[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2999-3000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-883]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Renewal of federal advisory committee.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 
1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine 
Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the 
Department of Defense gives notice that it is renewing the charter for 
the Inland Waterways Users Board (hereafter referred to as the Board).
    The Board is a non-discretionary federal advisory committee 
established under the provisions of 33 U.S.C. 2251(a), to provide the 
Secretary of Defense, through the Secretary of the Army and the 
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil works, independent advice and 
recommendations on matters relating to construction and rehabilitation 
priorities and spending levels on the commercial navigational features 
and components of U.S. inland

[[Page 3000]]

waterways and inland harbors as defined in Public Law 95-502 and 
amended by Public Law 99-682. The board shall annually file their 
recommendations with the Secretary of the Army and with the Congress. 
The Secretary of the Army or designee may act upon the advice of the 
Board.
    Pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 2251(a), the Board shall be composed of 
eleven members selected by the Secretary of the Army and appointed by 
the Secretary of Defense. The members shall be selected so as to 
represent various regions of the country and a spectrum of the primary 
users and shippers utilizing the inland and intracoastal waterways for 
commercial purposes. Due consideration shall be given to assure a 
balance among the members based on the ton-mile shipments of the 
various categories of commodities shipped on inland waterways. The 
Board members shall serve two-year terms, with their appointments 
renewed on an annual basis. No member, unless otherwise selected by the 
Secretary of the Army or designee and approved by the Secretary of 
Defense, shall serve more than four consecutive years on the Board. 
Appointments vacated prior to the expiration of the term of said 
appointment shall be filled only for the remainder of the term.
    The Secretary of the Army shall choose, and the Secretaries of 
Agriculture, Transportation, and Commerce may designate, 
representatives to act as non-voting observers of the Board. In 
addition, the Secretary of the Army or designee through the Secretary 
of Defense may appoint consultants with special expertise to assist the 
Board on an ad hoc basis.
    Board Members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are not 
full-time federal officers or employees, shall be appointed as experts 
and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and shall serve 
as Special Government employees. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1114(a)(3), the 
members shall serve with the exception of travel and per diem for 
official travel without compensation. The Secretary of the Army shall 
select the Board's Chairman and Vice Chairman from the total 
membership, and these individuals shall serve at the discretion of the 
Secretary of the Army or designee. The Vice Chairman will act as 
Chairman in the absence or incapacity of the Chairman, or in the event 
of a vacancy in the office of the Chairman.
    The Board is authorized to establish subcommittees, as necessary 
and consistent with its mission, and these Subcommittees or Work Groups 
shall operate under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act of 1972, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976, and other 
appropriate federal regulations.
    Such Subcommittees or Work Groups shall not work independently of 
the chartered Board, and shall report their recommendations and advice 
to the Board for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees or 
Working Groups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the 
chartered Board nor can they report directly to the Department of 
Defense or any Federal officers or employees who are not Board Members.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Jim Freeman, Deputy Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-601-6128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board shall meet at the call of the 
Board's Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the Board's 
Chairperson. 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 established DoD policies and procedures. 
The Designated Federal Officer or duly appointed Alternate Designated 
Federal Officer shall attend all committee meetings and subcommittee 
meetings.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to the Inland 
Waterways Users Board membership about the Board's mission and 
functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time or in 
response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of the Inland 
Waterways Users Board.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal 
Officer for the Inland Waterways Users Board, and this individual will 
ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for 
their consideration. Contact information for the Inland Waterways Users 
Board's Designated Federal Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA 
Database--https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
    The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will 
announce planned meetings of the Inland Waterways Users 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: January 12, 2009.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
 [FR Doc. E9-883 Filed 1-15-09; 8:45 am]
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