Wood Utilization: Federal Research and Product Development	 
Activities, Support, and Technology Transfer (15-JUN-06,	 
GAO-06-624).							 
                                                                 
More wood is consumed every year in the United States than all	 
metals, plastics, and masonry cement combined. To maximize their 
use of wood, forest product companies rely on research into new  
methods for using wood. At least 12 federal agencies have	 
provided support to wood utilization research and product	 
development activities, including the U.S. Department of	 
Agriculture's Forest Service and Cooperative State Research,	 
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)-funded wood utilization
research centers, which historically have specifically targeted  
support to these activities. GAO was asked to identify (1) the	 
types of wood utilization research and product development	 
activities federal agencies support and how these activities are 
coordinated; (2) the level of support federal agencies made	 
available for these activities in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and
changes in the level of support at the Forest Service and at the 
CSREES-funded wood utilization research centers for fiscal years 
1995 through 2005; and (3) how the federal government transfers  
the technologies and products from its wood utilization research 
and product development activities to industry. GAO provided a	 
draft of this report to the 12 federal agencies for review and	 
comment. Some of the agencies provided technical comments, which 
were incorporated as appropriate.				 
-------------------------Indexing Terms------------------------- 
REPORTNUM:   GAO-06-624 					        
    ACCNO:   A55661						        
  TITLE:     Wood Utilization: Federal Research and Product	      
Development Activities, Support, and Technology Transfer	 
     DATE:   06/15/2006 
  SUBJECT:   Interagency relations				 
	     Natural resource management			 
	     Natural resources					 
	     Research and development				 
	     Technology transfer				 
	     Wood						 
	     Wood products					 

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GAO-06-624

     

     * WOOD UTILIZATION
     * Federal Research and Product Development Activities, Support
          * Contents
               * Results in Brief
               * Background
                    * The Forest Products Industry
                    * Federal Agencies Support Wood Utilization Research and
                      Produ
                         * Primary Agencies-Forest Service and CSREES' Wood
                           Utilization
                         * Other Agencies That Support Wood Utilization
                           Research and Pr
                    * Technology Transfer
               * Federal Wood Utilization Research and Product Development Ac
                    * Federal Wood Utilization Research and Product
                      Development Ac
                    * Federal Wood Utilization Research and Product
                      Development Ac
               * Federal Agencies Made Available at Least $54 Million Annuall
                    * The Forest Service Provided Most of the Support for
                      Wood Uti
                    * From Fiscal Years 1995 through 2005, Forest Service
                      Budget A
                    * From Fiscal Years 1995 through 2005, CSREES' Wood
                      Utilizatio
               * Federal Agencies Rely on Scientists and Specialists to Trans
                    * Scientists and Technology Transfer Specialists
                      Disseminate I
                    * Technical Assistance Is an Important Tool for
                      Transferring T
                    * Demonstration Projects Can Highlight the Application of
                      Wood
                    * Results of Wood Utilization Research and Product
                      Development
                    * The Forest Service Has a Unit Dedicated to Transferring
                      Wood
               * Agency Comments
          * Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology
          * Appendix II: Forest Service's Conducted and Planned Wood Uti
          * Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers, Fisc
               * University of Alaska Wood Utilization Research Center
                    * Inland Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium
                    * University of Maine Wood Utilization Research Center
                    * Michigan State University Wood Utilization Research
                      Center
                    * University of Minnesota, Duluth, Wood Utilization
                      Research C
                    * Mississippi State University Wood Utilization Research
                      Cente
                    * North Carolina State University Wood Utilization
                      Research Ce
                    * Oregon State University Wood Utilization Research
                      Center
                    * University of Tennessee Wood Utilization Research
                      Center
                    * University of West Virginia Wood Utilization Research
                      Center
          * Appendix IV: Budget Authority for the Forest Service's Resea
          * Appendix V: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments
               * GAO Contact
               * Staff Acknowledgments
                    * Order by Mail or Phone
     * PDF6-Ordering Information.pdf
          * Order by Mail or Phone

Report to Congressional Requesters

United States Government Accountability Office

GAO

June 2006

WOOD UTILIZATION

Federal Research and Product Development Activities, Support, and
Technology Transfer

GAO-06-624

Contents

Letter 1

Results in Brief 4
Background 5
Federal Wood Utilization Research and Product Development Activities Fall
into Five Categories and Are Coordinated Both Informally and Formally 14
Federal Agencies Made Available at Least $54 Million Annually for Wood
Utilization Research and Product Development in Fiscal Years 2004 and
2005; Forest Service Support Fluctuated Moderately, and CSREES Support
Increased Over 10 Years 22
Federal Agencies Rely on Scientists and Specialists to Transfer Technology
Through a Variety of Methods 33
Agency Comments 43
Appendix I Objectives, Scope, and Methodology 44
Appendix II Forest Service's Conducted and Planned Wood Utilization
Research and Product Development 50
Appendix III CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers, Fiscal Years
1995-2005 96
Appendix IV Budget Authority for the Forest Service's Research Work Units
and for the CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers 113
Appendix V GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments 118

Tables

Table 1: Federal Agencies That Support Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Principal Authorizing Legislation, and Description of
Selected Programs 11
Table 2: Selected Laws That Support Technology Transfer for Wood
Utilization Research and Product Development 13
Table 3: Categories of Major Wood Utilization Research and Product
Development Activities 15
Table 4: Agencies' Wood Utilization Research and Product Development
Activities and Examples of These Activities 17
Table 5: Federal Financial Support in Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, by Agency, Fiscal Years 2004-2005 23
Table 6: FTE Staff for Wood Utilization Research and Product Development
at the Forest Service, Fiscal Years 2004-2005 25
Table 7: Forest Service Budget Authority for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 26
Table 8: Forest Service FTE Staff for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 26
Table 9: The Forest Products Laboratory's Budget Authority for Wood
Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 28
Table 10: The Forest Products Laboratory's FTE Staff for Wood Utilization
Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 28
Table 11: The Forest Products Laboratory's Operating Budget, Fiscal Years
1995-2005 30
Table 12: CSREES Budget Authority for Wood Utilization Research Centers,
Fiscal Years 1995-2005 31
Table 13: Total Budget Authority for CSREES Wood Utilization Research
Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 33
Table 14: Conducted and Planned Activities for the Forest Service's
Research Work Units at the Forest Products Laboratory 50
Table 15: Conducted and Planned Activities for the Forest Service's
Research Work Units Associated with Research Stations 82
Table 16: University of Alaska Wood Utilization Research Center-Activities
Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and Product
Development, Fiscal Years 2000-2005 96
Table 17: Inland Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium-Activities
Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and Product
Development, Fiscal Years 1999-2005 98
Table 18: University of Maine Wood Utilization Research Center-Activities
Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and Product
Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 99
Table 19: Michigan State University Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 101
Table 20: University of Minnesota, Duluth, Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 104
Table 21: Mississippi State University Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 105
Table 22: North Carolina State University Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 107
Table 23: Oregon State University Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 109
Table 24: University of Tennessee Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1999-2005 110
Table 25: University of West Virginia Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted Under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 2004-2005 112
Table 26: The Forest Service's Wood Utilization Research Work Units'
Budget Authority, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 113
Table 27: FTE Scientists and Support Staff in the Forest Service's Wood
Utilization Research Work Units, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 114
Table 28: Budget Authority for the CSREES Wood Utilization Research
Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 117

Figures

Figure 1: Wood Utilization Activities from Harvesting through Recycling 6
Figure 2: Total Budget Authority for Forest Service Wood Utilization
Research and Product Development, and FTE Staff, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 27
Figure 3: Total Budget Authority for the Forest Products Laboratory's Wood
Utilization Research and Product Development, and FTE Staff, Fiscal Years
1995-2005 29
Figure 4: The Forest Products Laboratory's Operating Budget, Fiscal Years
1995-2005 30
Figure 5: Total Budget Authority for CSREES Wood Utilization Research
Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 32

Abbreviations

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CCA chromated copper arsenate CNC computer-numeric controlled CRADA
cooperative research and development agreement CRIS Current Research
Information System CSREES Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service FTE full-time equivalent GPR ground-penetrating radar
HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development OSB oriented strandboard
RPA The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 SBIR
Small Business Innovation Research STTR Small Business Technology Transfer
TMU Technology Marketing Unit USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture VOC
volatile organic compound

United States Government Accountability Office

Washington, DC 20548

June 15, 2006 June 15, 2006

The Honorable Saxby Chambliss Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition and Forestry United States Senate The Honorable Saxby Chambliss
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry United States
Senate

The Honorable Richard G. Lugar United States Senate The Honorable Richard
G. Lugar United States Senate

The Honorable Thad Cochran United States Senate The Honorable Thad Cochran
United States Senate

More wood is consumed every year in the United States than all metals,
plastics, and masonry cement combined. In residential construction, for
instance, wood accounts for about 90 percent of structural framing and
sheathing, as well as large portions of other wood products, including
cabinets, doors, windows, moldings, millwork, sub-flooring, and finished
flooring. Despite the nation's significant use of wood products, some
segments of the U.S. forest products industry, such as furniture
manufacturing, have declined. Over the past 10 years, forest products
companies have consolidated, in part by closing or idling mills, to reduce
costs and remain competitive with foreign companies. More wood is consumed
every year in the United States than all metals, plastics, and masonry
cement combined. In residential construction, for instance, wood accounts
for about 90 percent of structural framing and sheathing, as well as large
portions of other wood products, including cabinets, doors, windows,
moldings, millwork, sub-flooring, and finished flooring. Despite the
nation's significant use of wood products, some segments of the U.S.
forest products industry, such as furniture manufacturing, have declined.
Over the past 10 years, forest products companies have consolidated, in
part by closing or idling mills, to reduce costs and remain competitive
with foreign companies.

The forest products industry is made up of a few large multinational
companies and many medium and small companies.11 To remain competitive,
these companies have had to become more efficient and adapt to changing
wood resources. For example, wood product companies had primarily used
large trees, but these trees are now becoming scarce. At the same time,
the supply of small-diameter trees has increased, in part because of
federal, state, and local efforts to thin forests of these trees and
therefore reduce the buildup of fuels that could contribute to large
forest fires. To maximize their use of small-diameter trees and other wood
resources, such as sawdust, companies rely on research into new methods of
using wood. However, only a few large companies conduct wood utilization
research and develop new products. The forest products industry is made up
of a few large multinational companies and many medium and small
companies. To remain competitive, these companies have had to become more
efficient and adapt to changing wood resources. For example, wood product
companies had primarily used large trees, but these trees are now becoming
scarce. At the same time, the supply of small-diameter trees has
increased, in part because of federal, state, and local efforts to thin
forests of these trees and therefore reduce the buildup of fuels that
could contribute to large forest fires. To maximize their use of
small-diameter trees and other wood resources, such as sawdust, companies
rely on research into new methods of using wood. However, only a few large
companies conduct wood utilization research and develop new products.

1Environmental Protection Agency, Profile of the Pulp and Paper Industry,
2nd edition, EPA/310-R-02-002 (Washington, D.C.: Nov. 2002), and
Environmental Protection Agency, Profile of the Lumber and Wood Products
Industry, EPA/ 310-R-95-006 (Washington, D.C.: Sept. 1995).

Federal research and product development in wood utilization helps provide
the science and technology needed to conserve the nation's forest
resources, supply the demand for wood products, and support forest
management and restoration activities. At least 12 federal agencies
support wood utilization research and product development. These include
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), Forest Service, and Natural
Resources Conservation Service; the Department of Defense's (Defense)
Army, Army Corps of Engineers, and Office of Naval Research; the
Department of Energy; the Department of Homeland Security's Coast Guard;
the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the Department of
the Interior's (Interior) Bureau of Indian Affairs; the National Science
Foundation; and the Department of Transportation. However, historically,
only two of these agencies-the Forest Service and CSREES-have had
significant funds specifically targeted to wood utilization research and
product development. The other agencies do not have defined programs for
wood utilization research and product development but provided support
through various mechanisms, such as grants.

Most of the Forest Service's wood utilization research and product
development is conducted at its Forest Products Laboratory in Madison,
Wisconsin, which is the agency's national laboratory for these activities;
five of its regional research stations also conduct wood utilization
research and product development. CSREES focuses on wood utilization
research and product development through a grant directed by congressional
committee (committee-directed grant) to 10 wood utilization research
centers in 12 universities around the country.

Although many agencies have provided support for wood utilization research
and product development, the Forest Service has the most experience in
this area-it has been conducting wood utilization research and product
development since 1910 and is a key player in carrying out these research
and product development activities. However, a 2002 National Academy of
Sciences report showed a nearly 30-percent decline in the Forest Service's
budget authority for forest products research since 1980 (in inflation-
adjusted dollars), and a loss of about 46 percent in Forest Service
research scientists from 1985 to 1999.2

2National Research Council, National Capacity in Forestry Research
(Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, 2002).

