Sec. 6005. National levee safety advisory board
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The Secretary, in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall establish a board, to be known as the National Levee Safety Advisory Board — to advise the Secretary and Congress regarding consistent approaches to levee safety; to monitor the safety of levees in the United States; to assess the effectiveness of the national levee safety program; and to ensure that the national levee safety program is carried out in a manner that is consistent with other Federal flood risk management efforts.
The Board shall be composed of the following 14 voting members, each of whom shall be appointed by the Secretary, with priority consideration given to representatives from those States that have the most Corps of Engineers levees in the State, based on mileage: 8 representatives of State levee safety programs, 1 from each of the civil works divisions of the Corps of Engineers. 2 representatives of the private sector who have expertise in levee safety. 2 representatives of local and regional governmental agencies who have expertise in levee safety. 2 representatives of Indian tribes who have expertise in levee safety.
The Secretary (or a designee of the Secretary), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or a designee of the Administrator), and the administrator of the national levee safety program appointed under section 6004(b)(1)(A) shall serve as nonvoting members of the Board. The voting members of the Board shall appoint a chairperson from among the voting members of the Board, to serve a term of not more than 2 years. Each voting member of the Board shall be knowledgeable in the field of levee safety, including water resources and flood risk management.
The membership of the Board, considered as a whole, shall represent the diversity of skills required to advise the Secretary regarding levee issues relating to— engineering; public communications; program development and oversight; with respect to levees, flood risk management and hazard mitigation; and public safety and the environment. A voting member of the Board shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, except that, of the members first appointed— 5 shall be appointed for a term of 1 year; 5 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and 4 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.
A voting member of the Board may be reappointed to the Board, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. A vacancy on the Board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. The Board shall be supported by Standing Committees, which shall be comprised of volunteers from all levels of government and the private sector, to advise the Board regarding the national levee safety program. The Standing Committees of the Board shall include— the Standing Committee on Participating Programs, which shall advise the Board regarding— the development and implementation of State and tribal levee safety programs; and appropriate incentives (including financial assistance) to be provided to States, Indian tribes, and local and regional entities; the Standing Committee on Technical Issues, which shall advise the Board regarding— the management of the national levee database; the development and maintenance of levee safety guidelines; processes and materials for developing levee-related technical assistance and training; and research and development activities relating to levee safety; the Standing Committee on Public Education and Awareness, which shall advise the Board regarding the development, implementation, and evaluation of targeted public outreach programs— to gather public input; to educate and raise awareness in leveed areas of levee risks; to communicate information regarding participating programs; and to track the effectiveness of public education efforts relating to levee risks; the Standing Committee on Safety and Environment, which shall advise the Board regarding— operation and maintenance activities for existing levee projects; opportunities to coordinate public safety, floodplain management, and environmental protection activities relating to levees; opportunities to coordinate environmental permitting processes for operation and maintenance activities at existing levee projects in compliance with all applicable laws; and opportunities for collaboration by environmental protection and public safety interests in leveed areas and adjacent areas; and such other standing committees as the Secretary, in consultation with the Board, determines to be necessary.
The Board shall recommend to the Secretary for approval individuals for membership on the Standing Committees. Each member of a Standing Committee shall be knowledgeable in the issue areas for which the Committee is charged with advising the Board. The membership of each Standing Committee, considered as a whole, shall represent, to the maximum extent practicable, broad geographical diversity. Each Standing Committee shall be comprised of not more than 10 members. The Board— shall submit to the Secretary and Congress an annual report regarding the effectiveness of the national levee safety program in accordance with section 6007; and may secure from other Federal agencies such services, and enter into such contracts, as the Board determines to be necessary to carry out this subsection.
The Board shall, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate the activities of the Board with the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force. Each member of the Board who is an officer or employee of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to compensation received for the services of the member as an officer or employee of the United States, but shall be allowed a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Board.
To the extent amounts are made available to carry out this section in appropriations Acts, the Secretary shall provide to each member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the United States a stipend and a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in performance of services for the Board.
Each member of a Standing Committee shall— serve in a voluntary capacity; but receive a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in performance of services for the Board. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Board or the Standing Committees.