Establishing the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, 74341-74344 [2012-30310]

Agencies

• Executive Office of the President

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 241 (Friday, December 14, 2012)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 74341-74344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30310]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 241 / Friday, December 14, 2012 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 74341]]

                Executive Order 13632 of December 7, 2012

                
Establishing the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task 
                Force

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Purpose. Hurricane Sandy made landfall on 
                October 29, 2012, resulting in major flooding, 
                extensive structural damage, and significant loss of 
                life. A dangerous nor'easter followed 9 days later 
                causing additional damage and undermining the recovery 
                effort. As a result of these events, thousands of 
                individuals were displaced and millions lost power, 
                some for an extended period of time. Over 1,600 stores 
                were closed, and fuel distribution was severely 
                disrupted, further complicating the recovery effort. 
                New York and New Jersey--two of the Nation's most 
                populous States--were especially hard hit by these 
                storms.

                The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the 
                Department of Homeland Security is leading the recovery 
                efforts to assist the affected region. A disaster of 
                Hurricane Sandy's magnitude merits a comprehensive and 
                collaborative approach to the long-term rebuilding 
                plans for this critical region and its infrastructure. 
                Rebuilding efforts must address economic conditions and 
                the region's aged infrastructure--including its public 
                housing, transportation systems, and utilities--and 
                identify the requirements and resources necessary to 
                bring these systems to a more resilient condition given 
                both current and future risks.

                This order establishes the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding 
                Task Force (Task Force) to provide the coordination 
                that is necessary to support these rebuilding 
                objectives. In collaboration with the leadership 
                provided through the National Disaster Recovery 
                Framework (NDRF), the Task Force will identify 
                opportunities for achieving rebuilding success, 
                consistent with the NDRF's commitment to support 
                economic vitality, enhance public health and safety, 
                protect and enhance natural and manmade infrastructure, 
                and ensure appropriate accountability. The Task Force 
                will work to ensure that the Federal Government 
                continues to provide appropriate resources to support 
                affected State, local, and tribal communities to 
                improve the region's resilience, health, and prosperity 
                by building for the future.

                Sec. 2. Establishment of the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding 
                Task Force. There is established the Hurricane Sandy 
                Rebuilding Task Force, which shall be chaired by the 
                Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Chair).

                 (a) In addition to the Chair, the Task Force shall 
                consist of the head of each of the following executive 
                departments, agencies, and offices, or their designated 
                representatives:

(i) the Department of the Treasury;

(ii) the Department of the Interior;

(iii) the Department of Agriculture;

(iv) the Department of Commerce;

(v) the Department of Labor;

(vi) the Department of Health and Human Services;

(vii) the Department of Transportation;

(viii) the Department of Energy;

(ix) the Department of Education;

[[Page 74342]]

(x) the Department of Veterans Affairs;

(xi) the Department of Homeland Security;

(xii) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(xiii) the Small Business Administration;

(xiv) the Army Corps of Engineers;

(xv) the Office of Management and Budget;

(xvi) the National Security Staff;

(xvii) the Domestic Policy Council;

(xviii) the National Economic Council;

(xix) the Council on Environmental Quality;

(xx) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;

(xxi) the Council of Economic Advisers;

(xxii) the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental 
Affairs;

(xxiii) the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs; and

(xxiv) such other agencies and offices as the President may designate.

                    (b) The Chair shall regularly convene and preside 
                at meetings of the Task Force and determine its agenda 
                as the Task Force exercises the functions set forth in 
                section 3 of this order. The Chair's duties shall also 
                include:

(i) communicating and engaging with States, tribes, local governments, 
Members of Congress, other stakeholders and interested parties, and the 
public on matters pertaining to rebuilding in the affected region;

(ii) coordinating the efforts of executive departments, agencies, and 
offices related to the functions of the Task Force; and

(iii) specifying the form and subject matter of regular reports to be 
submitted concurrently to the Domestic Policy Council, the National 
Security Staff, and the Chair.

                Sec. 3. Functions of the Task Force. Consistent with 
                the principles of the NDRF, including individual and 
                family empowerment, leadership and local primacy, 
                partnership and inclusiveness, public information, 
                unity of effort, timeliness and flexibility, resilience 
                and sustainability, and psychological and emotional 
                recovery, the Task Force shall:

                    (a) work closely with FEMA in the coordination of 
                rebuilding efforts with the various intergovernmental 
                activities taken in conjunction with the NDRF;
                    (b) describe the potentially relevant authorities 
                and resources of each member of the Task Force;
                    (c) identify and work to remove obstacles to 
                resilient rebuilding in a manner that addresses 
                existing and future risks and vulnerabilities and 
                promotes the long-term sustainability of communities 
                and ecosystems;
                    (d) coordinate with entities in the affected region 
                in efforts to:

