Re: RAB ASSISTANCE LEGISLATION

[Mary Raguso 79789 <ragusom@acq.osd.mil>]

Greetings Lenny & Careerpro-

Your assessment on the FY96 Authorization language is correct, however the
language also says:

"The commander of an installation may obtain technical assistance for a
technical review committee or restoration advisory board only if--
the technical review committee or restoration advisory board demonstrates that
the Federal, State, and local agencies responsible for overseeing environmental
restoration at the installation, and available Dept. of Defense personnel, do
not have the technical expertise necessary for achieving the objective for
which the technical assistance is to be obtained; or

the technical assistance--

--is likely to contribute to the efficiency, effectiveness, or timeliness of
environmental restoration activities at the installation; and

--is likely to contribute to community acceptance of environmental restoration
activities at the installation.

So, in order to gain the technical assistance, the Congress is requiring the
RAB to first exhaust the resources at the installation, and Federal & local
government levels. If that expertise doesn't exist, then on to steps B&C. 
We're not sure how the RAB would go about this, but it will have to be
addressed in the TAPP regulations which are being developed. I wanted to make
the RAB members aware of this provision because it is an important point and
demonstrates where the certain members and staff are on this issue. 

Mary Raguso
Dept. of Defense (Office of Environmental Cleanup)