Presidential DocumentExecutive Order 135542010-25578
Establishing the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force
Primary source
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Published
October 8, 2010
Signed
October 5, 2010
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 75 Issue 195 (Friday, October 8, 2010)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 195 (Friday, October 8, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 62313-62317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25578]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 75 , No. 195 / Friday, October 8, 2010 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 62313]]
Executive Order 13554 of October 5, 2010
Establishing the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration
Task Force
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Purpose. The Gulf Coast is a national
treasure. Its natural resources are an important
economic engine for the entire United States; its
waters sustain a diverse and vibrant ecosystem; and the
Gulf's culture, natural beauty, and historic
significance are unique. Each year, millions of
tourists visit the Gulf to vacation, swim, boat, fish,
hunt, and bird-watch; and, together, the Gulf's tourism
and commercial and recreational fishing industries make
a significant contribution to the United States
economy. More than 90 percent of the Nation's offshore
oil and gas is produced in the Gulf, and it is where
nearly one-third of seafood production in the
continental United States is harvested.
The United States needs a vibrant Gulf Coast, and the
Federal Government is committed to helping Gulf Coast
residents conserve and restore resilient and healthy
ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding
regions that support the diverse economies,
communities, and cultures of the region. To effectively
address the damage caused by the BP Deepwater Horizon
Oil Spill, address the longstanding ecological decline,
and begin moving toward a more resilient Gulf Coast
ecosystem, ecosystem restoration is needed. Ecosystem
restoration will support economic vitality, enhance
human health and safety, protect infrastructure, enable
communities to better withstand impact from storms and
climate change, sustain safe seafood and clean water,
provide recreational and cultural opportunities,
protect and preserve sites that are of historical and
cultural significance, and contribute to the overall
resilience of our coastal communities and Nation.
In order to achieve these objectives, it is necessary
that Federal efforts be efficiently integrated with
those of local stakeholders and that particular focus
be given to innovative solutions and complex, large-
scale restoration projects. Efforts must be science-
based and well-coordinated to minimize duplication and
ensure effective delivery of services. This order
establishes a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task
Force to coordinate intergovernmental responsibilities,
planning, and exchange of information so as to better
implement Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration and to
facilitate appropriate accountability and support
throughout the restoration process.
Sec. 2. Establishment of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem
Restoration Task Force. There is established the Gulf
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (Task Force).
(a) The Task Force shall consist of:
(1) A senior official from each of the following executive departments,
agencies, and offices, selected by the head of the respective department,
agency, or office:
a. the Department of Defense;
b. the Department of Justice;
c. the Department of the Interior;
d. the Department of Agriculture;
e. the Department of Commerce;
f. the Department of Transportation;
[[Page 62314]]
g. the Environmental Protection Agency;
h. the Office of Management and Budget;
i. the Council on Environmental Quality;
j. the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
k. the Domestic Policy Council; and
l. other executive departments, agencies, and offices as the President
may, from time to time, designate.
(2) Five State representatives, appointed by the President upon
recommendation of the Governors of each Gulf State, who shall be elected
officers of State governments (or their designated employees with authority
to act on their behalf) acting in their official capacities.
(b) The Task Force may include representatives from
affected tribes, who shall be elected officers of those
tribes (or their designated employees with authority to
act on their behalf) acting in their official
capacities. The Task Force shall, in collaboration with
affected tribes, determine an appropriate structure for
tribal participation in matters within the scope of the
Task Force's responsibilities.
(c) The President shall designate a Chair of the
Task Force from among senior officials of executive
departments, agencies, and offices represented on the
Task Force. The Chair shall lead the coordination of
intergovernmental Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration
efforts and oversee the work of the Task Force. The
Chair shall regularly convene and preside at meetings
of the Task Force, determine its agenda, and direct its
work. The Chair's duties shall also include:
(1) facilitating a smooth transition from the response phase of addressing
the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill to the restoration phase;
(2) communicating and engaging with States, tribes, local governments,
other stakeholders in the Gulf Coast region, and the public on ecosystem
restoration, as well as other aspects of Gulf recovery, including economic
recovery and public health efforts; and
(3) coordinating the efforts of executive departments, agencies, and
offices related to the functions of the Task Force.
(d) Representatives of the Gulf States under
subsection (a)(2) of this section shall select from
among themselves a Vice-Chair of the Task Force.
Sec. 3. Functions of the Task Force. The Task Force
shall be an advisory body to:
(a) coordinate intergovernmental efforts to improve
efficiency and effectiveness in the implementation of
Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration actions;
(b) support the Natural Resource Damage Assessment
process by referring potential ecosystem restoration
actions to the Natural Resource Damage Assessment
Trustee Council for consideration and facilitating
coordination among the relevant departments, agencies,
and offices, as appropriate, subject to the independent
statutory responsibilities of the trustees;
(c) present to the President a Gulf of Mexico
Regional Ecosystem Restoration Strategy (Strategy) as
provided in section 4 of this order;
(d) engage local stakeholders, communities, the
public, and other officials throughout the Gulf Coast
region to ensure that they have an opportunity to share
their needs and viewpoints to inform the work of the
Task Force, including the development of the Strategy;
(e) provide leadership and coordination of research
needs in support of ecosystem restoration planning and
decisionmaking in the Gulf Coast region, and work with
existing Federal and State advisory committees, as
appropriate, to facilitate consideration of relevant
scientific and technical knowledge;
(f) prepare a biennial update for the President on
progress toward the goals of Gulf Coast ecosystem
restoration, as outlined in the Strategy;
[[Page 62315]]
(g) communicate with affected tribes in a manner
consistent with Executive Order 13175 of November 6,
2000, on consultation and coordination with Indian
tribal governments; and
(h) coordinate with relevant executive departments,
agencies, and offices on ways to encourage health and
economic benefits associated with proposed ecosystem
restoration actions.
