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TASK FORCE CHARTER AND DIRECTION
The work of the Task Force was primarily directed by three documents. The
first and most important document is the charter for the Task Force called
the "Terms of Reference." The second document is guidance to the
Task Force from an ACWI subgroup that focused on how work is conducted as
part of the Cooperative Water Program, including the topics of competition
with the private sector and the appropriate relationship with the private
sector. The third document is a list of potential issues to examine relating
to the Cooperative Water Program that was compiled by the Task Force during
their first meeting.
Terms of Reference
The Task Force was established by the Terms of Reference approved at the
August 1998 meeting of the ACWI. The work of the Task Force was guided by
and focused on the questions identified in the "Scope" section of
the Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference also provides guidelines for
the Task Force membership, procedures for meetings, and products that should
result from the work of the Task Force. The Terms of Reference follow:
9/3/98
Advisory Committee on Water Information Task Force to Review the Federal-State
Cooperative Water Program
TERMS OF REFERENCE
- Official Designation
Task Force to Review the Federal-State Cooperative Water Program (Task Force)
of the Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI).
- Purpose and Scope
- Purpose--The purpose of the Task Force is to assess the effectiveness
of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Federal-State Cooperative Water Program
(Cooperative Water Program), to make recommendations, and to provide a written
report of findings to the ACWI. The report from the Task Force to the ACWI
will serve as the basis for the ACWI to recommend possible enhancements
or modifications to the USGS for the Cooperative Water Program.
- Scope--The Task Force is requested to review the activities of
the Cooperative Water Program by addressing and responding to four broad
topics described below. The Task Force will have from September 1998 to
June 1999 to complete its work. The Task Force will address the following
four topics:
- Mission --Historically, the Cooperative Water Program has been
designed to develop hydrologic data and technical analysis needed to assist
in meeting the USGS mission of continuously assessing the Nation's water
resources, and to provide technical assistance to State, Tribal, and local
water management agencies in seeking solutions to water-resource issues
of national concern through a matched funding arrangement. Is the Cooperative
Water Program successfully meeting its mission? Is this mission still
valid? If not, how should it be altered? Does the Cooperative Water Program
adequately contribute to the broad USGS mission, while keeping abreast
of emerging water-resources issues at the State and local level?
- Prioritization
--In Fiscal Year 1997, the Congress appropriated $64.5 million for the Cooperative
Water Program. State and local agencies provided an equal amount of matching
funds plus an additional $28.5 million of unmatched funding. Given that
there is more funding available from the State and local side than there
is matching Federal funding, are matching funds applied to the most important
topics and issues? Is there a proper balance between funding of long-term
data collection versus short-term interpretive studies? What changes could
be made in the approach to project selection to help ensure maximum effectiveness
for the program?
- Conduct of work --Nearly all of the work performed in the Cooperative
Water Program is done by USGS scientists and technicians. This arrangement
is designed to enhance quality control, provide national consistency in
data collection and methods of analysis, and provide a stable core of
experienced water scientists nationwide. Could this arrangement be improved
without sacrificing its benefits? What is the appropriate relationship
with the private sector, States, universities, and so forth? What would
be the implications of altering current work arrangements on the unique
qualities of the Cooperative Water Program and water management nationwide?
- Products --The products developed in the Cooperative Water Program
need to be useful to Cooperators and other users. These users include
representatives of all levels of government, the scientific community,
the private sector, and the general public. The products also fulfill
national needs by building long-term national data bases, augmenting activities
in other USGS programs, and providing a national picture of water resources
through synthesis of information from individual projects across the country.
In addition, the Cooperative Water Program advances the development and
application of new approaches and methodologies relevant to water-resources
issues. To what extent should the products of the Cooperative Water Program
support: (1) national needs, as compared to (2) the needs of Cooperators
and other information users? Are the products meeting the needs of the
primary users as well as the multiple needs of ancillary parties? What
changes in products should the USGS consider to strengthen the Cooperative
Water Program's impact? Are there ways to further stimulate the development
of new approaches and methods and to enhance the transfer of these approaches
and methods to interested parties?
- Membership
- Chair of the ACWI will designate up to 24 representatives to the Task
Force. The Task Force shall comprise a balanced representation of Federal,
regional, State, Tribal, local, and municipal government agencies, and the
private sector. Membership will reflect organizations that use USGS water
information, have partnerships with USGS, or have interests in the objectives
of the Cooperative Water Program.
- The Task Force will include individuals from each of the four USGS Water
Resources Division Regions.
- Federal membership will not exceed six representatives from the following
organizations: National Weather Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency/Office of Water, and U.S. Department of the Interior.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be invited to participate
as a nonvoting member.
- The Chair of the ACWI may designate up to a maximum of 18 representatives
that have a balance of interests and functions. These organizations that
participate on the Task Force will represent the following interests: Native
Americans, environmental interest groups, industry, local government agencies,
professional societies, and river-basin commissions.
- The Chair will be elected from non-Federal members of the Task Force.
The USGS will provide the Executive Secretary for the Task Force.
- Meetings and Procedures
- The Task Force will begin activities during September 1998. The Chair
will announce the date, time, and location of each meeting in advance. After
the initial two- or three-day meeting, the Task Force will plan further
sessions, as necessary. The Task Force report is due to the Executive Secretary
of the ACWI by June 30, 1999.
- Representatives to the Task Force will receive no pay, allowances, or
benefits by reason of their service on the Task Force. However, while away
from their homes or regular place of business and in performance of service
for the Task Force, non-Federal representatives will be allowed travel expenses
if needed. Travel expenses will include per diem. Section 5703 of Title
5 of the United States Code describes allowances associated with this expense.
- Before transmitting the final report to the Director, USGS, the ACWI will
announce the availability of the draft report for public review and comment
in the Federal Register.
