[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22769-22770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9165]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Amendment to the Inland Waterways Users Board

AGENCY: DoD.

ACTION: Charter Amendment for Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 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(d), the Department of Defense gives 
notice that it is amending the charter for the Inland Waterways Users 
Board (hereafter referred to as ``the Board''). The Board is authorized 
by statute, and 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.
    According to 33 U.S.C. 2251b, the Board shall annually file their 
recommendations with the Secretary of the Army and with Congress. The 
Secretary of the Army, pursuant to DoD policy, may act upon the Board's 
advice and recommendations. Board members, as determined by the 
Department of Defense, shall be representative members and, pursuant to 
33 U.S.C. 2251(a), the Board shall be composed of eleven members.
    Based upon the Secretary of the Army's recommendation, the 
Secretary of Defense shall invite primary commercial users and shippers 
of the inland and intracoastal waterways to serve on the Board. 
Commercial users and shippers invited to serve on the Board shall 
designate an individual to represent the organization's interests.
    The Department of Defense, when considering prospective users and 
shippers to be represented on the Board, shall ensure selections 
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 and intracoastal 
waterways.
    A primary user or shipper may be represented on the Board, at the 
request of the Secretary of the Army and with the approval of the 
Secretary of Defense, for a two-year term of service with annual 
renewals. A user or shipper may be represented on the Board for no more 
than two terms of service (four years); a user or shipper may be 
subsequently represented on the Board, but only after being off the 
Board for at least two years.
    In addition to the primary users and shippers invited by the 
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army shall designate, and 
the Secretaries of Agriculture, Transportation and Commerce may each 
designate a representative to act as an observer of the Board. These 
observers, who have no voting rights, shall be full-time or permanent 
part-time employees of his or her respective agency.
    Pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 2251(a), the Secretary of the Army shall 
designate one Board member to serve as the Board's Chairperson. With 
the exception of travel and per diem for official travel, all Board 
members shall serve without compensation.
    With DoD approval and according to DoD policies and procedures, the 
Board, consistent with its mission, is authorized to establish 
subcommittees, task groups, or working groups to support the Board. 
These subcommittees or working groups shall operate under the 
provisions of FACA, the Sunshine Act, and other governing Federal 
statutes and regulations, and governing DoD policies and procedures.
    Such subcommittees or task groups 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 any subcommittee or its members update or report directly to 
the Department of Defense or any Federal officers or employees.
    All subcommittee members shall be appointed in the same manner as 
the

[[Page 22770]]

Board members; that is, the Secretary of Defense shall appoint 
subcommittee members even if the member in question is already a Board 
member. Subcommittee members, with the approval of the Secretary of 
Defense, may serve a term of service on the subcommittee of two years; 
however, no member shall serve more than two consecutive terms of 
service on the subcommittee.
    With the exception of travel and per diem for official travel, 
subcommittee members shall serve without compensation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, Acting Advisory Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board shall meet at the call of the 
Board's Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the 
Chairperson. The Board shall meet at least semi-annually.
    In addition, the Designated Federal Officer is required to be in 
attendance at all Board and subcommittee meetings for the entire 
duration of each and every meeting; however, in the absence of the 
Designated Federal Officer, the Alternate Designated Federal Officer 
shall attend the entire duration of the Board or subcommittee 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 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: April 12, 2012.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2012-9165 Filed 4-16-12; 8:45 am]
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