(i) ensure the prompt and orderly transition of affected individuals and 
families into safe and sanitary long-term housing;

(ii) plan for the rebuilding of critical infrastructure damaged by 
Hurricane Sandy in a manner that accounts for current vulnerabilities to 
extreme weather events and increases community and regional resilience in 
responding to future impacts;

(iii) support the strengthening of the economy; and

(iv) understand current vulnerabilities and future risks from extreme 
weather events, and identify resources and authorities that can contribute 
to strengthening community and regional resilience as critical 
infrastructure is rebuilt and ecosystem functions are restored;

[[Page 74343]]

                    (e) prior to the termination of the Task Force, 
                present to the President a Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding 
                Strategy (Strategy) as provided in section 5 of this 
                order;
                    (f) engage local stakeholders, communities, the 
                public, Members of Congress, and other officials 
                throughout the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy to 
                ensure that all parties have an opportunity to share 
                their needs and viewpoints to inform the work of the 
                Task Force, including the development of the Strategy; 
                and
                    (g) communicate with affected tribes in a manner 
                consistent with Executive Order 13175 of November 6, 
                2000, regarding the consultation and coordination with 
                Indian tribal governments.

                Sec. 4. Task Force Advisory Group. The Chair shall, at 
                his discretion, establish an Advisory Group to advise 
                the Task Force and invite individuals to participate in 
                it. Participants shall be elected State, local, and 
                tribal officials and may include Governors, Mayors, 
                County Executives, tribal elected officials, and other 
                elected officials from the affected region as the Chair 
                deems appropriate. Members of the Advisory Group, 
                acting in their official capacity, may designate 
                employees with authority to act on their behalf. The 
                Advisory Group shall generally advise the Task Force as 
                requested by the Chair, and shall provide input on each 
                element of the Strategy described in section 5 of this 
                order.

Sec. 5. Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Strategy. (a) Within 180 days of the 
first convening of its members, the Task Force shall prepare a Strategy 
that includes:

(i) a summary of Task Force activities;

(ii) a long-term rebuilding plan that includes input from State, local, and 
tribal officials and is supported by Federal agencies, which is informed by 
an assessment of current vulnerabilities to extreme weather events and 
seeks to mitigate future risks;

(iii) specific outcomes, goals, and actions by Federal, State, local, and 
tribal governments and the private sector, such as the establishment of 
permanent entities, as well as any proposed legislative, regulatory, or 
other actions that could support the affected region's rebuilding; and

(iv) a plan for monitoring progress.

                    (b) The executive departments, agencies, and 
                offices listed in section 2(a) of this order shall, as 
                appropriate and to the extent permitted by law, align 
                their relevant programs and authorities with the 
                Strategy.

                Sec. 6. Administration. (a) The Task Force shall have a 
                staff, headed by an Executive Director, which shall 
                provide support for the functions of the Task Force.

                    (b) The Executive Director shall be selected by the 
                Chair and shall supervise, direct, and be accountable 
                for the administration and support of the Task Force.
                    (c) At the request of the Chair, other executive 
                departments and agencies shall serve in an advisory 
                role to the Task Force on issues within their 
                expertise.
                    (d) The Task Force may establish technical working 
                groups of Task Force members, their representatives, 
                and invited Advisory Group members and elected 
                officials, or their designated employees, as necessary 
                to provide advice in support of their function.
                    (e) The Task Force shall terminate 60 days after 
                the completion of the Strategy described in section 5 
                of this order, after which FEMA and the lead agencies 
                for the Recovery Support Functions, as described in the 
                NDRF, shall continue the Federal rebuilding 
                coordinating roles described in section 3 of this order 
                to the extent consistent with the NDRF.

                Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) For purposes of this 
                order, ``affected tribe'' means any Indian tribe, band, 
                nation, pueblo, village, or community that

[[Page 74344]]

                the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as 
                an Indian tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized 
                Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a), located 
                or with interests in the affected area.

                    (b) To the extent permitted by law, and subject to 
                the availability of appropriations, the Department of 
                Housing and Urban Development shall provide the Task 
                Force with such administrative services, facilities, 
                staff, equipment, mobile communications, and other 
                support services as may be necessary for the Task Force 
                to carry out its functions, using funds provided from 
                the Disaster Relief Fund by agreement with FEMA and any 
                other available and appropriate funding.
                    (c) Members of the Task Force, Advisory Group, and 
                any technical working groups shall serve without any 
                additional compensation for their work on the Task 
                Force, Advisory Group, or technical working group.
                    (d) Nothing in this order shall be construed to 
                impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the 
head thereof, or the status of that department or agency within the Federal 
Government; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (e) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law, and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (f) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, December 7, 2012.

[FR Doc. 2012-30310
Filed 12-13-12; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F3