[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17643-17644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06591]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers


Greater Mississippi River Basin Water Management Board; Engineer 
Regulation No. 15-2-13

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is revising its 
Engineer Regulation No. 15-2-13 dated 10 May 1989. This regulation 
establishes and prescribes the objectives, composition, 
responsibilities and authority of the Corps Greater Mississippi River 
Basin Water Management Board. It is applicable to all Corps offices 
involved with water management within the Greater Mississippi River 
Basin. The Board consists of the Deputy Commanding General for Civil 
and Emergency Operations, and Division Commanders of the Northwestern, 
Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and Ohio River, and Southwestern 
Divisions. The Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency 
Operations serves as permanent Board Chairperson. The Board provides 
oversight and guidance during significant regional drought or flood 
events that cross Division boundaries. The Board discusses water 
management issues among Corps Divisions within the Greater Mississippi 
River Basin.

DATES: Effective date: April 22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CECW-CE, 441 G Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20314-1000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Bank at 202-761-5532 or by 
email at [email protected],

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Previous Engineer Regulation No. 15-2-13 
titled ``Mississippi River Water Control Board'' was published on 10 
May 1989 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Since its last revision, 
the Corps has reorganized its command and control structure. This 
regulation revision reflects the current organizational structure and 
is aligned with water management activities during recent flood and 
drought events in the United States.
    This is published in Federal Register as a notice to concerned 
people and entities, and is not a request for comments.

    Dated: March 18, 2013.
Approved by:
Robert A. Bank,
Chief, Civil Works Branch Engineering & Construction, Headquarters, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    For the reasons stated above, the Corps is revising Engineer 
Regulation No. 15-2-13 dated 10 May 1989 as follows:

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ER 15-2-13
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CECW-CE
Washington, DC 20314-1000

Engineer Regulation No. 15-2-13

Boards, Commission and Committees

GREATER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN WATER MANAGEMENT BOARD

    1. Purpose. This regulation establishes and prescribes the 
objectives, composition, responsibilities and authority of the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Greater Mississippi River Basin 
Water Management Board.
    2. Applicability. The regulation is applicable to the Board 
members and to all field operating activities concerned with water 
management within the Greater Mississippi River Basin. The Greater 
Mississippi River Basin drains 41% of the 48 contiguous states of 
the United States and the drainage basin covers approximately 1.25 
million square miles, including all or part of 31 states and two 
Canadian provinces. Its major tributaries are the Missouri, Ohio, 
Arkansas-White, and the Red Rivers. The Mississippi River is located 
within Mississippi Valley Division; however, the majority of its 
drainage area and its significant tributaries are located within the 
Northwestern Division, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division and 
Southwestern Division boundaries. The Board will be activated as 
deemed appropriate by the Deputy Commanding General for Civil and 
Emergency Operations, including during significant regional drought 
or flood events--considered as emergency conditions.
    3. Objectives. The objectives of the Board are:
    a. To provide oversight and guidance during significant regional 
drought or flood events that cross Division boundaries, and require 
coordination of basin-wide water management activities.
    b. To serve as a forum for discussion of water management issues 
among Corps Divisions within the Greater Mississippi River Basin 
when agreement is otherwise unobtainable.
    c. Provides a forum, when necessary, for division commanders to 
keep the Chief of Engineers informed of any unusual problems or 
activities associated with water control that impact his/her 
responsibilities.
    4. Composition. The Greater Mississippi River Basin Water 
Management Board is a continuing board consisting of the Deputy 
Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, and Division 
Commanders of the Northwestern, Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and 
Ohio River, and Southwestern Divisions. The Deputy Commanding 
General for Civil and Emergency Operations serves as permanent Board 
Chairperson.
    5. Responsibilities. The Board functions under the general 
direction of the Commanding General, USACE, and is responsible for:
    a. Oversight of procedures for maintaining and improving inter-
divisional coordination of water management activities within the 
Greater Mississippi River Basin.
    b. Oversight of the development and use of facilities (physical 
and computer models, automated data processing equipment, and 
communications and information dissemination networks) needed to 
coordinate water management activities for the Greater Mississippi 
River Basin projects.
    c. Oversight of basin-wide water management activities 
associated with Corps projects in the Greater Mississippi River 
Basin and, during certain significant emergency periods, may also 
include other agency projects located within the Basin (e.g., 
Tennessee Valley Authority, Bureau of Reclamation).
    d. Periodic reports and/or briefings to the Commanding General, 
regarding the Board's activities and plans, during periods when 
Board is active.
    6. Committees. The Greater Mississippi River Basin Water 
Management Board is authorized to establish continuing or ad hoc 
inter-divisional operating or study committees comprised of Corps 
personnel to facilitate the work of the Board. A standing Technical 
Committee comprised of the senior water control managers from the 
four Divisions within the Greater Mississippi River Basin, and the 
HQUSACE Principal Hydrologic and Hydraulic Engineer--who serves as 
Technical Committee Chairperson--is established to advise and assist 
the Board. The Technical Committee meets whenever a need is 
determined by the Chairperson or identified by the Board.
    7. Procedures. The procedures used by the Board to carry out its 
responsibilities are as follows:
    a. During the emergency period when the Board is active, the 
Board will meet to review recent past activities and current and 
future project operations, and to discuss new or revised water 
management activities for this period as appropriate.
    b. The Board will provide instructions to committees under its 
jurisdiction and review their recommendations for improvements in 
water management for the above stated purpose.
    c. Deviations or changes to a current water control plan may be 
made at the discretion of the respective division commander, unless

[[Page 17644]]

delegated authority has been withheld. Such deviations or changes 
may be discussed with the Board at the commander's request. However, 
any deviation or change must meet all legal and procedural 
requirements.
    d. When major differences prevail among the Board members and 
cannot be resolved, the issue shall be raised on an expedient basis 
to the Commanding General, to allow for a decision in a timely 
manner.
    e. When needed, convene routine meetings of the Technical 
Committee sufficient to: ensure inter-division coordination and 
situational awareness; coordinate with the HQUSACE Dam and Levee 
Safety Officer; and inform the Board of decisions requiring Command 
Authority.
    f. Terms of Reference will be developed for operation of the 
Board and Technical Committee for approval by the Deputy Commanding 
General for Civil and Emergency Operations.
    g. The Board and Technical Committee will collaborate with the 
Mississippi River Commission (MRC) and other impacted stakeholder 
groups to ensure effective synchronization between the missions of 
the Board and the MRC in the development of basin-wide management 
activities for projects within the Greater Mississippi River Basin 
System.
    h. The records of all Board proceedings will be preserved and 
maintained pursuant to the Army recordkeeping requirements in the 
Army Records Information Management System regulation (ARIMS--AR25-
1-400). The Board will designate an individual responsible for 
maintaining records of all board proceedings. The designated 
individual shall be copied on all electronic messages concerning 
Board proceedings. Records of the Board include, and the Board 
members shall retain, any emails or other electronic records which 
the Board members generate or receive concerning Board proceedings. 
The Board recognizes that recommendations made by the Board and the 
information generated therefore, are of critical importance to the 
Corps if litigation is brought against the Corps. Litigation holds 
will be issued when litigation is reasonably anticipated. When a 
litigation hold is issued, specific instructions will be provided on 
preservation of electronically stored information and paper 
documents.
    8. Funding. Routine activities of the Greater Mississippi River 
Basin Water Management Board and its committees, such as travel and 
meeting expenses, are funded by the separate members' offices. Major 
expenses connected with special studies are funded through the 
normal budgetary process. Budget requests will be supported by 
appropriate justification material.

[FR Doc. 2013-06591 Filed 3-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P