WRAP Bylaws (Revised - 07/23/02, also see: WRAP Charter)

I. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR STANDING COMMITTEES REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE WRAP.

A. All meetings shall be open to the public, and should include an opportunity for those members of the public who are observing the meeting to comment on or provide suggestions relevant to the committee's work.

B. Whenever processes are directed to be stakeholder based, membership should represent a wide range of social, cultural, economic, geographic, relative population and technical viewpoints. To meet this goal, the following categories of representatives should be considered.

• Industry (focused on production sector but excluding the mobile source sector)
• Small business (focused on the service sector, including "green industry")
• Mobile sources (including vehicle manufacturers and transportation planners)
• Federal government
• Tribal government
• State government
• Local government
• Academia
• Environmental groups
• General public

In all cases it may not be possible or appropriate to include each of the categories in stakeholder processes. However, whenever a category is not included, an explanation for the exclusion should be recorded.

In selecting members for committees, both technical expertise and diversity of viewpoints must be considered in balancing committee membership to provide equity. It is not expected that each member of a committee be a technical expert in all aspects of the committee's work but rather, that all can contribute to the committee's overall goals.

C. Committee and forum (see III.B.) members should consist of representatives from the affected stakeholder groups identified above. In any instance in which a representative is not a principal of the stakeholder group, the representative must disclose to the WRAP and all other participants, the specific entity being represented. Committee members will communicate freely with their peers and professional associations so that they may adequately represent the views of that segment of the public. Trade groups, professional organizations, etc. may be called on to staff WRAP processes and interest groups.

D. Each committee and forum will be expected to translate technical materials into a form accessible to the public. Therefore, each committee shall include a member able to assist in identifying the likely audience for that committee's products, and skilled in writing for the public. This member will be the liaison with the communications committee, which will then coordinate the organization's outreach program.

E. In taking up matters referred to the WRAP by forums, committees or working groups, the dialogue and debate will include participation from stakeholder representatives from the referring entity. The entity shall appoint stakeholders to represent it in the WRAP discussion.
 

II. TECHNICAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (TOC), INITIATIVES OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (IOC), AND OTHER COMMITTEES

A. Charge

1. TOC: Provide general oversight to the technical activities of the WRAP. Identify technical issues and tasks necessary to support the activities of the WRAP and refer these issues to technical forums. Review products and recommendations from forums and make recommendations to the WRAP.

2. IOC: Provide general oversight for the coordination and development of air quality strategies necessary to promote the implementation of federal visibility rules. Oversee the development of other air quality policies and strategies at the direction of the WRAP. Refer issues to forums, review recommendations from forums and make recommendations to the WRAP.

B. Establishing the TOC and IOC

1. TOC and IOC membership will consist of representatives from three tribes and three states, a Federal Land Manager, an EPA representative, and two representatives each from the environmental and industrial communities.

2. The WRAP will appoint members to the TOC and IOC, and designate the co-chairs.

3. State and tribal members of the TOC and IOC will have three year staggered terms. Therefore, initial appointments will be for one, two, and three year terms. State and tribal membership will be rotated between states and tribes respectively.

4. Federal members will be appointed for three year terms.

5. Environmental and industry members will be chosen from letters of interest and will be appointed for three year terms.

C. Procedures and Operating Principles for Forums

1. The TOC and IOC will identify issues to be addressed by their respective forums based on input, priorities and directions from the WRAP.

2. The TOC and IOC will identify co-chairs for each forum. In consultation with respective co-chairs, the TOC or IOC will provide written objectives and expectations for each forum. Forums will be formed on an ad hoc basis and will sunset upon completion of the work as defined by the TOC or IOC.

3. The co-chairs for each forum will organize the forum to include balanced stakeholder participation, appropriate expertise and a work plan. The work plan will include a schedule for progress reports and project completion. Public workshops may be used as a tool to solicit public and expert input into forums.

4. Forums generally will consist of 10 -- 12 members and will operate on a consensus basis. If a forum cannot reach consensus, the issue in debate will be referred to the creating oversight committee for resolution. If the IOC or TOC cannot reach consensus, the issue will be referred to the WRAP for resolution.

5. Staff support for committee work may come from committee members; organizations with expertise in the issue being discussed, e.g., EPA or other federal agencies, states or tribes, the Western States Air Resource Council (WESTAR), the National Tribal Environmental Council (NTEC); and from paid staff when funds are available.

6. Reports prepared by forums, or any committee, will be submitted to the IOC and/or TOC for review before consideration by the WRAP. The IOC / TOC will ensure that there is adequate opportunity for public input on such reports. Forums and committees shall acknowledge such input and may revise reports based on this input before submitting them to the WRAP.

D. Special Work Groups

1. Composition. A work group formed for a special narrow purpose may be made up of subject matter experts not reflective of the stakeholder requirements outlined in I.B. above. An example is an Inventory Work Group, which would be made up of state, tribal, and agency inventory specialists. However, work group members must be open to the views and concerns of all interests as they bear on the work groups' work product. It is the responsibility of the oversight committee creating a work group to ensure that all views are considered in the final work product. Work groups should not be formed to address broad issues involving policy choices.

