§8605. Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee

(a) Establishment

There is established the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee, which shall supersede the Advisory Committee on Biobased Products and Bioenergy established by Executive Order No. 13134-

(1) to advise the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the points of contact concerning-

(A) the technical focus and direction of requests for proposals issued under the Initiative; and

(B) procedures for reviewing and evaluating the proposals;

(2) to facilitate consultations and partnerships among Federal and State agencies, agricultural producers, industry, consumers, the research community, and other interested groups to carry out program activities relating to the Initiative; and

(3) to evaluate and perform strategic planning on program activities relating to the Initiative.

(b) Membership

(1) In general

The Advisory Committee shall consist of-

(A) an individual affiliated with the biofuels industry;

(B) an individual affiliated with the biobased industrial and commercial products industry;

(C) an individual affiliated with an institution of higher education who has expertise in biobased fuels and biobased products;

(D) two prominent engineers or scientists from government or academia who have expertise in biobased fuels and biobased products;

(E) an individual affiliated with a commodity trade association;

(F) 2 individuals affiliated with an environmental or conservation organization;

(G) an individual associated with State government who has expertise in biobased fuels and biobased products;

(H) an individual with expertise in energy and environmental analysis;

(I) an individual with expertise in the economics of biobased fuels and biobased products;

(J) an individual with expertise in agricultural economics; and

(K) at the option of the points of contact, other members.

(2) Appointment

The members of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed by the points of contact.

(c) Duties

The Advisory Committee shall-

(1) advise the points of contact with respect to the Initiative; and

(2) evaluate whether, and make recommendations in writing to the Board to ensure that-

(A) funds authorized for the Initiative are distributed and used in a manner that is consistent with the objectives, purposes, and considerations of the Initiative;

(B) solicitations are open and competitive with awards made annually and that objectives and evaluation criteria of the solicitations are clearly stated and minimally prescriptive, with no areas of special interest;

(C) the points of contact are funding proposals under this chapter that are selected on the basis of merit, as determined by an independent panel of scientific and technical peers predominantly from outside the Departments of Agriculture and Energy; and

(D) activities under this chapter are carried out in accordance with this chapter.

(d) Coordination

To avoid duplication of effort, the Advisory Committee shall coordinate its activities with those of other Federal advisory committees working in related areas.

(e) Meetings

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

(f) Terms

Members of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, except that-

(1) one-third of the members initially appointed shall be appointed for a term of 1 year; and

(2) one-third of the members initially appointed shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.

( Pub. L. 106–224, title III, §306, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 432 ; Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, §941(d), 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. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(1)(A), substituted "biofuels" for "biobased industrial products".

Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(1)(C), added subpar. (B). Former subpar. (B) redesignated (C).

Subsec. (b)(1)(C), (D). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(1)(B), (E), redesignated subpars. (B) and (C) as (C) and (D), respectively, and substituted "fuels and biobased products" for "industrial products". Former subpar. (D) redesignated (E).

Subsec. (b)(1)(E). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(1)(B), redesignated subpar. (D) as (E). Former subpar. (E) redesignated (F).

Subsec. (b)(1)(F). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(1)(D), which directed amendment of subpar. (F) by substituting "2 individuals have" for "an individual has", was executed by substituting "2 individuals" for "an individual" to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(1)(B), redesignated subpar. (E) as (F). Former subpar. (F) redesignated (G).

Subsec. (b)(1)(G). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(1)(B), (E), redesignated subpar. (F) as (G) and substituted "fuels and biobased products" for "industrial products". Former subpar. (G) redesignated (H).

Subsec. (b)(1)(H). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(1)(B), (F), redesignated subpar. (G) as (H) and inserted "and environmental" before "analysis". Former subpar. (H) redesignated (I).

Subsec. (b)(1)(I). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(1)(B), (E), redesignated subpar. (H) as (I) and substituted "fuels and biobased products" for "industrial products". Former subpar. (I) redesignated (J).

Subsec. (b)(1)(J), (K). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(1)(B), redesignated subpars. (I) and (J) as (J) and (K), respectively.

Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(2)(A), substituted "objectives, purposes, and considerations" for "goals".

Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(2)(C), added subpar. (B). Former subpar. (B) redesignated (C).

Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(2)(B), (D), redesignated subpar. (B) as (C) and inserted "predominantly from outside the Departments of Agriculture and Energy" after "technical peers". Former subpar. (C) redesignated (D).

Subsec. (c)(2)(D). Pub. L. 109–58, §941(d)(2)(B), redesignated subpar. (C) as (D).