In this context, you asked us to review the status of federal agencies'
support for wood utilization research and product development. For this
report, we identified (1) the types of wood utilization research and
product development activities supported by federal agencies and how these
activities are coordinated; (2) the level of support federal agencies made
available for these activities in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and the
changes in the level of support at the Forest Service and at the
CSREES-funded wood utilization research centers from fiscal years 1995
through 2005; and (3) how the federal government transfers the
technologies and products from its wood utilization research and product
development activities to industry.

To collect and catalogue the types of wood utilization research and
product development activities federal agencies conduct and the amount of
financial and personnel support they provide for these activities, we
collected and analyzed activity, budget authority, and expenditure data in
agency databases and files. For purposes of our review, wood utilization
research and product development refers to the activities that occur from
harvesting wood through recycling wood and paper products. We collected
financial data for fiscal year 2004 for each agency and for fiscal year
2005, if available. In some cases, these data were expenditure data, and
in other cases, they were budget authority data.3 In addition, we
collected data for 11 fiscal years, 1995 through 2005, for the two
agencies that historically have had funds dedicated to wood utilization
research and product development-the Forest Service and CSREES' wood
utilization research centers. We analyzed these data in both nominal
dollars and dollars adjusted for inflation.4 CSREES also provides funding
for wood utilization research and product development as part of other
research and development grant programs; we collected these data only for
fiscal year 2004 because 2005 data were not available for these grant
programs. We collected information on full-time equivalent (FTE) staff
from the Forest Service for fiscal years 1995 through 2005; the Forest
Service is the only agency that employs full-time scientists and support
staff to conduct wood utilization research and product development. We
reviewed the reliability of agencies' budget and expenditure data and
determined that the data were sufficiently reliable for the purposes of
this review. We also interviewed scientists, university researchers,
technology transfer specialists, and industry officials around the nation
to obtain information on wood utilization research and product development
activities, financial and personnel support, and technology transfer
efforts. In addition, we conducted site visits at a limited number of
federal, university, and industrial facilities that focus on wood
utilization research and product development-the Forest Products
Laboratory; Forest Service facilities in Virginia, West Virginia, and
Oregon; the wood utilization center at Oregon State University; and a
Weyerhaeuser Company research laboratory in Washington State. Among other
things, we asked these officials how federal agencies transfer
technologies and products to industry and asked them for examples of
successful federal technology transfer efforts. We performed our work
between February 2005 and May 2006, in accordance with generally accepted
government auditing standards. Appendix I provides a more detailed
description of our scope and methodology.

3Dollars are reported in either budget authority or expenditure data,
depending on the availability of agency data. Most agencies and programs
allocate a portion of their budget authority for wood utilization, in part
in response to direction contained in appropriations committee reports.
Those budget authority amounts are reported when available. However, the
only data available for some CSREES programs and for the National Science
Foundation were expenditure data.

4We adjusted nominal dollars using the Department of Commerce's Fiscal
Year Chain-Weighted Price Index for the Gross Domestic Product with 2004
as the base year.

                                Results in Brief

Federal wood utilization research and product development span a broad
spectrum of activities, and coordination of these activities is both
informal and formal. These activities fall into five categories:
harvesting, wood properties, manufacturing and processing, products and
testing, and economics and marketing. For example, with respect to
manufacturing and processing, ongoing research in log scanning technology
and equipment focuses on detecting knots and rot in a log in order to cut
it for maximum use. Research in this area also examines the manufacturing
of high-performance products from wood previously considered too small or
unusable. Of the 12 federal agencies, only the Forest Service and the
CSREES-funded wood utilization research centers had activities in all five
categories; in contrast, all the agencies had activities in manufacturing
and processing. Informally, scientists coordinate their activities by
conferring with each other and sharing information at conferences and
professional meetings and through publications. However, in some cases,
more formal mechanisms have been established through legislative
provisions, agency rulemaking, memorandums of understanding, and other
joint ventures. For example, HUD has a partnership with the leaders of the
home building, product manufacturing, insurance, and financial industries;
and representatives of six federal agencies to develop technologies for
improving the quality, durability, energy efficiency, and affordability of
residential building materials, which includes wood.

During fiscal years 2004 and 2005, the 12 federal agencies made available
at least $54 million annually for wood utilization research and product
development, measured either in budget authority or expenditures. (Dollars
are reported in either budget authority or expenditure data, depending on
the availability of agency data.) The Forest Service made available about
half of these funds. In addition, the Forest Service-the only agency that
directly employs scientists and support staff to conduct this
research-reported having almost 175 FTE scientists and support staff in
each of these years. For fiscal years 1995 through 2005, the Forest
Service received total budget authority of $268 million for wood
utilization research and product development (or $289 million in 2004
inflation-adjusted dollars), while CSREES' budget authority was about $51
million (or $55 million in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars). For fiscal
years 1995 through 2005, the Forest Service's budget authority for wood
utilization research and product development activities fluctuated
moderately from year-to-year (in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars). In
contrast, overall, CSREES' budget authority for the wood utilization
research centers increased over the period (in 2004 inflation-adjusted
dollars), in part because of the addition of four new wood utilization
research centers between fiscal years 1999 and 2004.

To transfer technologies and products to industry, federal agencies
generally rely on scientists and technology transfer specialists, who use
such methods as information sharing, technical assistance, and
demonstration projects. In terms of providing technical assistance, for
example, federal scientists helped a small company that produces flooring
for the National Collegiate Athletic Association improve its manufacturing
efficiency. In addition, the Forest Service has a dedicated technology
transfer unit-the Technology Marketing Unit (TMU)-that has four technology
transfer specialists with expertise in wood utilization and product
development. These specialists work to improve the use of wood by
transferring technologies developed by the Forest Service to industry and
others. For example, applying Forest Products Laboratory research, these
specialists assisted a small forest products company in producing flooring
from small trees by, among other things, providing solutions to product
imperfections like warping and discoloration.

                                   Background

The unique characteristics and relative abundance of wood have made it a
natural material for a variety of uses, including homes and other
structures, furniture, tools, vehicles, and decorative objects. Because
wood varies in characteristics and volume by species, it may be heavy or
light, stiff or flexible, and hard or soft. Federal agencies conduct
research on the range of processes that occur between the time a tree is
grown in the forest to the time it becomes a wood product and then is
recycled. For purposes of our review, wood utilization research and
product development refers to the activities that occur from harvesting
the wood through the recycling of wood and paper products. (See fig. 1.)

Figure 1: Wood Utilization Activities from Harvesting through Recycling

The Forest Products Industry

According to the North American Industry Classification System,5 the U.S.
forest products industry is divided into two sectors: wood product
manufacturing and pulp and paper manufacturing. The wood product
manufacturing sector comprises small companies, while the pulp and paper
manufacturing sector tends to have fewer, larger companies.

The wood product manufacturing sector can be broken into three
sub-sectors: (1) primary producers-sawmills and plywood mills; (2)
secondary producers-millwork, cabinet, and furniture manufacturers; and
(3) structural and reconstituted products producers-oriented strandboard
(OSB), I-Joist, laminated veneer lumber, medium density fiberboard, and
particleboard. The United States is the world's leading producer of lumber
and wood products used in residential construction and in commercial wood
products. According to 2004 data (the most recent data available), the
wood product sector employed 535,000 workers nationwide and produced
shipments valued at $103 billion.6

The pulp and paper manufacturing sector includes two industry groups: (1)
manufacturers of pulp and paper and (2) manufacturers of products made
from purchased paper and other materials, such as paper bags or tissues.
The vast majority of the raw material for making paper is the residue from
other mills-primarily chips from sawmills. The United States is also a
leader in the pulp and paper business, producing about 28 percent of the
world's pulp and 25 percent of the total world output of paper and
paperboard. In 2004 (the most recent data available), the paper
manufacturing sector employed 440,000 workers nationwide and produced
shipments valued at $154 billion.

According to a federal government report, the U.S. forest products
industry faces increasing competition from its traditional competitors
(Canada, the Scandinavian countries, and Japan), as well as from emerging
competitors (Brazil, Chile, and Indonesia).7 Domestic purchases of paper
and paperboard declined from 2000 to 2002, but have begun to rebound since
then.8 Approximately 120,000 jobs were lost in the paper manufacturing
sector from 1999 to 2004, representing a 21.5-percent loss. Sectors of the
wood product manufacturing industry have also declined. According to a
2003 Forest Service report, during the last decade, the wood household
furniture industry lost approximately one-third of its market share to
imports. China now accounts for one-third of U.S. imports, up from none a
decade ago.9

5A business classification system, adopted in 1997, developed by the U.S.,
Mexican, and Canadian governments to provide comparable statistics across
the three countries. It classifies business into sectors, subsectors, and
industry groups.

6U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics for Industry Groups and Industries, Annual
Survey; MO4(AS)-1 (Washington, D.C.: Dec. 2005).

7U.S. Department of Energy, Forest Products Industry of the Future, Fiscal
Year 2004 Annual Report (Washington, D.C.: Feb. 2005).

Federal Agencies Support Wood Utilization Research and Product Development

Federal research and product development in wood utilization helps provide
the science and technology needed to conserve the nation's forest
resources, supply the demand for wood products, and support forest
management and restoration activities. At least 12 federal agencies
support wood utilization research and product development activities, but
only 2 of these agencies-the Forest Service and CSREES-have programs
targeted for these activities.

  Primary Agencies-Forest Service and CSREES' Wood Utilization Research Centers

For the Forest Service, the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Act
of 1978 is the primary legislation authorizing the Secretary of
Agriculture to implement a comprehensive research program for forest and
rangeland renewable resources, including wood utilization, and to
disseminate the results.10 Other relevant legislation includes the
following:

           o  The Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000, which
           requires the secretaries of Agriculture and of Energy to cooperate
           on policies and procedures that promote research and development
           leading to the production of fuels and biobased products; the act
           also established the Biomass Research and Development
           Initiative.11

           o  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 established technical areas for
           focusing research under the Biomass Research and Development
           Initiative.12

           o  The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 established a grant
           program to encourage the commercialization of woody biomass.13

           The Forest Service's research and development organization
           establishes research work units in the field by developing formal
           mission statements, which must be approved by the Deputy Chief for
           Research and other senior managers.14 A team from the Deputy
           Chief's Office and station directors' office formally reviews
           these mission statements and the unit's work at least every 5
           years, and the review often includes input from the public and
           private sectors.

           The Forest Service's wood utilization research and product
           development is carried out by scientists and professional support
           staff in 27 research work units around the country that were
           operating at the time of our review. Most of the Forest Service's
           wood utilization research and product development takes place at
           16 research work units in the Forest Products Laboratory, which
           conducts research of national and international scope. The other
           11 research work units are located in the Forest Service's
           Northeastern, Southern, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Southwest, and
           Rocky Mountain Research Stations, and these units mostly focus on
           regional wood utilization issues.15 For example, research work
           unit 4104 of the Southern station focuses on managing Southern
           pine ecosystems, whereas research work unit 4701 of the
           Northeastern station focuses on efficiently using northern forest
           resources. These research work units produce 5-year research work
           plans that identify the mission, the problem to be solved through
           research, the proposed research approach, planned accomplishments,
           and staffing needs.

           CSREES provides support for wood utilization research and product
           development through several grant programs. CSREES awards
           committee-directed grants to 10 designated wood utilization
           research centers at 12 universities. The first three centers were
           established in fiscal year 1985 at Oregon State University,
           Mississippi State University, and Michigan State University. These
           three centers were established to support wood utilization and
           harvesting research on western conifers, southern pine, and
           eastern hardwoods, respectively. In fiscal year 1993, three
           centers with specific research focuses were added at the
           University of Maine, the University of Minnesota at Duluth, and
           North Carolina State University. In fiscal year 1999, the
           University of Tennessee and the Inland Northwest Forest Products
           Research Consortium were added. The consortium consists of the
           universities of Idaho and of Montana, and Washington State
           University. The most recent additions are the University of Alaska
           Southeast, in fiscal year 2000, and West Virginia University, in
           fiscal year 2004. Every year each center submits a grant proposal,
           reviewed by CSREES staff, containing information on proposed
           research activities, budgets, and progress to date. Funding
           supports scientists and graduate students and helps to pay for new
           equipment, supplies, and travel.

           In addition, CSREES provides grants to state-supported colleges
           and universities that can be used for, but are not specifically
           focused on, wood utilization research and product development
           through the following:

           o  The McIntyre-Stennis Act, a formula grant program, for forestry
           research, including two of eight potential funding areas focused
           on wood utilization and product development.16

           o  The Hatch Act, a formula grant program, designed to fund a
           number of broad agricultural research areas.17

           o  The National Research Initiative,18 a competitive grant program
           with several research areas, including biobased products and
           energy. Wood utilization research and product development grants
           have been awarded under this initiative, as well as under CSREES'
           Small Business Innovation and Research grants and other small
           grants programs.