- The Task Force Executive Secretary will prepare and distribute to all
members a summary of each meeting. Summaries of each Task Force meeting,
recommendations adopted, and copies of all studies and reports issued by
the Task Force will be available for public inspection on the World Wide
Web and for review and copying at the following location: Water Information
Coordination Program
U.S. Geological Survey
417 National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 20192
- Support services shall be provided by USGS.
- Authority --The Task Force is part of the implementation of the
Water Information Coordination Program mandated by OMB Memorandum No. 92-01,
dated December 10, 1991. The Task Force reports to the ACWI that operates
under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
- Products
- A compilation of Task Force meeting summaries and special studies.
- A draft written report describing the findings of the Task Force and
its recommendations.
- A written summary of the public comments on the draft report.
- An oral presentation to the ACWI of the summary findings and recommendations
of the Task Force.
- A final written report describing the findings of the Task Force and its
recommendations presented to the ACWI.
- Transmittal of the final report from ACWI to the USGS including any comments,
or suggested enhancements, or suggested modifications of the Cooperative
Water Program resulting from the ACWI review of the Task Force report.
Advisory Committee on Water Information Subgroup Guidance
In addition to the Terms of Reference, the Task Force was provided specific
guidance from a subgroup of the ACWI on the issue of how work is conducted as
part of the Cooperative Water Program, including the topics of competition with
the private sector and the appropriate relationship with the private sector.
At its August 1998 meeting, ACWI held several subgroup sessions in which the
membership of the ACWI was divided into smaller groups and additional guests
were invited to participate in the small groups. One group focused on the topic
of "USGS Relationships with the Private Sector" especially as it related
to the Cooperative Water Program. This breakout group summarized its deliberations
and provided specific guidance to the Task Force on dealing with the subject
of relationships with the private sector. This guidance follows.
Advisory Committee on Water Information Subgroup Guidance for the Task Force
to Review the Federal-State Cooperative Water Program: Relationship with the
Private Sector
Dave Carlton, representing the Association of State Flood Plain Managers cochaired
this group and presented their report. Mr. Carlton is a private consultant and
member of the American Consulting Engineers Council. The breakout group report
and guidance is presented below:
- The Task Force should examine the criteria used to determine whether USGS
should become involved in a specific project. This examination should include:
- Review of USGS Water Resources Division (WRD) Policy Memorandum No. 95.44
that contains the criteria for determining appropriate and inappropriate
work.
- Examine the entire decision process for selecting projects.
- Develop a clear mechanism for obtaining public input.
- Develop a process for resolving conflicts about what work should be done
and who should do it.
- Develop a process for routinely assessing the appropriate role of USGS
as conditions change.
- Ensure that the Task Force uses an open process for conducting the review
that provides public access and opportunities to provide input.
- Review the way USGS projects are staffed.
- Recommend ways to increase flexibility in staffing USGS projects.
- Ensure a staffing approach that provides continuity for completing, documenting,
and communicating project results.
- Evaluate the long-term financial and other costs of using a more flexible
staffing approach.
- Develop a process for ensuring that applied science, technology, and information
developed during work efforts remain available to the public, rather than
becoming proprietary.
- Determine the implications of contracting out on the credibility of results
that are used in complex decision-making processes.
- Improve communications between all involved parties when issues arise. Keep
these issues out of Congress and the courts.
- Report back regularly to the ACWI on these issues.
Task Force Issues
During the first meeting of the Task Force in October 1998, the Task Force
reviewed the Terms of Reference to understand and outline the scope of their
work. Once the Task Force understood the scope of their charge from the Terms
of Reference, they spent time brainstorming other potential issues to consider
as part of their deliberations. The list of additional potential issues follows:
Additional Potential Issues Determined by the Task Force for Consideration
- Is the Cooperative Water Program adequately supporting user needs in the
areas of surface- and ground-water quality, quantity, and use information
and decision-support systems?
- What are the practical and "ideal" networks, and how close to
ideal is the current network?
- What process can ensure network preservation and stability?
- Is there a proper balance among the disciplines?
- Do data measurement, analysis, and reporting meet user needs?
- Is the Cooperative Water Program generating new technology needed to address
complex resource management problems?
- Has there been a formal (written) analysis of contracting procedures?
- Project Selection
- Review WRD Memorandum 95.44 for relevance
- Consider establishing an outside review panel
- Resource availability
- Lead agency selection
- Expansion of scientific knowledge base
- Compliance with USGS mandate from Congress
- Compliance with strategic plan
- Conduct of Work
- Outsource--public/private --"
best and brightest"
- Quality-control methods
- Multi-year project budgets
- Use of in-kind services
- Interim project reports with status of project and data
- Release of preliminary data
- USGS/Cooperator relationship
- Relationships
- Feedback--(customer satisfaction)
- Private users
- Participants
- Scheduled reviews--responsiveness summary
- Progress reporting
- Cooperator and public
- Collaboration--enabling environment
- Training
- Transfer of knowledge
- Involvement of non-Cooperators
- New partners
- Memoranda of Understanding with Professional Societies
- Joint project development
- Nonduplication
- Cost/benefit discussion
- Alternate funding sources
- Data Access
- Access to all data (consider proprietary data)
- Water-quantity data base
- Data Standards
- Define/set standards
- Quality Assurance (QA) criteria
- USGS QA on non-USGS data
- "Certification" of local data
- Funding, Cost, and Products of Cooperative Water Program
- Multi-year project planning and funding (adequacy)
- Projects need cost-value analysis (efficiency)
- Alternative sources of funding (for example, in kind, private?)
- Overhead costs!
- Are current products understandable, usable, accessible, and do current
products meet Cooperator needs?
- Delivery of timely, quality products (review process)
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