[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 139 (Friday, July 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41342-41344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16455]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Army Corps of Engineers


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Stakeholder 
Representative Members of the Missouri River Recovery Implementation 
Committee

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: The Commander of the Northwestern Division of the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (Corps) is soliciting applications for stakeholder 
representative membership on the Missouri River Recovery Implementation 
Committee (MRRIC). Members are sought to participate on a committee to 
represent various categories of interests within the Missouri River 
basin. The MRRIC is being formed to advise the Corps on a study of the 
Missouri River and its tributaries and to provide guidance to the Corps 
with respect to the Missouri River recovery and mitigation activities 
currently underway. The Corps is required to establish the MRRIC by the 
U.S. Congress through the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 
(WRDA), Section 5018.

DATES: The agency must receive completed applications no later than 
August 22, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Mail completed applications to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Northwestern Division (Attn: MRRIC), 1616 Capitol Avenue, Suite 365, 
Omaha, NE 68102-4909 or e-mail completed applications to 
[email protected]. Please put ``MRRIC'' in 
the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary S. Roth, 402-996-3852.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The establishment of the MRRIC is in the 
public interest and will provide support to the Corps in performing its 
duties and responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.; Sec. 601(a) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 
of 1986, Public Law 99-662; Sec. 334(a) of WRDA 1999, Public Law 106-
53, and

[[Page 41343]]

Sec. 5018 of WRDA 2007, Public Law 110-114. The Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, does not apply to the MRRIC.
    A Charter for the MRRIC has been developed and should be reviewed 
prior to applying for a stakeholder representative membership position 
on the Committee. The Charter and application forms are available 
electronically at http://www.moriverrecovery.org/mrrp/f?p=136:3. The 
first meeting of MRRIC is anticipated to be October 1, 2008.
    Purpose and Scope of the Committee. The duties of MRRIC cover two 
areas:
    1. The Committee will provide guidance to the Corps, and affected 
Federal agencies, State agencies, or Native American Indian Tribes on a 
study of the Missouri River and its tributaries to determine the 
actions required to mitigate losses of aquatic and terrestrial habitat, 
to recover federally listed species protected under the Endangered 
Species Act, and to restore the river's ecosystem to prevent further 
declines among other native species. This study is identified in 
Section 5018(a) of the WRDA. It will result in a single, comprehensive 
plan to guide the implementation of mitigation, recovery, and 
restoration activities in the Missouri River Basin. This plan is 
referred to as the Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan (MRERP). 
For more information about the MRERP go to http://www.moriverrecovery.org/mrrp/f?p=136:11.
    2. The MRRIC will also provide guidance to the Corps with respect 
to the Missouri River recovery and mitigation plan currently in 
existence, including recommendations relating to changes to the 
implementation strategy from the use of adaptive management; 
coordination of the development of consistent policies, strategies, 
plans, programs, projects, activities, and priorities for the Missouri 
River recovery and mitigation plan. Information about the Missouri 
River Recovery Program is available at http://www.moriverrecovery.org/mrrp/f?p=136:1.
    3. Other duties of MRRIC include exchange of information regarding 
programs, projects, and activities of the agencies and entities 
represented on the Committee to promote the goals of the Missouri River 
recovery and mitigation plan; establishment of such working groups as 
the Committee determines to be necessary to assist in carrying out the 
duties of the Committee, including duties relating to public policy and 
scientific issues; facilitating the resolution of interagency and 
intergovernmental conflicts between entities represented on the 
Committee associated with the Missouri River recovery and mitigation 
plan; coordination of scientific and other research associated with the 
Missouri River recovery and mitigation plan; and annual preparation of 
a work plan and associated budget requests.
    Administrative Support. To the extent authorized by law and subject 
to the availability of appropriations, the Corps will provide funding 
and administrative support for the Committee.
    Committee Membership. Federal agencies with programs affecting the 
Missouri River may be members of the MRRIC through a separate process 
with the Corps. States and Federally recognized Native American Indian 
tribes, as described in the Charter, are eligible for Committee 
membership through an appointment process. Interested State and Tribal 
government representatives should contact the Corps for information 
about the appointment process.
    In accordance with the Charter for the MRRIC, stakeholder 
membership is limited to 28 people, with each member having an 
alternate. Members and alternates must be able to demonstrate that they 
meet the definition of ``stakeholder'' found in the Charter of the 
MRRIC. Stakeholder members and alternates must represent an interest 
category listed below, with a maximum of two members and two alternates 
representing any one category:
    a. Navigation;
    b. Irrigation;
    c. Flood Control;
    d. Fish and Wildlife;
    e. Recreation;
    f. Water Quality;
    g. Water Supply;
    h. Agriculture;
    i. Conservation Districts;
    j. Waterways Industries;
    k. Major Tributaries;
    l. Thermal Power;
    m. Hydropower;
    n. At Large/Other Interests (e.g., cultural and historic 
preservation);
    o. Local Government; and
    p. Environmental/Conservation Organizations.
    Terms of stakeholder representative members of the MRRIC are three 
years. There is no limit to the number of terms a member may serve.
    Members and alternates of the Committee shall not receive any 
compensation for carrying out the duties of the MRRIC. Travel expenses 
incurred by members of the Committee shall not be reimbursed by the 
Federal Government.
    Application for Stakeholder Membership. Persons who believe that 
they are or will be affected by the Missouri River recovery and 
mitigation activities and are not employees of federal agencies, 
tribes, or state agencies, may apply for stakeholder membership on the 
MRRIC. Applications for stakeholder membership may be obtained 
electronically at http://www.moriverrecovery.org. Completed 
applications may be emailed or mailed to the location listed (see 
ADDRESSES). In order to be considered, each application must include:
    1. The name of the applicant and the primary stakeholder interest 
category that person wishes to represent;
    2. A written statement describing how the applicant meets the 
criteria for membership (described below) and how their contributions 
will fulfill the roles and responsibilities of MRRIC;
    3. Evidence that demonstrates that the applicant represents an 
interest in the Missouri River basin;
    4. In the interest of transparency and openness, the applicant must 
disclose any affiliations with the involved federal agencies listed 
below such as recent or current consulting contracts, current 
employment contracts, or familial relations to any current agency staff 
or appointees.
     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
     U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
     U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
     National Park Service.
     U.S. Geological Survey.
     U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
     Western Area Power Administration.
     U.S. Forest Service.
     Federal Highway Administration.
     Maritime Administration.
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
     Natural Resources Conservation Service.
     U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution.
     U.S. Department of Interior.
     U.S. Department of Commerce.
     U.S. Department of Agriculture.
     U.S. Department of Energy.
     U.S. Department of Transportation.
    To be considered, the application must be complete and received by 
the close of business on August 22, 2008, at the location indicated 
(see ADDRESSES). Full consideration will be given to all complete 
applications received by the specified due date.
    Persons wishing to apply as alternates are strongly encouraged to 
coordinate with other individuals applying for membership. Where 
possible, alternates should apply with the individual

