[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 131 (Friday, July 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33216-33217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16325]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary of Defense


Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 
1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine 
Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the 
Department of Defense gives notice that it is renewing the charter for 
the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific 
Advisory board (hereafter referred to as the Advisory Board).
    The Board is a non-discretionary federal advisory committee 
established under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 2904. Pursuant to 10 
U.S.C. 2902 and 10

[[Page 33217]]

U.S.C. 2904(e), the Strategic Environmental Research and Development 
Program Council (hereafter referred to as the Council) shall refer to 
the Advisory Board and the Advisory Board shall review each proposed 
research project including its estimated cost, for research in and 
development of technologies related to environmental activities in 
excess of $1,000,000. Notwithstanding, the Council, in an effort to 
enhance the Advisory Board's review process, subsequently lowered the 
Advisory Board's dollar threshold to any proposed research projects in 
excess of $900,000. The Advisory Board shall make any recommendations 
to the Council that the Advisory Board considers appropriate regarding 
such project or proposal. The Advisory Board may make recommendations 
to the Council regarding technologies, research, projects, programs, 
activities, and if appropriate, funding within the scope of the 
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. In addition, 
the Advisory Board shall assist and advise the Council in identifying 
the environmental data and analytical assistance activities that should 
be covered by the policies and procedures prescribed pursuant to 10 
U.S.C 2902(d)(1).
    The Advisory Board shall be comprised of not less than six and not 
more than 14 members. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(b) the Advisory Board 
membership shall be comprised of the following: (a) Permanent members 
of the Advisory Board--the Science Advisor to the President, the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or 
their designees; (b) One member of the Advisory Board shall be a 
representative of environmental public interest groups; and (c) One 
member shall be a representative of the interests of State governments.
    Pursuant to 10 U.S.C 2904(b)(3), the Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Energy, in conjunction with the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, shall request that the: (a) Head of 
the National Academy of Science, in consultation with the head of the 
National Academy of Engineering and the head of the Institutes of 
Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, nominate persons for 
appointment to the Advisory Board; (b) Council of Environmental quality 
nominate for appointment to the Advisory board at least one person who 
is a representative of environmental public interest groups; and (c) 
National Association of Governors nominate for appointment to the 
Advisory Board at least one person who is a representative of the 
interests of State governments.
    With the exception of the permanent Advisory Board members, 
Advisory Board members, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(b)(2), shall be 
appointed from among persons eminent in the fields of basic sciences, 
engineering, ocean and environmental sciences, education, research 
management, international and security affairs, health physics, health 
sciences, or social sciences, with due regard given to the equitable 
representation of scientists and engineers who are women or represent 
minority groups.
    The Advisory Board, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2904(d), shall develop 
procedures for the annual election of the Advisory Board's chairperson.
    Advisory Board members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who 
are not full-time or permanent part-time federal officers or employees, 
shall be appointed as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 
U.S.C 3109, and serve as Special Government Employees. The terms of 
their appointment shall not be less than two but not more than four 
years and their appointments shall be reviewed by the Secretary of 
Defense on an annual basis.
    Advisory Board members who are Federal officers or employees shall 
serve without compensation (other than compensation to which they are 
entitled to as a Federal officer or employee). All Advisory Board 
members shall receive compensation for travel and per diem for official 
Advisory Board travel.
    With DoD approval, the Advisory Board is authorized to establish 
Subcommittees or Working Groups, as necessary and consistent with its 
mission, and these Subcommittees or Working Groups shall operate under 
the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the 
Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 
other appropriate federal regulations.
    Such Subcommittees or Working Groups shall not work independently 
of the chartered Advisory Board, and shall report their recommendations 
and advice to the Advisory Board for full deliberation and discussion. 
Subcommittees or Working Groups have no authority to make decisions on 
behalf of the chartered Advisory Board nor can they report directly to 
DoD or any Federal officers or employees who are not Advisory Board 
members.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Jim Freeman, Deputy Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-601-6128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Board shall meet at the call of 
the Board's Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to DoD policy, shall 
be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, and shall be 
appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and procedures. 
The Designated Federal Officer or duly appointed Alternate Designated 
Federal Officer shall attend all committee meetings and subcommittee 
meetings.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to the Strategic 
Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory 
Board membership about the Advisory 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 Strategic Environmental 
Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal 
Officer for the Strategic Environmental Research and Development 
Program Scientific Advisory Board, and this individual will ensure that 
the written statements are provided to the membership for their 
consideration. Contact information for the Strategic Environmental 
Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory 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 Strategic Environmental Research and 
Development Program Scientific Advisory 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.

Morgan E. Frazier,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. E9-16325 Filed 7-9-09; 8:45 am]
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