[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 26, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 29397-29398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12805]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 26, 2010 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 29397]]


                Executive Order 13543 of May 21, 2010

                
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon 
                Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Establishment. There is established the 
                National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil 
                Spill and Offshore Drilling (the ``Commission'').

                Sec. 2. Membership. (a) The Commission shall be 
                composed of not more than 7 members who shall be 
                appointed by the President. The members shall be drawn 
                from among distinguished individuals, and may include 
                those with experience in or representing the 
                scientific, engineering, and environmental communities, 
                the oil and gas industry, or any other area determined 
                by the President to be of value to the Commission in 
                carrying out its duties.

                    (b) The President shall designate from among the 
                Commission members two members to serve as Co-Chairs.

                Sec. 3. Mission. The Commission shall:

                    (a) examine the relevant facts and circumstances 
                concerning the root causes of the Deepwater Horizon oil 
                disaster;
                    (b) develop options for guarding against, and 
                mitigating the impact of, oil spills associated with 
                offshore drilling, taking into consideration the 
                environmental, public health, and economic effects of 
                such options, including options involving:

(1) improvements to Federal laws, regulations, and industry practices 
applicable to offshore drilling that would ensure effective oversight, 
monitoring, and response capabilities; protect public health and safety, 
occupational health and safety, and the environment and natural resources; 
and address affected communities; and

(2) organizational or other reforms of Federal agencies or processes 
necessary to ensure such improvements are implemented and maintained.

                    (c) submit a final public report to the President 
                with its findings and options for consideration within 
                6 months of the date of the Commission's first meeting.

                Sec. 4. Administration. (a) The Commission shall hold 
                public hearings and shall request information including 
                relevant documents from Federal, State, and local 
                officials, nongovernmental organizations, private 
                entities, scientific institutions, industry and 
                workforce representatives, communities, and others 
                affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, as 
                necessary to carry out its mission.

                    (b) The heads of executive departments and 
                agencies, to the extent permitted by law and consistent 
                with their ongoing activities in response to the oil 
                spill, shall provide the Commission such information 
                and cooperation as it may require for purposes of 
                carrying out its mission.
                    (c) In carrying out its mission, the Commission 
                shall be informed by, and shall strive to avoid 
                duplicating, the analyses and investigations undertaken 
                by other governmental, nongovernmental, and independent 
                entities.
                    (d) The Commission shall ensure that it does not 
                interfere with or disrupt any ongoing or anticipated 
                civil or criminal investigation or law enforcement

[[Page 29398]]

                activities or any effort to recover response costs or 
                damages arising out of the Deepwater Horizon explosion, 
                fire, and oil spill. The Commission shall consult with 
                the Department of Justice concerning the Commission's 
                activities to avoid any risk of such interference or 
                disruption.
                    (e) The Commission shall have a staff, headed by an 
                Executive Director.
                    (f) The Commission shall terminate 60 days after 
                submitting its final report.

                Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) To the extent permitted 
                by law, and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations, the Secretary of Energy shall provide 
                the Commission with such administrative services, 
                funds, facilities, staff, and other support services as 
                may be necessary to carry out its mission.

                    (b) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
                as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (the ``Act''), may apply to 
                the Commission, any functions of the President under 
                that Act, except for those in section 6 of the Act, 
                shall be performed by the Secretary of Energy in 
                accordance with guidelines issued by the Administrator 
                of General Services.
                    (c) Members of the Commission shall serve without 
                any additional compensation for their work on the 
                Commission, but shall be allowed travel expenses, 
                including per diem in lieu of subsistence, to the 
                extent permitted by law for persons serving 
                intermittently in the Government service (5 U.S.C. 
                5701-5707).
                    (d) Nothing in this order shall be construed to 
                impair or otherwise affect:

(1) authority granted by law to a department, agency, or the head thereof; 
or

(2) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (e) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    May 21, 2010.

[FR Doc. 2010-12805
Filed 5-25-10; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W0-P