UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CHARTER
ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCIAL ADVISORY BOARD
1. Committee's Official Designation (Title):
Environmental Financial Advisory Board
2. Authority:
This charter renews the Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB) in accordance
with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App.2 and
relevant Agency policies. The EFAB is in the public interest and supports EPA in performing
its duties and responsibilities.
3. Objectives and Scope of Activities:
There are many critical environmental financing issues facing our nation. Environmental
legislation places significant additional resource requirements on all levels of government,
increasing their infrastructure and administrative costs. At the same time, limited budgets and
economic challenges have constrained traditional sources of capital. Growing needs and
expectations for environmental protection, as well as increasing demands in all municipal
service areas, make it difficult for state and local governments to find the resources to meet their
needs. The resulting strain on the public sector challenges the quality and delivery of
environmental services.
The major objectives are to provide policy advice and recommendations on:
a. Reducing the cost of financing sustainable environmental facilities, discouraging
polluting behavior, and encouraging stewardship of natural resources;
b. Creating incentives to increase private investment in the provision of environmental
services and removing or reducing constraints on private involvement imposed by
current regulations;
c. Developing new and innovative environmental financing approaches and supporting
and encouraging the use of cost-effective existing approaches;
d. Identifying approaches specifically targeted to small community financing;
e. Assessing government strategies for implementing public-private partnerships,
including privatization and operations and maintenance issues, and other alternative
financing mechanisms;
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f. Improving governmental principles of accounting and disclosure standards to help
improve sustainability of environmental programs;
g. Increasing the capacity issue of state and local governments to carry out their respective
environmental programs under current Federal tax laws;
h. Increasing the total investment in environmental protection and stewardship of public
and private environmental resources to help ease the environmental financing challenge
facing our nation; and
i. Removing barriers and increasing opportunities for the U.S. financial services and
environmental goods and services industries in other nations.
4. Description of Committee's Duties:
The duties of the EFAB are solely to provide advice to EPA.
5. OfficiaUs) to Whom the Committee Reports:
The Committee will submit advice and recommendations and report to the EPA
Administrator, through the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
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 the Chief Financial Officer.
7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Work Years:
The estimated annual operating cost of the EFAB is $600,000 which includes 4.5 work years
of support.
8. Designated Federal Officer:
A full-time or permanent part-time employee of EPA will be appointed as the 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:
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EFAB expects to meet approximately two (2) times a year. Meetings may occur
approximately once every six (6) months or as needed and approved by the Designated Federal
Officer (DFO). EPA may pay travel and per diem expenses when determined necessary and
appropriate.
As required by FACA, the EFAB will hold open meetings unless the 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, United States Code. Interested persons may attend
meetings, appear before the committee as time permits, and file comments with the EFAB.
10. Duration and Termination:
EFAB will be examined annually and will exist until the EPA determines the committee is
no longer needed. This charter will be in effect for two years from the date it is filed with
Congress. After the initial two-year period, the charter may be renewed as authorized in
accordance with Section 14 of FACA.
11. Member Composition:
The EFAB will be composed of approximately thirty (30) members. Members will serve as
representative members of non-Federal interests or as Regular Government Employees (RGE).
Members are selected to represent the points of view held by specific associations, or classes of
individuals. In selecting members, EPA will consider candidates from all levels of government,
including elected officials; the finance, banking, and legal communities; business and industry;
and local, national and non governmental organizations.
12. Subgroups:
EPA, or the EFAB with EPA's approval, may form 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 EFAB 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
Agency.
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.
February 26. 2010
Agency Approval Date
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March 2. 2010
GSA Consultation Date
March 12. 2010
Date Filed with Congress
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