Regional Council Charter

Charter of the Regional Resource Stewardship Council

Establishment, Purpose, and Scope

Under the TVA Act, the Tennessee Valley Authority 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, and the management of the lands in its custody, water quality, wildlife, and recreation.

TVA Legal Responsibilities

In accordance with the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the purpose of the Council 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.

Term on Council

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Council will terminate no more than two years from the date this charter is filed with Congress unless it is renewed. TVA may renew the charter for periods of less than two years.

Membership

The Council 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 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, 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 shall appoint seven members nominated by the Governors and shall appoint up to 13 additional members. The membership of the Council shall include at least four members representing distributors of TVA power 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, and an environmental interest. TVA will appoint up to four additional members to ensure a balanced representation of a broad range of views.

In order to capture a broad range of fresh perspectives and advice, in the case of appointments made to serve for a Council term beginning on or after February 3, 2006, TVA shall appoint not more than 14 of the Council members from the stakeholders who served on the Council during its previous term. This restriction shall not limit the ability of the Governors to re-nominate their appointees who served on the previous Council.

Each member shall serve without compensation and shall not be considered an employee of TVA. Each member shall be appointed for a term of two years beginning with the charter date. Whenever a vacancy occurs, TVA may appoint a replacement for the remainder of the applicable term. TVA shall designate one Committee member as Committee Chair.

Designated Federal Officer

The Senior Vice President, Office of Environment and Research, shall serve as the Designated Federal Officer for the Council (DFO). The DFO (or a designated substitute) shall ensure that proper public notice is given of each meeting of the Council, approve the proposed agenda for each meeting, attend each meeting, ensure that detailed minutes are taken at the meeting, ensure that the minutes and other Council records are available to Council members and the public, ensure that adequate facilities are provided for Council meetings and other needs, and make such reports about the operation of the Council as may be required or desirable.

Meetings

The Council shall meet at least twice annually at the call of its Chair, with the concurrence of the DFO. Eleven voting members shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business, and any recommendation by the Council to TVA shall require an affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total Council membership on that date. Each Council member shall be provided the opportunity to include minority or dissenting views to accompany recommendations by the Council to TVA. Notice of each meeting shall be provided in the Federal Register at least 15 days before each meeting. Each meeting shall be open to the public, unless closed in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Government in the Sunshine Act. The DFO and the Chair shall agree on the proposed agenda for each meeting sufficiently in advance of the meeting so that the agenda can be included in the Federal Register notice. Interested members of the public may attend meetings and file statements with the Council and, if permitted by the Chair and in accordance with Council procedures, may speak at a meeting. Meetings may be adjourned by the Chair upon approval by a majority or by the DFO.

Subject Council Shall Address

The DFO, in coordination with the Council Chair, will submit current issues for the Council’s consideration. The Council may choose to address these topics or recommend consideration of other issues.

Funding and Support Services

TVA shall provide the Council 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 clerical 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. The estimated annual operating costs of the Council are $120,000 and TVA staff time equal to 1.0 full-time equivalent.

Travel Reimbursment

Each member shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel and subsistence expenses which are incurred in connection with the attendance of Council meetings or otherwise incurred while engaged in the performance of Council duties and approved by TVA. Such reimbursements shall be subject to and computed and paid in accordance with Federal travel regulations and TVA procedures.

Conflicts of Interest

Members shall be considered representatives of the group, organization, or other entity identified by TVA in making the appointment. Members shall not, except in connection with such representation (or as otherwise disclosed to the Council) either (a) participate in Council matters affecting a personal interest of the member or the interest of a person or organization with which the member is closely affiliated, or (b) accept any gift from any person or organization having an interest in matters coming before the Council. Members shall not use Council resources for unauthorized purposes. In addition, the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and any other conflict of interest statutes shall apply according to their provisions.

Subcommittees

TVA will create any subcommittees which may be necessary to fulfill the Council’s mission.

Effective February 2, 2009.