           Ten other agencies also support wood utilization research and
           product development. Table 1 provides information on these
           agencies' principal authorizing legislation and a description of
           the programs that have supported wood utilization research and
           product development, and the mechanisms used for program delivery.

8Ince, Peter J.; Akim, Edward; Lombard, Bernard; and Parik, Tomas; Chapter
8, "Higher demand and production in 2004, but growth wavers in 2005:
Markets for paper, paperboard and woodpulp, 2004-2005. United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe, Forest Products Annual Market Review,
2004-2005. Timber Bulletin Vol. LVIII (2005).

9Schuler, Albert; and Buehlmann, Urs; Identifying Future Competitive
Business Strategies for the U.S. Residential Wood Furniture Industry:
Benchmarking and Paradigm Shifts, U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern
Research Station, report NE-304.

10Pub. L. No. 95-307 (1978) (as amended).

11Pub. L. No. 106-224, tit.III (2000).

12Pub. L. No. 109-58, S: 941 (e)(2), 119 Stat. 875-76 (2005).

13Pub. L. No. 108-148, S: 203, 117 Stat. 1901 (2003).

14These include the headquarters office's topic area staff director, and
research stations' directors and assistant directors.

15The Northeastern Research Station is located in Newtown Square,
Pennsylvania; Pacific Northwest, in Portland, Oregon; Pacific Southwest,
in Albany, California; Rocky Mountain, in Fort Collins, Colorado; and
Southern, in Asheville, North Carolina.

16Formula grants are grants distributed to state and local governments
using formulas that are based on data such as state population and
personal income. Under the McIntyre-Stennis Act, CSREES apportions funds
among participating states, considering factors such as nonfederal
expenditures for forestry research by state-certified eligible
institutions, areas of nonfederal commercial forest land, and the volume
of timber cut annually. States, in turn, determine the proportionate
amounts of assistance to be extended to these qualified state-supported
institutions.

17Act of March 2, 1887, ch. 314, 24 Stat. 440 (as amended).

  Other Agencies That Support Wood Utilization Research and Product Development

Table 1: Federal Agencies That Support Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Principal Authorizing Legislation, and Description of
Selected Programs

Federal agency       Principal authorizing   Program description           
                        legislationa            
USDA-National        Biomass Research        Administers and funds grants  
Resource             Development Act of      for the Biomass Research and  
Conservation         2000, Title III of the  Development Initiative, under 
Serviceb             Agricultural Risk       which competitively awarded   
                        Protection Act of 2000  grants, contracts, and        
                        (Pub. L. No. 106-224)   financial assistance are      
                                                provided to, or entered into  
                                                with, eligible entities to    
                                                carry out research on-and     
                                                development and demonstration 
                                                of-biobased fuels and         
                                                biobased products (including  
                                                woody biomass), and the       
                                                methods, practices, and       
                                                technologies, for their       
                                                production.                   
Defense-Army, Corps  2005 Defense            Provides committee-directed   
of Engineers, Office Appropriations Act      grants or contracts to        
of Naval Research                            specific universities to      
                                                conduct wood utilization      
                                                research and product          
                                                development.                  
Department of Energy Energy Policy Act of    Enters into cost-share        
                        1992 (Pub. L. No.       cooperative agreements and    
                        102-486), Biomass       contracts with its national   
                        Research Development    laboratories, private         
                        Act of 2000 (Pub. L.    industry, and universities to 
                        No. 106-224, tit.III    conduct research on           
                        (2000)                  energy-efficient processes in 
                                                energy-intensive industries,  
                                                including the pulp, paper,    
                                                and wood products             
                                                manufacturing industries.     
                                                Also develops technology for  
                                                converting biomass into       
                                                energy and chemicals.         
Department of        2002 Department of      Provides a committee-directed 
Homeland             Transportation          contract to conduct wood      
Security-Coast Guard Appropriations Act      utilization research and      
                        (Pub. L. No. 107-87)    product development at a      
                                                specific university.          
HUD                  Housing and Urban       Administers the Partnership   
                        Development Act of 1970 for Advancing Technology in   
                        (Pub. L. No. 91-609)    Housing program, an           
                                                interagency partnership that  
                                                provides grants and financial 
                                                assistance for research on    
                                                residential housing           
                                                materials, which includes     
                                                wood.                         
Interior-Bureau of   Snyder Act of 1921      Can award grants to support   
Indian Affairs                               wood product development.     
Department of        Section 1039 of the     The Federal Highway           
Transportation       Intermodal Surface      Administration has awarded    
                        Transportation          grants for research to        
                        Efficiency Act of 1991  increase the usage of timber  
                        (Pub. L. No. 102-240,   and wood products in highway  
                        S: 1039, 23 U.S.C. 144  bridges, including improving  
                        nt); Section 401 of the the design and performance of 
                        Pipeline Safety Act of  timber structures and         
                        1992 (49 U.S.C 112),    developing engineering design 
                        Transportation Equity   criteria for structural wood  
                        Act for the 21st        products for use in highway   
                        Century (Pub. L. No.    bridges.c                     
                        105-178)                                              
                                                The Research and Innovative   
                                                Technology Administration     
                                                established centers of        
                                                excellence and provides       
                                                grants to advance technology  
                                                and expertise in all areas of 
                                                transportation, including     
                                                transportation structures     
                                                made from wood.               
National Science     National Science        Funds basic research at       
Foundation           Foundation Act of 1950  universities, small           
                        (Pub. L. No. 81-507)    businesses, and other         
                                                organizations. Wood           
                                                utilization research could be 
                                                funded under the National     
                                                Science Foundation's broad    
                                                research categories of        
                                                engineering, chemistry,       
                                                biology, social science, and  
                                                education. Does not target    
                                                wood utilization research and 
                                                does not fund product         
                                                development.                  

18E.g., Pub. L. No. 89-106, S: 2, Aug. 4, 1965, 79 Stat. 431 (1965) (as
amended).

Sources: Legislation and agency documents.

aAll laws cited are as amended.

bIn 2006, USDA's Rural Development Agency assumed responsibility for this
grant program from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

cThere was no new funding for this program in fiscal year 2004, according
to Department of Transportation officials.

Technology Transfer

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer defines
technology transfer as "the process by which existing knowledge,
facilities or capabilities developed under federal research and
development funding are utilized to fulfill public and private needs."19
Since 1978, Congress has enacted a series of laws to promote technology
transfer and to provide technology transfer mechanisms and incentives.
Table 2 presents selected laws that support technology transfer for wood
utilization research and product development.

19The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer is a
nationwide network of federal laboratories that provide the forum for
developing strategies and opportunities that link technology with
laboratory missions and the marketplace. It was organized in 1974 and
formally chartered by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 to
promote and to strengthen technology transfer nationwide.

Table 2: Selected Laws That Support Technology Transfer for Wood
Utilization Research and Product Development

Laws supporting technology      Description                                
transfera                       
General technology transfer     
laws                            
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Enacted to stimulate improved utilization  
Innovation Act of 1980 (Pub. L. of federally funded technology             
No. 96-480)                     developments-including inventions,         
                                   software, and training technologies-by     
                                   state and local governments and the        
                                   private sector.                            
The Patent and Trademark Law    Allowed universities, not-for-profit       
Amendments Act of 1980          corporations, and small businesses to      
(Bayh-Dole Act, Pub. L. No.     patent and commercialize their federally   
96-517)                         funded inventions.                         
The Federal Technology Transfer Authorized federal agencies to permit the  
Act of 1986 (Pub. L. No.        directors of government-owned laboratories 
99-502)                         to enter into cooperative research and     
                                   development agreements (CRADA) and to      
                                   negotiate licensing agreements for         
                                   inventions created in the laboratories.    
The Technology Transfer         Broadened CRADA licensing to authorize     
Commercialization Act of 2000   federal laboratories to grant licenses to  
(Pub. L. No. 106-404)           federally owned inventions for which a     
                                   patent application was filed before the    
                                   CRADA was signed.                          
Laws for research and           
development conducted by small  
businesses, which can include   
wood products companies         
Small Business Innovation       Established the Small Business Innovation  
Development Act of 1982 (Pub.   Research (SBIR) program, requiring federal 
L. No. 97-219)                  agencies to reserve a portion of their     
                                   research and development effort for awards 
                                   to small businesses.                       
Small Business Research and     Extended the SBIR program, increased the   
Development Enhancement Act of  percentage of an agency's budget to be     
1992 (Pub. L. No. 102-564)      devoted to SBIR, and established the Small 
                                   Business Technology Transfer Program       
                                   (STTR), a program under which a portion of 
                                   a federal agency's extramural research or  
                                   research and development effort is         
                                   reserved for awards to small businesses.   
Small Business Reauthorization  Directed the Small Business Administration 
Act of 2000, enacted as part of and participating agencies to, among other 
the Consolidated Appropriations things, expand the scope of publicly       
Act for Fiscal Year 2001(Pub.   available information on specific grants,  
L. No. 106-554)                 and to annually report on their SBIR       
                                   programs.                                  
Laws focused on natural         
resources, including wood and   
its uses                        
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Authorized the Forest Service to carry out 
Act of 1978 (Pub. L. No.        a program of technology implementation to  
95-313)                         ensure that new technology is introduced   
                                   and forest resources research findings are 
                                   made available to state forestry           
                                   personnel, private landowners, wood        
                                   processors, forest operators, and others.  
The National Forest-Dependent   Created the Economic Action Program to     
Rural Communities Economic      upgrade existing industries to use natural 
Diversification Act of 1990,    resources (including wood) more            
enacted as part of the Food,    efficiently, and to expand the economic    
Agriculture, Conservation and   base of rural communities to alleviate or  
Trade Act of 1990 (Pub. L. No.  reduce their dependence on National Forest 
101-624)                        System land resources.                     

Source: GAO analysis of laws and regulations.

aAll laws are as amended.

In addition to these laws, Executive Order 12591 ("Facilitating Access to
Science and Technology") directs federal agencies to encourage and
facilitate collaboration among federal laboratories, state and local
governments, universities, and the private sector-particularly small
business-in order to assist in the transfer of technology to the
marketplace.

Technology transfer is also carried out through the nation's extension
system, established by the Smith-Lever Act in 1914,20 to assist in the
development of practical applications of research knowledge in
agriculture, including wood utilization. Under this system, thousands of
county and regional extension specialists bring university expertise to
the local level. Funding is provided by CSREES through annual formula
grants to supplement state and county funds for extension services. The
funds can be used for natural resources, including forestry or wood
utilization, depending upon the priorities of the university.

The Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 created the Renewable
Resources Extension Program.21 Under this program, CSREES provides funds
to 72 universities, which use these funds, along with state, local, and
institutional funds, to deliver educational programs to forest and
rangeland owners and managers. The program also provides guidance to
states in developing their general extension programs for, among other
things, timber utilization, harvesting, and marketing; wood utilization;
and wood products marketing. These efforts have included wood utilization
extension services, usually through extension specialists.

 Federal Wood Utilization Research and Product Development Activities Fall into
        Five Categories and Are Coordinated Both Informally and Formally

Wood utilization research and product development conducted by 12 federal
agencies span a broad spectrum of activities, and coordination of these
activities is both formal and informal. These activities fall into five
broad categories: (1) harvesting, (2) wood properties, (3) manufacturing
and processing, (4) products and testing, and (5) economics and marketing.

20Act of May 8, 1914.

21Pub. L. No. 95-306 (1978).

Federal Wood Utilization Research and Product Development Activities Can Be
Grouped into Five Broad Categories

We grouped the wood utilization research and product development
activities that the 12 agencies conduct into five broad categories:
harvesting, wood properties, manufacturing and processing, products and
testing, and economics and marketing. Table 3 shows the definitions we
used for the five categories and provides examples of the types of the
research and product development activities that fall into each of these
categories.

