33 U.S.C. § 1231a : US Code - Section 1231A: Towing Safety Advisory Committee

Search 33 U.S.C. § 1231a : US Code - Section 1231A: Towing Safety Advisory Committee

(a) Establishment; membership
There is established a Towing Safety Advisory Committee
(hereinafter referred to as the "Committee"). The Committee shall
consist of sixteen members with particular expertise, knowledge,
and experience regarding shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway
navigation and towing safety as follows:
(1) seven members from the barge and towing industry,
reflecting a regional geographic balance;
(2) one member from the offshore mineral and oil supply vessel
industry; and
(3) two members from each of the following -
(A) port districts, authorities, or terminal operators;
(B) maritime labor;
(C) shippers (of whom at least one shall be engaged in the
shipment of oil or hazardous materials by barge); and
(D) the general public.
(b) Appointments; Chairman, Vice Chairman, and observers;
publication in Federal Register
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") shall
appoint the members of the Committee. The Secretary shall designate
one of the members of the Committee as the Chairman and one of the
members as the Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall act as
Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in the event of a
vacancy in the office of, the Chairman. The Secretary may request
the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Commerce to each
designate a representative to participate as an observer on the
Committee. The Secretary shall, not less often than once a year,
publish notice in the Federal Register for solicitation of
nominations for membership on the Committee.
(c) Functions; meetings; public proceedings and records;
disclosures to Congress
The Committee shall advise, consult with, and make
recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to shallow-
draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety.
Any advice or recommendation made by the Committee to the Secretary
shall reflect the independent judgment of the Committee on the
matter concerned. The Secretary shall consult with the Committee
before taking any significant action affecting shallow-draft inland
and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety. The Committee
shall meet at the call of the Secretary, but in any event not less
than once during each calendar year. All proceedings of the
Committee shall be open to the public, and a record of the
proceedings shall be made available for public inspection. The
Committee is authorized to make available to Congress any
information, advice, and recommendations which the Committee is
authorized to give to the Secretary.
(d) Compensation and travel expenses; administrative services;
personnel; authorization of appropriations
Members of the Committee who are not officers or employees of the
United States shall serve without pay and members of the Committee
who are officers or employees of the United States shall receive no
additional pay on account of their service on the Committee. While
away from their homes or regular places of business, members of the
Committee may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5. The
Secretary shall furnish to the Committee an executive secretary and
such secretarial, clerical, and other services as are considered
necessary for the conduct of its business. There are authorized to
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to implement the
provisions of this subsection.
(e) Termination
Unless extended by subsequent Act of Congress, the Committee
shall terminate on September 30, 2010.