[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18091-18092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8413]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Re-establishment of the National Urban Search and Rescue Advisory 
Committee

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2, the Director of FEMA gives notice of re-establishment of 
the National Urban Search and Rescue Advisory Committee for a period of 
two years. Re-establishment of the Committee is a matter of the public 
interest in connection with the performance of the duties imposed on 
the Agency by law, to provide advice and recommendations on the 
continuing development and maintenance of the National Urban Search and 
Rescue Response System and the Agency's Urban Search and Rescue 
Program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of the Advisory Committee is

[[Page 18092]]

to provide advice, recommendations, and counsel on the continuing 
development and maintenance of a National Urban Search and Rescue 
Response System to the Director of FEMA. Principal functions of the 
Advisory Committee include:
    a. Providing guidance to FEMA on the continuing development and 
implementation of a National Urban Search and Rescue capability;
    b. Recommending priorities and appropriate funding levels for Urban 
Search and Rescue capability development and maintenance;
    c. Overseeing the existing working group structure and recommending 
new working groups, as necessary;
    d. Providing guidance and recommendations to FEMA regarding the 
concerns and priorities of the organizations which the members of the 
Advisory Committee represent; and,
    e. Addressing legislative and State/local political matters that 
affect the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System.
    The Advisory Committee will be comprised of up to 10 members, 
including the Designated Federal Officer for the Committee, or his or 
her designee, who will serve as the Chair. Members are appointed for 2-
year terms, subject to renewal, and will serve at the discretion of the 
Designated Federal Officer. Members are selected to ensure a balanced 
representation of interests. Appointments to the Advisory Committee are 
reserved for representatives of the organizations that are most 
involved with the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System, to 
include Task Forces, State emergency management organizations, and fire 
service management and labor organizations.
    The Advisory Committee shall also operate ad hoc committees and 
standing Functional Working Groups, as necessary to meet its 
responsibilities. They shall be accomplished through an Operations 
Group, that consists of a representative of the Task Force Leaders, 
three Task Force Leaders representing the three geographic divisions 
established within the United States, and the chairs of all Functional 
Working Groups. The Operations Group will report to the Chair of the 
Advisory Committee. Members of the Functional Working Groups are 
recommended based on professional expertise in fields such as search, 
rescue medicine, technology, logistics, communications and information 
technology, training, law, and structural engineering and emergency 
management. Federal employees may be considered for membership on the 
Advisory Committee or Functional Working Groups, if they possess unique 
expertise that will augment effective operation of the Committee or 
Working Group.
    Comments: Comments on the re-establishment of the National Urban 
Search and Rescue Advisory Committee should be submitted on or before 
April 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comment on re-establishment of the Advisory Committee are 
invited and should be addressed to the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of 
General Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW, 
Room 840, Washington, DC 20472 or via e-mail at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Russo, Program Specialist, 
Emergency Services Branch, Operations and Planning Division, Response 
and Recovery Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency at (202) 
646-3131 or via e-mail at [email protected].

    Dated: April 2, 2001.
Reginald Trujillo,
Director, Program Services Division.
[FR Doc. 01-8413 Filed 4-4-01; 8:45 am]
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