2. Process for creating work groups. The WRAP, IOC or TOC will appoint a chair for a working group. The chair will, with the consent of the committee, make appointments that reflect the product expected from the group. In making such appointments, consideration should be based on technical expertise, but with a membership structure that can adequately address the views and concerns of the governing committee itself. Such structures could include subject matter experts in a variety of fields, generalists able to address many facets of the problem at hand, or combinations of the two.

E. Other Committees

1. The WRAP may establish other standing committees, forums or work groups. Membership on such standing committees, forums, or work groups shall consist of state and tribal representatives from the applicable region.

2. The committee shall extend membership to other regional stakeholders as appropriate. Members will be selected by the WRAP from letters of interest. Duration of the appointment shall coincide with the duration of the air quality issue.

3. The WRAP will appoint co-chairs of any standing committees. The co-chairs of any standing committees established will be members of the Coordinating Group.
 

III. COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

A. The WRAP will appoint members to the Communications Committee and designate co-chairs.

B. Charge. Create forums for the communication with, and education of, the public and interested groups on issues surrounding the WRAP's activities. Develop a mechanism to ensure ongoing internal communications within the WRAP processes.

C. Guiding Principles and Tasks to be Completed.

1. Internal Communication

a. Build on existing Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission's Internal Communications Plan. The purpose of the Internal Communications Plan will be to document how information will be exchanged in an effective and timely manner among the standing committees and the work groups. The Internal Communications Plan will clarify activities and tasks; it will provide a mechanism for tracking events and work products; and it will facilitate cooperation and consensus.

b. Redefine activities and tasks. The activities and tasks of the standing committees and work groups will be clearly identified in the Internal Communications Plan. For each task, the Plan will identify which committee and/or work group:

- has lead responsibility "L";

- is a contributor to the product "C";

- is the product recipient "R";

- is responsible for approving the product "A"; or

- receives the product for informational purposes "I."

c. The role of "contributor" should be well defined to ensure that committees or work groups contributing to a work product have adequate time, information and opportunity to review and comment on the work product. All timeliness should allow for meaningful contribution.

2. Public Education and Involvement

a. Evaluate Commission report. The Commission report needs to be evaluated to determine:

- who is affected by the recommendations;

- what general background information needs to be communicated to enhance broad understanding of air quality issues; and

- what specific information the affected public needs to know to ensure the recommendations can be implemented successfully. The affected public will vary depending on the issues being addressed.

b. Develop strategies for educating the affected public. Once the affected public and communication/education objectives have been identified, strategies need to be developed to reach and involve the affected public. Outreach strategies may include pilot projects, school programs, workshops, peer to peer, green business outreach, newsletters and Web page. The strategies will vary depending on the affected public and communication/education objective.

c. Develop an outreach work plan. The outreach work plan should be evaluated and revised on a quarterly basis to reflect which projects are being implemented as well as the relative success of different outreach efforts.

d. Provide staff to implement the outreach work plan. Work plan implementation may be performed or supported by a contractor, by ad hoc and special work groups implementing the recommendations, by the outreach and communications standing committee, in cooperation with existing outreach efforts, or through a combination of the above.

IV. INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS COMMITTEE

A. The WRAP will appoint members to the International Projects Committee and designate co-chairs.

B. Charge. To oversee international projects undertaken by the WRAP and to interface with projects sponsored by other organizations.

C. Operating Procedures. Membership on the IPC will vary depending on the issue being addressed. In many instances individuals on the IPC will serve on committees sponsored by other organizations. The IPC will consist of approximately 10 members.

V. COORDINATING GROUP

A. Charge. Oversee the development and coordination of strategic workplans by the IOC, TOC, Communications Committee, the International Projects Committee and other committees as established by the WRAP. Share information and promote collaborative work relationships among the committees to prevent duplication and maximize productivity. Provide administerial leadership to carry out the activities of the WRAP work plan. Help identify process problems and budget needs, and make recommendations to the WRAP as appropriate.

B. The Coordinating Group may choose to establish a budget subcommittee or forum to accomplish financial planning for the WRAP. Under the oversight of the Coordinating Group, this forum will work with the IOC, TOC, and International Projects Committee to develop workplans that accurately reflect budgetary needs, possible funding sources, and recommendations to the WRAP on pursuing different types of funds.

C. The Coordinating Group shall make interim appointments after stakeholder consultation to the standing committees between WRAP meetings. Formal approval shall be obtained at the next WRAP meeting following the appointments.

D. Establishing the Coordinating Group. The body will consist of co-chairs from the IOC, the TOC, the Communications Committee and International Projects Committee. If necessary, the WRAP may adjust membership of the Coordinating Group to ensure balanced representation.

(also see: WRAP Charter)