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(ii) how changes in soil carbon pools
are cost-effectively measured, monitored,
and verified; and
(iii) how public programs and private
market approaches can be devised to incor-
porate carbon sequestration in a broader so-
cietal greenhouse gas emission reduction ef-
fort;
(B) develop methods for establishing base-
lines for measuring the quantities of carbon and
other greenhouse gases sequestered; and
(C) evaluate leakage and performance
issues.
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—To the maximum extent
practicable, applied research under paragraph (1)
shall—
(A) draw on existing technologies and meth-
ods; and
(B) strive to provide methodologies that are
accessible to a nontechnical audience.
(3) MINIMIZATION OF ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS.—All applied research under paragraph (1)
shall be conducted with an emphasis on minimizing
adverse environmental impacts.
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(4) NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERV-
ICE.—The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through
the Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall col-
laborate with other Federal agencies, including the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, in
developing new measuring techniques and equipment
or adapting existing techniques and equipment to en-
able cost-effective and accurate monitoring and
verification, for a wide range of agricultural and for-
estry practices, of—
(A) changes in soil carbon content in agri-
cultural soils, plants, and trees; and
(B) net emissions of other greenhouse gases.
(5) COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EXTENSION,
AND EDUCATION SERVICE.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture, acting through the Cooperative State Re-
search, Extension, and Education Service, shall
establish a competitive grant program to encour-
age research on the matters described in para-
graph (1) by land grant universities and other
research institutions.
(B) CONSULTATION
ON
RESEARCH
TOP-
ICS.—Before issuing a request for proposals for
applied research under paragraph (1), the Coop-
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erative State Research, Extension, and Edu-
cation Service shall consult with the National
Resources Conservation Service and the Agricul-
tural Research Service to ensure that proposed
research areas are complementary with and do
not duplicate research projects underway at the
Agricultural Research Service or other Federal
agencies.
(c) RESEARCH CONSORTIA.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture
may designate not more than two research consortia
to carry out research projects under this section, with
the requirement that the consortia propose to conduct
basic research under subsection (a) and applied re-
search under subsection (b).
(2) SELECTION.—The consortia shall be selected
in a competitive manner by the Cooperative State Re-
search, Extension, and Education Service.
(3) ELIGIBLE CONSORTIUM PARTICIPANTS.—En-
tities eligible to participate in a consortium
include—
(A) land grant colleges and universities;
(B) private research institutions;
(C) State geological surveys;
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(D) agencies of the Department of Agri-
culture;
(E) research centers of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration and the De-
partment of Energy;
(F) other Federal agencies;
(G) representatives of agricultural busi-
nesses and organizations with demonstrated ex-
pertise in these areas; and
(H) representatives of the private sector
with demonstrated expertise in these areas.
(4) RESERVATION OF FUNDING.—If the Secretary
of Agriculture designates one or two consortia, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall reserve for research
projects carried out by the consortium or consortia
not more than 25 percent of the amounts made avail-
able to carry out this section for a fiscal year.
(d) STANDARDS OF PRECISION.—
(1) CONFERENCE.—Not later than 3 years after
the date of enactment of this subtitle, the Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Agricultural Research
Service and in consultation with the Natural Re-
sources Conservation Service, shall convene a con-
ference of key scientific experts on carbon sequestra-
tion and measurement techniques from various sectors
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(including the Government, academic, and private
sectors) to—
(A) discuss benchmark standards of preci-
sion for measuring soil carbon content and net
emissions of other greenhouse gases;
(B) designate packages of measurement
techniques and modeling approaches to achieve a
level of precision agreed on by the participants
in the conference; and
(C) evaluate results of analyses on baseline,
permanence, and leakage issues.
(2) DEVELOPMENT
OF
BENCHMARK
STAND-
ARDS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall de-
velop benchmark standards for measuring the
carbon content of soils and plants (including
trees) based on—
(i) information from the conference
under paragraph (1);
(ii) research conducted under this sec-
tion; and
(iii) other information available to the
Secretary.
(B) OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.—
The Secretary shall provide an opportunity for
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the public to comment on benchmark standards
developed under subparagraph (A).
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the
conclusion of the conference under paragraph (1), the
Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate a report on the results of the
conference.
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2003 through 2006.
(2) ALLOCATION.—Of the amounts made avail-
able to carry out this section for a fiscal year, at least
50 percent shall be allocated for competitive grants by
the Cooperative State Research, Extension, and Edu-
cation Service.
SEC. 1312. CARBON SEQUESTRATION DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS AND OUTREACH.
(a) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.—
(1) 
DEVELOPMENT
OF
MONITORING
PRO-
GRAMS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture, acting through the Natural Resources