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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 135 (Wednesday, July 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41492-41493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17347]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice for solicitation of members.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2, the U.S. Department of Energy is soliciting nomination 
for candidates to fill vacancies on the Biomass Research and 
Development Technical Advisory Committee (Committee).

[[Page 41493]]

DATES: Deadline for Technical Advisory Committee member nominations is 
August 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The nominee's name, resume, biography, and any letters of 
support must be submitted via one of the following methods:
    (1) Email to elliott.levine@ee.doe.gov.
    (2) Overnight delivery service to Elliott Levine, Designated 
Federal Officer, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Mail Stop EE-3B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elliott Levine, Designated Federal 
Officer for the Committee, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585; (202) 586-1476; Email: elliott.levine@ee.doe.gov.
    Committee Web site: http://biomassboard.gov/committee/committee.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Biomass Research and Development Act of 
2000 (Biomass Act) [Pub. L. 106-224] requires cooperation and 
coordination in biomass research and development (R&D) between the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 
The Biomass Act was repealed in June 2008 by section 9008 of the Food, 
Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) [Pub. L. 110-246, 122 Stat. 
1651, enacted June 18, 2008, H.R. 6124]. The Biomass Act was re-
authorized in the Agricultural Act of 2014.
    FCEA section 9008(d) established the Biomass Research and 
Development Technical Advisory Committee and lays forth its meetings, 
coordination, duties, terms, and membership types. Committee members 
are paid travel and per diem for each meeting. The Committee must meet 
quarterly and should not duplicate the efforts of other Federal 
advisory committees. Meetings are typically two days in duration. Three 
meetings are held in the Washington, DC area and the fourth is held at 
a site to be determined each year. The Committee advises DOE and USDA 
points of contact with respect to the Biomass R&D Initiative 
(Initiative) and priority technical biomass R&D needs and makes written 
recommendations to the Biomass R&D Board (Board). Those recommendations 
regard whether: (A) Initiative funds are distributed and used 
consistent with Initiative objectives; (B) solicitations are open and 
competitive with awards made annually; (C) objectives and evaluation 
criteria of the solicitations are clear; and (D) the points of contact 
are funding proposals selected on the basis of merit, and determined by 
an independent panel of qualified peers.
    The committee members may serve two, three-year terms and committee 
membership must include: (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 that has expertise in biofuels and 
biobased products; (D) 2 prominent engineers or scientists from 
government (non-federal) or academia that have expertise in biofuels 
and biobased products; (E) an individual affiliated with a commodity 
trade association; (F) 2 individuals affiliated with environmental or 
conservation organizations; (G) an individual associated with state 
government who has expertise in biofuels and biobased products; (H) an 
individual with expertise in energy and environmental analysis; (I) an 
individual with expertise in the economics of biofuels and biobased 
products; (J) an individual with expertise in agricultural economics; 
(K) an individual with expertise in plant biology and biomass feedstock 
development; (L) an individual with expertise in agronomy, crop 
science, or soil science; and (M) at the option of the points of 
contact, other members (REF: FCEA 2008 section 9008(d)(2)(A)). All 
nominees will be carefully reviewed for their expertise, leadership, 
and relevance to an expertise. Appointments will be made for three-year 
terms as dictated by the legislation.
    Nominations this year are needed for the following categories in 
order to address the Committee's needs: (B) An individual affiliated 
with the biobased industrial and commercial products industry; (D) 
prominent engineers or scientists from government (non-federal) or 
academia that have expertise in biofuels and biobased products; and (L) 
an individual with expertise in agronomy, crop science, or soil 
science. Nominations for other categories will also be accepted. 
Nomination categories C, D, H, I, J, K, L, and M are considered Special 
Government Employees and require submittal of an annual financial 
disclosure form. In addition to the required categories, other areas of 
expertise of interest to the Committee are individuals with expertise 
in process engineering related to biorefineries, or biobased coproducts 
that enable fuel production.
    Nominations are solicited from organizations, associations, 
societies, councils, federations, groups, universities, and companies 
that represent a wide variety of biomass research and development 
interests throughout the country. Nominations for one individual that 
fits several of the categories listed above or for more than one person 
that fits one category will be accepted. In your nomination letter, 
please indicate the specific membership category of interest. Each 
nominee must submit their resume and biography along with any letters 
of support by the deadline above. If you were nominated in previous 
years but were not appointed to the committee and would still like to 
be considered, please submit your nomination package again in response 
to this notice with all required materials. All nominees will be vetted 
before selection.
    Nominations are open to all individuals without regard to race, 
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical 
handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation. To ensure that 
recommendations of the Technical Advisory Committee take into account 
the needs of the diverse groups served by DOE, membership shall 
include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated 
ability to represent the needs of women and men of all racial and 
ethnic groups and persons with disabilities. Please note that 
registered lobbyists, individuals already serving another Federal 
Advisory Committee, and federal employees are ineligible for 
nomination.
    Appointments to the Biomass Research and Development Technical 
Advisory Committee will be made by the Secretary of Energy and the 
Secretary of Agriculture.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 9, 2015.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-17347 Filed 7-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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