fv_tracer_file_fix}\""
-    cp ${fv_tracer_file_fix} ${fv_tracer_file1}
-    cp ${rst_dir_fix}/coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}
+    cpreq ${fv_tracer_file_fix} ${fv_tracer_file1}
+    cpreq ${rst_dir_fix}/coupler.res  ${rst_dir1}
     sed -i "s/yyyy/$yyyy/g" ${rst_dir1}/coupler.res
     sed -i "s/mm/$mm/g" ${rst_dir1}/coupler.res
     sed -i "s/dd/$dd/g" ${rst_dir1}/coupler.res
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_make_lbcs.sh b/scripts/exaqm_make_lbcs.sh
index 922fdc4870..edbdc05251 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_make_lbcs.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_make_lbcs.sh
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ if [ "${RUN_TASK_GET_EXTRN_LBCS}" = "FALSE" ]; then
   $cmd
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to retrieve_data.py failed with a non-zero exit status.
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to retrieve_data.py failed with a non-zero exit status.
 The command was:
 ${cmd}
 "
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@ else
    if [ "${WORKLFOW_MANAGER}" = "ecflow" ]; then
      extrn_mdl_staging_dir="${DATAROOT}/${RUN}_get_extrn_lbcs_${cyc}.${share_pid}"
      if [ ! -d ${extrn_mdl_staging_dir} ]; then
-       echo "Fatal error extrn_mdl_staging_dir not found in production mode"
-       exit 7
+	 message_txt="FATAL ERROR ${extrn_mdl_staging_dir} not found in production mode"
+	 err_exit "${message_txt}"
      fi
    else
       extrn_mdl_staging_dir="${DATAROOT}/get_extrn_lbcs.${share_pid}"
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ case "${CCPP_PHYS_SUITE}" in
     varmap_file="GFSphys_var_map.txt"
     ;;
   *)
-  message_txt="The variable \"varmap_file\" has not yet been specified 
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR The variable \"varmap_file\" has not yet been specified 
 for this physics suite (CCPP_PHYS_SUITE):
   CCPP_PHYS_SUITE = \"${CCPP_PHYS_SUITE}\""
   err_exit "${message_txt}"
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ case "${EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS}" in
   fn_atm="${EXTRN_MDL_FNS[0]}"
   ;;
 *)
-  message_txt="External-model-dependent namelist variables have not yet been 
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR External-model-dependent namelist variables have not yet been 
 specified for this external LBC model (EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS):
   EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS = \"${EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS}\""
   err_exit "${message_txt}"
@@ -405,8 +405,8 @@ esac
 #
 exec_fn="chgres_cube"
 exec_fp="$EXECaqm/${exec_fn}"
-if [ ! -f "${exec_fp}" ]; then
-  message_txt="The executable (exec_fp) for generating initial conditions 
+if [ ! -s "${exec_fp}" ]; then
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR The executable (exec_fp) for generating initial conditions 
 on the FV3-LAM native grid does not exist:
   exec_fp = \"${exec_fp}\"
 Please ensure that you've built this executable."
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ for (( i=0; i<${num_fhrs}; i++ )); do
     fn_grib2="${EXTRN_MDL_FNS[$i]}"
     ;;
   *)
-    message_txt="The external model output file name to use in the chgres_cube 
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR The external model output file name to use in the chgres_cube 
 FORTRAN namelist file has not specified for this external LBC model (EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS):
   EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS = \"${EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS}\""
       err_exit "${message_txt}"
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ settings="
   ${USHaqm}/set_namelist.py -q -u "$settings" -o ${nml_fn}
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to python script set_namelist.py to set the variables 
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script set_namelist.py to set the variables 
 in the namelist file read in by the ${exec_fn} executable failed. Parameters 
 passed to this script are:
   Name of output namelist file:
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_nexus_emission.sh b/scripts/exaqm_nexus_emission.sh
index 28f4e93759..dc61523bf5 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_nexus_emission.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_nexus_emission.sh
@@ -126,13 +126,8 @@ if [ "${RUN_TASK_NEXUS_GFS_SFC}" = "FALSE" ]; then
        create_symlink_to_file target="${gfs_sfc_fp}" symlink="${gfs_sfc_fn}" \
                              relative="${relative_link_flag}"
      else
-       message_txt="WARNING: SFC file for nexus emission for \"${cycle}\" does not exist in the directory:
- GFS_SFC_LOCAL_DIR = \"${GFS_SFC_LOCAL_DIR}\"
- gfs_sfc_fn = \"${gfs_sfc_fn}\""
-       print_info_msg "${message_txt}"
-#       if [ ! -z "${maillist_group1}" ]; then
-#         echo "${message_txt}" | mail.py $maillist_group1
-#       fi
+       message_txt="FATAL ERROR SFC file \"${GFS_SFC_LOCAL_DIR}/${gfs_sfc_fn}\" for nexus emission for \"${cycle}\" does not exist"
+       err_exit "${message_txt}"
      fi
    done
 
