[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22225-22226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08781]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the Integrated 
Forest Products Research Program

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of 
Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of Request for Stakeholder Input.

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SUMMARY: As part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's 
(NIFA) strategy to successfully implement the Integrated Forest 
Products Research (FPR) program and specifically design a response to 
current and emerging wood utilization issues, NIFA is soliciting 
stakeholder input that will allow it to identify the needs and 
opportunities of the different regions of the country but within a 
national needs framework. The focus of the stakeholder input is to 
gather topic areas for research which will be used in developing the 
priority research areas for the Request for Applications (RFA) in 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2013.

DATES: All written comments must be received by May 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NIFA-2013-0009, by 
any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.

[[Page 22226]]

    Email: [email protected]. Include NIFA-2013-0009 in the subject 
line of the message.
    Fax: (202) 401-1706.
    Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to: 
Catalino Blanche, NPL, Environmental Systems Division, Institute of 
Bioenergy, Climate and Environment, USDA/NIFA, Mail Stop 2210, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2210.
    Hand Delivery/Courier: Catalino Blanche, NPL, Environmental Systems 
Division, Institute of Bioenergy, Climate and Environment, USDA/NIFA 
Room 3271, Waterfront Centre, 800 9th Street SW., Washington, DC 20024.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and reference to NIFA-2013-0009. All comments received will be posted 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Catalino A. Blanche, (202) 401-
4190 (phone), (202) 401-1706 (fax), or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Overall the FPR Program provides creative 
and innovative science and technology and advanced business practices 
that enhance the domestic and global competitiveness of the U.S. wood 
products industry. Specifically, it addresses utilization needs of 
hardwood, southern conifer and western conifer resources. Because of 
the limited amount of funding for FPR, last year's RFA focused on 
creating new and improved wood uses and value-added products. 
Eligibility for the FPR is open to State agricultural experiment 
stations, land-grant colleges and universities, research foundations 
established by land-grant colleges and universities, colleges and 
universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962 (16 
U.S.C. 582a et seq.), and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary 
medicine.

Background and Purpose

    The FPR program was first funded by Congress in the FY 2012 
Appropriations as a special research grant to be awarded competitively. 
The intent is to stimulate the generation of new knowledge and transfer 
technologies that are necessary to balance the sustainable use of U.S. 
forest resources and to maintain a vigorous, globally competitive 
domestic forest products industry. The FPR program is specifically 
designed to respond to current and emerging wood utilization issues, 
create new and improved value-added products, and provide technical 
information for the production of cross laminated timber from our 
Nation's wood supply, which are critical to the sustainability of the 
national economy.

Implementation Plans

    NIFA plans to consider stakeholder input received from this notice 
in developing the FY 2013 RFA. NIFA anticipates releasing the FY 2013 
RFA in mid June, 2013.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of April, 2013.
Ralph A. Otto,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2013-08781 Filed 4-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P