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Federal Advisory Committees at EPA
FACA committees are created to obtain advice on a wide range of environmental issues. Every committee meeting, no matter what the subject matter or where it is held, is dedicated to open government and citizen participation.
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The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) is one of the laws that guarantee appropriate public access to government information, along with the (Freedom of Information Act and The Sunshine Act.) | |
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Committee Contacts Committee Calendars FACA Database  DFO Training FACA FAQs GSA Final Rule Federal Advisory Committee Act |
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The committees are part of the Executive Branch decision-making process and include members who are scientists, public health officials, businesses, citizens, communities, and all levels of government committed to a greater knowledge about the environment and what can be done to protect it. Approximately 1,400 citizens sit on FACA committees bringing a variety of perspectives and expertise to the environmental consensus building process.
FACA Committees can be created by the President, Congress or Federal departments or agencies and must meet these basic requirements:
- Must be open to the public and the public must be permitted to present their views
- All meeting minutes and reports must be available for public access.
- The public must be notified of meetings by advertisement in The Federal Register.
- Committee membership must be balanced by points of view.
The Office of Cooperative Environmental Management (OCEM) operates four FACA committees and has responsibility for the oversight and policy of all EPA federal advisory committees