[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 16737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7050]



[[Page 16737]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY: DoD.

ACTION: Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 33 U.S.C. 2251 and the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix), the Government in 
the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b), and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a), 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 that 
shall 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 navigation features and components of the U.S. inland 
waterways and inland harbors as defined in Public Law 95-502 and 
amended by Public Law 99-662.
    The Board shall annually file their recommendations with the 
Secretary of the Army and with the Congress.
    The Secretary of the Army may act upon the Board's advice and 
recommendations.
    Pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 2251(a), the Board shall be composed of 
eleven members 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 
intra-coastal waterways for commercial purposes. Due considerations 
shall be given to assure a balance among the members based on the ton-
mile shipment of the various categories of commodities shipped on 
inland waterways.
    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 these 
individuals shall serve as Special Government Employees. Board members 
shall, with the exception of travel and per diem for official travel, 
serve without compensation.
    Board members shall serve two-year terms, with their appointments 
renewed on an annual basis by the Secretary of Defense. No member, 
unless otherwise selected by the Secretary of the Army 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 appointment shall be filled only for the remainder of the term.
    The Secretary of the Army shall select the Board's Chairperson and 
Vice-Chairperson from the total membership, and these individuals shall 
serve at the discretion of the Secretary of the Army. The Vice 
Chairperson will act as Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of the 
Chairperson, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of the 
Chairperson.
    The Secretary of the Army shall designate, 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 through the Secretary of Defense may appoint consultants 
with special expertise to assist the Board on an ad hoc basis.
    With DoD approval, the Board is authorized to establish 
subcommittees, as necessary and consistent with its mission and these 
subcommittees shall operate under the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 
1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b), and other appropriate federal regulations.
    Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the chartered 
Board, and shall report all their recommendations and advice to the 
Board for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees 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.
    Subcommittee members, who are not Commission members, shall be 
appointed in the same manner as the Board members. Such individuals, if 
not full-time or part-time government employees, shall be appointed to 
serve as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3019, 
and serve as special government employees, whose appointments must be 
renewed by the Secretary of Defense on an annual basis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board shall meet at the call of the 
Board's Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the 
Chairperson. Pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 2251(B), the Board shall meet at 
least semi-annually.
    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. In 
addition, the Designated Federal Officer is required to be in 
attendance at all meetings, however, in the absence of the Designated 
Federal Officer, the Alternate Designated Federal Officer shall attend 
the meeting.
    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 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 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.

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

    Dated: March 22, 2011.
Morgan F. Park,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2011-7050 Filed 3-24-11; 8:45 am]
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