@@ -142,8 +137,8 @@ else
     if [ "${WORKFLOW_MANAGER}" = "ecflow" ]; then	    
       GFS_SFC_INPUT="${DATAROOT}/${RUN}_nexus_gfs_sfc_${cyc}.${share_pid}"
       if [ ! -d ${GFS_SFC_INPUT} ]; then
-        echo "Fatal error GFS_SFC_INPUT not found in production mode"
-        exit 7
+        message_txt="FATAL ERROR ${GFS_SFC_INPUT} not found in production mode"
+        err_exit "${message_txt}"
       fi
     else
       GFS_SFC_INPUT="${DATAROOT}/nexus_gfs_sfc.${share_pid}"
@@ -153,7 +148,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${RUN_TASK_NEXUS_GFS_SFC}" = "TRUE" ]; then
   if [ -d "${GFS_SFC_INPUT}" ]; then
     if [ "$(ls -A ${GFS_SFC_INPUT})" ]; then
-      cp -rp "${GFS_SFC_INPUT}" "GFS_SFC"
+      cpreq -rp "${GFS_SFC_INPUT}" "GFS_SFC"
       USE_GFS_SFC="TRUE"
     fi
   fi
@@ -165,14 +160,14 @@ fi
 #
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
-cp ${EXECaqm}/nexus ${DATA}
+cpreq ${EXECaqm}/nexus ${DATA}
 
-cp ${FIXaqmnexus}/${NEXUS_GRID_FN} ${DATA}/grid_spec.nc
+cpreq ${FIXaqmnexus}/${NEXUS_GRID_FN} ${DATA}/grid_spec.nc
 
 if [ "${USE_GFS_SFC}" = "TRUE" ]; then
-    cp ${PARMaqm}/nexus_config/cmaq_gfs_megan/*.rc ${DATA}
+    cpreq ${PARMaqm}/nexus_config/cmaq_gfs_megan/*.rc ${DATA}
 else
-    cp ${PARMaqm}/nexus_config/cmaq/*.rc ${DATA}
+    cpreq ${PARMaqm}/nexus_config/cmaq/*.rc ${DATA}
 fi
 #
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -246,7 +241,7 @@ NEXUS_INPUT_BASE_DIR=${FIXemis}
 ${USHaqm}/nexus_utils/python/nexus_time_parser.py -f ${DATA}/HEMCO_sa_Time.rc -s $start_date -e $end_date
 export err=$?
 if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-  message_txt="Call to python script \"nexus_time_parser.py\" failed."
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"nexus_time_parser.py\" failed."
   err_exit "${message_txt}"
 fi
 #
@@ -257,7 +252,7 @@ fi
 ${USHaqm}/nexus_utils/python/nexus_root_parser.py -f ${DATA}/NEXUS_Config.rc -d ${DATAinput}
 export err=$?
 if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-  message_txt="Call to python script \"nexus_root_parser.py\" failed."
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"nexus_root_parser.py\" failed."
   err_exit "${message_txt}"
 fi
 #
@@ -271,14 +266,14 @@ if [ "${NEI2016}" = "TRUE" ]; then #NEI2016
   ${USHaqm}/nexus_utils/python/nexus_nei2016_linker.py --src_dir ${NEXUS_INPUT_BASE_DIR} --date ${yyyymmdd} --work_dir ${DATAinput} -v "v2022-07"
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to python script \"nexus_nei2016_linker.py\" failed."
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"nexus_nei2016_linker.py\" failed."
     err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 
   ${USHaqm}/nexus_utils/python/nexus_nei2016_control_tilefix.py -f ${DATA}/NEXUS_Config.rc -t ${DATA}/HEMCO_sa_Time.rc # -d ${yyyymmdd}
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to python script \"nexus_nei2016_control_tilefix.py\" failed."
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"nexus_nei2016_control_tilefix.py\" failed."
     err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 fi
@@ -348,7 +343,7 @@ if [ "${USE_GFS_SFC}" = "TRUE" ]; then # GFS INPUT
   ${USHaqm}/nexus_utils/python/nexus_gfs_bio.py -i ${DATA}/GFS_SFC/gfs.t??z.sfcf???.nc -o ${DATA}/GFS_SFC_MEGAN_INPUT.nc
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to python script \"nexus_gfs_bio.py\" failed."
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"nexus_gfs_bio.py\" failed."
       err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 fi
@@ -376,7 +371,7 @@ fi
 ${USHaqm}/nexus_utils/python/make_nexus_output_pretty.py --src ${DATA}/NEXUS_Expt_split.nc --grid ${DATA}/grid_spec.nc -o ${INPUT_DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.NEXUS_Expt_split.${nspt}.nc -t ${DATA}/HEMCO_sa_Time.rc
 export err=$?
 if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-  message_txt="Call to python script \"make_nexus_output_pretty.py\" failed."
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"make_nexus_output_pretty.py\" failed."
   err_exit "${message_txt}"
 fi
 #
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_nexus_post_split.sh b/scripts/exaqm_nexus_post_split.sh
index 2f070ed66c..e9592c59c0 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_nexus_post_split.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_nexus_post_split.sh
@@ -80,12 +80,12 @@ end_date=`$NDATE +${FCST_LEN_HRS} ${yyyymmdd}${hh}`
 #
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
-cp ${PARMaqm}/nexus_config/cmaq/HEMCO_sa_Time.rc ${DATA}/HEMCO_sa_Time.rc
+cpreq ${PARMaqm}/nexus_config/cmaq/HEMCO_sa_Time.rc ${DATA}/HEMCO_sa_Time.rc
 
