§8604. Biomass Research and Development Board

(a) Establishment

There is established the Biomass Research and Development Board, which shall supersede the Interagency Council on Biobased Products and Bioenergy established by Executive Order No. 13134, to coordinate programs within and among departments and agencies of the Federal Government for the purpose of promoting the use of biobased fuels and biobased products by-

(1) maximizing the benefits deriving from Federal grants and assistance; and

(2) bringing coherence to Federal strategic planning.

(b) Membership

The Board shall consist of-

(1) the point of contact of the Department of Energy designated under section 8603(b)(1)(B) of this title, who shall serve as cochairperson of the Board;

(2) the point of contact of the Department of Agriculture designated under section 8603(b)(1)(A) of this title, who shall serve as cochairperson of the Board;

(3) a senior officer of each of the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, each of whom shall-

(A) be appointed by the head of the respective agency; and

(B) have a rank that is equivalent to the rank of the points of contact; and

(4) at the option of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy, other members appointed by the Secretaries (after consultation with the members described in paragraphs (1) through (3)).

(c) Duties

The Board shall-

(1) coordinate research and development activities relating to biobased fuels and biobased products-

(A) between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy; and

(B) with other departments and agencies of the Federal Government;

(2) provide recommendations to the points of contact concerning administration of this chapter;

(3) ensure that-

(A) solicitations are open and competitive with awards made annually; and

(B) objectives and evaluation criteria of the solicitations are clearly stated and minimally prescriptive, with no areas of special interest; and

(4) ensure that the panel of scientific and technical peers assembled under section 8606(g)(1)(C) of this title to review proposals is composed predominantly of independent experts selected from outside the Departments of Agriculture and Energy.

(d) Funding

Each agency represented on the Board is encouraged to provide funds for any purpose under this chapter.

(e) Meetings

The Board shall meet at least quarterly to enable the Board to carry out the duties of the Board under subsection (c).

( Pub. L. 106–224, title III, §305, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 431 ; Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, §941(c), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 874 .)

References in Text

Executive Order No. 13134, referred to in subsec. (a), which was set out as a note under section 8601 of this title, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13423, §11(a)(iii), Jan. 24, 2007, 72 F.R. 3923, set out in a note under section 4321 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Amendments

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

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(c)(2)(A), substituted "8603(b)(1)(B)" for "8603(d)(1)(B)".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(c)(2)(B), substituted "8603(b)(1)(A)" for "8603(d)(1)(A)".

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(c)(1), substituted "fuels and biobased products" for "industrial products" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c)(3), (4). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(c)(3), added pars. (3) and (4).