[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42144-42145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19926]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Establishment of Advisory Committee to the Interagency Task Force 
To Improve Hydroelectric Licensing Processes

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior, and Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of establishment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior and the Chairman of the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, with the concurrence of members of the 
Interagency Task Force to Improve Hydroelectric Licensing Processes 
(Interagency Task Force) and after consultation with the General 
Services Administration, have established the Advisory Committee to the 
Interagency Task Force to Improve Hydroelectric Licensing Processes 
(Committee). Established in January 1998, the Interagency Task Force is 
addressing practical ways to improve and make more efficient the 
process for relicensing hydropower projects under the Federal Power 
Act. The Committee will provide a forum for non-Federal entities to 
review and provide comments on the deliberations of the Interagency 
Task Force.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Matthiessen, Office of the Deputy 
Secretary, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Mail Stop 
5100, Washington, D.C. 20042. Telephone 202-208-6291. Or, Carol 
Connors, Office of External Affairs, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20426. Telephone 
202-208-0870.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are publishing this notice in accordance 
with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.) (FACA). Secretary Babbitt and Chairman Hoecker certify that they 
have determined that the creation of the Committee is necessary and is 
in the public interest.
    The Committee will conduct its operations in accordance with the 
provisions of FACA. The Committee will report to the Steering Committee 
of the Interagency Task Force and will function solely as an advisory 
body. The Committee's charter provides for the Committee to assist the 
Interagency Task Force by: (1) Holding public meetings and/or 
conferences to solicit input on the Interagency Task Force's work 
products; (2) providing informal input to the Interagency Task Force 
working groups; and (3) identifying appropriate members of the public 
with expertise in hydropower licensing to assist the Interagency Task 
Force's working groups.
    To achieve the Committee's goals, members will be appointed who can 
represent effectively the varied interests affected by the hydropower 
relicensing process. Members will represent a variety of viewpoints and 
have varying experience, and the Committee will be fairly balanced in 
terms of points of view, backgrounds, and tasks. Membership will be 
composed of representatives of industry; Federal, State, and local 
governments; non-governmental organizations; and Indian tribes. Each 
member must be qualified on the basis of experience in or knowledge of 
the processes involved in hydroelectric licensing. Federal members will 
represent the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of 
the Interior, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, and 
the Department of Agriculture. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
and the Department of the Interior representatives will serve as co-
chairs.
    The Committee will meet at such intervals as are necessary to carry 
out its functions. It is expected that meetings of the Committee 
generally will occur no more frequently than four times per year. The 
Department of the Interior will provide necessary support services to 
the Committee.
    The Committee will continue for only as long as the Interagency 
Task Force is operating. In any event, the Committee will terminate at 
the end of two years from the date of its establishment, unless, prior 
to such time, its charter is renewed in accordance with FACA or unless 
the Secretary and the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, with the concurrence of the members of the Interagency Task 
Force, determine that continuance of the Committee is no longer in the 
public interest.
    Fifteen days after publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, a copy of the Committee's charter will be filed with the 
Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration; 
Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate; 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate; 
Committee on Resources, United States House of Representatives; 
Committee on Commerce, United States House of Representatives; and the 
Library of Congress.
    The Certification for establishment is published below.

Certification

    We hereby certify that the establishment of the Advisory Committee 
to the Interagency Task Force to Improve Hydroelectric Licensing 
Processes is necessary and is in the public interest in connection with 
the performance of duties imposed on participants in the Interagency 
Task Force by the Federal Power Act and other Federal laws implicated 
by the hydropower licensing process. The Committee will assist the 
Department of the Interior, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
and other members of the Interagency Task Force, by providing advice on 
work products and recommendations to improve the hydropower relicensing 
process.


[[Page 42145]]


    Dated: July 28, 1999.
James J. Hoecker,
Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

    Dated: July 29, 1999.
Bruce Babbitt,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 99-19926 Filed 8-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P