Background

1. The twenty-nine stakeholder representatives on the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) are selected by the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Northwestern Division (NWD) Commander to serve for three year terms. To avoid having all twenty-nine stakeholder members’ terms expire at the same time, lots were randomly drawn at the initial MRRIC meeting to appoint one-third of the stakeholder members to one-year terms, one-third to two-year terms, and one-third to three-year terms. Thereafter, all stakeholder members will be appointed for three year terms. In this manner, approximately one-third of the stakeholder members’ terms will expire each year.

2. There are sixteen stakeholder interest categories that may have a maximum of two representatives per category. The maximum number of stakeholder members on the MRRIC is twenty-nine. At any time, there are at least three stakeholder “slots” that cannot be filled. All interest categories will be represented by at least one individual.

Consistent with the MRRIC Charter, the process to fill vacancies will be the same for Primary and Alternate members.

The Charter states that: “Alternates will apply in the same manner as stakeholder members and will be recommended by the stakeholder member. Upon appointment by the Secretary, the alternate will serve during the temporary absence of the member. In the instance of the permanent absence of the member, the alternate will fill the remainder of the term.”

Primary and Alternate members are encouraged to apply as a package during each yearly “term” vacancy cycle. To facilitate clear understanding of which applicant is applying as the Primary and which as the Alternate, the membership application form and the renewal letter for existing members require this designation. If an Alternate is named outside of the term vacancy cycle, or a Primary Member wishes to switch Alternate Members outside of the term vacancy cycle, the process for filling out-of-cycle vacancies will be followed as explained below. If a Primary or Alternate Member wishes to switch to a different stakeholder category the Member must submit a new application package for that category.

The process to fill Alternate Member positions as described in this document will take effect during the 2022 term vacancy cycle.

Note: The MRRIC Chair will forward to the NWD Commander a list of stakeholder members whose terms are to expire and which of those members wish to remain on the MRRIC as well as any “out-of-cycle” vacancies that currently exist by 13 May 2022.

1. Selection Panel Determination: To ensure balance and a diversity of views on the MRRIC, the Selection Panel will select at least one representative for each stakeholder interest category on the Committee. If there are no sitting members or qualified applicants (including renewing members) for an interest category, the Corps will notify the Committee and re-advertise that interest category as vacant as outlined in 5c, “Process to Fill “Out-of-Cycle” Vacancies”, below. It is the sole discretion of the Lead Agency to determine membership and ensure a diversity of geographic representation on the committee.
2. Selection Process and Criteria: The application review process will be completed by the Selection Panel on or around 12 August 2022. Selection criteria that will be used by the Selection Panel is:

• Is able to commit the time required to participate fully in the Committee;
• Is committed to making good faith (as defined in the Charter) effort to seek balanced solutions that address multiple interests and concerns;
• Agrees to support and adhere to the approved MRRIC Charter and Operating Procedures;
• Can demonstrate a formal designation or endorsement by an organization, local government, or constituency as its preferred representative (see Attachment B for a sample endorsement letter);
• Can demonstrate an established communication network to keep constituents informed and efficiently seek their input when needed;
• Agrees to participate in collaboration training as a condition of membership; and
• Is willing to have name and contact information published.

3. Notification of Appointment: Upon completion of the application review and selection process, the Corps will send a letter to the appointed Primary and Alternate Members. Applicants who are not selected will be notified either in writing or by phone. All applicants will be notified around 23 September 2022.

