[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22169-22170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09182]


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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: The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to 
announce that it is renewing the charter for the Inland Waterways Users 
Board (``the Board'').

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This committee's charter is being renewed 
under the provisions of 33 U.S.C. 2251 and in accordance with the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as 
amended) and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a). 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 (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. According to 33 U.S.C. 2251(b), 
the Board shall file their recommendations with the Secretary of the 
Army and with Congress, annually.
    Board members, as determined by the DoD, shall be representative 
members and, under the provisions of 33 U.S.C. 2251(a), the Board shall 
be composed of 11 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 intra-coastal waterways to serve on the Board. 
Commercial users and shippers invited to serve on the Board shall 
designate an individual, subject to Secretary of Defense approval, to 
represent the organization's interests. The DoD, shall ensure 
selections 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, when considering prospective users 
and shippers to be represented on the Board. 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 intra-coastal 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. A user or shipper 
may not be represented on the Board for more than two consecutive terms 
of service (four years), without prior approval from the Secretary of 
Defense. 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 each be a full-time or permanent part-time 
employee 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.
    The DoD, when necessary and consistent with the Board's mission and 
DoD policies and procedures, may establish subcommittees, task forces, 
and working groups to support the Board. Establishment of subcommittees 
will be based upon a written determination, to include terms of 
reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of 
Defense, or the Secretary of the Army, as the DoD Sponsor. All 
subcommittees, task forces, or working groups shall operate under the 
provisions of FACA, the Sunshine Act, other governing Federal statutes 
and regulations, and established DoD policies and procedures.

[[Page 22170]]

    Currently, the Board does not use subcommittees. If the Department 
determines that the establishment of subcommittees is warranted, the 
Board's charter must be amended prior to such establishment.
    All subcommittees operate under the provisions of FACA, the 
Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and 
established DoD policies and procedures.
    Pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 2251(b), the Board shall meet at least semi-
annually.
    The Board's Designated Federal Officer (DFO), pursuant to DoD 
policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee 
appointed in accordance with governing DoD policies and procedures.
    The Board's DFO is required to be in attendance at all meetings of 
the Board and any of its subcommittees for the entire duration of each 
and every meeting. However, in the absence of the Board's DFO, a 
properly approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to the Board according 
to established DoD policies and procedures, shall attend the entire 
duration of the Board or any subcommittee meeting.
    The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall call all meetings of the Board 
and its subcommittees; prepare and approve all meeting agendas; and 
adjourn any meeting when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, determines 
adjournment to be in the public interest or required by governing 
regulations or DoD policies and procedures.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to 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 DFO 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 DFO can be 
obtained from the GSA's FACA Database--http://www.facadatabase.gov/.
    The DFO, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned 
meetings of the Inland Waterways Users Board. The DFO, 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 16, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2015-09182 Filed 4-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P