2013-21917. Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY:

DoD.

ACTION:

Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Defense gives notice that it is renewing the charter for the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board. The Advisory Board may make recommendations to the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Council regarding technologies, research, projects, programs, activities, and, if appropriate, funding within the scope of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jim Freeman, Deputy Advisory Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-601-6128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This committee is being renewed under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 2904, the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b), and 41 CFR 102-3.50.

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(a), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall jointly establish the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board. The Advisory Board, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904, shall operate and comply with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C. Appendix), and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a).

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2902 and 2904(e), the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Council (hereafter referred to as the Council), shall refer to the Advisory Board, and the Advisory Board shall review, each proposed research project including its estimated cost, for research in and development of technologies related to environmental activities in excess of $1,000,000. The Council, pursuant to its responsibilities under 10 U.S.C. 2902(d)(1) and in an effort to enhance the Advisory Board's review process, has lowered the Advisory Board's dollar threshold to any proposed research projects in excess of $900,000. The Advisory Board shall make any recommendations to the Council that the Advisory Board considers appropriate regarding such project or proposal.

The Advisory Board may make recommendations to the Council regarding technologies, research, projects, programs, activities, and, if appropriate, funding within the scope of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. In addition, the Advisory Board shall assist and advise the Council in identifying the environmental data and analytical assistance activities that should be covered by the policies and procedures prescribed pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2902(d)(1).

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(e), the Advisory Board shall make any recommendations to the Council that the Advisory Board considers appropriate regarding projects or proposals. The Advisory Board, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(a), shall be comprised of not more than 14 members. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(b), the Advisory Board membership shall be comprised of the following:

a. Permanent members of the Advisory Board are the Science Advisor to the President, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or their designees;

b. Non-permanent members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed from among persons eminent in the fields of basic sciences, engineering, ocean and environmental sciences, education, research management, international and security affairs, health physics, health sciences, or social sciences, with due regard given to the equitable representation of scientists and engineers who are women or who represent minority groups. One such member of the Advisory Board shall be a representative of environmental public interest groups, and one such member shall be a representative of the interests of State governments.

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(b)(3), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall request that the:

a. Head of the National Academy of Science, in consultation with the head of the National Academy of Engineering and the head of the Institutes of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, nominate persons for appointment to the Advisory Board;

b. Council of Environmental Quality nominate for appointment to the Advisory Board at least one person who is a representative of environmental public interest groups; and

c. National Association of Governors nominate for appointment to the Advisory Board at least one person who is a representative of the interests of State governments.

The Advisory Board, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(d), shall develop procedures for carrying out its responsibilities. Such procedures shall define a quorum as a majority of the members, and shall provide for the annual election of the Advisory Board's chairperson.

The permanent Advisory Board members, defined above, shall be appointed as regular government employee members, and their appointments shall be based upon their official position in the Federal government. Both individuals may designate another regular government officer or employee from their offices to represent their interests before the Advisory Board.

Advisory Board members appointed by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy, who are not full-time or permanent part-time federal officers or employees, shall be appointed as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and serve as special government employee members.

While the Council of Environmental Quality and the National Association of Governors nominate individuals to represent certain interests, these individuals are appointed by the Secretary of Defense and, these individuals, along with the other members, to include the regular government employee members, are appointed to provide advice on the basis of their best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free from conflict of interest. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(h), each member of the Advisory Board shall be required to file a financial disclosure report under title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).

With the exception of those experts and consultants that are appointed members of the Advisory Board, all others, to include subject matter experts that are invited by the Advisory Board or experts and consultants that are from the general public attending meetings are not authorized to participate in the Advisory Board's deliberations.

The terms of member appointments shall not be less than two but not more than four years, as provided in 10 U.S.C. 2904(b)(4) and approved by the Secretary of Defense. All appointments shall be reviewed by the Secretary of Defense on an annual basis.

With the exception of travel and per diem for official travel, Advisory Board members shall serve without compensation.

With DoD approval, the Advisory Board is authorized to establish subcommittees, as necessary and consistent with its mission, and these subcommittees shall operate under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b), and other appropriate Federal regulations.

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

Subcommittee members, who are not Advisory Board members, shall be appointed in the same manner as the Advisory Board members. Such individuals, if not full-time or part-time government employees, shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and serve as special government employee members, whose appointments must be renewed on an annual basis. With the exception of per diem for official travel, subcommittee members shall serve without compensation.

The Advisory Board shall meet at the call of the Advisory Board's Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the Chairperson. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(d), the minimum number of Advisory Board meetings is four per year.

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 governing DoD policies and procedures. In addition, the Designated Federal Officer is required to be in attendance at all Advisory Board and subcommittee meetings for the entire duration of each and every meeting; however, in the absence of the Designated Federal Officer, the Alternate Designated Federal Officer shall attend the entire duration of the Advisory Board or subcommittee meeting.

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

All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal Officer for the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board, and this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for their consideration. Contact information for the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board Designated Federal Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database—http://www.facadatabase.gov/​.

The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned meetings of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific 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.

Dated: September 4, 2013.

Aaron Siegel,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.