To facilitate communication among stakeholders in the Basin, and to maximize participation by all interested parties, the Commission shall establish both standing and ad hoc committees. The Commission shall appoint the members of the standing and ad hoc committees in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Commission. The standing committees shall include all of the following:

(1)        Permit holders. – The Commission shall identify those entities that hold permits issued by a federal, state, or local regulatory agency pertaining to the water of the Basin. The entities may recommend representatives to be appointed to the committees by the Commission.

(2)        Roanoke River Basin interest groups. – The Commission shall identify interest groups that may recommend representatives to be appointed to the committees by the Commission.

(3)        Public officials and governmental entities. – The committees shall be composed of representatives of each county, city, and town located completely or partially within the Basin. Also, other governmental entities that the Commission deems appropriate may recommend one member to be appointed to the committees by the Commission. The committees may also include the United States Senators from North Carolina and Virginia or their designees, and any member of the United States House of Representatives or the Representative’s designee, whose district includes any portion of the Basin, if the members elect to serve on the committees.

(4)        Agriculture, forestry, and soil and water conservation districts. – The Commission shall identify persons who represent agricultural and forestry interests throughout the Basin and representatives from the soil and water conservation districts within the Basin and shall appoint representatives from these groups to the committees. (2002-177, s. 1.)