[Federal Register: July 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 139)]
[Notices]
[Page 41342-41344]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy08-68]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Army Corps of Engineers
Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Stakeholder
Representative Members of the Missouri River Recovery Implementation
Committee
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Solicitation of applications.
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SUMMARY: The Commander of the Northwestern Division of the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (Corps) is soliciting applications for stakeholder
representative membership on the Missouri River Recovery Implementation
Committee (MRRIC). Members are sought to participate on a committee to
represent various categories of interests within the Missouri River
basin. The MRRIC is being formed to advise the Corps on a study of the
Missouri River and its tributaries and to provide guidance to the Corps
with respect to the Missouri River recovery and mitigation activities
currently underway. The Corps is required to establish the MRRIC by the
U.S. Congress through the Water Resources Development Act of 2007
(WRDA), Section 5018.
DATES: The agency must receive completed applications no later than
August 22, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Mail completed applications to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Northwestern Division (Attn: MRRIC), 1616 Capitol Avenue, Suite 365,
Omaha, NE 68102-4909 or e-mail completed applications to
Missouri.Water.Management@nwd02.usace.army.mil. Please put ``MRRIC'' in
the subject line.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary S. Roth, 402-996-3852.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The establishment of the MRRIC is in the
public interest and will provide support to the Corps in performing its
duties and responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.; Sec. 601(a) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)
of 1986, Public Law 99-662; Sec. 334(a) of WRDA 1999, Public Law 106-
53, and
[[Page 41343]]
Sec. 5018 of WRDA 2007, Public Law 110-114. The Federal Advisory
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, does not apply to the MRRIC.
A Charter for the MRRIC has been developed and should be reviewed
prior to applying for a stakeholder representative membership position
on the Committee. The Charter and application forms are available
electronically at http://www.moriverrecovery.org/mrrp/f?p=136:3. The
first meeting of MRRIC is anticipated to be October 1, 2008.
Purpose and Scope of the Committee. The duties of MRRIC cover two
areas:
1. The Committee will provide guidance to the Corps, and affected
Federal agencies, State agencies, or Native American Indian Tribes on a
study of the Missouri River and its tributaries to determine the
actions required to mitigate losses of aquatic and terrestrial habitat,
to recover federally listed species protected under the Endangered
Species Act, and to restore the river's ecosystem to prevent further
declines among other native species. This study is identified in
Section 5018(a) of the WRDA. It will result in a single, comprehensive
plan to guide the implementation of mitigation, recovery, and
restoration activities in the Missouri River Basin. This plan is
referred to as the Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan (MRERP).
For more information about the MRERP go to http://
www.moriverrecovery.org/mrrp/f?p=136:11.
2. The MRRIC will also provide guidance to the Corps with respect
to the Missouri River recovery and mitigation plan currently in
existence, including recommendations relating to changes to the
implementation strategy from the use of adaptive management;
coordination of the development of consistent policies, strategies,
plans, programs, projects, activities, and priorities for the Missouri
River recovery and mitigation plan. Information about the Missouri
River Recovery Program is available at http://www.moriverrecovery.org/
mrrp/f?p=136:1.
3. Other duties of MRRIC include exchange of information regarding
programs, projects, and activities of the agencies and entities
represented on the Committee to promote the goals of the Missouri River
recovery and mitigation plan; establishment of such working groups as
the Committee determines to be necessary to assist in carrying out the
duties of the Committee, including duties relating to public policy and
scientific issues; facilitating the resolution of interagency and
intergovernmental conflicts between entities represented on the
Committee associated with the Missouri River recovery and mitigation
plan; coordination of scientific and other research associated with the
Missouri River recovery and mitigation plan; and annual preparation of
a work plan and associated budget requests.
Administrative Support. To the extent authorized by law and subject
to the availability of appropriations, the Corps will provide funding
and administrative support for the Committee.
Committee Membership. Federal agencies with programs affecting the
Missouri River may be members of the MRRIC through a separate process
with the Corps. States and Federally recognized Native American Indian
tribes, as described in the Charter, are eligible for Committee
membership through an appointment process. Interested State and Tribal
government representatives should contact the Corps for information
about the appointment process.
