diff --git a/docs/physics/state.rst b/docs/physics/state.rst
index 1b603887..e56dfb07 100644
--- a/docs/physics/state.rst
+++ b/docs/physics/state.rst
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ You can initialize a zero-filled PhysicsState and MicrophysicsState from other P
     ...    ny_tile=12,
     ...    nz=79,
     ...    n_halo=3,
-    ...    extra_dim_lengths={},
     ...    layout=layout,
     ...    tile_partitioner=partitioner.tile,
     ...    tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,
diff --git a/examples/notebooks/functions.py b/examples/notebooks/functions.py
index c603d09d..0c81ff58 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/functions.py
+++ b/examples/notebooks/functions.py
@@ -263,7 +263,6 @@ def configure_domain(
         ny_tile=dimensions["ny"],
         nz=dimensions["nz"],
         n_halo=dimensions["nhalo"],
-        extra_dim_lengths={},
         layout=dimensions["layout"],
         tile_partitioner=partitioner.tile,
         tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,
diff --git a/examples/notebooks/grid_generation.ipynb b/examples/notebooks/grid_generation.ipynb
index 2f56fa34..eb331536 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/grid_generation.ipynb
+++ b/examples/notebooks/grid_generation.ipynb
@@ -182,7 +182,6 @@
     "    ny_tile=ny,\n",
     "    nz=nz,\n",
     "    n_halo=nhalo,\n",
-    "    extra_dim_lengths={},\n",
     "    layout=layout,\n",
     "    tile_partitioner=partitioner.tile,\n",
     "    tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,\n",
diff --git a/pace/diagnostics.py b/pace/diagnostics.py
index 8850bc08..35895e03 100644
--- a/pace/diagnostics.py
+++ b/pace/diagnostics.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import dataclasses
 import warnings
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
-from typing import List, Optional, Union
+from pathlib import Path
 
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 from ndsl.constants import RGRAV, Z_DIM, Z_INTERFACE_DIM
 from ndsl.dsl.dace.orchestration import dace_inhibitor
 from ndsl.dsl.typing import Float
-from ndsl.filesystem import get_fs
 from ndsl.grid import GridData
 from ndsl.monitor import Monitor, ZarrMonitor
 from ndsl.monitor.netcdf_monitor import NetCDFMonitor
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@
 
 class Diagnostics(abc.ABC):
     @abc.abstractmethod
-    def store(self, time: Union[datetime, timedelta], state: DriverState): ...
+    def store(self, time: datetime | timedelta, state: DriverState): ...
 
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def store_grid(self, grid_data: GridData): ...
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@ def cleanup(self): ...
 @dataclasses.dataclass
 class ZSelect:
     level: int
-    names: List[str]
+    names: list[str]
 
     def select_data(self, state: DycoreState):
         output = {}
@@ -77,15 +76,15 @@ class DiagnosticsConfig:
             output_format is "netcdf"
         names: state variables to save as diagnostics
         derived_names: derived diagnostics to save
-        z_select: save a veritcal slice of a 3D state
+        z_select: save a vertical slice of a 3D state
     """
 
-    path: Optional[str] = None
+    path: str | None = None
     output_format: str = "zarr"
     time_chunk_size: int = 1
-    names: List[str] = dataclasses.field(default_factory=list)
-    derived_names: List[str] = dataclasses.field(default_factory=list)
-    z_select: List[ZSelect] = dataclasses.field(default_factory=list)
+    names: list[str] = dataclasses.field(default_factory=list)
+    derived_names: list[str] = dataclasses.field(default_factory=list)
+    z_select: list[ZSelect] = dataclasses.field(default_factory=list)
     precision: str = "Float"
 
