[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11373-11374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4545]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
Establishment of Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Establishment and Call for Nominations.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with the
General Services Administration, has established the Wind Turbine
Guidelines Advisory Committee. The Committee will provide advice and
recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) on
developing effective measures to avoid or minimize impacts to wildlife
and their habitats related to land-based wind energy facilities.
DATES: Requests to participate on this Committee must be postmarked by
April 12, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send resumes and explanations of interest to Susan L.
Goodwin, Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution, U.S.
Department of the Interior, 1801 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 500,
Washington DC 20006, e-mail address [email protected], fax
number 202/327-5390.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan L. Goodwin, 202/327-5346.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are publishing this notice in accordance
with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
App.) (FACA). The Secretary of the Interior certifies that he has
determined that the formation of the Committee is necessary and is in
the public interest.
The Committee will conduct its operations in accordance with the
provisions of the FACA. It will report to the Secretary of the Interior
through the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will function
solely as an advisory body. The Committee will provide recommendations
and advice to the Department and the Service on developing effective
measures to protect wildlife resources and enhance potential benefits
to wildlife that may be identified.
The Secretary will appoint members who can effectively represent
the varied interests associated with wind energy development and its
potential impacts to wildlife species and their habitats. Members will
represent stakeholders, Federal and State agencies, and tribes. Members
will be senior representatives of their respective constituent groups
with knowledge of: wind energy facility location, design, operation,
and transmission requirements; wildlife species potentially affected
and potential positive and negative impacts; wildlife survey
techniques; applicable laws and regulations; and current research on
wind/wildlife interactions. The Secretary may appoint Committee members
based on nominations submitted by interested parties, including but not
limited to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other Federal
agencies, States, tribes, wind energy development organizations,
nongovernmental conservation organizations, and local regulatory/
licensing commissions. The Committee will also include independent
experts in wind energy/wildlife interactions, appointed as special
Government employees, to provide technical advice. The Secretary may
also appoint alternate members to serve in the event that a member
cannot attend a meeting. Parties interested in participating on this
Committee should send their resumes and explanations of interest to
Susan L. Goodwin, Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute
Resolution, at the contact address listed in ADDRESSES, by the date
specified in DATES.
The Committee is expected to meet approximately four times per
year. All Committee members serve without
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compensation. Travel costs will be provided for Committee members who
are special Government employees. The Service will provide necessary
support services to the Committee. Committee meetings will be open to
the public. Notice of committee meetings will be published in the
Federal Register at least 15 days before the date of the meeting. The
public will have an opportunity to provide input at these meetings.
The Committee is expected to exist for 2 years. Its continuation is
subject to biennial renewal.
In accordance with FACA, we will file a copy of the Committee's
charter with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services
Administration; Committee on Environment and Public Works, United
States Senate; Committee on Resources, United States House of
Representatives; and the Library of Congress.
The Certification for establishment is published below.
Certification
I hereby certify that the Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory
Committee is necessary and is in the public interest in connection with
the performance of duties imposed on the Department of the Interior by
Public Laws 16 U.S.C. 703-712, Migratory Bird Treaty Act; 16 U.S.C.
668-668d, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544,
Endangered Species Act; and 42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq., National
Environmental Policy Act. The Committee will assist the Department of
the Interior by providing advice and recommendations on developing
effective measures to avoid or minimize impacts to wildlife and their
habitats.
Dated: February 28, 2007.
Dirk Kempthorne,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. E7-4545 Filed 3-12-07; 8:45 am]
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