[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28655-28656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13268]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[RR01115000, 18XR0680A1, RX.R0336902.0019100]


Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group; Request for 
Nominations

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior proposes to appoint 
members to the Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group (CAG). 
The Secretary of the Interior, acting as administrative lead, is 
requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the 
CAG.

DATES: Nominations must be postmarked on or before July 20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Gwendolyn Christensen, 
Designated Federal Officer, Bureau of Reclamation, 1917 Marsh Rd., 
Yakima, WA 98901-2058.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwendolyn Christensen, telephone (509) 
575-5848, extension 203; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Advisory Committee Scope and Objectives

    The Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, authorized by 
Title XII of the Act of October 31, 1994 (Act), Public Law 103-434, 
established the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program (Basin 
Conservation Program). The Act authorized the Secretary of the Interior 
to establish a CAG to provide advice and counsel on the structure, 
implementation, and oversight of the Basin Conservation Program. The 
Act also specifies the composition of the members to serve on the CAG.
    The Basin Conservation Program is structured to provide economic 
incentives with cooperative Federal, State, and local funding to 
stimulate the identification and implementation of structural and 
nonstructural cost-effective water conservation measures in the Yakima 
River basin. Improvements in the efficiency of water delivery and use 
will result in improved streamflows for fish and wildlife and improve 
the reliability of water supplies for irrigation.
    The duties or roles and functions of the CAG are in an advisory 
capacity only. They are to: (A) Provide recommendations to the 
Secretary and to the State of Washington regarding the structure and 
implementation of the Basin Conservation Program, (B) provide 
recommendations to the Secretary and to the State of Washington 
regarding the establishment of a permanent program for the measurement 
and reporting of all natural flow and contract diversions within the 
basin, (C) structure a process to prepare a basin conservation plan as 
specified in subsection (f), (D) provide annual review of the 
implementation of the applicable water conservation guidelines of the 
Secretary, and (E) provide recommendations consistent with statutes of 
the State of Washington on rules, regulations, and administration of a 
process to facilitate the voluntary sale or lease of water.

Membership Criteria

    Members of the CAG are appointed by the Secretary and are comprised 
of--
    (A) one representative of the Yakima River basin nonproratable 
irrigators,
    (B) one representative of the Yakima River basin proratable 
irrigators,
    (C) one representative of the Yakama Indian Nation,
    (D) one representative of environmental interests,
    (E) one representative of the Washington State University 
Agricultural Extension Service,
    (F) one representative of the Department of Wildlife of the State 
of Washington, and
    (G) one individual who shall serve as the facilitator.
    At this time, we are particularly interested in applications from 
representatives of the following: One representative of the Yakama 
Indian Nation, and one representative of environmental interests.
    After consultation, the Secretary of the Interior will appoint the 
members to the CAG. Members will be selected based on requirements set 
forth in the Act and their individual qualifications, as well as the 
overall need to achieve a balanced representation of viewpoints,

[[Page 28656]]

subject matter expertise, regional knowledge, and representation of 
communities of interest. CAG member terms are limited to three (3) 
years from their date of appointment. Following completion of their 
first term, a CAG member may request consideration for reappointment to 
an additional term. Reappointment is not guaranteed.
    Typically, the CAG will hold one in-person meeting per fiscal year. 
Between meetings, CAG members are expected to participate in committee 
work via conference calls and email exchanges. Members of the CAG and 
its subcommittees serve without pay. However, while away from their 
homes or regular places of business in the performance of services of 
the CAG, members may be reimbursed for travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed 
intermittently in the government service, as authorized by section 5703 
of title 5, United States Code.
    Individuals who are federally registered lobbyists are ineligible 
to serve on all Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and non-FACA 
boards, committees, or councils in an individual capacity. The term 
``individual capacity'' refers to individuals who are appointed to 
exercise their own individual best judgment on behalf of the 
government, such as when they are designated Special Government 
Employees, rather than being appointed to represent a particular 
interest.
    Nominations should include a resume that provides an adequate 
description of the nominee's qualifications, particularly information 
that will enable the Department of the Interior to evaluate the 
nominee's potential to meet the membership requirements of the 
Committee and permit the Department of the Interior to contact a 
potential member. Please refer to the membership criteria stated in 
this notice.
    Any interested person or entity may nominate one or more qualified 
individuals for membership on the CAG. Persons or entities submitting 
nomination packages on the behalf of others must confirm that the 
individual(s) is/are aware of their nomination. Nominations must be 
postmarked on or before July 20, 2018 and sent to Gwendolyn 
Christensen, Designated Federal Officer, Bureau of Reclamation, 1917 
Marsh Rd., Yakima, WA 98901-2058.

Public Disclosure of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your nominations and/or 
comments, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can ask us in your nomination/comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Authority: This notice is published in accordance with Section 
9(a)(2) of 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2 (Public Law 92-463, as amended), 
Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972.

    Dated: June 4, 2018.
Ryan K. Zinke,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2018-13268 Filed 6-19-18; 8:45 am]
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