-cp ${FIXaqmnexus}/${NEXUS_GRID_FN} ${DATA}/grid_spec.nc
+cpreq ${FIXaqmnexus}/${NEXUS_GRID_FN} ${DATA}/grid_spec.nc
 if [ "${NUM_SPLIT_NEXUS}" = "01" ]; then
   nspt="00"
-  cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/NEXUS/${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.NEXUS_Expt_split.${nspt}.nc ${DATA}/NEXUS_Expt_combined.nc
+  cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/NEXUS/${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.NEXUS_Expt_split.${nspt}.nc ${DATA}/NEXUS_Expt_combined.nc
 else
   ${USHaqm}/nexus_utils/python/concatenate_nexus_post_split.py "${COMIN}/${cyc}/NEXUS/${NET}.${cycle}${dot_ensmem}.NEXUS_Expt_split.*.nc" "${DATA}/NEXUS_Expt_combined.nc"  >> $pgmout 2>errfile
   export err=$?
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ else
    cat ${pgmout}
   fi
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to python script \"concatenate_nexus_post_split.py\" failed."
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"concatenate_nexus_post_split.py\" failed."
     err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 fi    
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ fi
 ${USHaqm}/nexus_utils/combine_ant_bio.py "${DATA}/NEXUS_Expt_combined.nc" ${DATA}/NEXUS_Expt.nc
 export err=$?
 if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-  message_txt="Call to python script \"NEXUS_Expt_pretty.py\" failed."
+  message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"NEXUS_Expt_pretty.py\" failed."
   err_exit "${message_txt}"
 fi
 #
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_point_source.sh b/scripts/exaqm_point_source.sh
index 4b1e9dbb5a..559d22c15e 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_point_source.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_point_source.sh
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ if [ ! -s "${DATA}/pt-${yyyymmddhh}.nc" ]; then
   ${USHaqm}/aqm_utils_python/stack-pt-merge.py -s ${yyyymmddhh} -n ${nstep} -i ${PT_SRC_PRECOMB}
   export err=$?
   if [ $err -ne 0 ]; then
-    message_txt="Call to python script \"stack-pt-merge.py\" failed."
+    message_txt="FATAL ERROR Call to python script \"stack-pt-merge.py\" failed."
     err_exit "${message_txt}"
   fi
 fi
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_post.sh b/scripts/exaqm_post.sh
index 757657912e..dbf9c5e254 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_post.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_post.sh
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ fi
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 rm -f fort.*
-cp ${PARMdir}/upp/nam_micro_lookup.dat ./eta_micro_lookup.dat
+cpreq ${PARMdir}/upp/nam_micro_lookup.dat ./eta_micro_lookup.dat
 if [ ${USE_CUSTOM_POST_CONFIG_FILE} = "TRUE" ]; then
   post_config_fp="${CUSTOM_POST_CONFIG_FP}"
   print_info_msg "
@@ -112,18 +112,18 @@ temporary work directory (DATA):
   DATA = \"${DATA}\"
 ===================================================================="
 fi
-cp ${post_config_fp} ./postxconfig-NT.txt
-cp ${PARMdir}/upp/params_grib2_tbl_new .
+cpreq ${post_config_fp} ./postxconfig-NT.txt
+cpreq ${PARMdir}/upp/params_grib2_tbl_new .
 if [ ${USE_CRTM} = "TRUE" ]; then
-  cp ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/EmisCoeff/IR_Water/Big_Endian/Nalli.IRwater.EmisCoeff.bin ./
-  cp ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/EmisCoeff/MW_Water/Big_Endian/FAST*.bin ./
-  cp ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/EmisCoeff/IR_Land/SEcategory/Big_Endian/NPOESS.IRland.EmisCoeff.bin ./
-  cp ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/EmisCoeff/IR_Snow/SEcategory/Big_Endian/NPOESS.IRsnow.EmisCoeff.bin ./
-  cp ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/EmisCoeff/IR_Ice/SEcategory/Big_Endian/NPOESS.IRice.EmisCoeff.bin ./
-  cp ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/AerosolCoeff/Big_Endian/AerosolCoeff.bin ./
-  cp ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/CloudCoeff/Big_Endian/CloudCoeff.bin ./
-  cp ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/SpcCoeff/Big_Endian/*.bin ./
-  cp ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/TauCoeff/ODPS/Big_Endian/*.bin ./
+  cpreq ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/EmisCoeff/IR_Water/Big_Endian/Nalli.IRwater.EmisCoeff.bin ./
+  cpreq ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/EmisCoeff/MW_Water/Big_Endian/FAST*.bin ./
+  cpreq ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/EmisCoeff/IR_Land/SEcategory/Big_Endian/NPOESS.IRland.EmisCoeff.bin ./
+  cpreq ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/EmisCoeff/IR_Snow/SEcategory/Big_Endian/NPOESS.IRsnow.EmisCoeff.bin ./
+  cpreq ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/EmisCoeff/IR_Ice/SEcategory/Big_Endian/NPOESS.IRice.EmisCoeff.bin ./
+  cpreq ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/AerosolCoeff/Big_Endian/AerosolCoeff.bin ./
+  cpreq ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/CloudCoeff/Big_Endian/CloudCoeff.bin ./
+  cpreq ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/SpcCoeff/Big_Endian/*.bin ./
+  cpreq ${CRTM_DIR}/fix/TauCoeff/ODPS/Big_Endian/*.bin ./
   print_info_msg "
 ====================================================================
 Copying the external CRTM fix files from CRTM_DIR to the temporary
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_post_stat_o3.sh b/scripts/exaqm_post_stat_o3.sh
index c7c7057326..47f509e28f 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_post_stat_o3.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_post_stat_o3.sh
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ if [ "${PREDEF_GRID_NAME}" = "AQM_NA_13km" ]; then
   id_domain=793
 fi
 
-cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.nc .
+cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.nc .
 
 #
 cat >aqm_post.ini <<EOF1
@@ -134,10 +134,10 @@ while [ ${fhr} -le ${FCST_LEN_HRS} ]; do
   (( fhr=fhr+1 ))
 done
 
-cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 
 if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
-  cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_8hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+  cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_8hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 #  if [ "$SENDDBN" = "YES" ]; then
 #    ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_CONC ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2
 #    ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_CONC ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_8hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2
@@ -171,10 +171,10 @@ for grid in 227 196 198;do
       tocgrib2super < ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/wmo/grib2_aqm_ave_${hr}hr_o3-awpozcon.${cycle}.${grid}
     done
 
-    cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_o3.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
-    cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_8hr_o3.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
-    cp ${DATA}/awpaqm.${cycle}.1ho3.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
-    cp ${DATA}/awpaqm.${cycle}.8ho3.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
+    cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_o3.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+    cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_8hr_o3.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+    cpreq ${DATA}/awpaqm.${cycle}.1ho3.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
+    cpreq ${DATA}/awpaqm.${cycle}.8ho3.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
 
     if [ "$SENDDBN" = "YES" ]; then
       ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_CONC ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_o3.${grid}.grib2
@@ -187,11 +187,11 @@ for grid in 227 196 198;do
     fi
 
     for var in awpozcon;do
-      cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.${var}*grib2 ${COMOUT}
+      cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.${var}*grib2 ${COMOUT}
     done
   else
     for var in ave_1hr_o3 awpozcon;do
-      cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.${var}*grib2 ${COMOUT}
+      cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.${var}*grib2 ${COMOUT}
     done
   fi
 done
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ done
 #------------------------------------------------------------
 if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
 