Table 3: Categories of Major Wood Utilization Research and Product
Development Activities

Category          Definition                 Examples of research and      
                                                development activities        
Harvesting        Using scientific and          o  constructing forest     
                     engineering principles to     roads                      
                     ensure cost-effective,        o  providing safety        
                     environmentally               training                   
                     acceptable, and safe          o  developing equipment to 
                     forest operations,            reduce soil compaction     
                     including planning, road      o  using equipment to      
                     building, harvesting,         remove trees at the stump  
                     handling and processing,   
                     and transportation         
Wood properties   Studying the basic and        o  examining the basic     
                     applied physical,             surface properties of      
                     chemical, and mechanical      different wood and         
                     properties of wood and        wood-based materials to    
                     wood fiber to determine       determine interaction with 
                     the suitability of this       contaminants in water for  
                     material for various uses,    improved water repellency  
                     from pulp to structural       o  examining reactions to  
                     beams to recycled             mold, mildew, fungi, and   
                     composite products            various temperatures       
                                                   o  research on reactions   
                                                   to moisture                
                                                   o  research on the         
                                                   suitability of dead or     
                                                   dying trees for use in     
                                                   several new and emerging   
                                                   wood-processing            
                                                   technologies               
Manufacturing and New and better                o  examining the process   
processing        manufacturing ways to         for removing moisture from 
                     extract, reduce, and          wood and the impact of the 
                     convert virgin wood raw       drying processes on the    
                     materials to useful           strength, durability, and  
                     products and the              color of the wood          
                     development of technology     o  studying and developing 
                     to allow the re-use of        log scanning technology    
                     materials and products to     and equipment to detect    
                     the maximum extent            knots and rot              
                     possible                      o  examining the           
                                                   manufacturing of           
                                                   high-performance products  
                                                   from wood previously       
                                                   considered too small,      
                                                   unsuitable, or defective,  
                                                   and from recycled wood     
                                                   o  using ultrasound to     
                                                   detect internal defects in 
                                                   wood                       
                                                   o  improving paper         
                                                   manufacturing technologies 
                                                   to reduce energy           
                                                   consumption and improve    
                                                   paper quality              
                                                   o  improving bonding of    
                                                   particles, flakes or       
                                                   fibers, and adhesives in   
                                                   the manufacturing of       
                                                   composite wood products,   
                                                   such as oriented           
                                                   strandboard (OSB)a         
Products and      Developing test methods       o  testing chemical and    
testing           and gathering and             other treatments designed  
                     evaluating data on the        to prevent the             
                     differing uses of wood and    deterioration or           
                     wood fiber products           destruction of wood or to  
                                                   extend its service life    
                                                   o  studying the long-term  
                                                   durability, safety, and    
                                                   structural performance of  
                                                   adhesively bonded wood     
                                                   assemblies and the         
                                                   development of better      
                                                   testing methodologies for  
                                                   the durability of wood     
                                                   products, such as          
                                                   composite siding           
                                                   o  testing to develop a    
                                                   performance-based moisture 
                                                   design approach for wood   
                                                   frame buildings that       
                                                   includes interior moisture 
                                                   design, exterior moisture  
                                                   design, and performance of 
                                                   wood products under        
                                                   various moisture and       
                                                   temperature regimes        
                                                   o  developing analytical   
                                                   computer programs and      
                                                   other methods to assess    
                                                   the potential moisture     
                                                   accumulation in building   
                                                   components                 
Economics and     Evaluating and tracking       o  describing the cost and 
marketing         (1) domestic and              price effects of changes   
                     international supply and      in forest management       
                     demand trends, trade          practices and forest       
                     policies, and markets,        sector policies            
                     including market              o  analyzing factors       
                     opportunities; and (2)        affecting the near- and    
                     harvesting and production     long-term outlook for      
                     costs for alternative         supply and demand          
                     material and energy inputs    o  analyzing broad-scale   
                     and processing options        trends in trade and        
                                                   investment and their       
                                                   effects on forest products 
                                                   industries and firms       
                                                   o  analyzing marketing and 
                                                   distribution patterns in   
                                                   international trade for    
                                                   furniture, lumber, and     
                                                   other raw materials        
                                                   o  analyzing the stages of 
                                                   the manufacturing process  
                                                   to reduce the cost of      
                                                   finished wood products     

Sources: GAO's analysis of agencies' activities and consultation with
Forest Service officials.

aOSB is a composite wood product made of layered wood strands, often used
as an alternative to plywood.

Table 4 shows the types of research and product development activities and
examples of these activities by agency. All 12 agencies had activities in
the manufacturing and processing category.

Table 4: Agencies' Wood Utilization Research and Product Development
Activities and Examples of These Activities

                         Research and product                                 
                         development                                          
                         categories of         Examples of research and
Federal agency        activities            product development activities
USDA                                        
Forest Service           o  Harvesting         o  examine and improve a    
                            o  Wood properties    variety of different types  
                            o  Manufacturing      of machinery for tree       
                            and processing        removal and processing and  
                            o  Products and       high-technology computers   
                            testing               to measure trees as they    
                            o  Economics and      are processed               
                            marketing             o  understand factors that  
                                                  lead to poor wood surface   
                                                  quality and their           
                                                  influences on wood bonding  
                                                  o  optimize how wood, woody 
                                                  biomass, and recycled and   
                                                  nonwood materials are       
                                                  converted into durable      
                                                  cost-effective,             
                                                  high-performing, and        
                                                  long-service-life products  
                                                  o  conduct fundamental      
                                                  research in the areas of    
                                                  solid wood products,        
                                                  composites, and paper       
                                                  manufacture                 
                                                  o  evaluate the effects of  
                                                  technology trends and       
                                                  market changes on forest    
                                                  management                  
CSREES                   o  Harvesting         o  new equipment that       
                            o  Wood properties    reduces soil compaction and 
                            o  Manufacturing      increases timber production 
                            and processing        o  wood preservative        
                            o  Products and       technologies that result in 
                            testing               longer product life         
                            o  Economics and      o  improved machining       
                            marketing             technologies to increase    
                                                  the speed of manufacturing  
                                                  wood products at lesser     
                                                  cost                        
                                                  o  automated lumber grading 
                                                  and machining systems using 
                                                  optical scanners, machine   
                                                  vision, and radio frequency 
                                                  fields to detect and cut    
                                                  around defects in lumber    
                                                  o  recycling processes for  
                                                  converting newsprint into   
                                                  composite board             
Natural Resources        o  Manufacturing      o  adding value to woody    
Conservation Servicea    and processing        biomass by processing       
                                                  material into lumber and    
                                                  poles                       
                                                  o  using woody biomass as   
                                                  fuel for electricity        
                                                  generation                  
                                                  o  using biomass for        
                                                  wood-burning facilities to  
                                                  cogenerate power and steam  
Defense                                     
Army                     o  Wood properties    o  studying the use of      
                            o  Manufacturing      composite materials to      
                            and processing        construct modular ballistic 
                                                  protective shelters, which  
                                                  include the development of  
                                                  ballistic panels with a     
                                                  wood layer in the panel     
                                                  design                      
Army Corps of            o  Wood properties    o  examining the use of     
Engineers                o  Manufacturing      wood composite materials in 
                            and processing        constructing temporary      
                                                  facilities and quarters     
                                                  that are lightweight,       
                                                  affordable, rapidly         
                                                  erectable, modular,         
                                                  protective, and blast or    
                                                  ballistic resistant         
Office of Naval          o  Wood properties    o  developing low-cost and  
Research                 o  Manufacturing      stronger wood composite     
                            and processing        materials to replace Navy   
                                                  wood structures, such as    
                                                  pier components (e.g.,      
                                                  decking and fender          
                                                  components)                 
Department of Energy     o  Manufacturing      o  reducing the energy      
                            and processing        intensity of manufacturing  
                                                  processes in the pulp and   
                                                  paper and wood products     
                                                  industries                  
                                                  o  studying drying          
                                                  technologies to reduce the  
                                                  energy required to remove   
                                                  water from the pulp used to 
                                                  make paper                  
Department of            o  Wood properties    o  designing, building, and 
Homeland                 o  Manufacturing      demonstrating a pier made   
Security-Coast Guard     and processing        of wood composite           
HUD                      o  Wood properties    o  study of insulated       
                            o  Manufacturing      composite wood panels in    
                            and processing        residential construction    
Interior-Bureau of       o  Manufacturing      o  studying the feasibility 
Indian Affairs           and processing        of developing wood products 
                                                  using woody biomass         
                                                  o  studying the feasibility 
                                                  of using woody biomass to   
                                                  generate electricity and    
                                                  heat greenhouses            
Department of            o  Wood properties    o  studying preservatives   
Transportation           o  Manufacturing      and coatings for structural 
                            and processing        wood products for highway   
                                                  bridges                     
                                                  o  studying wood composite  
                                                  materials for               
                                                  transportation              
National Science         o  Wood properties    o  studying the mixing of   
Foundation               o  Manufacturing      plastics with wood fibers   
                            and processing        to create wood-composite    
                            o  Products and       products that are used in   
                            testing               doors, windows, decks       
                                                  siding, and roofs           
                                                  o  improving the conversion 
                                                  of wood chips and other     
                                                  biomass to paper fibers     

Source: GAO analysis of agency documents.

aIn 2006, USDA's Rural Development Agency assumed responsibility for this
research effort from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Forest Service and CSREES were the only two agencies that had wood
utilization research and product development activities in all five
categories. According to our analysis of the Forest Service's 27 research
work units' plans covering fiscal years 1995 through 2005, over 80 percent
of wood utilization research and product development occurred in three
categories: wood properties, products and testing, and manufacturing and
processing. In addition, CSREES wood utilization research centers' annual
research proposals for the same period showed that about 70 percent of
their activities occurred in the following three categories: wood
properties, manufacturing and processing, and economics and marketing.
According to a CSREES official, the CSREES wood utilization research
centers are allowed by law to use the funding to conduct technology
transfer activities, which are reflected in the economics and marketing
category.

Appendixes II and III, respectively, provide detailed information on wood
utilization research and product development activities for the Forest
Service, for multiyear periods (beginning in the late 1980s) to the
present; and CSREES, for fiscal years 1995 through 2005.

Federal Wood Utilization Research and Product Development Activities Are
Coordinated Both Informally and Formally

We found instances of both informal and formal coordination of federal
activities for wood utilization and product development. According to many
scientists at the Forest Service, informal coordination occurs among the
relatively small wood utilization research and product development
community of scientists, and these scientists are often aware of related
scientific research. Scientists share information at scientific and
industry conferences and professional meetings and through publications,
and in some cases work informally to share staff and equipment. Specific
examples include the following:

           o  One Forest Service scientist associated with the Southern
           Research Station-with 30 years of experience in wood utilization
           research on Douglas Fir-shares resources and expertise with the
           Pacific Northwest Research Station on the plantation growth of
           this species.

           o  Forest Service scientists in the Southern Research Station have
           collaborated with colleagues in Australia, Denmark, Japan, and New
           Zealand on using wood from southern forests to develop wood
           composite products. These collaborative efforts were established
           primarily through professional relationships.

           o  A Forest Service scientist at the Pacific Northwest Research
           Station told us that scientists use annual professional meetings,
           such as those held by the Forest Products Society and the Society
           of Wood Science and Technology, as important mechanisms for
           coordinating their work and broadening the scope of their research
           area.

           The CSREES wood utilization research centers reported that they
           have more informal than formal coordination mechanisms with other
           wood utilization research centers and federal agencies. Like the
           Forest Service, these informal mechanisms include sharing
           information with their colleagues through professional meetings,
           publications, and newsletters.

