(a) Creation.--There is created within the department a regional committee for each of the following regions in this Commonwealth:
(1) The watershed drainage area of the Delaware River and its tributaries.
(2) The watershed drainage area of the West Branch Susquehanna River subbasin and the upper Susquehanna, middle Susquehanna and Chemung subbasins and their tributaries.
(3) The watershed drainage area of the Juniata River and lower Susquehanna River and its tributaries below Sunbury, and Gunpowder, Northeast and Elk Creek Watersheds draining to the Chesapeake Bay.
(4) The watershed drainage area of the Ohio River and its tributaries.
(5) The watershed drainage area of Lake Erie and the Genesee River.
(6) The watershed drainage area of the Potomac River and its tributaries.
Each regional committee shall be subject to the provisions applicable generally to boards and commissions identified in section 203 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Each regional committee shall be composed of:
(i) Four members with a knowledge, background or understanding of water resources planning and management who are county conservation district or planning commission directors or, where a county conservation district does not cover a portion of a region, who are representatives of the governing body of the county or city of the first class, as appropriate, and shall represent a geographic cross section of the region. At least two county conservation district directors shall be appointed to each regional committee. Such members shall be appointed by the Governor from recommendations made separately by the governing bodies of each county or city of the first class which is in whole or in part within the region.
(ii) Seventeen members appointed by the Governor from recommendations made separately by Statewide and regional organizations representing such interests whose residence or place of business is within the region and who meet the following criteria:
(A) Two members shall be representative of agriculture, one from production agriculture and one from horticulture.
(B) One member shall be an officer or employee of a public water supply agency providing residential service within the region.
(C) One member shall be an officer or employee of a public wastewater agency providing service within the region.
(D) Three members shall represent significant industrial and commercial enterprises, energy development and production interests.
(E) Three members shall represent environmental and conservation interests.
(F) Four members with education and experience in professions relating to water resources management, including engineering, hydrology, geology, planning, law and economics, one of whom shall be a registered professional geologist.
(G) Three members representing local governments other than counties.
The members appointed under this subparagraph shall represent a cross section of the region, considering the distribution of population within each region.
(iii) One member, appointed by the secretary, who is a department employee. This member shall advise the regional committee without voting on any matter before the regional committee.
(iv) Where a Compact Basin Commission exists with jurisdiction over all or a portion of the region, a representative of such Compact Basin Commission shall be invited to serve as an ex officio voting member of the regional committee.
(2) Members shall be appointed no later than 180 days after the effective date of this chapter.
(3) A member shall be appointed for a term of three years. Of the members first appointed by the Governor under paragraph (1)(i) and (ii), five members shall serve for terms of one year, five members shall serve for terms of two years and five members shall serve for terms of three years.
(4) Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of an unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments. A member, upon expiration of the term, shall continue to hold office until a successor is appointed.
(5) A majority of the membership of a regional committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of regional committee business. Action may be taken on a matter before the regional committee by a majority vote of the full membership of the regional committee.
(6) Members of a regional committee shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed from funds appropriated for such purposes for necessary and reasonable travel and other expenses incurred during the performance of their duties.
(7) A chairperson shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the full membership of the regional committee.
(c) Powers and duties.--A regional committee has the following powers and duties:
(1) Guide the development of and recommend to the Statewide committee the regional plan component for review and incorporation into the State water plan.
(2) Consult with, advise and make recommendations to the department and the Statewide committee prior to and throughout the process of preparing the regional plan component of the State water plan and amendments to the regional plan component of the State water plan.
(3) Advise the Statewide committee and the department regarding the engagement and selection of consultants or experts to assist in the preparation of the regional component of the State water plan.
(4) Recommend to the Statewide committee and the department the identification of critical water planning areas.
(5) Utilize an open process, including public notice and at least one combined public meeting and hearing, to solicit comments from interested persons on water resources planning issues related to the preparation of the regional component of the State water plan.
(6) Meet as necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
(7) Adopt bylaws and procedures for conducting business.