[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 147 (Wednesday, July 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46331-46332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18400]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for member nominations.

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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 nominations 
for candidates to fill vacancies on the Biomass Research and 
Development Technical Advisory Committee (Committee).

DATES: The deadline for Committee member nominations will be accepted 
on or before August 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The nominations for members must include: nominee's name, 
resume, biography, and any letters of support and are to be submitted 
via one of the following methods:
    (1) Email to [email protected].
    (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-2E, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elliott Levine, Designated Federal 
Officer, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20585; (202) 586-1476; Email: [email protected]. 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The Biomass Act was repealed in June 2008 by section 9008 of the Food, 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].
    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 as well as 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 up to two three-year terms and 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 scientist from government 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

[[Page 46332]]

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: (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; and (M) at the option of the points of contact, other 
members. Nominations for other categories will also be accepted. 
Nomination categories H and M are considered special Government 
employees and require submittal of an annual financial disclosure form.
    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 for each nominee. 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 resubmit your nomination package 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 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 
minorities, women, and persons living with disabilities. Please note 
that registered Federal 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 25, 2013.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-18400 Filed 7-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P