7 U.S.C. § 7655b
Section 7655b · Forestry products advanced utilization research
Current version, with additions and removals from the February 7, 2014 version.
The Secretary shall establish a forestry and forestry products research and extension initiative to develop and disseminate science-based tools that address the needs of the forestry sector and their respective regions, forest and timberland owners and managers, and forestry products engineering, manufacturing, and related interests.
The Secretary shall establish a forestry and forestry products research and extension initiative to develop and disseminate science-based tools that address the needs of the forestry sector and their respective regions, forest and timberland owners and managers, and forestry products engineering, manufacturing, and related interests.
The initiative described in subsection (a) shall include the following activities:
The initiative described in subsection (a) shall include the following activities:
(1) Research conducted for purposes of—
(1) Research conducted for purposes of—
(A) wood quality improvement with respect to lumber strength and grade yield;
(A) wood quality improvement with respect to lumber strength and grade yield;
(B) the development of novel engineered lumber products and renewable energy from wood; and
(B) the development of novel engineered lumber products and renewable energy from wood; and
(C) enhancing the longevity, sustainability, and profitability of timberland through sound management and utilization.
(C) enhancing the longevity, sustainability, and profitability of timberland through sound management and utilization.
(2) Demonstration activities and technology transfer to demonstrate the beneficial characteristics of wood as a green building material, including investments in life cycle assessment for wood products.
(2) Demonstration activities and technology transfer to demonstrate the beneficial characteristics of wood as a green building material, including investments in life cycle assessment for wood products.
(3) Projects designed to improve—
(3) Projects designed to improve—
(A) forestry products, lumber, and evaluation standards and valuation techniques;
(A) forestry products, lumber, and evaluation standards and valuation techniques;
(B) lumber quality and value-based, on-forest management techniques; and
(B) lumber quality and value-based, on-forest management techniques; and
(C) forestry products conversion and manufacturing efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including forestry product marketing).
(C) forestry products conversion and manufacturing efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including forestry product marketing).
(1) In general
(1) In general
The Secretary shall make competitive grants to carry out the activities described in subsection (b).
The Secretary shall make competitive grants to carry out the activities described in subsection (b).
(2) Priorities
(2) Priorities
In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give higher priority to activities that are carried out by entities that—
In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give higher priority to activities that are carried out by entities that—
(A) are multistate, multiinstitutional, or multidisciplinary;
(A) are multistate, multiinstitutional, or multidisciplinary;
(B) have explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers, forestry industry stakeholders, policymakers, and the public; and
(B) have explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers, forestry industry stakeholders, policymakers, and the public; and
(C) have—
(C) have—
(i) extensive history and demonstrated experience in forestry and forestry products research;
(i) extensive history and demonstrated experience in forestry and forestry products research;
(ii) existing capacity in forestry products research and dissemination; and
(ii) existing capacity in forestry products research and dissemination; and
(iii) a demonstrated means of evaluating and responding to the needs of the related commercial sector.
(iii) a demonstrated means of evaluating and responding to the needs of the related commercial sector.
(3) Administration
(3) Administration
(4) Term
(4) Term
The term of a grant made under this section may not exceed 10 years.
The term of a grant made under this section may not exceed 10 years.
The Secretary shall ensure that any activities carried out under this section are carried out in coordination with the Forest Service, including the Forest Products Laboratory, and other appropriate agencies of the Department.
The Secretary shall ensure that any activities carried out under this section are carried out in coordination with the Forest Service, including the Forest Products Laboratory, and other appropriate agencies of the Department.
The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate describing, for the period covered by the report—
The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate describing, for the period covered by the report—
(1) the research that has been conducted under paragraph (2) of subsection (b);
(1) the research that has been conducted under paragraph (2) of subsection (b);
(2) the number of buildings the Forest Service has built with wood as the primary structural material; and
(2) the number of buildings the Forest Service has built with wood as the primary structural material; and
(3) the investments made by the Forest Service in green building and wood promotion.
(3) the investments made by the Forest Service in green building and wood promotion.
(1) In general
(1) In general
(2) Matching funds
(2) Matching funds
To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall match any funds made available under paragraph (1) with funds made available under section 1646 of title 16.
To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall match any funds made available under paragraph (1) with funds made available under section 1646 of title 16.