           We also identified some formal mechanisms to coordinate wood
           utilization research and product development that are set up
           through legislative provisions, agency rulemaking, memorandums of
           understanding, cooperative arrangements, and other joint ventures.
           Specific examples include the following:

           o  The Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 requires USDA
           and the Department of Energy to carry out a Biomass Research and
           Development Initiative under which competitively awarded grants,
           contracts, and financial assistance are provided to eligible
           entities to carry out research on fuels and products derived from
           biomass, including woody biomass. The agencies work together on
           developing grant solicitations, reviewing grant proposals, and
           selecting recipients. The act also created a Biomass Research and
           Development Board, co-chaired by the Department of Energy and
           USDA, to coordinate programs within the federal government for
           promoting the use of biobased fuels and products. The board's
           mission is to maximize the benefits from federal grants and
           assistance by promoting collaboration and avoiding duplication of
           effort through strategic planning on biomass research. The board
           has approved the formation of a federal Woody Biomass Working
           Group to coordinate and focus federal efforts on woody biomass
           utilization.

           o  For 40 years, Forest Service wood utilization scientists have
           had standing annual meetings with representatives from both the
           paper and pulp and solid wood industries to present research
           results and obtain input and review from industry. When updating
           their research work unit plans every 5 years, these scientists
           also seek advice from outside sources, including industry
           representatives, academics, and environmental groups.

           o  Scientists also participate in research consortiums or
           cooperative arrangements with industry. For example, scientists in
           the Forest Service's Southern Research Station participate in a
           consortium studying wood quality that has members from nine
           companies, including Weyerhaeuser and Georgia Pacific. CSREES wood
           utilization research centers also form cooperative arrangements.
           According to an Oregon scientist, these research cooperatives
           typically consist of 10 to 12 partners. The cooperatives set a
           research agenda and formally coordinate research through annual
           meetings and reports; each university, as well as government
           agencies, are asked to contribute funding annually. For example,
           scientists at the University of Minnesota wood utilization
           research center formed a productivity cooperative that includes
           state, county, university, and industry members (such as
           International Paper) to continue to strengthen applied forestry
           concepts and ensure the sustainability of Minnesota's forest
           products industry.

           o  The Forest Service's Northeastern Research Station formed the
           Furniture Steering Committee, which is composed of furniture
           manufacturers, consultants, equipment manufacturers, state
           economic development agencies, and universities to provide
           guidance on furniture research programs at the station and
           elsewhere. The steering committee recommended research on more
           efficient manufacturing and "just-in-time" training, which has
           been integrated into the research work unit's plan.

           o  HUD's Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing is a
           voluntary partnership between leaders of the home building,
           product manufacturing, insurance, and financial industries; and
           representatives of six federal agencies concerned with housing.22
           These six agencies work with HUD to develop technologies to
           improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, and
           affordability of residential building materials; these materials
           could include wood. For example, with the partnership's support,
           the Forest Service's wood chemistry research work unit has been
           able to work cooperatively with laboratories in Japan, Sweden, and
           Finland on developing coatings to protect wood from the effects of
           weathering.

           o  Forest Service scientists at the Southern Research Station's
           Utilization of Southern Forest Resources work unit have a
           memorandum of understanding with the Chinese government to host
           post-doctoral students from China; the station has hosted 25
           students in the past 5 years. These students serve as additional
           staff resources to help the research work unit carry out its
           research activities.

           o  To construct a forest biomass life cycle assessment model,
           several partners established a joint venture: the Forest Service's
           Pacific Southwest Research Station; the California Energy
           Commission's Public Interest Energy Research Program; the
           University of California at Davis; several state and federal
           agencies; and energy, forestry, and environmental consultants.
           Partners will use the model to identify and analyze the social,
           economic, and environmental costs and benefits of using forest
           biomass to generate electrical power. This research project is
           planned in three phases over a 3- to 5-year period. Each
           participant shares in the cost of the venture.

           The 12 federal agencies we reviewed made available at least $54
           million annually in financial support for wood utilization
           research and product development activities in fiscal years 2004
           and 2005, measured either in budget authority or expenditures.23
           Furthermore, the Forest Service employed almost 175 scientists and
           support staff in each of these two fiscal years. From fiscal years
           1995 through 2005, the Forest Service received total budget
           authority of $268 million for wood utilization research and
           product development (or $289 million in 2004 inflation-adjusted
           dollars) while CSREES' budget authority for the wood utilization
           research centers was about $51 million (or $55 million in 2004
           inflation-adjusted dollars). For fiscal years 1995 through 2005,
           the Forest Service's budget authority for wood utilization
           research and product development activities fluctuated moderately
           from year-to-year (in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars). Over the
           same period, overall, CSREES' budget authority for the wood
           utilization research centers increased (in 2004 inflation-adjusted
           dollars), in part because four new wood utilization research
           centers were added during fiscal years 1999, 2000, and 2004.

           The 12 federal agencies we identified as supporting wood
           utilization research and product development made available at
           least $54.4 million in financial support for this work, measured
           in either budget authority or expenditures,24 in fiscal year 2004,
           the year with the most complete data available. For fiscal year
           2005, the agencies made available at least $54.3 million. Our data
           for fiscal year 2005 are complete except for data for the CSREES
           grants funded under the McIntyre-Stennis Act and the Hatch Act;
           the National Research Initiative; Small Business Innovation
           Research grants; and other small grants. See table 5.

           Table 5: Federal Financial Support in Wood Utilization Research
           and Product Development, by Agency, Fiscal Years 2004-2005

           Sources: Agency documents, CSREES' Current Research Information
           System, and National Science Foundation's Project Reports Summary
           and Search and Awards databases.

           aFinancial data are presented in either budget authority or
           expenditures, as indicated.

           bBudget authority.

           cIncludes both budget authority and expenditures.

           dIncludes $5.67 million for wood utilization research centers and
           $3.04 million for the other CSREES grants funded under the
           McIntyre-Stennis Act and the Hatch Act; the National Research
           Initiative; Small Business Innovation Research Grants; and other
           small grants.

           eData for other CSREES grants were not available for 2005.

           fExpenditures.

           gBudget authority for the Industrial Technologies Program.

           As table 5 shows, the Forest Service made available about half of
           the financial support for conducting wood utilization research and
           product development. In fiscal year 2004, the Forest Service made
           available about 52 percent of the $54.4 million, while four other
           agencies-CSREES, the Department of Energy, the National Science
           Foundation, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service-made
           available about 44 percent of the support; the remaining seven
           agencies together made available about 5 percent of the $54.4
           million.

           Of the $54.4 million made available in fiscal year 2004, about $34
           million ($28.3 million for the Forest Service and $5.7 million for
           the CSREES wood utilization research centers) was directly
           targeted to wood utilization research and product development. In
           addition, $1.9 million of other support targeted for wood
           utilization research and product development was made available by
           the Army, the Coast Guard, and the Office of Naval Research
           through committee-directed funding to specific universities to
           conduct research on wood composites.

           The remaining $18.5 million of the $54.4 million was made
           available in fiscal year 2004 from grant programs not targeted to
           wood utilization research and product development. That is, wood
           utilization research and product development was not the sole
           purpose of the grant or program. The Department of Energy made
           available the largest amount of this nontargeted support-$7.4
           million. CSREES provided $3.0 million in fiscal year 2004 to
           support other wood utilization research and product development
           through grant programs authorized under the McIntyre-Stennis Act
           and the Hatch Act; the National Research Initiative; Small
           Business Innovation Research grants; and other small grants. The
           Natural Resources Conservation Service made available grant
           funding to promote greater innovation and development in all forms
           of biomass-including agricultural and woody biomass-with $5.3
           million targeted to woody biomass research, under the Biomass
           Research Development Act of 2000. The other agencies made
           available the remaining $2.8 million.

           Of the 12 agencies, only the Forest Service directly employs
           full-time scientists and support staff to conduct wood utilization
           research and product development. Most of these employees work at
           the Forest Products Laboratory, as shown in table 6.

22The six agencies are the Department of Energy, the Environmental
Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department
of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National
Science Foundation, and USDA. In fiscal years 2004 and 2005, the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
and the National Institute of Standards and Technology did not support
wood utilization research and product development.

     Federal Agencies Made Available at Least $54 Million Annually for Wood
  Utilization Research and Product Development in Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005;
Forest Service Support Fluctuated Moderately, and CSREES Support Increased Over
                                    10 Years

The Forest Service Provided Most of the Support for Wood Utilization Research
and Product Development in Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005

23See footnote 3.

24See footnote 3.

Dollars in thousands                                  
Department                             2004 financial       2005 financial 
                                                supporta             supporta 
USDA                                                  
Forest Service                               $28,251b             $27,179b 
CSREES                                       8,710c,d             5,820b,e 
Natural Resources Conservation                                             
Service                                        5,269b               4,627b
Defense                                               
Army Research                                     25b               1,050b 
Army Corps of Engineers                             0               2,395b 
Office of Naval Research                       1,459f               1,424f 
Department of Energy                         7,419b,g             6,233b,g 
Department of Homeland                                                     
Security-Coast Guard                             442f                 351f
HUD                                                 0                 225b 
Interior-Bureau of Indian                                                  
Affairs                                          486b                 276b
Department of Transportation                      63b                 441b 
National Science Foundation                    2,270f               4,242f 
Total                                         $54,394              $54,263 

Table 6: FTE Staff for Wood Utilization Research and Product Development
at the Forest Service, Fiscal Years 2004-2005

                           FTE scientists  FTE support staff  Total FTE staff
Forest Service unit      (2004) (2005)    (2004)   (2005)   (2004)  (2005) 
Forest Products                                                            
Laboratory                 62.8   59.6      58.3     57.3    121.1   116.9
Northeastern Research                                                      
Station                       9      9        11       10       20      19
Pacific Northwest                                                          
Research Station              9    9.3       4.5        7     13.5    16.3
Pacific Southwest                                                          
Research Station              1      1         0        2        1       3
Rocky Mountain Research                                                    
Station                     0.1    0.1         0        0      0.1     0.1
Southern Research                                                          
Station                     8.7    8.7       9.3      9.8       18    18.5
Total                      90.6   87.7      83.1     86.1    173.7   173.8 

Source: Forest Service documents.

The other 11 agencies we reviewed do not have full-time federal scientists
dedicated to wood utilization research and product development, and were
unable to provide information on scientists and support staff working on
federal wood utilization research and product development activities.

From Fiscal Years 1995 through 2005, Forest Service Budget Authority for Wood
Utilization Research and Product Development Fluctuated Moderately from
Year-to-Year

For fiscal years 1995 through 2005, the Forest Service received total
budget authority for wood utilization research and product development of
$268 million (which is equivalent to $289 million in 2004
inflation-adjusted dollars). As table 7 shows, during this 11-year period,
the annual budget authority ranged between $24.2 million and $28.2 million
(in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars), with moderate fluctuations from
year-to-year.

Table 7: Forest Service Budget Authority for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Dollars in thousands                                                                            
           1995    1996    1997    1998    1999    2000    2001    2002    2003    2004    2005    Total 
Nominal                                                                                                  
dollars $23,727 $20,873 $21,416 $21,616 $22,196 $23,195 $26,041 $26,726 $27,246 $28,251 $27,179 $268,465
2004                                                                                                     
dollars $28,037 $24,201 $24,404 $24,336 $24,666 $25,264 $27,711 $27,907 $27,899 $28,251 $26,451 $289,128

Source: Forest Service documents.

Note: Totals may not add due to rounding.

Table 8 shows the total FTE scientists and support staff for the Forest
Service's wood utilization research work units, from fiscal years 1995
through 2005.

Table 8: Forest Service FTE Staff for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

               1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
Scientists  98.2  98.3  90.6  85.0  82.8  84.2  86.6  84.1  86.1  90.6  87.7 
Support                                                                      
staff      109.0 101.5  88.5  87.4  86.4  87.8  89.8  89.3  88.3  83.1  86.1
Total      207.2 199.8 179.1 172.4 169.2 172.0 176.4 173.4 174.4 173.7 173.8 

Source: Forest Service documents.

As figure 2 shows, over the period, the levels of budget authority
(adjusted for inflation) and FTE staff for wood utilization research and
product development at the Forest Service fluctuated moderately. From
fiscal year 1995 to fiscal year 1996, both budget authority (in 2004
inflation-adjusted dollars) and FTE staff at the Forest Service decreased
by 14 percent and 4 percent, respectively. After 1996, budget authority
for the most part increased through 2004 and then decreased in 2005.

FTE staff continued to decrease through 1999, increased in 2000, and
thereafter remained relatively stable. (See app. IV for information on
changes in FTE Forest Service scientists and support staff for wood
utilization research work units for each year from fiscal year 1995
through 2005.)

Figure 2: Total Budget Authority for Forest Service Wood Utilization
Research and Product Development, and FTE Staff, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

During the 11-year period, the Forest Products Laboratory's budget
authority also fluctuated moderately. Between fiscal years 1995 and 2000,
the budget authority declined by 17 percent (in 2004 inflation-adjusted
dollars), from $20.8 million to $17.3 million; it increased again from
fiscal years 2001 through 2004, but was still lower in 2005 than in 1995.
(See table 9.)

Table 9: The Forest Products Laboratory's Budget Authority for Wood
Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Dollars in thousands                                                                            
           1995    1996    1997    1998    1999    2000    2001    2002    2003    2004    2005    Total 
Nominal                                                                                                  
dollars $17,596 $15,800 $15,800 $15,726 $15,850 $15,850 $17,924 $18,551 $19,088 $20,025 $19,213 $191,423
2004                                                                                                     
dollars $20,792 $18,319 $18,004 $17,705 $17,614 $17,265 $19,074 $19,370 $19,545 $20,025 $18,698 $206,411

Source: Forest Service documents.

Table 10 shows the total FTE scientists and support staff for the Forest
Products Laboratory's wood utilization research work units, from fiscal
years 1995 through 2005.

Table 10: The Forest Products Laboratory's FTE Staff for Wood Utilization
Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

               1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
Scientists  67.2  69.0  64.3  60.6  56.4  55.8  59.0  58.5  57.2  62.8  59.6 
Support     78.0  73.5  61.5  60.4  61.9  60.3  62.3  61.5  62.0  58.3  57.3 
Staff                                                                  
Total      145.2 142.5 125.8 121.0 118.3 116.1 121.3 120.0 119.2 121.1 116.9 

Source: Forest Products Laboratory.

