WSP12613 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

OJ25~3 Position Paper for Renewal of AMWG Charter. Subject: The AMWG Charter Back~round The Glen Canyon A~ptive Management Work Group (AMWG) Charter was signed by Secretary Bruce Babbitt on January 15, 1997 and filed on February 4, 1997. The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that all Committees renew their charter every two years, The process for renewal of a charter is much the same as establishing a charter. A new/revised charter with justification must be submitted to the Secretariat at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the committee terminates. Ibis means that by the first week in December we must have all preparations complete for sending our charter forward to the Secretary for his signature and processing. ~ The Secretary will determine whether there is justification for continuation of the AMWG. He will make that determination based on recommendations he receives from the AMWG. The AMWG needs to make a recommendation to the Secretary regarding justification for continuation of the AMWG, Member appointments are 4-year terms beginning on February 4,1997 and are unaffected if the Charter is renewed. The renewal process requires a new/revised charter be submitted, Changes or revisions to the charter would be most appropriately made at renewal time. Charter Revisions The AMWG Charter requires that meeting announcements, postponements, or cancellations be published in newspapers in Denver, CO, Salt Lake City, UT, Phoenix AZ, and Flagstaff, AZ. Reclamation has provided news releases to many of the newspaper agencies in these and other cities in the United States. Upon monitoring selected- newspapers we have determined these newspapers have not published news releases in the past, Due to concerns with meeting the requirements of the Charter, public notices were secured in various newspapers at a cost of just under $1400,00 for the April TWG meeting, Upon questioning the TWG, none of the members present had seen the public notice and it was felt they were of little value. Publishing public notices in the Federal Register are required by law. F ACA does not require meetings to be published in local newspapers. Recommendation The Adaptive Management Program has made significant contributions in providing recommendations to the Secretary which have been essential for compliance with monitoring, operation, and consultation requirements of the Grand Canyon Protection Act. Participation in the AMP has provided stakeholders and resource managers with critical information required to manage the resources. The AMWG should recommend the Secretary renew the Charter for a second two year term. It is the proposal of the TWG, that the AMWG Charter be changed to more clearly defme that ~ releases will be sent to newspaper agencies and concerned organization's, Purchasing space in news papers would be discontinued. Organizations which publish newsletters will be encouraged to publish meeting announcements sent to them in the form of a news release. Space would not be purchased as costs appear to be excessive compared with their value. Federal Register Notices would still be continued as required by F ACA. June 17, 1998 CHARTERC.WPD