Sec. 4. Gulf of Mexico Regional Ecosystem Restoration
Strategy. (a) Within 1 year of the date of this order,
the Task Force shall prepare a Strategy that proposes a
Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration agenda, including
goals for ecosystem restoration, development of a set
of performance indicators to track progress, and means
of coordinating intergovernmental restoration efforts
guided by shared priorities. In developing the
Strategy, the Task Force shall:
(1) define ecosystem restoration goals and describe milestones for making
progress toward attainment of those goals;
(2) consider existing research and ecosystem restoration planning efforts
in the region, including initiatives undertaken by the National Ocean
Council and the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task
Force (Gulf Hypoxia Task Force), in order to identify planning and
restoration needs and ways under existing authorities to address those
needs;
(3) identify major policy areas where coordinated intergovernmental action
is necessary;
(4) propose new programs or actions to implement elements of the Strategy
where existing authorities are not sufficient;
(5) identify monitoring, research, and scientific assessments needed to
support decisionmaking for ecosystem restoration efforts and evaluate
existing monitoring programs and gaps in current data collection; and
(6) describe the circumstances under which termination of the Task Force
would be appropriate.
(b) The executive departments, agencies, and
offices enumerated in section 2(a)(1) of this order
shall, to the extent permitted by law, consider ways to
align their relevant programs and authorities with the
Strategy.
Sec. 5. Administration. (a) The Task Force shall have a
staff, headed by an Executive Director, which shall
provide support for the functions of the Task Force.
(b) The Executive Director shall be selected by the
Chair and shall supervise, direct, and be accountable
for the administration and operation of the Task Force.
(c) The Departments of Commerce (through the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the
Interior (through the Fish and Wildlife Service), and
Justice shall identify linkages and opportunities for
the Task Force to complement the restoration progress
of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustee
Council.
(d) At the request of the Chair, executive
departments and agencies, including the Departments of
Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, and Homeland
Security, the Small Business Administration, and the
National Science Foundation, shall serve in an advisory
role to the Task Force on issues within their
expertise.
(e) The Task Force may establish such technical
working groups as necessary to support its function.
These working groups may include additional
representatives from State and tribal governments, as
appropriate, to provide for greater collaboration.
(f) The first meeting of the Task Force shall be
held within 90 days of the date of this order.
Sec. 6. Definitions. (a) ``Affected tribe'' means any
Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or
community that the Secretary of the Interior
acknowledges
[[Page 62316]]
to exist as an Indian tribe as defined in the Federally
Recognized Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a(2)),
physically located in a Gulf State.
(b) ``Ecosystem restoration'' means all activities,
projects, methods, and procedures appropriate to
enhance the health and resilience of the Gulf Coast
ecosystem, as measured in terms of the physical,
biological, or chemical properties of the ecosystem, or
the services it provides, and to strengthen its ability
to support the diverse economies, communities, and
cultures of the region. It includes activity that
initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem
with respect to its health, integrity, and
sustainability. It also includes protecting and
conserving ecosystems so they can continue to reduce
impacts from tropical storms and other disasters,
support robust economies, and assist in mitigating and
adapting to the impacts of climate change.
(c) ``Gulf State'' means any of the States of
Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
(d) ``Natural Resource Damage Assessment'' means
the process of collecting and analyzing information to
evaluate the nature and extent of natural resource
injuries resulting from the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil
Spill and to determine the restoration actions needed
to bring injured natural resources and services back to
baseline conditions and make the environment and public
whole for interim losses as defined in 15 CFR 990.30.
(e) ``Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustee
Council'' means the designated Federal, State, local,
and tribal trustees as provided in 33 U.S.C. 2706, with
trusteeship over natural resources injured, lost, or
destroyed as a result of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil
Spill.
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) To the extent permitted
by law and subject to the availability of
appropriations, the department, agency, or office
represented by the Chair shall provide the Task Force
with such administrative services, funds, facilities,
staff, and other support services as may be necessary
for the Task Force to carry out its function.
(b) In addition to staff provided by the
department, agency, or office represented by the Chair,
other executive departments, agencies, and offices
represented on the Task Force are requested to make
services, staff, and facilities available to the Task
Force for the performance of its function to the
maximum extent practicable, to the extent permitted by
law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) Members of the Task Force shall serve without
any additional compensation for their work on the Task
Force.
(d) Nothing in this order shall be construed to
impair or otherwise affect: (i) authority granted by
law to an executive department, agency, or the head
thereof, or the status of that department or agency
within the Federal Government; or (ii) functions of the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative
proposals.
(e) Nothing in this order shall interfere with the
statutory responsibilities and authority of the Natural
Resource Damage Assessment Trustee Council or the
individual trustees to carry out their statutory
responsibilities to assess natural resource damages and
implement restoration actions under 33 U.S.C. 2706 and
other applicable law.
(f) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
[[Page 62317]]
(g) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 5, 2010.
[FR Doc. 2010-25578
Filed 10-7-10; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W1-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 8, 2010.
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