FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DOD - 437 - Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board	Agency Name	Department of Defense
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	437
Original Establishment Date	11/5/1990	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	14
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Executive Director, SERDP
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Dr.
Current Charter Date	6/22/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Kimberly
Date Of Renewal Charter	6/22/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Spangler
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	10 U.S.C. 2904	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(571) 372-6565
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	10 U.S.C. 2904	Designated Federal Officer Email*	kimberly.y.spangler.civ@mail.mil
Effective Date Of Authority*	11/5/1990
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2904(e), the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) Council (“the Council”) shall refer to the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board (“the Board”) for review each proposed research project including its estimated cost, for research in and development of technologies related to environmental activities in excess of $1,000,000. The Council, pursuant to its responsibilities under 10 U.S.C. § 2902(d)(1) and in an effort to enhance the Board’s review process, has lowered the dollar threshold for referral by the Council to the Board to any proposed research project in excess of $900,000. The Board shall make any recommendations to the Council that the Board considers appropriate regarding such project or proposal. The Board may make recommendations to the Council regarding technologies, research, projects, programs, activities, and, if appropriate, funding within the scope of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. In addition, the Board shall assist and advise the Council in identifying the environmental data and analytical assistance activities that should be covered by the policies and procedures prescribed pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2902(d)(1).
How is membership balanced?*	The membership of the Board is composed of not less than six and not more than 14 members. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2904(b), the Board membership shall be composed of the following: a. Permanent members of the Board are the Science Advisor to the President and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or their respective designees. b. Non-permanent members of the Board shall be appointed from among persons eminent in the fields of basic sciences, engineering, ocean and environmental sciences, education, research management, international and security affairs, health physics, health sciences, or social sciences, with due regard given to the equitable representation of scientists and engineers who are women or who represent minority groups. At least one member of the Board shall be a representative of environmental public interest groups, and one member shall be a representative of the interests of State governments. Non-permanent Board members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, or the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense (“the DoD Appointment Authorities”) and the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Board members who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal officers, employees, or members of the Armed Forces shall be appointed as experts or consultants pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 3109 to serve as special government employee (SGE) members. Board members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal officers, employees, or members of the Armed Forces shall be appointed pursuant to 41 C.F.R. § 102-3.130(a) to serve as regular government employee members. The DoD, unless otherwise provided for by an Act of Congress or Presidential directive, does not use representative members on DoD-established or supported advisory committees. All SGE members are appointed to provide advice on matters before the Board on the basis of their best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free from conflict of interest.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Meetings are conducted a minimum of four times a year, in accordance with the statute, to assist the SERDP Council to make annual programmatic and policy decisions. This is the minimum number of meetings necessary to allow sufficient time for the Board to review of all the projects being considered for funding during a fiscal year prior to making a recommendation to the Council.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	Federal statute (10 U.S.C. § 2904) requires the Secretary of Defense to establish this committee.
Why close or partially close meetings?	Meetings are not closed to the public unless the DoD determines the items on the planned agenda meet the closed meeting provisions of 5 U.S.C. § 552b(c). Pursuant to DoD policy, closed meetings can only be authorized by the DoD Sponsor, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and only after consultation with the Office of the DoD General Counsel.
Recommendation Remarks	Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2904, the Board requires four meetings each fiscal year and a minimum of six members. The agency decided to conclude the service of all members on April 23, 2025, and subsequently only two meetings were held in fiscal year 2025. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2904(f), The Board reports to the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Council. The Board does not have any subcommittees. Much of the support for the committee is done by contractors, reducing the amount of FTEs necessary.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	In the event the Board does not approve a project as is, the Program may decide to not fund a project, add or eliminate specific tasks and rebrief the board, or start the project with a significant decrease in funding and timeframe.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	Yes	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	The Board makes recommendations regarding technologies, research, projects, program, activities, and if appropriate, funding within the scope of the SERDP. Their collective knowledge and expertise assures that SERDP is pursuing research that addresses high-priority requirements and fosters technology transfer. Their thorough review and evaluation of proposals, in addition to the Peer Review Panels, assists the Program in identifying cooperative research efforts that demonstrate the highest standards of technical and scientific quality. The Board plays a proactive role in identifying and defining environmental research gaps and associated technology development opportunities.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	It is difficult to financially quantify savings, as the Board's contributions are significant toward identifying the most effective process methods, potentially beneficial research efforts, highest quality technical and scientific research, collaborative efforts, and technology transfer opportunities.	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	1,256	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	A recommendation is made by the Board on each project reviewed during each fiscal year. 13 recommendations were made for Fiscal Year 2025. The committee does not produce a formal report; instead, their recommendations are included in the meeting minutes.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	100.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	NA	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	NA	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Agency feedback on recommendations are presented at board meetings and reiterated with written or verbal communication to the Principal Investigators. Feedback to Principal Investigators is taken from the meeting minutes, which are available to the public.	Narrative Description*	The Board's collective expertise and experience assures that the Program maintains clear focus on technical and scientific quality and the environmental needs of the DoD. The Board reviews all new and continuing projects with a value in excess of $900,000 to ensure technical quality and fiscal responsibility. Furthermore, the Board assures that multiple projects responding to the same or similar requirements are complementary in approach and well coordinated.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$8,500.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$11,930.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$2,850.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$0.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$0.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$0.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$0.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$10,873.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$3,120.00
11. Total Costs	$31,303.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$5,970.00
Date Cost Last Modified	9/18/2025 11:33 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.07	Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Agriculture Forestry Animals Fish and Wildlife Applied Science Applied Sciences Engineering Basic Science Basic Sciences Biology Materials Research Microbiology Energy Energy Environment Earth Sciences Environmental Issues Oceans and Atmospheric Sciences Waste Disposal Land Conservation and Preservation Land Management and Use National Defense National Security and Defense Research Basic Research Research and Development Science and Technology Innovation Science and Technology Water Harbors

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