[[Page 41344]]

seeking membership in an interest area. Alternates must apply in the 
same manner as stakeholder members and should include a recommendation 
from a member applicant.
    Application Review Process. Committee stakeholder applications will 
be forwarded to the MRRIC Planning Group, which assisted in the 
development of the Charter. The MRRIC Planning Group will provide 
membership recommendations to the Corps. The Corps is responsible for 
appointing stakeholder members. The MRRIC Planning Group and the Corps 
will consider applications using the following criteria:
     Ability to commit the time required.
     Commitment to make a good faith (as defined in the 
Charter) effort to seek balanced solutions that address multiple 
interests and concerns.
     Agreement to support and adhere to the approved MRRIC 
Charter and Operating Procedures to be adopted by the Committee.
     Demonstration of a formal designation or endorsement by an 
organization, local government, or constituency as its preferred 
representative.
     Demonstration of an established communication network to 
keep constituents informed and efficiently seek their input when 
needed.
     Ability to contribute to the overall balance of 
representation on MRRIC.
    All applicants will be notified in writing as to the final decision 
about their application.
    Certification. I hereby certify that the establishment of the MRRIC 
is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the 
performance of duties imposed on the Corps by the Endangered Species 
Act and other statutes.

    Dated: July 9, 2008.
Lawrence J. Cieslik,
Deputy Director, Programs--Missouri River, Northwestern Division, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers.
 [FR Doc. E8-16455 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
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