The number of FTE Forest Products Laboratory scientists and support staff
generally declined from fiscal years 1995 through 2000; then it fluctuated
moderately. Figure 3 shows the changes in budget authority and FTE
scientists and support staff at the Forest Products Laboratory. See
appendix IV for funding and FTE staff, by research work unit, at the
Forest Products Laboratory and at the research stations for fiscal years
1995 through 2005.

Figure 3: Total Budget Authority for the Forest Products Laboratory's Wood
Utilization Research and Product Development, and FTE Staff, Fiscal Years
1995-2005

While financial support for wood utilization research and product
development at the Forest Service has fluctuated moderately during the
past 11 years, Forest Service scientists and managers expressed concerns
about resource constraints. They noted that increases in budget authority
cover salary increases and other fixed costs, but that these increases may
not be enough to cover increases in the costs of other operating
expenses-such as purchasing or calibrating equipment, obtaining laboratory
supplies, and traveling for research. The Forest Products Laboratory's
operating budget authority declined by about 67 percent between fiscal
years 1995 and 1998 (in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars), from about $1.95
million to $650,000; it also fluctuated within a narrow range from fiscal
years 1999 to 2005, ending with $630,000. (See table 11.)

Table 11: The Forest Products Laboratory's Operating Budget, Fiscal Years
1995-2005

Dollars in thousands                                                 
             1995   1996   1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005  Total 
Nominal                                                                     
dollars $1,651 $1,337  $ 901 $577 $630 $613 $672 $642 $636 $647 $647 $8,953
2004                                                                        
dollars $1,951 $1,550 $1,027 $650 $700 $668 $715 $670 $651 $647 $630 $9,859

Source: Forest Service documents.

Figure 4 shows changes in the dollars available for operating expenses
(adjusted to 2004 dollars) in fiscal years 1995 through 2005 at the Forest
Products Laboratory.

Figure 4: The Forest Products Laboratory's Operating Budget, Fiscal Years
1995-2005

Many of the scientists with whom we spoke cited instances in which fewer
resources had diminished their ability to conduct research. For example,
according to one scientist, he is spending less time in the laboratory
because he is devoting more time to obtaining outside funding for his
research work unit. Another scientist told us that his research work unit
must now limit the number of wood samples from private sources that the
unit has time to analyze, which it did not need to do in the past.
According to Forest Service officials, due in part to funding constraints,
as well as to better serve the scientific community, the Forest Products
Laboratory has developed a strategic plan, and is in the process of
reorganizing and consolidating its research work units and reducing the
number of scientists and support staff.25

From Fiscal Years 1995 through 2005, CSREES' Wood Utilization Research Centers'
Budget Authority and the Number of Centers Increased

Table 12 shows that the total budget authority for fiscal years 1995
through 2005 for CSREES' wood utilization research centers was about $51.2
million (which is equivalent to $54.8 million in 2004 inflation-adjusted
dollars), and figure 5 illustrates that, overall, CSREES' budget authority
(adjusted for inflation) for the wood utilization research centers
increased over the period. The increase in budget authority was due in
part to the addition of four new wood utilization research centers,
particularly when two new centers were added in fiscal year 1999; new
centers were added again in fiscal years 2000 and 2004.

Table 12: CSREES Budget Authority for Wood Utilization Research Centers,
Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Dollars in thousands                                                                 
          1995   1996   1997   1998   1999   2000   2001   2002   2003   2004   2005   Total 
Nominal $3,530 $3,532 $3,305 $3,305 $4,805 $4,805 $5,400 $5,304 $5,730 $5,670 $5,820 $51,206 
dollars                                                                              
2004    $4,172 $4,095 $3,766 $3,721 $5,340 $5,234 $5,747 $5,538 $5,867 $5,670 $5,664 $54,814 
dollars                                                                              

Source: CSREES documents.

25USDA, Strategic Framework of Forest Products and Utilization Research
and Development (FPURD), (Washington, D.C.: Feb. 2006)

Figure 5: Total Budget Authority for CSREES Wood Utilization Research
Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

While the increase in the number of wood utilization research centers
would suggest an increased commitment to wood utilization research and
product development, after adjusting for inflation, most of the centers,
individually, experienced a downward trend in budget authority, as table
13 shows. (See app. IV for wood utilization research centers' budget
authority in nominal dollars over the period.)

Table 13: Total Budget Authority for CSREES Wood Utilization Research
Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Dollars in thousands (2004                                                        
inflation-adjusted)                                                               
              1995   1996   1997   1998   1999   2000   2001   2002   2003   2004   2005 
Wood                                                                              
utilization                                                                       
research                                                                          
centers                                                                           
Maine         $889   $872   $802   $793   $916   $797   $877   $843   $827   $736   $698 
Michigan       889    873    802    793    916    797    877    843    827    736    698 
Minnesota      275    270    249    246    284    247    272    261    252    228    216 
Mississippi    889    872    802    793    916    797    877    843 1,290a 1,154a 1,148a 
North          342    336    309    305    353    307    338    325    313    283    269 
Carolina                                                                          
Oregon         889    872    802    793    916    797    877    843    814    736    698 
Consortiumb                                572    497    547    526    523    460    496 
Tennessee                                  468    407    448    430    422    376    406 
Alaska                                            588    634    622    599    543    586 
West                                                                          418    451 
Virginia                                                                          
Total       $4,172 $4,095 $3,766 $3,721 $5,340 $5,234 $5,747 $5,538 $5,867 $5,670 $5,664 

Source: CSREES documents.

aThe large increase in Mississippi grants in fiscal years 2003 through
2005 occurred because of an additional committee-directed grant for a
special statewide forest resources inventory.

bThe Inland Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium consists of the
universities of Idaho and of Montana, and Washington State University.

Note: Totals may not add due to rounding.

Federal Agencies Rely on Scientists and Specialists to Transfer Technology
                          Through a Variety of Methods

The 12 federal agencies generally rely on scientists and technology
transfer specialists to transfer technologies to industry through a
variety of methods,26 such as information dissemination, technical
assistance, demonstration projects, and patents and licensing. While
federal scientists are involved in some technology transfer, their primary
responsibility is research; in contrast, specialists are responsible
solely for technology transfer. In addition, the Forest Service has a unit
dedicated to transferring the results of wood utilization research and
product development: the Forest Service's TMU. We identified a number of
examples of activities that have occurred using each of the technology
transfer methods, mostly from the Forest Service and CSREES wood
utilization research centers.

26For the purposes of this report, the term "technology transfer
specialist" includes marketing and utilization specialists and university
extension specialists.

Scientists and Technology Transfer Specialists Disseminate Information

Scientists are expected to transfer the results of their work and
primarily disseminate information through publications-particularly those
in peer-reviewed journals-which help establish the validity of their
research results. The Forest Service counts the number of articles
published in these journals to assess scientists' performance and reports
this information as a performance measure for research in its annual
report to Congress.27 Furthermore, according to Forest Service scientists,
some industry officials may also read and use these journals. For example,
a window and door manufacturer used the information from a journal article
on the characteristics of wood from smaller trees for use in composites to
develop a new and higher-value use for this wood. Instead of burning the
wood as waste, the manufacturer now uses it in his products.

Scientists also disseminate research results to industry through a variety
of other methods, including publications that are not peer reviewed, Web
sites, presentations of their work at professional meetings, and
workshops. Specific examples include the following:

           o  Publications that are not peer reviewed include the Forest
           Service's one-page information sheets, TechLines; technical
           reports; industry magazines; trade journals; and training manuals.
           For example, one training manual was developed after industry
           representatives asked a Forest Service scientist to create a
           publication on avoiding accidents caused by improperly constructed
           logging trails. Scientists also contribute to user manuals that
           are important to the building industry and homeowners, such as
           Finishes for Exterior Wood-20,000 copies sold in the past 10
           years; and the Wood Mold Maintenance Manual-10,000 copies in
           circulation.

           o  Most of the Forest Service's wood utilization research work
           units maintain Web sites that list articles or provide links to
           articles and contact information. For example, a research work
           unit in the Southern Research Station reported that 18,335
           distinct users-approximately 1,528 per month-accessed its Web site
           in 2004, downloading 37,376 publications. Some of CSREES' wood
           utilization centers also have Web sites, and some scientists have
           their own Web sites devoted to their wood utilization research and
           product development.

           o  The Forest Service's State and Private Forestry's Wood
           Education and Resource Center in West Virginia offers a grant
           program to transfer research results. In one instance, grant funds
           helped support the issuance of three newsletters informing pallet
           producers, shippers, and technical assistance personnel of the
           latest developments in implementing new international regulations.
           These regulations require that all pallets crossing international
           boundaries be treated to prevent the spread of invasive species.
           Additionally, three technical bulletins summarizing the results of
           the center's applied research in this area were developed and
           distributed to an international audience.

           o  Workshops conducted by scientists for industry include the
           University of Minnesota's industry-specific training on
           streamlined manufacturing procedures to over 75 companies, which
           has resulted in partnerships with 15 of them. University of
           Minnesota scientists reported that these partnerships have led to
           productivity improvements of 50 to 75 percent and cost reductions
           of 25 to 50 percent, with estimated financial impacts of over
           $750,000.

           o  Forest Service scientists have shared information through
           broadcasts. A radio host in Arkansas has a weekly show on forestry
           issues, and scientists from the Southern Research Station have
           discussed their research.

           o  The Forest Products Laboratory conducts "Entrepreneur Tours" in
           which small- to medium-size mill operators from western states
           tour the Forest Products Laboratory to learn about current
           research and how they can use it.

           Technology transfer specialists-at the Forest Service's State and
           Private Forestry program and extension specialists and programs at
           universities-also play a key role in disseminating information to
           industry. As of February 2006, the Forest Service employed nine
           technology transfer specialists, who also provide other types of
           assistance to small businesses. Like scientists, specialists reach
           industry and other users through Web sites and
           publications-particularly those that are not peer reviewed, like
           trade journals, newsletters, and industry magazines. Specialists
           sometimes work directly with scientists to disseminate research to
           targeted users. For example, technology transfer specialists at
           Louisiana State University's extension program publish the Dry
           Kiln Club newsletter, which provides updated research results from
           the university's scientists on wood-drying and moisture-related
           wood decay to an audience of over 1,000.

           Extension specialists also disseminate information through
           targeted group education to industry and other users. This
           education includes short courses, continuing education courses,
           and workshops. Specialists often develop these courses using the
           results of research conducted at their university and other
           universities, the Forest Service, and other federal and state
           agencies. Specific examples include the following:

           o  Extension specialists at Virginia Tech University offered 27
           short courses to industry in calendar year 2004. In one of these
           courses, they combined research from the College of Business with
           their own knowledge of wood science to teach methods for selling
           wood products.

           o  Extension specialists in Ohio taught a multiweek course to
           landowners on how to prune and manage their trees and market their
           products. The course was designed to help the landowners take
           advantage of a new pallet plant soon to be opening in their area.

           o  Extension specialists at Mississippi State's wood utilization
           research center have provided logger education to over 3,000
           logger firms during the past 10 years.

           o  Extension specialists at West Virginia University's Appalachian
           Hardwood Center have conducted technology transfer and outreach
           efforts for the past 15 years. For example, in October 2004, the
           center hosted a log-sawing and grading workshop that focused on
           the efficient grading and recovery of lumber for low-grade logs.

           o  To enhance competitiveness in the region's forest products
           industry, the University of Tennessee's Forest Products Center has
           a wood products extension specialist who conducts workshops,
           issues newsletters, and takes other actions to transfer
           information from the CSREES wood utilization research center to
           industry.

           Technology transfer specialists also attend industry and
           professional conferences and meetings, where they present
           information and meet with industry representatives to build their
           networks. In addition, they disseminate information by creating
           directories that provide contact information for wood industries
           in their state.

           Both scientists and technology transfer specialists provide
           technical assistance through (1) telephone calls; (2) hands-on
           technical assistance; and (3) software development.

           Both scientists and technology transfer specialists respond to
           telephone calls requesting assistance from industry, consumers,
           and homeowners. For example, one scientist at Oregon State
           University estimated receiving over 200 calls per year; another
           scientist estimated receiving over 400. Forest Products Laboratory
           managers estimated that they receive 4,000 such calls per year.