-  cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.nc a.nc
+  cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.nc a.nc
 
   export chk=1
   export chk1=1
@@ -221,9 +221,9 @@ EOF1
   ## 06z needs b.nc to find current day output from 04Z to 06Z
   if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ]; then
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp  ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
+      cpreq  ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
       chk=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -233,9 +233,9 @@ EOF1
   if [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
     ## 12z needs b.nc to find current day output from 04Z to 06Z 
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
       chk=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -243,9 +243,9 @@ EOF1
 
     ## 12z needs c.nc to find current day output from 07Z to 12z
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/06/${NET}.t06z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMIN}/06/${NET}.t06z.chem_sfc.nc c.nc
+      cpreq ${COMIN}/06/${NET}.t06z.chem_sfc.nc c.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc c.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc c.nc
       chk1=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ EOF1
   wgrib2 aqm-maxi.${id_domain}.grib2 |grep "OZMAX1" | wgrib2 -i aqm-maxi.${id_domain}.grib2 -grib ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2
   wgrib2 aqm-maxi.${id_domain}.grib2 |grep "OZMAX8" | wgrib2 -i aqm-maxi.${id_domain}.grib2 -grib ${NET}.${cycle}.max_8hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2
 
-  cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_*hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2  ${COMOUT}
+  cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_*hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2  ${COMOUT}
 #  if [ "$SENDDBN" = "YES" ]; then
 #    ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_MAX ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2
 #    ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_MAX ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_8hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ EOF1
     wgrib2 ${NET}.${cycle}.max_8hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2 -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${!gg} ${NET}.${cycle}.max_8hr_o3.${grid}.grib2
     wgrib2 ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_o3.${id_domain}.grib2 -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${!gg} ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_o3.${grid}.grib2
 
-    cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_*hr_o3.${grid}.grib2  ${COMOUT}
+    cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_*hr_o3.${grid}.grib2  ${COMOUT}
     if [ "$SENDDBN" = "YES" ]; then
       ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_MAX ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_o3.${grid}.grib2
       ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_MAX ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_8hr_o3.${grid}.grib2
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ EOF1
       tocgrib2super < ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/wmo/grib2_aqm-${hr}hro3-maxi.${cycle}.${grid}
     done
 
-    cp awpaqm.${cycle}.*o3-max.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
+    cpreq awpaqm.${cycle}.*o3-max.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
     if [ "${SENDDBN_NTC}" = "YES" ]; then
       ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert ${DBNALERT_TYPE} ${NET} ${job} ${COMOUTwmo}/awpaqm.${cycle}.1ho3-max.${grid}.grib2
       ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert ${DBNALERT_TYPE} ${NET} ${job} ${COMOUTwmo}/awpaqm.${cycle}.8ho3-max.${grid}.grib2
diff --git a/scripts/exaqm_post_stat_pm25.sh b/scripts/exaqm_post_stat_pm25.sh
index 9515758ed6..ffa1d3ffa8 100755
--- a/scripts/exaqm_post_stat_pm25.sh
+++ b/scripts/exaqm_post_stat_pm25.sh
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ fi
 # aqm_pm25_post
 #---------------------------------------------------------------
 
-cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.nc .
+cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.nc .
 
 cat >aqm_post.ini <<EOF1
 &control
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ if [ -e "${pgmout}" ]; then
 fi
 cat ${NET}.${cycle}.pm25.*.${id_domain}.grib2 >> ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2
 
-cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 #if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
 #  if [ "$SENDDBN" = "YES" ]; then
 #    ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_PM ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ for grid in 227 196 198; do
   wgrib2 ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2 -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${!gg} ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_1hr_pm25.${grid}.grib2
 done
 
-cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}*pm25*.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}*pm25*.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 
 # Create AWIPS GRIB2 data for Bias-Corrected PM2.5
 if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
     fi
 
     # Post Files to COMOUTwmo
-    cp awpaqm.${cycle}.1hpm25.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
+    cpreq awpaqm.${cycle}.1hpm25.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
 
     if [ "$SENDDBN_NTC" = "YES" ]; then
       ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert ${DBNALERT_TYPE} ${NET} ${job} ${COMOUTwmo}/awpaqm.${cycle}.1hpm25.${grid}.grib2
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ fi
 #---------------------------------------------------------------
 if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ] || [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
 
