§8603. Cooperation and coordination in biomass research and development

(a) In general

The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy shall cooperate with respect to, and coordinate, policies and procedures that promote research and development leading to the production of biobased fuels and biobased products.

(b) Points of contact

(1) In general

To coordinate research and development programs and activities relating to biobased fuels and biobased products that are carried out by their respective Departments-

(A) the Secretary of Agriculture shall designate, as the point of contact for the Department of Agriculture, an officer of the Department of Agriculture appointed by the President to a position in the Department before the date of the designation, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and

(B) the Secretary of Energy shall designate, as the point of contact for the Department of Energy, an officer of the Department of Energy appointed by the President to a position in the Department before the date of the designation, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(2) Duties

The points of contact shall jointly-

(A) assist in arranging interlaboratory and site-specific supplemental agreements for research and development projects relating to biobased fuels and biobased products;

(B) serve as cochairpersons of the Board;

(C) administer the Initiative; and

(D) respond in writing to each recommendation of the Advisory Committee made under section 8605(c) of this title.

( Pub. L. 106–224, title III, §304, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 430 ; Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, §941(b), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 874 .)

Amendments

2005-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(b)(1), substituted "fuels and biobased products" for "industrial products".

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(b)(2), (3), redesignated subsec. (d) as (b) and struck out former subsecs. (b) and (c), which related to purposes of the cooperation and coordination and areas of promotion of research and development.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(b)(3), redesignated subsec. (d) as (b).

Pub. L. 109–58, §941(b)(1), substituted "fuels and biobased products" for "industrial products" in two places.