[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17643-17644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06591]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Greater Mississippi River Basin Water Management Board; Engineer
Regulation No. 15-2-13
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is revising its
Engineer Regulation No. 15-2-13 dated 10 May 1989. This regulation
establishes and prescribes the objectives, composition,
responsibilities and authority of the Corps Greater Mississippi River
Basin Water Management Board. It is applicable to all Corps offices
involved with water management within the Greater Mississippi River
Basin. The Board consists of the Deputy Commanding General for Civil
and Emergency Operations, and Division Commanders of the Northwestern,
Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and Ohio River, and Southwestern
Divisions. The Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency
Operations serves as permanent Board Chairperson. The Board provides
oversight and guidance during significant regional drought or flood
events that cross Division boundaries. The Board discusses water
management issues among Corps Divisions within the Greater Mississippi
River Basin.
DATES: Effective date: April 22, 2013.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CECW-CE, 441 G Street
NW., Washington, DC 20314-1000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Bank at 202-761-5532 or by
email at [email protected],
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Previous Engineer Regulation No. 15-2-13
titled ``Mississippi River Water Control Board'' was published on 10
May 1989 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Since its last revision,
the Corps has reorganized its command and control structure. This
regulation revision reflects the current organizational structure and
is aligned with water management activities during recent flood and
drought events in the United States.
This is published in Federal Register as a notice to concerned
people and entities, and is not a request for comments.
Dated: March 18, 2013.
Approved by:
Robert A. Bank,
Chief, Civil Works Branch Engineering & Construction, Headquarters,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
For the reasons stated above, the Corps is revising Engineer
Regulation No. 15-2-13 dated 10 May 1989 as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ER 15-2-13
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CECW-CE
Washington, DC 20314-1000
Engineer Regulation No. 15-2-13
Boards, Commission and Committees
GREATER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN WATER MANAGEMENT BOARD
1. Purpose. This regulation establishes and prescribes the
objectives, composition, responsibilities and authority of the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Greater Mississippi River Basin
Water Management Board.
2. Applicability. The regulation is applicable to the Board
members and to all field operating activities concerned with water
management within the Greater Mississippi River Basin. The Greater
Mississippi River Basin drains 41% of the 48 contiguous states of
the United States and the drainage basin covers approximately 1.25
million square miles, including all or part of 31 states and two
Canadian provinces. Its major tributaries are the Missouri, Ohio,
Arkansas-White, and the Red Rivers. The Mississippi River is located
within Mississippi Valley Division; however, the majority of its
drainage area and its significant tributaries are located within the
Northwestern Division, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division and
Southwestern Division boundaries. The Board will be activated as
deemed appropriate by the Deputy Commanding General for Civil and
Emergency Operations, including during significant regional drought
or flood events--considered as emergency conditions.
3. Objectives. The objectives of the Board are:
a. To provide oversight and guidance during significant regional
drought or flood events that cross Division boundaries, and require
coordination of basin-wide water management activities.
b. To serve as a forum for discussion of water management issues
among Corps Divisions within the Greater Mississippi River Basin
when agreement is otherwise unobtainable.
c. Provides a forum, when necessary, for division commanders to
keep the Chief of Engineers informed of any unusual problems or
activities associated with water control that impact his/her
responsibilities.
4. Composition. The Greater Mississippi River Basin Water
Management Board is a continuing board consisting of the Deputy
Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, and Division
Commanders of the Northwestern, Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and
Ohio River, and Southwestern Divisions. The Deputy Commanding
General for Civil and Emergency Operations serves as permanent Board
Chairperson.
5. Responsibilities. The Board functions under the general
direction of the Commanding General, USACE, and is responsible for:
a. Oversight of procedures for maintaining and improving inter-
divisional coordination of water management activities within the
Greater Mississippi River Basin.
b. Oversight of the development and use of facilities (physical
and computer models, automated data processing equipment, and
communications and information dissemination networks) needed to
coordinate water management activities for the Greater Mississippi
River Basin projects.
c. Oversight of basin-wide water management activities
associated with Corps projects in the Greater Mississippi River
Basin and, during certain significant emergency periods, may also
include other agency projects located within the Basin (e.g.,
Tennessee Valley Authority, Bureau of Reclamation).
d. Periodic reports and/or briefings to the Commanding General,
regarding the Board's activities and plans, during periods when
Board is active.
6. Committees. The Greater Mississippi River Basin Water
Management Board is authorized to establish continuing or ad hoc
inter-divisional operating or study committees comprised of Corps
personnel to facilitate the work of the Board. A standing Technical
Committee comprised of the senior water control managers from the
four Divisions within the Greater Mississippi River Basin, and the
HQUSACE Principal Hydrologic and Hydraulic Engineer--who serves as
Technical Committee Chairperson--is established to advise and assist
the Board. The Technical Committee meets whenever a need is
determined by the Chairperson or identified by the Board.
7. Procedures. The procedures used by the Board to carry out its
responsibilities are as follows:
a. During the emergency period when the Board is active, the
Board will meet to review recent past activities and current and
future project operations, and to discuss new or revised water
management activities for this period as appropriate.
b. The Board will provide instructions to committees under its
jurisdiction and review their recommendations for improvements in
water management for the above stated purpose.
c. Deviations or changes to a current water control plan may be
made at the discretion of the respective division commander, unless
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delegated authority has been withheld. Such deviations or changes
may be discussed with the Board at the commander's request. However,
any deviation or change must meet all legal and procedural
requirements.
d. When major differences prevail among the Board members and
cannot be resolved, the issue shall be raised on an expedient basis
to the Commanding General, to allow for a decision in a timely
manner.
e. When needed, convene routine meetings of the Technical
Committee sufficient to: ensure inter-division coordination and
situational awareness; coordinate with the HQUSACE Dam and Levee
Safety Officer; and inform the Board of decisions requiring Command
Authority.
f. Terms of Reference will be developed for operation of the
Board and Technical Committee for approval by the Deputy Commanding
General for Civil and Emergency Operations.
g. The Board and Technical Committee will collaborate with the
Mississippi River Commission (MRC) and other impacted stakeholder
groups to ensure effective synchronization between the missions of
the Board and the MRC in the development of basin-wide management
activities for projects within the Greater Mississippi River Basin
System.
h. The records of all Board proceedings will be preserved and
maintained pursuant to the Army recordkeeping requirements in the
Army Records Information Management System regulation (ARIMS--AR25-
1-400). The Board will designate an individual responsible for
maintaining records of all board proceedings. The designated
individual shall be copied on all electronic messages concerning
Board proceedings. Records of the Board include, and the Board
members shall retain, any emails or other electronic records which
the Board members generate or receive concerning Board proceedings.
The Board recognizes that recommendations made by the Board and the
information generated therefore, are of critical importance to the
Corps if litigation is brought against the Corps. Litigation holds
will be issued when litigation is reasonably anticipated. When a
litigation hold is issued, specific instructions will be provided on
preservation of electronically stored information and paper
documents.
8. Funding. Routine activities of the Greater Mississippi River
Basin Water Management Board and its committees, such as travel and
meeting expenses, are funded by the separate members' offices. Major
expenses connected with special studies are funded through the
normal budgetary process. Budget requests will be supported by
appropriate justification material.
[FR Doc. 2013-06591 Filed 3-21-13; 8:45 am]
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