MS Code § 49-17-16 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 49 - Conservation and Ecology|Chapter 17 - Pollution of Waters, Streams, and Air|In General|§ 49-17-16. Advisory Council

    An Advisory Council, hereinafter referred to as "Advisory Council," is created to conduct an independent study of the costs for the development and administration of the Title V program within the Department of Environmental Quality and to conduct an annual review of the costs of administering such programs.   The costs to be included within the study for the Title V program shall be those costs set forth in Section 49-17-14. The Advisory Council shall include within the study the type and quantity of actual and allowable emissions within the state that are covered by the Title V program. After completing a study of the program needs and costs the Advisory Council shall recommend an equitable fee system for the Title V program that is based on the type and quantity of emissions. The annual review for the air operating permit program shall determine if the fee system is collecting sufficient funds to meet Title V program needs. Each annual review report shall be due January 1 of each succeeding year to the commission and the Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality.     The Advisory Council shall submit recommendations to the Department of Environmental Quality concerning the costs of the development, implementation and administration of the State Air Operating Permit Implementation Plan in advance of the state's submittal to the Environmental Protection Agency which is due by November 1993. The Department of Environmental Quality shall assist the Advisory Council by providing any information the Advisory Council may require to perform its duties under Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-45.   The Advisory Council shall be composed of the following seven (7) persons appointed as follows: three (3) representatives of permitted industries that qualify for inclusion under the Title V program, that are required to pay the permit fee and that are also permittees under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program of the Clean Water Act, with one (1) such representative to be appointed by the Governor, one (1) by the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the Executive Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development; the President of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association; the President of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation; and the Chairman of the Mississippi Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel. Nonappointed members of the Advisory Council may designate an alternate member to act in their stead in performing any function of the Advisory Council.  The initial terms of appointment of the members of the Advisory Council shall be as follows: the representatives of the permitted industries appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall serve a term of one (1) year; the representative of the permitted industry appointed by the Governor and the Chairman of the Mississippi Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel shall serve a term of two (2) years; the Executive Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development and the President of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, or their designees, shall serve a term of three (3) years; and the President of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, or his designee, shall serve a term of four (4) years. Thereafter, the length of the term for each member of the Advisory Council shall be four (4) years.    Original appointments to the Advisory Council shall be made no later than June 1, 1993. Vacancies on the Advisory Council shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointments. The Advisory Council shall convene within sixty (60) days following the date of the appointment of the members.   The Advisory Council shall select from their membership a chairperson to preside over meetings and a vice-chairperson to preside in the absence of the chairperson or when the chairperson shall be excused. The Advisory Council shall adopt procedures governing the manner of conducting its business. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to do business.   Members of the Advisory Council shall serve without salary. The members of the Advisory Council shall be entitled to receive reimbursement of their actual travel and hotel expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41, incurred while in the performance of their duties as members of the Advisory Council to be paid on an itemized statement approved by the State Fiscal Officer. Expenses shall be paid from fees collected in accordance with Section 49-17-30.   The Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality shall provide technical, clerical and other support services, including services by contract, as the Advisory Council determines that it requires in the performance of its functions.