UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CHARTER

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 GOOD NEIGHBOR ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD

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1.	Committee's Official Designation (Title):

	Good Neighbor Environmental Board

2.	Authority:

	This charter renews the Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB) in
accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2.  GNEB is in the public interest, and is
specifically directed under Section 6 of the Enterprise for the Americas
Initiative Act, 7 U.S.C. Section 5404.  

	The authority of the President under this section to establish an
advisory board to be known as the Good Neighbor Environmental Board is
delegated to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), pursuant to Section 10 of Executive Order 12916, 

May 13, 1994.

3.	Objectives and Scope of Activities:

	GNEB will provide advice, information and recommendations on the need
for implementation of environmental and infrastructure projects
“within the States of the United States contiguous to Mexico in order
to improve the quality of life of persons residing on the United States
side of the border.” 

4.	Description of Committee’s Duties:

	The duties of GNEB are solely to provide advice. 

5.	Official(s) to Whom the Committee Reports:

	The Committee advises the President or his delegatee and also may
provide advice to Congress through the President or his delegatee. 



6.	Agency Responsible for Providing the Necessary Support:

	EPA will be responsible for financial and administrative support. 
Within EPA, this support will be provided by the Office of Cooperative
Environmental Management, within the Office of the Administrator.  

7.	Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Work Years:

	The estimated annual operating cost of GNEB is $425,000 which includes
1.5 person-years of support.

8.	Designated Federal Officer:

	A full-time or permanent part-time employee of EPA will be appointed as
the Designated Federal Officer (DFO).  The DFO or a designee will be
present at all of the advisory committee’s and subcommittee meetings.
Each meeting will be conducted in accordance with an agenda approved in
advance by the DFO. The DFO is authorized to adjourn any meeting when he
or she determines it is in the public interest to do so, and will chair
meetings when directed to do so by the official to whom the committee
reports.

9.	Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings:

	The committee expects to meet approximately three (3) times a year. 
Meetings may occur approximately once every four (4) months or as needed
and approved by the DFO.  EPA may pay travel and per diem expenses when
determined necessary and appropriate.  

	As required by FACA, GNEB will hold open meetings unless the EPA
Administrator determines that a meeting or a portion of a meeting may be
closed to the public in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 552b
of Title 5, U.S.C.  Interested persons may attend meetings, appear
before the committee as time permits, and file comments with the GNEB. 

10.	Duration and Termination: 

This charter will be in effect for two years from the date it is filed
with Congress.  After this two-year period, the charter may be renewed
as authorized in accordance with Section 14 of FACA.	

11.	Member Composition:

	GNEB will be composed of approximately 25 members.  Members will serve
as representatives of non-Federal interests or regular government
employees (RGEs).  GNEB will include representatives from the United
States Government, including the Department of Agriculture; tribal
government; governments of the States of Arizona, California, New
Mexico, and Texas; and private organizations, including community
development, academic, health, environmental, and other non-governmental
entities.  In selecting members, EPA will consider candidates with
experience in and diverse points of view on environmental and
infrastructure-related issues. 

12.	Subgroups:

	EPA, or GNEB with EPA’s approval, may form GNEB subcommittees or
workgroups for any purpose consistent with this charter.  Such
subcommittees or workgroups may not work independently of the chartered
committee and must report their recommendations and advice to the GNEB
for full deliberation and discussion.  Subcommittees or workgroups have
no authority to make decisions on behalf of the chartered committee nor
can they report directly to the President.   

13.	Recordkeeping:  

	

	The records of the committee, formally and informally established
subcommittees, or other subgroups of the committee, shall be handled in
accordance with General Records Schedule 26, Item 2 or other approved
agency records disposition schedule.  These records shall be available
for public inspection and copying, in accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act and subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5
U.S.C. 552.

August 25, 2010 

Agency Approval Date

September 10, 2010

Date Filed with Congress

