Sec. 304. Establishment of Dam Removal Council
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There is established a council to be known as the Dam Removal Council . The Council shall be responsible for— coordinating participating agencies to annually (or as otherwise determined by the Council)— notify all known dam owners of the availability of dam removal funding, application procedures, and options for technical assistance; and provide guidance on the existing programs of participating agencies; evaluating the proposed dam removal projects, technical assistance programs, and funding allocations submitted by participating agencies under section 303(c)(1)(A)(ii); submitting to the Secretary recommended dam removal projects, technical assistance programs, and funding allocations for participating agencies as described in section 303(c)(1)(B)(ii); serving as a forum— to identify and address limiting factors to removing dams; and to address programmatic challenges; providing advice on the development of the database and report required under section 307; and collaborating with the agencies represented on the Council to maximize the benefits of this title.
Subject to paragraph (2), the Council shall consist of the following members: The Secretary. The Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Chief of the Forest Service. The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality.
The Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Director of the Water Power Technologies Office of the Department of Energy. The Council may modify the membership of the Council to more effectively meet the purposes of this title. The Council may collaborate with other Federal agencies regarding the duties of the Council and recommend to the Secretary to enter into agreements with those agencies to more effectively meet the purposes of this title, such as an agreement relating to the provision of data or research necessary to carry out dam removal projects.
A member of the Council shall serve without compensation. The initial Chair of the Council shall be the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. Every 2 years, after completion of a report under section 307, the Council shall select a new Chair of the Council. The Chair shall coordinate with agencies represented on the Council— to develop effective and efficient processes to identify, prioritize, and implement dam removal projects; and to simplify and clarify the dam removal process.
The Chair shall convene the first meeting of the Council not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The Chair shall convene additional meetings of the Council as appropriate to ensure that this title is fully carried out, but not less often than annually. The Council shall establish procedures for voting, the conduct of meetings, and other matters as appropriate. Meetings of the Council shall be open to the public. The Council shall provide notice to the public of a meeting of the Council.
The Council shall consult with the Advisory Board— to assist the Council in the development of the dam removal strategy to be developed under section 306; to provide input on project identification criteria; and to provide input on proportional distribution of funds to participating agencies.