E8-4625. Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY:

DoD.

ACTION:

Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the Department of Defense gives notice that it is renewing the charter for the Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board (hereafter referred to as the Board).

The Board is a discretionary federal advisory committee established by the Secretary of Defense to provide the Department of Defense, the Secretary of Army, and the Chief of Engineers (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) independent advice and recommendations on environmental issues facing the Corps of Engineers. The Board, in accomplishing its mission: (a) Provides sound recommendations on specific policies, programs for the Chief of Engineers; (b) advise on topics as environmental benefit assessment and integrated water resources management.

The Board shall be composed of not more than 10 members, who are distinguished members of the natural (e.g., biological, ecological), social (e.g., anthropologist, community planner) and related sciences. Board members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are not federal officers or employees, shall serve as Special Government Employees under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109. Board members shall be appointed on an annual basis by the Secretary of Defense, and shall serve a term not to exceed four years. The Board membership shall select the Board's Chairperson from the total membership. Board members shall with the exception of travel and per diem for official travel, serve without compensation.

The Board shall be authorized to establish subcommittees, as necessary and consistent with its mission, and these subcommittees or working groups shall operate under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976, and other appropriate federal regulations.

Such subcommittees or workgroups shall not work independently of the chartered Board, and shall report all their recommendations and advice to the Board for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees or workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the chartered Board nor can they report directly to the Department of Defense or any federal officers or employees who are not Board members.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Board shall meet at the call of the Board's Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the Board's chairperson. The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to DoD policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, and shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and procedures. The Designated Federal Officer or duly appointed Alternate Designated Federal Officer shall attend all committee meetings and subcommittee meetings.

Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or interested organizations may submit written statements to the Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board membership about the Board's mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of the Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board.

All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal Officer for the Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board, and this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for their consideration. Contact information for the Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board's Designated Federal Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database—https://www.fido.gov/​facadatabase/​public.asp.

The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned meetings of the Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may provide additional guidance on the submission of written statements that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in question.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Jim Freeman, Deputy Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-601-2554, extension 128.

Dated: March 4, 2008.

L. M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.