I, Tony Knowles, Governor of the State of Alaska, under the authority vested in me by art. III, secs. 1 and 24, of the Alaska Constitution, establish the Governor's Council on Rural Sanitation (council).

The goal of the council is to develop, coordinate, and monitor implementation of a comprehensive plan for safe water and adequate sewage disposal for rural Alaskans.

The council shall

1. review progress to date in improving rural sanitation conditions;
2. prepare a report to present to the Governor containing the following items:

a. a summary of the information collected as a result of the council's investigation and public hearings;
b. recommendations for policies to improve rural sanitation conditions;
c. a review of successful solutions from Arctic countries for providing adequate sanitation systems in remote areas;
d. recommendations for increasing federal participation in improving rural sanitation conditions;
e. a proposed continuing action plan for implementing policies recommended by the council and accepted by the Governor;

3. prepare, and submit to the Governor by October 15 of each year, a report on state and federal budgetary needs relating to improving rural sanitation conditions;
4. coordinate efforts to effectively implement the plan as approved by the Governor;
5. provide technical assistance to federal and state agencies on ways to implement the council's recommendations and to ensure intergovernmental coordination and commitment to improving rural sanitation conditions; and
6. facilitate research, testing, and development of alternative technologies to address the problem of difficulties of adequate sanitation removal in the rural Arctic climate of Alaska.

In carrying out its duties under this Order, the council may conduct meetings and forums in Alaska. To reduce costs, the council should primarily use teleconferencing or other electronic means to the extent practicable in order to gain the widest public participation at minimum cost. Meetings of the council shall be held in accordance with AS 44.62.310 (Open Meetings Law). A majority of the council constitutes a quorum for the purposes of conducting business. A quorum must be present at council meetings.

Council members are appointed by the Governor and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The council consists of at least 17 members as follows:

1. five members representing the general public;
2. ten members representing the following:

a. Department of Health and Social Services
b. Department of Environmental Conservation
c. Department of Community and Regional Affairs
d. United States Environmental Protection Agency
e. Indian Health Service
f. Rural Economic and Community Development Administration
g. Rural Alaska Community Action Program (RurALCAP)
h. Rural Alaska Sanitation Coalition
i. Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB)
j. Alaska Science and Technology Foundation

3. one member of the Alaska House of Representatives
4. one member of the Alaska Senate.

The term of a council member is three years, except that initial terms of council members may be for less than three years to allow for staggering of terms. The chair shall be appointed by the Governor.

Council members do not receive compensation as a member of the council. The five council members representing the general public are entitled to standard per diem and travel reimbursement in the same manner permitted for members of other state boards and commissions. Per diem and travel expenses for council members who represent a state agency are the responsibility of that state agency. State agencies will not pay per diem or travel expenses for the remaining members of the council.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation will serve as lead contact agency for the council. The council may receive staff assistance from any affected state agency, including the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs, and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. These departments shall make available state employees who have a working knowledge of the many complex issues relating to sanitation problems in rural Alaska.

This Order takes effect immediately.

Dated at Juneau, Alaska, this 19 day of April, 1995.

S/S Tony Knowles     
Tony Knowles         
Governor