Turning our Action Plan into Action

Acronyms: FACA – Federal Advisory Committee Act WRDA 1996 – Water Resources Development Act of 1996

FACA FACA applies to: “any committee, board, commission, council, conference, panel, task force, or other similar group, or any subcommittee or other subgroup thereof… which is… established or utilized by one or more agencies, in the interest of obtaining advice or recommendations for the President or one or more agencies or officers of the Federal Government…”

FACA continued: Procedural and substantive requirements are attached to FACA advisory groups for openness, accountability and balance promote diversity noticing meetings keeping minutes making documents available to the public providing opportunity for input by non-members making transcripts available to the public

Task Force/Working Group Exemption (taken from the Task Force charter) “The Task Force is not considered an advisory committee subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and it may seek advice or input from interested, knowledgeable, or affected parties without being subject to the FACA, pursuant to section 528(f)(3)(C) of the WRDA 1996.”

Turning our Action Plan into Action Step 1: Action Plan is formally approved by the BBRRCT. Step 2: Proposed Action Plan is submitted to the Working Group for a “first reading.” Step 3: Working Group members provide their input to a revised draft that will be discussed at the next Working Group meeting. Step 4: Revised Action Plan is provided to the Working Group in their readahead for the next meeting, where it will be reviewed and formally approved. Step 5: The Working Group reports their recommended action at the next Task Force meeting, for their review and acceptance.

Working Group/Task Force Role Changes may be required by the Working Group/Task Force Seek advice/further direction as to Working Group member role in implementation

After TF Approval Step 6: Individuals may reference the plan, post the plan on their websites, or use it as supporting documentation. The plan is part of the public record.

Guidelines BBRRCT members are requested to wait until acceptance by the Task Force before referencing or distributing the plan. Individuals may only lobby in accordance with their own organization’s regulations on behalf of either themselves or their organizations. They may not lobby on behalf of the BBRRCT.

Public Record: The BBRRCT plan and its drafts are part of the public record. This information is available to all members of the public, via the Task Force Office, upon request. The final plan will be posted on the website.

Questions???