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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 582a-8. Competitive forestry, natural resources, and environmental grants program
(a) Establishment
The Secretary of Agriculture (hereafter referred to in this
section as the "Secretary") shall establish a competitive forestry,
natural resources, and environmental grant program to award grants
for the conduct of research as described in subsection (c) of this
section.
(b) Eligible entities
To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a) of this
section, an entity shall -
(1) be a State agricultural experiment station, a college or
university, a research institution or organization, a Federal
agency, a private organization, or a corporation that has a
demonstrable capacity to conduct forestry, natural resources, and
environmental research as determined by the Secretary; and
(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary, an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary shall require, including the proposed use of the
amounts that may be received under a grant.
(c) Use
In awarding the initial grants under subsection (a) of this
section the Secretary shall give priority to applicants who will
use such grants for research concerning -
(1) the biology of forest organisms, including physiology,
genetic mechanisms, and biotechnology;
(2) ecosystem function and management, including forest
ecosystem research, biodiversity, forest productivity, pest
management, water resources, and alternative silvicultural
systems;
(3) wood as a raw material, including forest products and
harvesting;
(4) human forest interactions, including outdoor recreation,
public policy formulation, economics, sociology, and
administrative behavior;
(5) international trade, competition, and cooperation related
to forest products;
(6) alternative native crops, products, and services that can
be produced from renewable natural resources associated with
privately held forest lands;
(7) viable economic production and marketing systems for
alternative natural resource products and services;
(8) economic and environmental benefits of various conservation
practices on forest lands;
(9) genetic tree improvement; and
(10) market expansion.
(d) Facilities and equipment
(1) Authority
Grants made under this section may be used to update research
facilities and equipment available to facilitate the conduct of
state-of-the-art research in forestry, natural resources, and the
environment.
(2) Priorities and criteria
The Secretary, in consultation with the Cooperative Forestry
Research Council appointed under section 582a-4(b) of this title,
may develop criteria and priorities for the awarding of grants
for use under paragraph (1).
(e) Recommendations
The Secretary shall request the Cooperative Forestry Research
Council referred to in subsection (d)(2) of this section to provide
recommendations regarding grant priorities.
(f) Term
The Secretary may make grants under this section for periods of
not to exceed 5 years.
(g) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section.
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