     def __post_init__(self):
@@ -113,43 +112,43 @@ def diagnostics_factory(self, communicator: Communicator) -> Diagnostics:
                 or to coordinate filesystem access between ranks
         """
         if self.path is None:
-            diagnostics: Diagnostics = NullDiagnostics()
+            return NullDiagnostics()
+
+        if not Path(self.path).exists():
+            Path(self.path).mkdir()
+
+        if self.output_format == "zarr":
+            store = zarr_storage.DirectoryStore(path=self.path)
+            monitor: Monitor = ZarrMonitor(
+                store=store,
+                partitioner=communicator.partitioner,
+                mpi_comm=communicator.comm,
+            )
+        elif self.output_format == "netcdf":
+            if self.precision == "Float":
+                precision = Float
+            elif self.precision == "float32":
+                precision = np.float32
+            elif self.precision == "float64":
+                precision = np.float64
+            monitor = NetCDFMonitor(
+                path=self.path,
+                communicator=communicator,
+                time_chunk_size=self.time_chunk_size,
+                precision=precision,
+            )
         else:
-            fs = get_fs(self.path)
-            if not fs.exists(self.path):
-                fs.makedirs(self.path, exist_ok=True)
-            if self.output_format == "zarr":
-                store = zarr_storage.DirectoryStore(path=self.path)
-                monitor: Monitor = ZarrMonitor(
-                    store=store,
-                    partitioner=communicator.partitioner,
-                    mpi_comm=communicator.comm,
-                )
-            elif self.output_format == "netcdf":
-                if self.precision == "Float":
-                    precision = Float
-                elif self.precision == "float32":
-                    precision = np.float32
-                elif self.precision == "float64":
-                    precision = np.float64
-                monitor = NetCDFMonitor(
-                    path=self.path,
-                    communicator=communicator,
-                    time_chunk_size=self.time_chunk_size,
-                    precision=precision,
-                )
-            else:
-                raise ValueError(
-                    "output_format must be one of 'zarr' or 'netcdf', "
-                    f"got {self.output_format}"
-                )
-            diagnostics = MonitorDiagnostics(
-                monitor=monitor,
-                names=self.names,
-                derived_names=self.derived_names,
-                z_select=self.z_select,
+            raise ValueError(
+                "output_format must be one of 'zarr' or 'netcdf', "
+                f"got {self.output_format}"
             )
-        return diagnostics
+
+        return MonitorDiagnostics(
+            monitor=monitor,
+            names=self.names,
+            derived_names=self.derived_names,
+            z_select=self.z_select,
+        )
 
 
 class MonitorDiagnostics(Diagnostics):
@@ -158,9 +157,9 @@ class MonitorDiagnostics(Diagnostics):
     def __init__(
         self,
         monitor: Monitor,
-        names: List[str],
-        derived_names: List[str],
-        z_select: List[ZSelect],
+        names: list[str],
+        derived_names: list[str],
+        z_select: list[ZSelect],
     ):
         """
         Args:
@@ -174,7 +173,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.monitor = monitor
 
     @dace_inhibitor
-    def store(self, time: Union[datetime, timedelta], state: DriverState):
+    def store(self, time: datetime | timedelta, state: DriverState):
         monitor_state = {"time": time}
         for name in self.names:
             try:
@@ -226,7 +225,7 @@ def cleanup(self):
 class NullDiagnostics(Diagnostics):
     """Diagnostics that do nothing."""
 
-    def store(self, time: Union[datetime, timedelta], state: DriverState):
+    def store(self, time: datetime | timedelta, state: DriverState):
         pass
 
     def store_grid(self, grid_data: GridData):
diff --git a/pace/driver.py b/pace/driver.py
index 6ea2d40f..fdc44a21 100644
--- a/pace/driver.py
+++ b/pace/driver.py
@@ -173,7 +173,6 @@ def get_grid(
                 ny_tile=self.nx_tile,
                 nz=self.nz,
                 n_halo=N_HALO_DEFAULT,
-                extra_dim_lengths={},
                 layout=self.layout,
                 tile_partitioner=communicator.partitioner.tile,
                 tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,
@@ -203,7 +202,6 @@ def get_driver_state(
                 ny_tile=self.nx_tile,
                 nz=self.nz,
                 n_halo=N_HALO_DEFAULT,
-                extra_dim_lengths={},
                 layout=self.layout,
                 tile_partitioner=communicator.partitioner.tile,
                 tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,
@@ -767,7 +765,6 @@ def _setup_factories(
         ny_tile=config.nx_tile,
         nz=config.nz,
         n_halo=N_HALO_DEFAULT,
-        extra_dim_lengths={},
         layout=config.layout,
         tile_partitioner=communicator.partitioner.tile,
         tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,
diff --git a/pace/state.py b/pace/state.py
index fa3370b6..9caa1dc6 100644
--- a/pace/state.py
+++ b/pace/state.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import dataclasses
-from dataclasses import fields
-from typing import List
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Self
 
 import xarray as xr
 
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 from ndsl import Quantity, QuantityFactory, SubtileGridSizer
 from ndsl.constants import N_HALO_DEFAULT, X_DIM, Y_DIM, Z_DIM
 from ndsl.dsl.typing import Float
-from ndsl.filesystem import get_fs
 from ndsl.grid import DampingCoefficients, DriverGridData, GridData
 from ndsl.typing import Communicator
 from pyfv3 import DycoreState
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@
 @dataclasses.dataclass()
 class TendencyState:
     """
-    Accumulated tendencies from physical parameterizations to be applied
+    Accumulated tendencies from physical parametrizations to be applied
     to the dynamical core model state.
     """
 
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ class TendencyState:
     )
 
