PACIFIC NORTHWEST ELECTRIC POWER
AND CONSERVATION PLANNING COUNCIL:
CHARTER OF THE INDEPENDENT ECONOMIC ANALYSIS BOARD
1. Official Designation: This advisory committee will be
known as the Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning
Council's Independent Economic Analysis Board (Independent Economic
Analysis Board).
2. Background: The Northwest Power Act, P.L. 96-501, 16
U.S.C. ?839 et seq. (Act), in Section 4(h)(1)(A), requires
the Council to develop a fish and wildlife program for the Columbia River
Basin. The Act requires the Council to ?utilize, where equally effective
alternative means of achieving the same sound biological objective exist,
the alternative with the minimum economic cost.? (Section 4(h)(6)(C)).
The negotiation of a federal memorandum of agreement on Bonneville
spending for fish and wildlife measures also underscores the importance of
cost-effective fish and wildlife investments. In addition, federal
legislation adopted in 1996 requires cost-effectiveness evaluation in
prioritizing fish and wildlife measures. The Independent Economic Analysis
Board is intended to provide the Council with advice and an increased
analytical capability to help bring economics to bear in determining and
prioritizing fish recovery measures. This advisory committee is
established as part of a network of advisory committees satisfying the
Council's obligation under the Act to establish a Scientific and
Statistical Advisory Committee. 16 U.S.C. ?839b(c)(11). Under section
4(a)(4) of the Act, the terms of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C. Appendix I, Sections 1-14, apply ?to the extent appropriate? to
the Council's advisory committees. 16 U.S.C. ?839b(a)(4).
3. Objectives and Scope of Activity: The Independent
Economic Analysis Board will advise the Council on the appropriate methods
of economic analysis for proposed fish recovery measures. This advice will
include the appropriate role and limits of economic analysis in making
policy decisions. The Independent Economic Analysis Board will fulfill
this role by:
(A) Interacting as a committee
with the Council regarding methods of economic analysis for alternative
fish recovery measures.
(B) Assisting the Council to
evaluate new analytical tools, and advising on the most appropriate study
designs.
(C) Helping to identify sources of
information and data.
(D) Performing specific tasks
assigned by the Council on a cost reimbursement basis.
(E) Assisting in the review and
interpretation of study results.
4. Official to Whom the Advisory Committee Reports: The
Independent Economic Analysis Board will report to the Executive Director
of the Council.
5. Authority of the Advisory Committee: The Independent
Economic Analysis Board will serve in an advisory capacity only. Neither
the Committee nor its members are authorized to make statements or
commitments on behalf of the Council. Committee members will not be
considered to be members of the Council staff.
7. Advisory Committee Management Officer: The Advisory
Committee Management Officer for the Independent Economic Analysis Board
will be the Director of the Council's Fish and Wildlife Division. The
Management Officer will designate members of the Council's staff to attend
meetings of the Committee.
8. Staff Coordinator: A Staff Coordinator for the
Independent Economic Analysis Board will be appointed by the management
officer. The Staff Coordinator will be responsible for organizing
meetings, coordinating work with the Council, and managing the business
functions.
9. Appointment of Independent Economic Analysis Board Members:
Members will be appointed through a process of nomination, screening by a
peer group of economists, and Council verification of independence.
Nominations will be solicited through a public announcement of intent to
appoint a new member or members. Applications will be screened and ranked
by a nominating committee composed of 3 regional economists chosen, if
possible, from the Board of Directors of the Pacific Northwest Regional
Economic Conference and assisted by the Staff Coordinator. The nominating
committee will submit its recommendations to the Council who will make the
final selection based on the committee's recommendations and public
comment regarding qualifications and perceived independence.
10. Length of Board Membership: Independent Economic
Analysis Board members will serve four year terms. Terms will be staggered
to maintain some continuity to the board at all times. Members may apply
and be reappointed to the board through the nomination process.
11. Chairperson:
(A) The Chairperson will be
elected by the Independent Economic Analysis Board.
(B) The Chairperson may be called
upon to report to the Executive Director of the Council on appropriate
matters, including the Advisory Committee's progress on the tasks
described in Part 3 of this Charter.
(C) The duties of the Chairperson
will include presiding over Independent Economic Analysis Board meetings,
ensuring that detailed minutes of such meetings are prepared and submitted
to the Executive Director of the Council in a timely manner, and
maintaining communication between the Committee and the Council's staff.
(D) The Chairperson will certify
detailed minutes of meetings of the Independent Economic Analysis Board.
The minutes should include a description of matters discussed, conclusions
reached, actions taken, persons invited to meet with the Committee, and
persons in attendance. The minutes also will include copies of reports
received, issued or approved by the Committee. Minutes of meetings will be
prepared and released within ten days of the meeting, unless an extension
is granted by the Management Officer. The Management Officer will
distribute copies of the minutes to members of the Committee and the other
interested persons.
(E) Small sub-groups of the
Independent Economic Analysis Board may be established by the Chairperson
of the Committee to undertake particular aspects of the Committee's work.
Methods for organizing the work and procedures of the Committee must
follow the scope of responsibilities assigned to the Committee by the
Council. The work of the staff for the Committee will include making
arrangements for Committee meetings, solving logistical problems, and
providing clerical services.
12. Vice-Chairperson: A Vice-Chairperson may be appointed
by the Independent Economic Analysis Board. The Vice-Chairperson will
perform the duties of the Chairperson of the Independent Economic Analysis
Board in the absence of the Chairperson, and such other duties as the
Chairperson of the Committee may assign.
13. Policy: The advisory committee policy approved and
adopted by the Council on May 17, 1982, as amended from time to time, will
apply to the Independent Economic Analysis Board.
14. Estimated Frequency of Committee Meetings: The
Chairperson of the Independent Economic Analysis Board, after consultation
with the Management Officer, or his designee, will call meetings as
necessary. All meetings will be open to the public, unless closed pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. ?552b(c). Timely notice of meetings, including agendas, will
be given. Interested persons may attend Committee meetings and appear
before or file statements with the Committee, subject to such reasonable
rules as the Committee may prescribe.
15. Reimbursement of Expenses: The Council will reimburse
Independent Economic Analysis Board members for their time, as determined
by the Council, and travel costs, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence in accordance with the Council's travel regulations for
contractors and advisory committee members, for the purpose of attending
Committee meetings as authorized by 5 U.S.C. ?5703. In addition, the
Council may contract with Board members or others to carry out specific
task assignments. In particular cases, and with Council approval, the
Independent Economic Analysis Board may recommend the use of consultants
to accomplish an assigned task.
16. Duration: The Independent Economic Analysis Board will
terminate two years from the filing date of this Charter, unless renewed
in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. All members of the
Committee serve at the pleasure of the Council.
This Charter for the Independent Economic Analysis Board was approved
and adopted at a duly called meeting of the Pacific Northwest Power and
Conservation Planning Council, __________________________, in
_____________, ______________.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ELECTRIC POWER
AND CONSERVATION PLANNING COUNCIL
By: Judi Danielson, Chair
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