-  cp ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.nc a.nc
+  cpreq ${COMIN}/${cyc}/${NET}.${cycle}.chem_sfc.nc a.nc
 
   export chk=1
   export chk1=1
@@ -195,9 +195,9 @@ EOF1
   # 06z needs b.nc to find current day output from 04Z to 06Z
   if [ "${cyc}" = "06" ]; then
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp  ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
+      cpreq  ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
       chk=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -207,9 +207,9 @@ EOF1
   if [ "${cyc}" = "12" ]; then
     # 12z needs b.nc to find current day output from 04Z to 06Z
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMIN}/00/${NET}.t00z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.${PDYm1}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.${PDYm1}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc b.nc
       chk=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -217,9 +217,9 @@ EOF1
 
     # 12z needs c.nc to find current day output from 07Z to 12z
     if [ -s ${COMIN}/06/${NET}.t06z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMIN}/06/${NET}.t06z.chem_sfc.nc c.nc
+      cpreq ${COMIN}/06/${NET}.t06z.chem_sfc.nc c.nc
     elif [ -s ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc ]; then
-      cp ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc c.nc
+      cpreq ${COMINm1}/12/${NET}.t12z.chem_sfc.nc c.nc
       chk1=0
     else
       flag_run_bicor_max=no
@@ -236,8 +236,8 @@ EOF1
   wgrib2 ${NET}_pm25_24h_ave.${id_domain}.grib2 |grep "PMTF" | wgrib2 -i ${NET}_pm25_24h_ave.${id_domain}.grib2 -grib ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2
   wgrib2 ${NET}_pm25_24h_ave.${id_domain}.grib2 |grep "PDMAX1" | wgrib2 -i ${NET}_pm25_24h_ave.${id_domain}.grib2 -grib ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2
 
-  cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
-  cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+  cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+  cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 
 #  if [ "$SENDDBN" = "YES" ]; then
 #    ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_PM ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2
@@ -253,8 +253,8 @@ EOF1
     wgrib2 ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2 -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${!gg} ${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25.${grid}.grib2
     wgrib2 ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25.${id_domain}.grib2 -set_grib_type c3b -new_grid_winds earth -new_grid ${!gg} ${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25.${grid}.grib2
 
-    cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
-    cp ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+    cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
+    cpreq ${DATA}/${NET}.${cycle}.max_1hr_pm25.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUT}
 
     if [ "$SENDDBN" = "YES" ]; then
       ${DBNROOT}/bin/dbn_alert MODEL AQM_PM ${job} ${COMOUT}/${NET}.${cycle}.ave_24hr_pm25.${grid}.grib2
@@ -292,8 +292,8 @@ EOF1
     export FORT51=awpaqm.${cycle}.24hr-pm25-ave.${grid}.grib2
     tocgrib2super < ${PARMaqm}/aqm_utils/wmo/grib2_aqm_ave_24hrpm25_awp.${cycle}.${grid}
     
-    cp awpaqm.${cycle}.daily-1hr-pm25-max.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
-    cp awpaqm.${cycle}.24hr-pm25-ave.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
+    cpreq awpaqm.${cycle}.daily-1hr-pm25-max.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
+    cpreq awpaqm.${cycle}.24hr-pm25-ave.${grid}.grib2 ${COMOUTwmo}
 
     ##############################
     # Distribute Data
diff --git a/sorc/CMakeLists.txt b/sorc/CMakeLists.txt
index d1ee4ee33d..895e7b1630 100644
--- a/sorc/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/sorc/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ if(BUILD_UFS_UTILS)
     "-DVCOORD_GEN=OFF"
     "-DFVCOMTOOLS=OFF"
     "-DGBLEVENTS=OFF"
+    "-DOCEAN_MERGE=OFF"
     "-DCPLD_GRIDGEN=OFF"
     "-DWEIGHT_GEN=OFF"
   )
diff --git a/sorc/Externals.cfg b/sorc/Externals.cfg
index c6dff4c9ec..64465a971a 100644
--- a/sorc/Externals.cfg
+++ b/sorc/Externals.cfg
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ protocol = git
 repo_url = https://github.com/ufs-community/ufs-weather-model
 # Specify either a branch name or a hash but not both.
 #branch = production/AQM.v7
-hash = 8599228 
+hash = 369dbad 
 local_path = ufs-weather-model
 required = True
 
