[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28655-28656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13268]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
[RR01115000, 18XR0680A1, RX.R0336902.0019100]
Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group; Request for
Nominations
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.
ACTION: Notice and request for nominations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior proposes to appoint
members to the Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group (CAG).
The Secretary of the Interior, acting as administrative lead, is
requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the
CAG.
DATES: Nominations must be postmarked on or before July 20, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Gwendolyn Christensen,
Designated Federal Officer, Bureau of Reclamation, 1917 Marsh Rd.,
Yakima, WA 98901-2058.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwendolyn Christensen, telephone (509)
575-5848, extension 203; [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Advisory Committee Scope and Objectives
The Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, authorized by
Title XII of the Act of October 31, 1994 (Act), Public Law 103-434,
established the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program (Basin
Conservation Program). The Act authorized the Secretary of the Interior
to establish a CAG to provide advice and counsel on the structure,
implementation, and oversight of the Basin Conservation Program. The
Act also specifies the composition of the members to serve on the CAG.
The Basin Conservation Program is structured to provide economic
incentives with cooperative Federal, State, and local funding to
stimulate the identification and implementation of structural and
nonstructural cost-effective water conservation measures in the Yakima
River basin. Improvements in the efficiency of water delivery and use
will result in improved streamflows for fish and wildlife and improve
the reliability of water supplies for irrigation.
The duties or roles and functions of the CAG are in an advisory
capacity only. They are to: (A) Provide recommendations to the
Secretary and to the State of Washington regarding the structure and
implementation of the Basin Conservation Program, (B) provide
recommendations to the Secretary and to the State of Washington
regarding the establishment of a permanent program for the measurement
and reporting of all natural flow and contract diversions within the
basin, (C) structure a process to prepare a basin conservation plan as
specified in subsection (f), (D) provide annual review of the
implementation of the applicable water conservation guidelines of the
Secretary, and (E) provide recommendations consistent with statutes of
the State of Washington on rules, regulations, and administration of a
process to facilitate the voluntary sale or lease of water.
Membership Criteria
Members of the CAG are appointed by the Secretary and are comprised
of--
(A) one representative of the Yakima River basin nonproratable
irrigators,
(B) one representative of the Yakima River basin proratable
irrigators,
(C) one representative of the Yakama Indian Nation,
(D) one representative of environmental interests,
(E) one representative of the Washington State University
Agricultural Extension Service,
(F) one representative of the Department of Wildlife of the State
of Washington, and
(G) one individual who shall serve as the facilitator.
At this time, we are particularly interested in applications from
representatives of the following: One representative of the Yakama
Indian Nation, and one representative of environmental interests.
After consultation, the Secretary of the Interior will appoint the
members to the CAG. Members will be selected based on requirements set
forth in the Act and their individual qualifications, as well as the
overall need to achieve a balanced representation of viewpoints,
[[Page 28656]]
subject matter expertise, regional knowledge, and representation of
communities of interest. CAG member terms are limited to three (3)
years from their date of appointment. Following completion of their
first term, a CAG member may request consideration for reappointment to
an additional term. Reappointment is not guaranteed.
Typically, the CAG will hold one in-person meeting per fiscal year.
Between meetings, CAG members are expected to participate in committee
work via conference calls and email exchanges. Members of the CAG and
its subcommittees serve without pay. However, while away from their
homes or regular places of business in the performance of services of
the CAG, members may be reimbursed for travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed
intermittently in the government service, as authorized by section 5703
of title 5, United States Code.
Individuals who are federally registered lobbyists are ineligible
to serve on all Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and non-FACA
boards, committees, or councils in an individual capacity. The term
``individual capacity'' refers to individuals who are appointed to
exercise their own individual best judgment on behalf of the
government, such as when they are designated Special Government
Employees, rather than being appointed to represent a particular
interest.
Nominations should include a resume that provides an adequate
description of the nominee's qualifications, particularly information
that will enable the Department of the Interior to evaluate the
nominee's potential to meet the membership requirements of the
Committee and permit the Department of the Interior to contact a
potential member. Please refer to the membership criteria stated in
this notice.
Any interested person or entity may nominate one or more qualified
individuals for membership on the CAG. Persons or entities submitting
nomination packages on the behalf of others must confirm that the
individual(s) is/are aware of their nomination. Nominations must be
postmarked on or before July 20, 2018 and sent to Gwendolyn
Christensen, Designated Federal Officer, Bureau of Reclamation, 1917
Marsh Rd., Yakima, WA 98901-2058.
Public Disclosure of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your nominations and/or
comments, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any
time. While you can ask us in your nomination/comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Authority: This notice is published in accordance with Section
9(a)(2) of 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2 (Public Law 92-463, as amended),
Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972.
Dated: June 4, 2018.
Ryan K. Zinke,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2018-13268 Filed 6-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4332-90-P