Charter of the Regional Resource Stewardship Council

  1. Committee’s Official Designation.  Regional Resource Stewardship Council (RRSC).

  2. Authority.  The RRSC is a discretionary advisory committee established under the authority of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C., App. 2.

  3. Objective and Scope.  Under the TVA Act, TVA has been charged with the wise use and conservation of the natural resources of the Tennessee River drainage basin and adjoining territory for the general purpose of fostering the orderly and proper physical, economic, and social development of the Tennessee Valley region.  As the region has developed and the population grown, the stewardship of its natural resources has become both more complex and more important.  TVA has always cooperated and worked closely with other public agencies and private entities that have responsibilities for and interest in the use and conservation of the region's natural resources.  As competition for finite resources grows, fulfilling TVA's integrated resource stewardship mission will require increased cooperation with these other public agencies and private entities.  It is in TVA's interest, and the interest of the public it serves, to establish a mechanism for routinely obtaining the views and advice of the public agencies and private entities involved in and affecting natural resources stewardship.  Accordingly, TVA establishes the Regional Resource Stewardship Council to provide TVA advice on its stewardship activities and the priorities among competing objectives and values.  TVA's stewardship activities include the operation of its dams and reservoirs, its responsibilities for navigation and flood control, the management of the lands in its custody, water quality, wildlife and recreation.

  4. Description of Duties.  In accordance with the TVA Act of 1933 and FACA, the purpose of the RRSC is to provide advice only, and TVA retains sole responsibility for the management and operation of its stewardship activities and for all decisions regarding matters under consideration by the council.

  5. Agency or Official to Whom the RRSC Reports.  TVA reports the council’s advice to the committee of the TVA Board of Directors having responsibility for natural resources stewardship and stewardship activities.

  6. Support.  TVA shall provide the RRSC with sufficient facilities in which to conduct its meetings and to provide a repository for its minutes and other records.  TVA will also provide the council with appropriate administrative support as needed.  TVA shall provide such additional funding as reasonably necessary to achieve the purposes for which the council was created and shall provide any further guidelines and management controls as may be necessary to further the objectives of the council.

  7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years.  The estimated annual operating costs of the council are $135,000 and TVA staff time equal to 1.5 full-time equivalent.

  8. Designated Federal Officer (DFO).  The TVA Board of Directors, or its designee, shall appoint the DFO for the RRSC, which shall be a full-time or permanent part-time employee of TVA.  As required by law, the DFO (or other employee designated and trained as an alternate DFO) shall approve or call all of the council’s meetings and any meetings of subcommittees, approve the agenda for each meeting, attend all meetings of the council and its subcommittees, adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines adjournment to be in the public interest, and chair meetings when the designated Chair of the RRSC is not in attendance or when directed to do so by the TVA Board of Directors or its designee.

     

  9. Committee Management Officer (CMO).  The TVA Board of Directors shall designate the CMO to oversee administration for FACA matters.

     

  10. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings.  The RRSC shall meet approximately twice annually and may be called to meet more often by the DFO.

  11. Duration.  The RRSC is expected to be needed on a continuing basis.

  12. Termination.  In accordance with FACA, the RRSC will terminate no more than two years from the effective date of this charter unless it is renewed.

  13. Membership and Designation.  Members of the RRSC shall be considered representatives of the group, organization, entity or field of expertise identified by TVA in making the appointment.  The RRSC shall consist of up to 20 members appointed by TVA.  All members of the council shall be persons possessing demonstrated professional or personal qualifications relevant to achieving TVA’s stewardship mission.

     

    The TVA Board of Directors, or its designee, shall ensure that the membership of the council is balanced and that it represents and includes a broad range of diverse views and interests, including recreational, environmental, industrial, business, consumer, educational, tribal and community leadership interests.

    The Governors of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia will each be asked to nominate a member to the council, taking into account the need for a balanced and diverse membership.

    TVA may appoint seven members nominated by the Governors and shall appoint up to 13 additional members.  In the event that a Governor nominee is not timely received at the beginning of a new term, TVA may reappoint the previous Governor-nominated member to serve on an interim basis until a new Governor nominee is received. 

    The membership of the RRSC shall include at least three members representing local power companies and at least one member representing each of the following interests: a directly served customer of TVA, a beneficiary of TVA’s navigation program, a beneficiary of TVA’s flood control program, a recreational interest, a representative of a federally recognized Indian tribe who has an interest in the Tennessee Valley, and an environmental interest. TVA will appoint up to four additional members to ensure a balanced representation of a broad range of views.

    Each member shall be appointed for a term of two years, except that any interim Governor nominee may be appointed to serve only until a new Governor nominee is received. Whenever a vacancy occurs, TVA may appoint a replacement for the remainder of the applicable term.  The DFO shall designate one council member as the Chair.

    Each member shall serve without compensation and shall not be considered an employee of TVA.  However, members engaged in the performance of their council duties away from their homes or regular places of business may be allowed reimbursement for travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. § 5703.

  14. Subcommittees.  TVA will create any subcommittees which may be necessary to fulfill the council’s mission.  Any subcommittees created must report back to the RRSC, and shall not provide advice or work products directly to TVA.

  15. Recordkeeping.  The records of the RRSC, formally and informally established subcommittees, or other subgroups of the council shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2, or other approved agency records disposition schedule.  These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552.

  16. Filing Date.  April 26, 2022