| 8/26/98 |
Advisory Committee on Water Information
Task Force to Review the Federal-State Cooperative Water
Program
|
|
1. Offical Designation |
| Task Force to Review the Federal-State Cooperative
Water Program (Coop Task Force) of the Advisory Committee on Water
Information (ACWI). |
II. Purpose and Scope |
| A. |
Purpose - The purpose of the Coop Task Force is to
assess the effectiveness of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS)
Federal-State Cooperative Water Program (Coop Program), draft
recommendations, and to provide a written report of findings to the
ACWI. The report from the Task Force to the ACWI will serve as the
basis for the ACWI to recommend possible enhancement or
modifications
to the USGS for the Coop Program. |
| B. |
Scope - The Task Force is requested to review
the activities of the Program by addressing and responding to four
broad topics described below. The Task Force will have from September 1998 to June 1999 to complete its work. The Task Force will address the following four topics:
- Mission - Historically, the Coop Program has been designed
to
develop hydrologic data and technical analysis needed to assist
in
meeting the USGS mission of continuously assessing the Nation's
water
resources, and to provide technical assistance to state,
tribal, and
local water management agencies in seeking solutions to water-resource
issues of national concern through a matched funding arrangement. Is
the Coop Program successfully meeting its mission? Is this mission
still valid? If not, how should it be altered?
Does the Coop Program
adequately contribute to the broad USGS
mission while keeping abreast
of emerging water resources issues at
the state and local level?
- Prioritization - In Fiscal Year 1997, the Congress appropriated
$64.5 million dollars for the Coop Program. State and local
agencies
provided an equal amount of matching funds plus an
additional $28.5
million dollars of unmatched funding. Given that
there is more funding
available from the state and local side than
there is matching Federal
funding, are matching funds applied to the most important topics and
issues? Is there a proper balance between funding of long-term data
collection versus short-term interpretive studies? What changes could
be made in the approach to project selection to help assure maximum
effectiveness for the program?
- Conduct of work - Nearly all of the work performed in
the Coop
Program is done by USGS scientists and technicians. This
arrangement
is designed to enhance quality control, provide national
consistency
in data collection and methods of analysis, and provide
a stable core
of experienced water scientists nationwide. Could
this arrangement be
improved without sacrificing its benefits? What
is the appropriate
relationship with the private sector, states,
universities, etc? What
would be the implications of altering
current work arrangements on the
unique qualities of the Coop
Program and water management nationwide?
- Products -
The products developed in the Coop Program need to be
useful to
cooperators and other users. These users include
representatives of
all levels of government, the scientific community,
the private
sector, and the general public. The products also fulfill
national
needs by building long term national data bases, augmenting
activities in other USGS programs, and providing a national picture
of
water resources through synthesis of information from
individual
projects across the country. In addition, the Coop
Program advances
the development and application of new approaches
and methodologies
relevant to water resources issues. To what extent
should the products
of the Coop Program support: (1) national level
needs, as compared to
(2) the needs of cooperators and other
information users? Are the
products meeting the needs of the
primary users as well as the
multiple needs of ancillary parties?
What changes in products should
the USGS consider to strengthen the
Coop Program's impact? Are there
ways to further stimulate the
development of new approaches and
methods and to enhance the
transfer of these approaches and methods to
interested parties?
|
III. Membership |
| A. |
The chair of the ACWI will
designate up to 24
representatives to the Coop Task Force. The Task Force shall comprise a balanced representation of Federal, regional, state, tribal, local, and municipal government agencies, and the
private sector. Membership will reflect organizations that use USGS
water information, have partnerships with USGS, or have interests in
the objectives of the Coop Program. |
| B. |
The Task Force will include
individuals from each of
the four Water Resources Division
Regions. |
| C. |
Federal membership
will not exceed six
representatives from the following
organizations: National Weather
Service, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency/Office of
Water, and U.S. Department of the Interior. The
Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) will be invited to participate
as a
nonvoting member. |
| D. |
The Chair of the ACWI may designate up to a maximum
of 18 representatives that have a balance of interests and functions. These organizations that participate on the Coop Task Force will represent
the following interests: Native Americans, environmental interest
groups, industry, local government agencies, professional societies,
or river basin commissions. |
| E. |
The Chair will be elected from non-Federal members of
the Task Force. The USGS will provide the Executive Secretary for the
Task Force. |
IV. Meetings and Procedures
|
| A. |
The Coop Task Force will begin activities during September
1998. The Chair will announce date, time, and location of each meeting in advance. After the initial two- or three-day meeting,
the
Task Force will plan further sessions, as necessary. The Task
Force
report is due to the Executive Secretary of the ACWI by June
30,1999. |
| B. |
Representatives to the Coop Task Force will receive no pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the Task
Force. However, while away from their homes or regular place of business and in performance of service for the Coop Task Force, non-Federal representatives will be allowed travel expenses if needed. Travel expenses will include per diem. Section 5703 of Title 5 of the United States Code describes allowances associated with this expense.
|
| C. |
Before transmitting the final report to the Director,
USGS, the ACWI will announce the availability of the draft report for
public review and comment in the Federal Register.
|
| D. |
The Coop Task Force Executive Secretary will prepare and
distribute to all members a summary of each meetings. Summaries of
each Task Force meeting, recommendations adopted, and copies of all
studies and reports issued by the Coop Task Force will be available for
public inspection on the World Wide Web and for review and copying at
the following location:
Water Information Coordination Program
U.S. Geological Survey
417 National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 20192
|
| E. |
Support services shall be provided by USGS. |
| F. |
Authority - The Coop Task Force is part of the
implementation of the Water Information Coordination Program mandated
by OMB Memorandum No. 92-01, dated December 10, 1991. The Task Force
reports to the ACWI that operates under the Federal Advisory Committee
Act. |
V. Products |
| A. |
A compilation of Coop Task Force meeting summaries and
special studies. |
| B. |
A draft written report describing the findings of the
Coop Task Force and its recommendations. |
| C. |
A written summary of the public comments on the draft
report. |
| D. |
An oral presentation to the ACWI of the summary
findings and recommendations of the Coop Task Force. |
| E. |
A final written report describing the findings of the
Coop Task Force and its recommendations presented to the ACWI. |
| F. |
Transmittal of the final report from ACWI to the USGS
including any comments, or suggested enhancements, or suggested
modifications of the Coop Program resulting from the ACWI review of
the Coop Task Force report. |
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