           Scientists and technology transfer specialists also provide
           industry and others with hands-on technical assistance. Examples
           include the following:

           o  Forest Products Laboratory scientists provided technical
           assistance to help a small company improve its manufacturing
           efficiency by applying research on the fasteners and connectors
           used to assemble and disassemble portable flooring. This company
           produces flooring for the National Collegiate Athletic
           Association.

           o  Forest Products Laboratory scientists helped a large drumstick
           manufacturer solve a durability problem by developing a way to
           inject drumsticks with a polymer to strengthen them.

           o  Forest Products Laboratory scientists provide technical
           assistance by identifying wood samples for companies, as well as
           for private citizens. As part of this wood identification, they
           assist manufacturers in resolving problems they have in using
           different types of woods with different finishes. In 2004, they
           identified 600 specimens for industry, 350 specimens for
           government agencies, and 370 specimens of wood for the general
           public.

           o  For 12 years, the University of Minnesota has worked with a
           company to provide support in material selection, prototyping,
           performance testing, and market assessment and development. These
           efforts have helped the company introduce several new product
           lines in office furniture, store fixtures, and cabinet components;
           expand from 30 to 450 employees; and increase the company's sales
           from $5 million to $50 million annually over the period.

           o  The Department of Energy offers energy assessments of
           facilities that manufacture wood products or produce pulp and
           paper, although the department requires a substantial cost
           investment from the company. According to the Department of
           Energy, these assessments have resulted in an annual savings of up
           to $9 million for some companies.

           Agencies also develop software and make it available, often for
           free, on Web sites. For example, a Forest Service computer program
           developed by researchers at the Forest Service's Northeastern
           Research Station provides a realistic simulation model that allows
           industry to identify more efficient strategies to reduce waste in
           the manufacturing process. More than 700 computer program packages
           have been sent to industry, and follow-up telephone calls by
           Forest Service scientists indicate that the program is being used
           in planning and optimization activities by many of the recipients.
           Similarly, the Department of Energy's Industrial Technologies
           Program provides free software tools to the forest products
           industry to improve energy efficiency in industry processes.

           Agencies also transfer research results through demonstration or
           pilot projects in mills, plants, and on-site at research
           locations. Specific examples include the following:

           o  The Forest Products Laboratory built a research demonstration
           house in 2001 on-site. The research in the demonstration house
           focuses on improving the use of traditional wood products,
           recycled and engineered wood composites, natural disaster
           resistance, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. Features
           include a permanent wood foundation and engineered wood composites
           in the roof.

           o  In cooperation with the homebuilding and forest products
           industries, the Forest Products Laboratory constructed a house on
           the Washington, D.C., mall as part of the 2005 annual Smithsonian
           festival. The house showcases new technologies developed by the
           Forest Products Laboratory and cooperators, such as manufacturers
           of structural insulated panels. The house was visited by several
           thousand people over the course of the 10-day festival.

           o  Forest Products Laboratory scientists helped a company
           implement a demonstration project in its saw mill. The project
           showed that, with improvements to the company's machinery for
           determining lumber quality, the company could increase efficiency
           by as much as 12 percent-thus adding an estimated $1.2 million
           annually in profit.

           o  Scientists at West Virginia University's wood utilization
           research center have developed a new technology for using oak as a
           raw material in the manufacture of OSB. The Weyerhaeuser Company
           and other industry partners are testing the process and the
           produced strands in test runs to verify the results. If
           successful, the research work unit anticipates lower raw material
           costs and increased use of oak as an engineered wood product
           component. Success could lead to new or expanded OSB manufacturing
           facilities, and new jobs, in the Appalachian region.

           o  Forest Service scientists at the Southwest Wildland/Urban
           Interface and Forest Health Restoration research work unit, in
           Flagstaff, Arizona, have joined with Northern Arizona University
           on framing techniques using small-diameter logs. This partnership
           has led to a demonstration project with the Navajo Nation to
           develop hogans using small-diameter wood. Hogans are traditional
           housing structures tribes still use, and are typically built with
           more costly wood from larger trees.

           o  HUD, through its Partnership for Advancing Technology in
           Housing program, helped a builder in North Carolina to demonstrate
           the durability and cost of various building materials (including
           insulated composite wood panels) in four residential duplex units.
           The builder agreed to build each duplex out of a different
           building material, and HUD is evaluating the materials'
           performance at this site.

           o  The Office of Naval Research has several demonstration projects
           in place using wood-plastic composite materials to replace wooden
           pier components, such as deck boards and fendering components.
           Such demonstrations help Navy engineers become familiar with new
           technologies and their benefits before the technologies are widely
           available.

           o  The Coast Guard, in a contract with the University of Maine for
           composite wood research, requires the university to demonstrate
           that the composite structures it developed could be used in a
           marine environment and be more durable than traditional
           structures. The university will build a dock for the Coast Guard
           to demonstrate the use of the composite material it has developed.

           Technology can also be transferred to industry through licensing
           and patenting. The Forest Service employs one full-time patent
           attorney, stationed at the Forest Products Laboratory, to assist
           scientists in patenting inventions they create as part of
           federally sponsored research projects; industry can then license
           these patents.28 The Forest Service Patent and Licensing Program
           handles all aspects of patents and licensing, including reviewing
           invention disclosures, filing and prosecuting patent applications,
           negotiating patent licenses and other technology transfer-related
           agreements. Between January 1, 1995, and December 3, 2005, a total
           of 58 patents were issued, and 12 applications related to wood
           utilization are currently pending, according to the Forest
           Service.

           Scientists at the CSREES wood utilization centers also obtain
           patents on processes and products they have developed. For
           example, scientists at the University of Minnesota's wood
           utilization research center have obtained over 20 patents that
           they have then licensed to private industry. These patents include
           those for extracting chemicals from birch bark that can be used in
           medicine, in manufacturing absorbent panels, and in a
           foam-and-wood composite log used for siding. They also reported
           having a number of pending patent applications in the areas of
           housing systems and the extraction of natural chemicals from birch
           bark waste products.

           The Forest Service has a unit dedicated to transferring the
           results of wood utilization research and product development
           activities-the TMU, part of the State and Private Forestry
           Program, located at the Forest Products Laboratory. TMU's mission
           is to improve wood utilization by transferring technologies
           developed primarily by the Forest Products Laboratory and other
           Forest Service research units. As of February 2006, TMU employed
           four technology transfer specialists with expertise in wood
           utilization and product development. These specialists collaborate
           with Forest Service scientists, primarily at the Forest Products
           Laboratory, to provide technical assistance to local governments,
           private landowners, rural communities, and forest industries to
           ensure the ready adoption of technologies based on forest
           materials.

           Like scientists and other technology transfer specialists, TMU's
           specialists disseminate research results through publications,
           conferences, and workshops. Specific examples include the
           following:

           o  In fiscal years 2004 and 2005, TMU reported distributing 40,000
           and 6,900 publications, respectively.29 For example, TMU's
           newsletter, the Forest Products Conservation and Recycling Review,
           has a circulation of over 800. In fiscal year 2005, it published
           19 issues of TechLines on topics ranging from the outdoor
           performance of wood-plastic composites; to wood flooring and
           roofing; to using waste wood for filtering water.

           o  TMU participated in 45 workshops, conferences, presentations,
           training sessions, and exhibits in fiscal year 2004 that were
           attended, in total, by over 5,000.

           o  In 2004, TMU cosponsored the SmallWood conference in
           Sacramento, California, that was attended by over 350, including
           harvesting contractors, rural development officials, community
           leaders, forest products business owners, environmental groups,
           and tribes.

           o  TMU provided an updated software tool that allows users to
           compare the unit costs of various heating fuels-the Fuel Value
           Calculator-allowing wood to be compared to conventional fossil
           fuels, such as natural gas or fuel oil. The calculator is
           available on TMU's Web site.30

           In addition, since TMU's technology transfer specialists are
           located on-site with Forest Products Laboratory scientists, they
           have an opportunity to learn about the research from its early
           stages. Furthermore, when a technology is developed, the
           specialists can work with the scientists to conduct a market
           analysis to determine potential applications. For example, in
           2004, TMU published Assessing the Market Potential of Roundwood
           Recreational Buildings,31 which provides information on the
           applicability of the Forest Products Laboratory's research on
           roundwood.

           TMU also transfers technology to users by providing technical
           assistance directly to industry, communities, and individuals
           nationwide, as well conducting demonstration projects.
           Specifically, TMU specialists perform the following activities:

           o  Answer numerous phone inquiries and letters, and host
           visitors-over 2,000 in both fiscal years 2004 and 2005.
           Specialists provide answers to technical questions, point a user
           to key information sources, or provide a link and contact
           information to researchers working in a user's area of interest.

           o  Travel to facilities to provide hands-on advice and answer
           questions. For example, TMU assisted a remote California logging
           community hard-hit by mill closures to create over 100 new jobs
           through a small forest products company and a nonprofit training
           center. Applying Forest Products Laboratory research, TMU
           specialists helped the company specialize in producing flooring
           from small-diameter trees by, among other things, providing
           solutions to product imperfections like warping and discoloration.

           o  Work with companies and communities in implementing research
           results or new technology through pilot and demonstration
           projects. For example, TMU staff are working with the Department
           of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory on a project
           testing small-scale biomass modular units, called "BioMax 15s,"
           that use wood chips to create electricity. The technology is still
           in the pre-commercial phase, so the department and the TMU are
           using a demonstration program at several sites around the country,
           including a high school in Walden, Colorado, and a
           furniture-making business at the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico.

           In addition to its technology transfer responsibilities, in fiscal
           year 2005, the unit led the evaluation of proposals for USDA's
           Woody Biomass Grant Program. This program made available over $4
           million in grants designed to increase the utilization of woody
           biomass from or near National Forest System lands. The program is
           designed to improve forest restoration activities by using and
           creating markets for small-diameter material and low-valued trees
           that were removed during activities to reduce hazardous fuels.
           Grants could range in value from $50,000 to $250,000.

           We provided a draft of this report for review and comment to
           USDA's CSREES, Forest Service, and Natural Resources and
           Conservation Service; Defense; Department of Energy; Department of
           Homeland Security; HUD; Interior; Department of Transportation;
           and the National Science Foundation. The Forest Service, DOT,
           Energy, and Interior provided technical comments, which we
           incorporated as appropriate. CSREES, Natural Resources and
           Conservation Service, Defense, Department of Homeland Security,
           HUD, and the National Science Foundation did not have comments on
           the draft report.

           As agreed with your offices, unless you publicly announce the
           contents of this report earlier, we plan no further distribution
           until 7 days after the date of this letter. At that time, we will
           send copies of this report to interested congressional committees;
           the Secretaries of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Homeland
           Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and
           Transportation; the Director of the National Science Foundation;
           the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and other
           interested parties. We will also make copies available to others
           upon request. In addition, the report will be available at no
           charge on the GAO Web site at http://www.gao.gov .

           If you have any questions about this report, please contact me at
           (202) 512-3841 or [email protected] . Contact points for our
           Offices of Congressional Relations and of Public Affairs may be
           found on the last page of this report. GAO staff who made major
           contributors to this report are listed in appendix V.

           Robin M. Nazzaro Director, Natural Resources and Environment

           This report describes (1) the types of wood utilization research
           and product development activities supported by federal agencies
           and how these efforts are coordinated; (2) the level of support
           federal agencies made available for these activities in fiscal
           years 2004 and 2005, and changes in the level of support at the
           U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and at the
           Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
           (CSREES)-funded wood utilization research centers from fiscal
           years 1995 through 2005; and (3) how the federal government
           transfers technologies and products from its wood utilization
           research and product development activities to industry.

           For this review, we defined wood utilization research and product
           development as those activities that occur from harvesting the
           wood through the recycling of wood and paper products. To better
           understand the focus of the federal research and development
           efforts in wood utilization, we worked with Forest Service and
           CSREES program officials to develop the following five broad
           categories: (1) harvesting-using scientific and engineering
           principles to ensure cost-effective, environmentally acceptable,
           and safe forest operations, including planning, road building,
           harvesting, handling and processing, and transportation; (2) wood
           properties-studying the basic and applied physical, chemical, and
           mechanical properties of wood and wood fiber to determine the
           suitability of this material for various uses, from pulp to
           structural beams to recycled composite products; (3) manufacturing
           and processing-new and better manufacturing ways to extract,
           reduce, and convert virgin wood raw materials to useful products
           and the development of technology to allow the re-use of materials
           and products to the maximum extent possible; (4) products and
           testing-developing test methods and gathering and evaluating data
           on the differing uses of wood and wood fiber products; and (5)
           economics and marketing. This final category includes evaluating
           and tracking domestic and international supply and demand trends,
           and trade policies, and markets, including market opportunities;
           and harvesting and production costs for alternative material and
           energy inputs and processing options.

           We performed our work at 12 federal agencies that support wood
           utilization research and product development activities. These
           include CSREES, the Forest Service, and the Natural Resources
           Conservation Service; the Department of Defense's (Defense) Army,
           Army Corps of Engineers, and the Office of Naval Research; the
           Department of Energy; the Department of Homeland Security's Coast
           Guard; the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the
           Department of the Interior's (Interior) Bureau of Indian Affairs;
           the National Science Foundation; and the Department of
           Transportation.