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ protocol = git
 repo_url = https://github.com/NOAA-EMC/UPP
 # Specify either a branch name or a hash but not both.
 #branch = develop
-hash = 59a0175
+hash = 27d1d89
 local_path = UPP
 required = True
 
diff --git a/sorc/auto_build_exec.sh b/sorc/auto_A1_checkout.sh
similarity index 68%
rename from sorc/auto_build_exec.sh
rename to sorc/auto_A1_checkout.sh
index ce81cc4357..0d48cfc884 100755
--- a/sorc/auto_build_exec.sh
+++ b/sorc/auto_A1_checkout.sh
@@ -22,30 +22,22 @@ cd ../ush
  cp -rp ../sorc/AQM-utils/python_utils  aqm_utils_python	
  cp -rp ../sorc/arl_nexus/utils  nexus_utils
 
+
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------
 #=====  Step 3: create symbolic links for source codes  ============
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------
 cd ../sorc
 
-for src in aqm_bias_correct aqm_bias_interpolate aqm_post_bias_cor_grib2 aqm_post_grib2 aqm_post_maxi_bias_cor_grib2 aqm_post_maxi_grib2  convert_airnow_csv gefs2clbcs_para 
-do 
+for src in aqm_bias_correct aqm_bias_interpolate aqm_post_bias_cor_grib2 aqm_post_grib2 aqm_post_maxi_bias_cor_grib2 aqm_post_maxi_grib2  convert_airnow_csv gefs2clbcs_para
+do
  ln -s AQM-utils/sorc/${src}.fd .
-done 
-
-ln -s UFS_UTILS/sorc/chgres_cube.fd .
-
-ln -s ufs-weather-model ufs-model.fd
+ done
 
-ln -s UPP/sorc/ncep_post.fd upp.fd
+ ln -s UFS_UTILS/sorc/chgres_cube.fd .
 
-ln -s arl_nexus nexus.fd
-
-#-------------------------------------------------------------------
-#=====  Step 4: create executable  codes             ===============
-#-------------------------------------------------------------------
+ ln -s ufs-weather-model ufs-model.fd
 
-#./app_build.sh -p=wcoss2 --clean
+ ln -s UPP/sorc/ncep_post.fd upp.fd
 
-./app_build.sh -p=wcoss2 -a=ATMAQ  |& tee buildup.log
+ ln -s arl_nexus nexus.fd
 
-#./app_build.sh -p=wcoss2 -a=ATMAQ --build-type=DEBUG |& tee build_debug.log
diff --git a/sorc/auto_A2_build_exec.sh b/sorc/auto_A2_build_exec.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..934a9579fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sorc/auto_A2_build_exec.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------
+#=====   create executable  codes                    ===============
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+./app_build.sh -p=wcoss2 --clean
+
+./app_build.sh -p=wcoss2 -a=ATMAQ  |& tee buildup.log
+
+#./app_build.sh -p=wcoss2 -a=ATMAQ --build-type=DEBUG |& tee build_debug.log
diff --git a/sorc/auto_A2_cp_fix.sh b/sorc/auto_A3_cp_fix.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from sorc/auto_A2_cp_fix.sh
rename to sorc/auto_A3_cp_fix.sh
diff --git a/ush/aqm_nco_config.sh b/ush/aqm_nco_config.sh
index e1fca9de04..b449dd61d6 100755
--- a/ush/aqm_nco_config.sh
+++ b/ush/aqm_nco_config.sh
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ COMINgefs=$(compath.py "gefs/${gefs_ver}") || { echo "Failed to assign COMINgefs
 OPSROOT=$(printf '%q' "$OPSROOT")
 HOMEaqm=$(printf '%q' "$HOMEaqm")
 COMROOT=$(printf '%q' "$COMROOT")
+DCOMROOT=$(printf '%q' "$DCOMROOT")
 COMaqm=$(printf '%q' "$COMaqm")
 COMINgefs=$(printf '%q' "$COMINgefs")
 DATA=$(printf '%q' "$DATA")
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ for file_in in ${File_to_modify_source}; do
   sed -i -e "s|@WARMSTART_PDY@|${WARMSTART_PDY}|g" "$file_tmp"
   sed -i -e "s|@OPSROOT@|${OPSROOT}|g"             "$file_tmp"
   sed -i -e "s|@COMINgefs@|${COMINgefs}|g"         "$file_tmp"
+  sed -i -e "s|@DCOMROOT@|${DCOMROOT}|g"         "$file_tmp"
   sed -i -e "s|@DATA@|${DATA}|g"                   "$file_tmp"
 #
   mv "$file_tmp" "$file_in" || { echo "Failed to move $file_tmp to $file_in"; exit 1; }
diff --git a/ush/bash_utils/create_symlink_to_file.sh b/ush/bash_utils/create_symlink_to_file.sh
index e03e07ced7..5642b14f2f 100644
--- a/ush/bash_utils/create_symlink_to_file.sh
+++ b/ush/bash_utils/create_symlink_to_file.sh
@@ -119,7 +119,11 @@ will create was not specified in the call to this function:
 #
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
-  if [ ! -f "${target}" ]; then
+  if [ ! -s "${target}" ]; then
+    if [ -f "${target}" ]; then
+      echo "FATAL ERROR - ZERO sized file found"
+      exit 8
+    fi
     print_err_msg_exit "\
 Cannot create symlink to specified target file because the latter does
 not exist or is not a file:
diff --git a/ush/bash_utils/get_manage_externals_config_property.sh b/ush/bash_utils/get_manage_externals_config_property.sh
index 748949efc7..afba3370c0 100644
--- a/ush/bash_utils/get_manage_externals_config_property.sh
+++ b/ush/bash_utils/get_manage_externals_config_property.sh
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ The arguments to this function are defined as follows:
 #
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
-  if [ ! -f "${externals_cfg_fp}" ]; then
+  if [ ! -s "${externals_cfg_fp}" ]; then
     print_err_msg_exit "\
 The specified manage_externals configuration file (externals_cfg_fp) 
 does not exist:
diff --git a/ush/retrieve_data.py b/ush/retrieve_data.py
index 081bfb138c..217b6eba19 100755
--- a/ush/retrieve_data.py
+++ b/ush/retrieve_data.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def clean_up_output_dir(expected_subdir, local_archive, output_path, source_path
     for file_path in source_paths:
         local_file_path = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), file_path.lstrip("/"))
         if not os.path.exists(local_file_path):
-            logging.info(f"File does not exist: {local_file_path}")
+            logging.info(f"FATAL ERROR File does not exist: {local_file_path}")
             unavailable["hpss"] = source_paths
         else:
             file_name = os.path.basename(file_path)
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def copy_file(source, destination, copy_cmd):
     """
 
