[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5732-5733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2030]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket No. FEMA-2006-0034]


National Advisory Council

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Committee Management; Notice of Committee Establishment and 
Request for Applicants for Membership.

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SUMMARY: As provided for in the Department of Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act of 2007, the Secretary of Homeland Security is 
establishing the National Advisory Council to ensure effective and 
ongoing coordination of Federal preparedness, protection, response, 
recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
other man-made disasters. Qualified individuals interested in serving 
on the National Advisory Council are invited to apply for appointment.

DATES: Applications for membership should be received by March 9, 2007. 
If you want to submit comments on the establishment of the National 
Advisory Council, comments must be received by April 9, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Applications for appointment to the National Advisory 
Council must be sent by mail, electronic mail (E-mail), or facsimile to 
John A. Sharetts-Sullivan, Chief, Records Management and Privacy, FEMA, 
Attention: HQ/IT-IR-RM, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472; 
[email protected]; telephone 202-646-2625; fax 202-646-
3347.
    Comments on the establishment of the National Advisory Council must 
be identified by docket number FEMA-2006-0034 and may be submitted by 
one of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include docket number FEMA-2006-0034 in 
the subject line of the message.
    Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Rules Docket Clerk, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20472.
    Facsimile: 866-646-4536.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number for this 
action, FEMA-2006-0034. Comments received on the establishment of the 
National Advisory Council will be posted without alteration on the Web 
site http://www.regulations.gov including any personal information 
submitted. Therefore, submitting any information makes the information 
known to the public. You may want to read the Privacy Act Notice 
located on the Privacy and Use Notice link on the Administration 
Navigation Bar of the Web site http://www.regulations.gov. Do not 
submit applications for appointment to this Web site.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John A. Sharetts-Sullivan; email 
[email protected]; phone 202-646-2625.
    Name of Committee: The National Advisory Council.
    Purpose and Objective: The National Advisory Council will advise 
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on 
all aspects of emergency management. Any reference to the Administrator 
of FEMA in this Notice shall be considered to refer and apply to the 
Director of FEMA until March 31, 2007. The National Advisory Council 
shall incorporate State, local and tribal government and private sector 
input in the development and revision of the national preparedness 
goal, the national preparedness system, the National Incident 
Management System (NIMS), the National Response Plan, and other related 
plans and strategies.
    Balanced Membership Plans: The members of the National Advisory 
Council shall be appointed by the Administrator of FEMA, and shall, to 
the extent practicable, represent a geographic (including urban and 
rural) and substantive cross section of officials, emergency managers, 
and emergency response providers from State, local, and tribal 
governments, private sector, and nongovernmental organizations.
    Duration: Pursuant to section 508(d)(2) of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296), as amended by section 611 of the 
Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, as set forth in 
the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 (Public 
Law 109-295), section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. (Public Law 92-463), shall not apply to the 
National Advisory Council. The National Advisory Council will therefore 
continue until terminated.
    Responsible DHS Official: Until a Designated Federal Official has 
been appointed, please contact John A. Sharetts-Sullivan, Chief, 
Records Management and Privacy, FEMA, Attention: HQ/IT-IR-RM, 500 C 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472; [email protected]; 
telephone 202-646-2625; fax 202-646-3347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 508 of the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (Public Law 107-296), as amended by section 611 of the Post-
Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, as set forth in the 
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 (Public Law 
109-295), directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the 
National Advisory Council to ensure effective and ongoing coordination 
of Federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation 
for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. 
The National Advisory Council will assist FEMA in carrying out its 
missions by providing advice and recommendations in the development and 
revision of the national preparedness goal, the national preparedness 
system, NIMS, the National Response Plan, and other related plans and 
strategies.
    The National Advisory Council is a statutory advisory committee 
established in accordance with the provisions of FACA.
    The members of the National Advisory Council shall be appointed by 
the Administrator of FEMA and will be composed of Federal, State, 
local, tribal, and private-sector leaders and subject matter experts in 
law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, hospital, public 
works, emergency management, State and local governments, public 
health, emergency response, standards-setting and accrediting 
organizations, representatives of individuals with

[[Page 5733]]

disabilities and other special needs, infrastructure protection, 
cybersecurity, communications, and homeland security communities. Some 
members will be appointed as Special Government Employees (SGE) as 
defined in section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code. As a 
candidate for appointment as a SGE, applicants are required to complete 
a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450). OGE Form 450 
or the information contained therein may not be released to the public 
except under an order issued by a Federal court or as otherwise 
provided under the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a). The National Advisory 
Council may establish subcommittees for any purpose consistent with its 
charter upon the approval of the Administrator of FEMA.
    Of the members initially appointed to the National Advisory 
Council, the term of office of each member shall be 3 years. Initially, 
one-third of the members shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, one-
third shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and one-third shall be 
appointed for the full 3-year term.
    The National Advisory Council will meet in a plenary session 
approximately once per quarter. With respect to quarterly meetings, it 
is anticipated that the National Advisory Council will hold at least 
one teleconference meeting with public call-in lines. Members serve 
without compensation from the Federal Government; however, consistent 
with the charter, they will receive travel reimbursement and per diem 
under applicable Federal travel regulations.
    In support of the Department of Homeland Security policy on gender 
and ethnic diversity, qualified women and minorities are encouraged to 
apply for this membership.

    Dated: January 30, 2007.
R. David Paulison,
Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management and Director of FEMA.
[FR Doc. E7-2030 Filed 2-6-07; 8:45 am]
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