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United States Department of the Interior - Advisory
Committee on Water Information
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Federal Register Notice of Renewal
Charter (PDF
2,441KB)
CHARTER
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Official Designation: Advisory Committee on Water
Information (ACWI).
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Scope and Objectives:The ACWI advises the Federal
Government, through the Department of the Interior (DOI),
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), on coordination of Federal
water information programs. The purpose of the ACWI
is to represent the interests of water-information users
and professionals in advising the Federal Government on activities
and plans related to Federal water-information programs and
the effectiveness of those programs in meeting the Nation's
water-information needs. ACWI members foster better
communication between the Federal and non-Federal sectors
on water-information acquisition, information sharing, and
related technology transfer.
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Description of Duties: More specifically, the ACWI
will meet the objectives and requirements of Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Memorandum No. M-92-01, that directs the
ACWI to establish more effective working relationships and
foster collaboration with State and local agencies, Indian
Tribes, and the private sector using the best technologies
to disseminate information so as to improve the awareness
of, availability of, and access to existing water-information
holdings of Federal agencies and the non-Federal sector. The
ACWI will provide advice and consultation toward a cost-effective
national network of water-data collection and analysis that
meets the priority water-information needs of the Federal
Government and, to the extent possible within available resources,
the needs of the non-Federal community that are tied to national
interests. The ACWI will develop uniform standards,
guidelines, and procedures for the collection, analysis,
management, and dissemination of water information in order
to improve quality, consistency, and accessibility nationwide. The
ACWI will consider the effectiveness of existing water-information
programs and recommend modifications needed to respond to
changes in legislation, technology, and other conditions
and will prepare and/or distribute documents that inform
others about the conclusions, recommendations, and activities
resulting from the Committee's deliberations.
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Committee Membership:
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Members: The ACWI will have a maximum
of 35 members and their alternates, who will be appointed
by the Secretary, based on recommendations from the USGS
Associate Director for Water. Members will represent
the interests of water-oriented organizations, including
Federal, State and other government agencies, professional
and technical societies, the academic community, and
the private sector. These members will be selected
from among, but not limited to, the following
groups:
Federal agencies
Professional water-related associations
State and county water-related associations
Academia
Private industry
Water utility associations
Civil engineering societies
Watershed and land conservation associations
Ecological societies
Lake, coastal and ocean associations
Environmental
and educational groups
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Chair: The Assistant Secretary for
Water and Science, DOI or his designee will chair the
ACWI. The Alternate Chair will be the Associate Director
for Water of the USGS. The Chief, Water Information Coordination
Program (WICP) will be the Executive Secretary.
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Allowances: Members of the ACWI will receive no pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the Committee. However, while away from their homes or regular places of business, in the performance of services for the Committee, non-Federal members to the ACWI will be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in Government service are allowed such expenses under Section 5703 of Title 5 of the United States Code.
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Terms: Members will serve 4-year terms
from the date of the designation letter and may be reappointed.
If the ACWI is not re-chartered every two years, then
the members’ terms shall cease as of the same date the
Committee’s Charter expires. Members are expected to
participate in ACWI meetings and activities. If a member
fails to attend two consecutive ACWI annual meetings,
the DFO may recommend that the Secretary terminate the
member’s appointment to the ACWI. All members serve at
the pleasure of the Secretary.
- Ethics Responsibilities of Members: A committee or
subcommittee member may not participate in any specific party
matter in which the member, his/her spouse, or dependent child(ren)
have a direct financial interest, including a lease, license,
permit, contract, claim, agreement, or related litigation with
the Department or DOI bureau.
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Meetings and Procedures: The ACWI will meet at least
once a year and at such other times as designated by the
Designated Federal Official (DFO).
- Duration: The total period of time necessary for
the ACWI to carry out its activities is estimated to be for
as long as the DOI operates national systems for acquiring
and disseminating water information. The Committee will
take no action unless the filing requirements of Sections 9
and 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)
- Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The ACWI
reports to the Secretary of Interior, through the Assistant
Secretary for Water and Science.
- Bureau Responsible for Support: Support services for
the activities of the Committee will be provided by the USGS,
WICP.
- Estimated Operating Costs: Annual Federal operating
costs for the Committee and its subcommittees are estimated
to be $900,000 that includes 6.5 FTE work years of staff
support.
- Termination Date: The ACWI will terminate at such time as OMB Memorandum No. M-92-01 is rescinded. The Charter will lapse two years from the date this Charter is filed unless prior to that date it is renewed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the FACA, 5 U.S.C. Appendix (1988).
- Subordinate Groups: For assistance in conducting
its business, the ACWI may establish subordinate groups. The
role of such groups is limited to gathering information, conducting
research, analyzing relevant issues and facts, and drafting
proposed position papers and/or recommendations for deliberation
and consideration by the ACWI. These groups will be established
by the Chair, with the concurrence of the DFO and the ACWI.
Members that serve on subordinate groups may include organizations
or experts that are not members of the ACWI. The Terms of Reference
for these groups will be reviewed and approved by the ACWI. These
groups will report directly to the ACWI or, in some cases,
through a subcommittee or a subordinate council. Formation
of, membership on and meetings of any such subordinate group
or committee is subject to approval by the DFO.
- Designated Federal Officer: The Chief, WICP, will
serve as the DFO as required by Section 10 of
the FACA.
- Authority: The ACWI will operate in conformance with
OMB Memorandum No. M-92-01, dated December 10, 1991, that
requires the establishment of an advisory committee for the
purposes outlined in paragraph 2 of this charter.
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(Signed) Dirk Kempthorne
Dirk Kempthorne
Secretary of the Interior
Feb 01, 2008
Date Signed
April 9, 2008
Date Charter Filed |
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