     if not os.path.exists(source):
-        logging.info(f"File does not exist on disk \n {source} \n try using: --input_file_path <your_path>")
+        logging.info(f"FATAL ERROR file does not exist on disk \n {source} \n try using: --input_file_path <your_path>")
         return False
 
     # Using subprocess here because system copy is much faster than
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ def hsi_single_file(file_path, mode="ls"):
             shell=True,
         )
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
-        logging.warning(f"{file_path} is not available!")
+        logging.warning(f"WARNING {file_path} is not available!")
         return ""
 
     return file_path
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ def hpss_requested_files(cla, file_names, store_specs, members=-1, ens_group=-1)
     logging.debug(f"Found existing archives: {existing_archives}")
 
     if not existing_archives:
-        logging.warning("No archive files were found!")
+        logging.warning("WARNING No archive files were found!")
         unavailable["archive"] = list(zip(archive_paths, archive_file_names))
         return unavailable
 
@@ -856,10 +856,10 @@ def main(argv):
             break
 
         logging.debug(f"Some unavailable files: {unavailable}")
-        logging.warning(f"Requested files are unavailable from {data_store}")
+        logging.warning(f"WARNING Requested files are unavailable from {data_store}")
 
     if unavailable:
-        logging.error("Could not find any of the requested files.")
+        logging.error("FATAL ERROR Could not find any of the requested files.")
         sys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/versions/run.ver b/versions/run.ver
index 865253f7dd..0a8adeefd6 100644
--- a/versions/run.ver
+++ b/versions/run.ver
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export envvar_ver=1.0
 
 export gfs_ver=v16.3
 export gefs_ver=v12.3
-export aqm_ver=v7.0.1
+#export aqm_ver=v7.0.1
 
 export udunits_ver=2.2.28
 export gsl_ver=2.7
@@ -37,5 +37,10 @@ export nco_ver=5.0.6
 export wgrib2_ver=2.0.8_wmo
 export grib_util_ver=1.2.4
 
+# for PARA testing
 export maillist="nco.spa@noaa.gov,jianping.huang@noaa.gov,kai.wang@noaa.gov"
+export MAILTO="nco.spa@noaa.gov,jianping.huang@noaa.gov,kai.wang@noaa.gov"
 
+export DBNLOG=YES
+# ONLY for NCO to set operational COMPATH here. Developer should remark it
+# export COMPATH=/lfs/h1/ops/para/com/aqm:/lfs/h1/ops/prod/com/gfs:/lfs/h1/ops/prod/com/gefs