     @classmethod
-    def init_zeros(cls, quantity_factory: QuantityFactory) -> "TendencyState":
+    def init_zeros(cls, quantity_factory: QuantityFactory) -> Self:
         initial_quantities = {}
         for _field in dataclasses.fields(cls):
             initial_quantities[_field.name] = quantity_factory.zeros(
@@ -79,8 +78,8 @@ def load_state_from_restart(
         damping_coefficients: DampingCoefficients,
         driver_grid_data: DriverGridData,
         grid_data: GridData,
-        schemes: List[PHYSICS_PACKAGES],
-    ) -> "DriverState":
+        schemes: list[PHYSICS_PACKAGES],
+    ) -> Self:
         comm = driver_config.comm_config.get_comm()
         communicator = Communicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=driver_config.layout)
         sizer = SubtileGridSizer.from_tile_params(
@@ -88,7 +87,6 @@ def load_state_from_restart(
             ny_tile=driver_config.nx_tile,
             nz=driver_config.nz,
             n_halo=N_HALO_DEFAULT,
-            extra_dim_lengths={},
             layout=driver_config.layout,
             tile_partitioner=communicator.partitioner.tile,
             tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,
@@ -110,8 +108,6 @@ def load_state_from_restart(
         return state
 
     def save_state(self, comm, restart_path: str = "RESTART"):
-        from pathlib import Path
-
         Path(restart_path).mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         current_rank = str(comm.Get_rank())
         self.dycore_state.xr_dataset.to_netcdf(
@@ -165,7 +161,7 @@ def _overwrite_state_from_restart(
     """
     ds = xr.open_dataset(path + f"/{restart_file_prefix}_{rank}.nc")
 
-    for _field in fields(type(state)):
+    for _field in dataclasses.fields(type(state)):
         if "units" in _field.metadata.keys():
             state.__dict__[_field.name].data[:] = gt_utils.asarray(
                 ds[_field.name].data[:], to_type=state.__dict__[_field.name].np.ndarray
@@ -180,14 +176,11 @@ def _restart_driver_state(
     damping_coefficients: DampingCoefficients,
     driver_grid_data: DriverGridData,
     grid_data: GridData,
-    schemes: List[PHYSICS_PACKAGES],
+    schemes: list[PHYSICS_PACKAGES],
 ):
-    fs = get_fs(path)
-
-    restart_files = fs.ls(path)
-    is_fortran_restart = any(
-        fname.endswith("fv_core.res.nc") for fname in restart_files
-    )
+    # It's a restart from a FORTRAN run if we find any files in the restart directory
+    # that ends in "fv_core.res.nc".
+    is_fortran_restart = any(fname for fname in Path(path).glob("**/*fv_core.res.nc"))
 
     if is_fortran_restart:
         dycore_state = DycoreState.from_fortran_restart(
diff --git a/tests/main/driver/test_analytic_init.py b/tests/main/driver/test_analytic_init.py
index 6f5405a0..8bd2dd1c 100644
--- a/tests/main/driver/test_analytic_init.py
+++ b/tests/main/driver/test_analytic_init.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import List
 
 import pytest
 import yaml
@@ -13,7 +12,7 @@
 # TODO: Location of test configurations will be changed after refactor,
 #       need to update after
 