1. Renewal Letter Required: Incumbent Primary and Alternate stakeholder members wishing to be re-appointed to the MRRIC do not need to re-submit an application. However, incumbent Primary and Alternate stakeholder members wishing to have their appointment renewed must submit a renewal letter (see Attachment C for a sample renewal letter) to the NWD Commander by 1 July 2022. Primary and Alternate members MUST submit separate, individual renewal letters. The renewal letter must reaffirm that the stakeholder member:

• Is able to commit the time required to participate fully in the Committee;
• Is committed to making good faith (as defined in the Charter) effort to seek balanced solutions that address multiple interests and concerns;
• Agrees to support and adhere to the approved MRRIC Charter and Operating Procedures;
• Can demonstrate a formal designation or endorsement by an organization, local government, or constituency as its preferred representative (see Attachment B for a sample endorsement letter);
• Can demonstrate an established communication network to keep constituents informed and efficiently seek their input when needed;
• Agrees to participate in collaboration training as a condition of membership; and

2. Endorsement Letter Required: Letters of endorsement from the constituent group(s) the stakeholder member intends to represent for the new 3 year term must accompany the renewal letter. Primary and Alternate members MUST submit separate, individual endorsement letters. Valid endorsement letters will be dated no more than 90 days (1 April 2022) before the member application deadline. The Corps may verify constituents’ support of the applicant. See Attachment B for a sample endorsement letter.
    
3. MRRIC Recommendation: Renewal letters and letters of endorsement will be compiled with the applications received in 2c.

The application process described in the Charter and used by the Corps for initial stakeholder member appointments will be followed for all term vacancies:

Notice: Vacant stakeholder categories, including those now filled by existing members, will be advertised by the Corps in the following:
- the Federal Register
- a press release
- public notices advertised in newspapers throughout the basin.
The Corps will also disseminate the notice through the Corps email lists and to Committee members to circulate among their constituents. Vacant stakeholder categories include all of those categories with members whose terms are to expire on 30 September and the three category “slots” that are not filled. Travel expenses incurred by members of the Committee are not currently reimbursed by the federal government as specific funding for this purpose has not been appropriated at this time. Vacancies will be advertised for 30 days, beginning no later than 27 May 2022.
 

1. Applications Accepted: Interested parties that are NOT Existing Members will submit applications to the NWD Commander along with endorsement letters by 1 July 2022. Primary and Alternate members MUST submit separate, individual endorsement letters. Valid endorsement letters will be dated no more than 90 days (1 April 2022) before the member application deadline. The Corps may verify constituents’ support of the applicant. See Attachment B for a sample endorsement letter.
    
2. MRRIC Recommendation: Applications from interested parties will be forwarded to the MRRIC for the purpose of providing a recommendation of appointment following its decision-making process. MRRIC’s review process (see Attachment A) will be completed by 29 July 2022.

1. Permanent Absence Before End of Term: In accordance with the Charter provisions, in the instance of the permanent absence of a stakeholder member before their term is completed the alternate member will fill the remainder of the original member’s term. Upon assuming Primary membership the member will notify the Committee Chair. If an Alternate is named outside of the term vacancy cycle, or a Primary Member wishes to switch Alternate Members outside of the term vacancy cycle, the process for filling out-of-cycle vacancies will be followed as explained below.
2. “Out-of-Cycle” Vacancies: If a stakeholder member becomes unable to serve and has not appointed an alternate then there is an “out-of-cycle” vacancy.
3. Process to Fill “Out-of-Cycle” Vacancies: Any “out-of-cycle” vacancy (including any term vacancies that were not filled (see Section 1 paragraph e: “Process to Fill Term Vacancies”)), will be advertised by the Corps in the Federal Register and through public notices throughout the basin. Vacancies will be advertised for 30 days.

• To ensure every effort is made to have at least one representative for each stakeholder category, vacancies will be re-advertised a maximum of three times (for a total of 90 days).
• In the event that no qualified applicant is found for an interest category and to ensure the maximum number (29) of stakeholder representatives is seated on the Committee, the Corps will review qualified applicants from the interest categories with one representative and select a second representative for one of the interest categories.
• If selected to fill a vacancy created “out-of-cycle”, the selected qualified applicant will serve for the remainder of the vacated term.
• If selected to fill a term vacancy, the selected qualified applicant will serve until the end of that term (3 years).

Note: to avoid the need to advertise vacancies out-of-cycle, it is very important that members 
appoint alternates during the annual selection process, as funding is not guaranteed for out- 
of-cycle processes.