In accordance with the Charter for the MRRIC, stakeholder
membership is limited to 28 people, with each member having an
alternate. Members and alternates must be able to demonstrate that they
meet the definition of ``stakeholder'' found in the Charter of the
MRRIC. Stakeholder members and alternates must represent an interest
category listed below, with a maximum of two members and two alternates
representing any one category:
a. Navigation;
b. Irrigation;
c. Flood Control;
d. Fish and Wildlife;
e. Recreation;
f. Water Quality;
g. Water Supply;
h. Agriculture;
i. Conservation Districts;
j. Waterways Industries;
k. Major Tributaries;
l. Thermal Power;
m. Hydropower;
n. At Large/Other Interests (e.g., cultural and historic
preservation);
o. Local Government; and
p. Environmental/Conservation Organizations.
Terms of stakeholder representative members of the MRRIC are three
years. There is no limit to the number of terms a member may serve.
Members and alternates of the Committee shall not receive any
compensation for carrying out the duties of the MRRIC. Travel expenses
incurred by members of the Committee shall not be reimbursed by the
Federal Government.
Application for Stakeholder Membership. Persons who believe that
they are or will be affected by the Missouri River recovery and
mitigation activities and are not employees of federal agencies,
tribes, or state agencies, may apply for stakeholder membership on the
MRRIC. Applications for stakeholder membership may be obtained
electronically at http://www.moriverrecovery.org. Completed
applications may be emailed or mailed to the location listed (see
ADDRESSES). In order to be considered, each application must include:
1. The name of the applicant and the primary stakeholder interest
category that person wishes to represent;
2. A written statement describing how the applicant meets the
criteria for membership (described below) and how their contributions
will fulfill the roles and responsibilities of MRRIC;
3. Evidence that demonstrates that the applicant represents an
interest in the Missouri River basin;
4. In the interest of transparency and openness, the applicant must
disclose any affiliations with the involved federal agencies listed
below such as recent or current consulting contracts, current
employment contracts, or familial relations to any current agency staff
or appointees.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
National Park Service.
U.S. Geological Survey.
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Western Area Power Administration.
U.S. Forest Service.
Federal Highway Administration.
Maritime Administration.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Natural Resources Conservation Service.
U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution.
U.S. Department of Interior.
U.S. Department of Commerce.
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
U.S. Department of Energy.
U.S. Department of Transportation.
To be considered, the application must be complete and received by
the close of business on August 22, 2008, at the location indicated
(see ADDRESSES). Full consideration will be given to all complete
applications received by the specified due date.
Persons wishing to apply as alternates are strongly encouraged to
coordinate with other individuals applying for membership. Where
possible, alternates should apply with the individual
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seeking membership in an interest area. Alternates must apply in the
same manner as stakeholder members and should include a recommendation
from a member applicant.
Application Review Process. Committee stakeholder applications will
be forwarded to the MRRIC Planning Group, which assisted in the
development of the Charter. The MRRIC Planning Group will provide
membership recommendations to the Corps. The Corps is responsible for
appointing stakeholder members. The MRRIC Planning Group and the Corps
will consider applications using the following criteria:
Ability to commit the time required.
Commitment to make a good faith (as defined in the
Charter) effort to seek balanced solutions that address multiple
interests and concerns.
Agreement to support and adhere to the approved MRRIC
Charter and Operating Procedures to be adopted by the Committee.
Demonstration of a formal designation or endorsement by an
organization, local government, or constituency as its preferred
representative.
Demonstration of an established communication network to
keep constituents informed and efficiently seek their input when
needed.
Ability to contribute to the overall balance of
representation on MRRIC.
All applicants will be notified in writing as to the final decision
about their application.
Certification. I hereby certify that the establishment of the MRRIC
is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the
performance of duties imposed on the Corps by the Endangered Species
Act and other statutes.
Dated: July 9, 2008.
Lawrence J. Cieslik,
Deputy Director, Programs--Missouri River, Northwestern Division, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E8-16455 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
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