-TESTED_CONFIGS: List[Path] = [
+TESTED_CONFIGS: list[Path] = [
     EXAMPLE_CONFIGS_DIR / "analytic_test.yaml",
     EXAMPLE_CONFIGS_DIR / "baroclinic_c48_6ranks_serialbox_test.yaml",
 ]
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@
         pytest.param(TESTED_CONFIGS, id="example configs"),
     ],
 )
-def test_analytic_init_config(tested_configs: List[Path]):
+def test_analytic_init_config(tested_configs: list[Path]):
     for config_file in tested_configs:
         with open(Path(__file__).parent / config_file, "r") as f:
             config = yaml.safe_load(f)
diff --git a/tests/main/driver/test_diagnostics_config.py b/tests/main/driver/test_diagnostics_config.py
index 14283349..cd0b2ca0 100644
--- a/tests/main/driver/test_diagnostics_config.py
+++ b/tests/main/driver/test_diagnostics_config.py
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ def test_zselect_raises_error_if_not_3d(tmpdir):
                 ny_tile=12,
                 nz=79,
                 n_halo=3,
-                extra_dim_lengths={},
                 layout=(1, 1),
             ),
             backend="numpy",
@@ -70,7 +69,6 @@ def test_zselect_raises_error_if_3rd_dim_not_z(tmpdir):
                 ny_tile=12,
                 nz=79,
                 n_halo=3,
-                extra_dim_lengths={},
                 layout=(1, 1),
             ),
             backend="numpy",
diff --git a/tests/main/driver/test_restart_fortran.py b/tests/main/driver/test_restart_fortran.py
index 92e5ed6f..c658fc02 100644
--- a/tests/main/driver/test_restart_fortran.py
+++ b/tests/main/driver/test_restart_fortran.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ def test_state_from_fortran_restart():
         ny_tile=12,
         nz=63,
         n_halo=3,
-        extra_dim_lengths={},
         layout=layout,
         tile_partitioner=partitioner.tile,
         tile_rank=0,
diff --git a/tests/main/driver/test_restart_serial.py b/tests/main/driver/test_restart_serial.py
index 7f9430f8..aa9fe693 100644
--- a/tests/main/driver/test_restart_serial.py
+++ b/tests/main/driver/test_restart_serial.py
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ def test_restart_save_to_disk():
             ny_tile=12,
             nz=79,
             n_halo=3,
-            extra_dim_lengths={},
             layout=(1, 1),
             tile_partitioner=partitioner.tile,
             tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,
diff --git a/tests/main/fv3core/test_dycore_baroclinic.py b/tests/main/fv3core/test_dycore_baroclinic.py
index 950b119e..afebd877 100644
--- a/tests/main/fv3core/test_dycore_baroclinic.py
+++ b/tests/main/fv3core/test_dycore_baroclinic.py
@@ -105,7 +105,6 @@ def setup_dycore(
         ny_tile=config.npy - 1,
         nz=config.npz,
         n_halo=3,
-        extra_dim_lengths={},
         layout=config.layout,
         tile_partitioner=partitioner.tile,
         tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,
diff --git a/tests/main/fv3core/test_dycore_call.py b/tests/main/fv3core/test_dycore_call.py
index 80d8ab70..e41f6972 100644
--- a/tests/main/fv3core/test_dycore_call.py
+++ b/tests/main/fv3core/test_dycore_call.py
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ def setup_dycore() -> Tuple[DynamicalCore, DycoreState, Timer]:
         ny_tile=config.npy - 1,
         nz=config.npz,
         n_halo=3,
-        extra_dim_lengths={},
         layout=config.layout,
         tile_partitioner=partitioner.tile,
         tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,
diff --git a/tests/main/physics/test_integration.py b/tests/main/physics/test_integration.py
index 76168041..6e215ea5 100644
--- a/tests/main/physics/test_integration.py
+++ b/tests/main/physics/test_integration.py
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ def setup_physics():
         ny_tile=physics_config.npy - 1,
         nz=physics_config.npz,
         n_halo=3,
-        extra_dim_lengths={},
         layout=layout,
         tile_partitioner=partitioner.tile,
         tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,
diff --git a/tests/main/test_grid_init.py b/tests/main/test_grid_init.py
index 1361d2e5..32f05aed 100644
--- a/tests/main/test_grid_init.py
+++ b/tests/main/test_grid_init.py
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ def get_quantity_factory(layout, nx_tile, ny_tile, nz):
             ny_tile=ny,
             nz=nz,
             n_halo=3,
-            extra_dim_lengths={},
             layout=(1, 1),
         ),
         backend="numpy",
diff --git a/tests/mpi/test_grid_init.py b/tests/mpi/test_grid_init.py
index b0aefab0..7e0ab41a 100644
--- a/tests/mpi/test_grid_init.py
+++ b/tests/mpi/test_grid_init.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def get_quantity_factory(layout, nx_tile, ny_tile, nz):
     ny = ny_tile // layout[1]
     return QuantityFactory.from_backend(
         sizer=SubtileGridSizer.from_tile_params(
-            nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nz, n_halo=3, extra_dim_lengths={}, layout=(1, 1)
+            nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nz, n_halo=3, layout=(1, 1)
         ),
         backend="numpy",
     )
diff --git a/tests/savepoint/test_checkpoints.py b/tests/savepoint/test_checkpoints.py
index 990e60f1..2a2f22fd 100644
--- a/tests/savepoint/test_checkpoints.py
+++ b/tests/savepoint/test_checkpoints.py
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ def test_fv_dynamics(
                 n_halo=3,
                 tile_partitioner=communicator.partitioner.tile,
                 tile_rank=communicator.rank,
-                extra_dim_lengths={},
                 layout=namelist.layout,
             ),
             comm=communicator,
diff --git a/tests/savepoint/translate/translate_driver.py b/tests/savepoint/translate/translate_driver.py
index 56aeb6a7..f3499c56 100644
--- a/tests/savepoint/translate/translate_driver.py
+++ b/tests/savepoint/translate/translate_driver.py
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ def compute_parallel(self, inputs, communicator):
             ny_tile=self.namelist.npy - 1,
             nz=self.namelist.npz,
             n_halo=N_HALO_DEFAULT,
-            extra_dim_lengths={},
             layout=self.namelist.layout,
             tile_partitioner=communicator.partitioner.tile,
             tile_rank=communicator.tile.rank,