           To answer the first objective-describing the types of wood
           utilization research and product development activities supported
           by federal agencies and how these efforts are coordinated-we
           collected information on research and product development
           activities at the 12 agencies for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 and
           worked with the Forest Service and CSREES to place these
           activities into one of the five categories we had developed.
           Because certain Forest Service research work units and
           CSREES-funded wood utilization research centers are specifically
           dedicated to wood utilization research and product development, we
           collected data on research activities for fiscal years 1995
           through 2005 to understand how these activities changed over time.
           At the Forest Service, we used a data collection instrument to
           systematically gather data on the 27 research work units' plans
           for wood utilization research and product development, covering
           fiscal years 1995 through 2005. Because these plans span multiple
           years, some dated back as far as 1988. In total, we examined the
           71 plans for the 16 research work units at the Forest Products
           Laboratory and 11 research work units that were associated with
           other research stations within the Forest Service-4 in the
           Northeast, 4 in the South, 1 in the Pacific Northwest, 1 in the
           Pacific Southwest, and 1 in the Rocky Mountains. From these plans,
           we collected information on each research work unit's mission,
           research problems, and selected research activities. (See app.
           II.) We also interviewed each research work unit's project leader
           on the unit's wood utilization research and product development
           activities.

           For CSREES, we examined the 10 wood utilization research centers
           at 12 universities that receive congressional committee-directed
           grants for wood utilization research and product development. Nine
           of these centers are at the universities of Alaska Southeast,
           Minnesota-Duluth, Maine, and Tennessee; Michigan State University,
           Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University,
           Oregon State University, and West Virginia University; and the
           tenth center is divided among three universities-Idaho State,
           Montana State, and Washington State-that participate in the Inland
           Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium. To identify these
           centers' wood utilization research and product development
           activities, we obtained copies of the research proposals that the
           centers submit annually to CSREES. We used a data collection
           instrument to (1) systematically review the 88 proposals for
           fiscal years 1995 through 2005; (2) obtain information on the
           research objectives, approach, and description of wood utilization
           research and product development activities; and (3) summarize
           selected activities for reporting purposes. We also obtained
           information on the centers' research activities from CSREES'
           Current Research Information System (CRIS) to obtain concise,
           nontechnical descriptions of selected activities and to ensure
           that the CRIS summary reflected the information in the CSREES
           proposals. We interviewed knowledgeable agency officials regarding
           the reliability of data we used from CSREES' CRIS database and
           compared selected CRIS data with grant files. We used the data
           from CSREES for descriptive purposes only, and determined that the
           data were sufficiently reliable for these purposes. For reporting
           purposes, we primarily relied on the CRIS summary information to
           describe the selected research activities presented in appendix
           III.

           To identify other CSREES wood utilization research and product
           development activities in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, CSREES
           officials queried the CRIS database using key search codes to
           identify the wood utilization research and product development
           activities being conducted under other CSREES-funded grant
           programs. At the time of our review, the CRIS database did not
           contain complete information for fiscal year 2005. We reviewed the
           grant projects-104-that fell within our definition of wood
           utilization research and product development.

           To collect information on wood utilization research and product
           development from the remaining 10 agencies, we interviewed agency
           officials and reviewed and summarized available information on the
           research activities for fiscal years 2004 and 2005.

           To obtain information on the coordination of wood utilization and
           product development activities among the 12 federal agencies, we
           interviewed agency officials to obtain their views on the use of
           informal and formal coordination mechanisms. For all agencies, we
           obtained this information through interviews with program
           officials and scientists. In the case of CSREES wood utilization
           research centers, we obtained this information through a data
           collection instrument sent to the program leader at each center.
           In addition, we obtained documents on selected formal coordinating
           mechanisms, such as interagency agreements. We also attended the
           "Agenda 2020" meeting sponsored by the Forest Service in 2005,
           which is held annually to exchange information between industry
           and Forest Service scientists performing wood utilization research
           and product development activities.1 The Forest Service uses these
           meetings to seek industry views on research results and future
           research needs. We also examined relevant laws, regulations, and
           agency polices related to coordination for wood utilization
           research and product development.

           To address the second objective-describe the level of support
           federal agencies made available for wood utilization research and
           product development activities in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and
           changes in the level of support at the Forest Service and CSREES
           wood utilization research centers from fiscal years 1995 through
           2005-we collected budget authority or expenditure information from
           the 12 agencies for fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and from the
           Forest Service and CSREES' wood utilization centers for fiscal
           years 1995 through 2005. We reported dollars in either budget
           authority or expenditure data, depending on the availability of
           agency data. We analyzed these data in both nominal (actual)
           dollars and dollars adjusted for inflation (real).2 Most agencies
           and programs received congressional committee-directed budget
           authority for wood utilization research and product development or
           allocated a portion of their budget authority for these
           activities. Those budget authority amounts are reported when
           available. However, the only data available for the other CSREES
           grants and for the National Science Foundation were expenditure
           data.

           For information on CSREES' budget authority for the wood
           utilization research centers for fiscal years 1995 to 2005 for the
           grants awarded to the wood utilization research centers, the
           CSREES official explained how the funds were allocated across the
           10 wood utilization research centers over the 11-year period.
           These data were used to show the historical trends of investment
           dollars for wood utilization research and product development over
           the past 11 years. (See app. IV.)

           In addition to the budget authority for the CSREES wood
           utilization research centers, we obtained expenditure data for the
           wood utilization research and product development activities
           conducted under the authority of the McIntyre-Stennis Act, the
           Hatch Act, the National Research Initiative, the Small Business
           Innovation Research Grants, and other small grants, which can fund
           wood utilization research and product development. We obtained
           specific expenditure amounts for these activities for fiscal year
           2004 from the CRIS database system. Fiscal year 2005 data were not
           available for these CSREES activities.

           For the Forest Service, we obtained information on budget
           authority from an internal agency review of research stations and
           research work units. We used this information to provide an
           overview of the changes in budget authority for wood utilization
           research and product development for fiscal years 1995 through
           2005. See appendix IV for the budget authority for each research
           work unit over this period. In addition, we interviewed Forest
           Service budget officials in headquarters, the Forest Products
           Laboratory, and the State and Private Forestry Program on budget
           and other funding issues, such as the allocation of funds and
           setting of research funding priorities. We concluded that the data
           provided in the agency survey were sufficiently reliable for the
           purposes of our review.

           We also reviewed and summarized information from Forest Service
           documents on the number of scientists and research support staff
           at the Forest Service-the only agency that has full-time federal
           employees who directly conduct wood utilization research and
           product development activities. We reported the number of
           full-time equivalent (FTE) staff at each of the 27 research work
           units that conducted research on wood utilization and product
           development for fiscal years 1995 through 2005. (See app. IV.)

           To collect funding information from the remaining agencies, we
           asked budget and program officials for budget authority or
           expenditure information for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for wood
           utilization research and product development. Specifically, the
           National Science Foundation provided us with expenditure
           information from its Project Reports Summary and Search and Awards
           databases because that is the only way it could identify the
           amounts devoted to wood utilization research and product
           development. We interviewed knowledgeable agency officials
           regarding the reliability of these data. We used the data for
           descriptive purposes only, and determined that the data were
           sufficiently reliable for these purposes.

           The funding for Defense's Army, Corps of Engineers, and Office of
           Naval Research; and the Department of Homeland Security's Coast
           Guard were congressional committee-directed funds or budget
           authority. However, for the Office of Naval Research and the Coast
           Guard, we reported expenditures because those amounts were
           applicable to our time period-fiscal years 2004 and 2005.

           To respond to objective three-how the federal government transfers
           technologies and products from its wood utilization research and
           product development activities to industry-we obtained and
           reviewed relevant legislation and policies and procedures on
           federal technology transfer activities. At the Forest Service, we
           interviewed and obtained examples of successful technology
           transfer from project leaders at the 27 research work units that
           are responsible for wood utilization research and product
           development; a patent attorney; technology transfer program
           managers at the Technology Marketing Unit located at the Forest
           Products Laboratory; and technology transfer specialists in the
           State and Private Forestry Program. At CSREES, we had discussions
           with program research officials and extension specialists. In
           addition, we sent a short data collection instrument to the 10
           wood utilization research centers to obtain information on how
           they transfer the results of their research to industry, as well
           as to obtain examples of successful transfer efforts. We did not
           assess the success of these agencies' reported efforts, nor did we
           try to quantify the results of these efforts.

           We also conducted site visits at a limited number of federal,
           university, and industrial facilities-the Forest Products
           Laboratory; Forest Service facilities in Virginia, West Virginia,
           and Oregon; the wood utilization research center at Oregon State
           University; the Western Wood Producers Association; the APA
           Engineered Wood Association; and a Weyerhaeuser Company research
           laboratory in Washington State. We also visited a sawmill, a
           manufacturer of wooden steps and stair posts, a manufacturer of
           engineered products, and a cabinet maker, and attended the 2005
           Northeast Utilization and Marketing Council's conference. We
           performed our work between February 2005 and May 2006, in
           accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

           This appendix presents examples of work conducted and planned for
           the Forest Service's research work units at the Forest Products
           Laboratory (table 14), and in work units associated with five
           research stations: Northeastern, Pacific Northwest, Pacific
           Southwest, Rocky Mountain, and Southern (table 15).

27Forest Service Performance and Accountability Report, Fiscal Year 2004,
p. 208

Technical Assistance Is an Important Tool for Transferring Technology to
Industry

Demonstration Projects Can Highlight the Application of Wood Utilization
Research and Product Development

Results of Wood Utilization Research and Product Development Can Be Patented and
Then Licensed to Industry

The Forest Service Has a Unit Dedicated to Transferring Wood Utilization
Research and Product Development

28Since 1980, the Bayh-Dole Act and subsequent executive actions have
generally given federal contractors, grantees, and cooperative agreement
funding recipients the option to retain ownership rights to, and profit
from, commercializing the inventions they create as part of federally
sponsored research projects. In return for these rights, these recipients
are required to file for patent protection, pursue commercialization of
the inventions, give preferences to small businesses in licensing, ensure
that any products resulting from the inventions are substantially
manufactured in the United States, and comply with certain reporting
requirements.

29The higher number in 2004 is due to distribution of 30,000 copies of a
special publication, "Better Rural Places."

30 http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu/

31Paun, Dorothy; Randall Cantrell, and Susan LeVan-Green. Forest Products
Lab, FPL-GTR-144.

                                Agency Comments

Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology Appendix I: Objectives,
Scope, and Methodology

1 The official title of this meeting is "Forest Industry and Forest
Service Research Liaison Meeting." The meeting was held at the Forest
Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, May 10-11, 2005.

2 We adjusted nominal dollars using the Department of Commerce's Fiscal
Year Chain-Weighted Price Index for the Gross Domestic Product with 2004
as the base year.

Appendix II: Forest Service's Conducted and Planned Wood Utilization
Research and Product Development Appendix II: Forest Service's Conducted
and Planned Wood Utilization Research and Product Development

Table 14: Conducted and Planned Activities for the Forest Service's
Research Work Units at the Forest Products Laboratory

Forest Products                              
Laboratory's research     
work unit and plan        
components                           Research work unit title, and period and activities covered
4502                                                                               
                          Biodeterioration of Wood,       Biodeterioration of      Biodeterioration of      
                          1991-97                         Wood, 1997-2002          Wood, 2002-07            
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To increase wood efficiency and To increase wood         To increase wood         
                          serviceability through basic    efficiency, protection,  efficiency of use,       
                          and applied research on the     and serviceability       protection, and          
                          nature and control of           through basic and        serviceability through   
                          biodeterioration of wood in     applied research on the  basic and applied        
                          use.                            nature and control of    research on the nature   
                                                          biodeterioration within  and control of           
                                                          the context of changing  biodeterioration within  
                                                          environmental needs.     the context of changing  
                                                                                   environmental needs.     
Research problem and      Problem: Lack of understanding  Problem: Need to         Problem: Need to         
activities                of the biosynthetic and         identify new biochemical identify new specific    
                          degradative pathways that can   processes of wood decay  biochemical processes of 
                          be targeted to achieve improved fungi that can be        wood decay fungi and     
                          methods for controlling decay.  inhibited to achieve     mold that can be         
                                                          improved methods for     inhibited to achieve     
                          Activities: Study the induction controlling decay.       improved methods for     
                          and repression of degradative                            controlling decay.       
                          enzymes in order to learn what  Activities: Determine                             
                          parameters prevent their        efficacy against decay   Activities: The recent   
                          formation.                      fungi of inhibitors to   sequencing of the entire 
                                                          targets identified from  genome of an important   
                          Problem: Lack of understanding  mechanistic studies.     decay fungus presents    
                          in detecting incipient decay                             many opportunities for   
                          and in-situ treatments to       Problem: Need to         research on the          
                          protect wood.                   identify in-situ modes   mechanism of decay,      
                                                          of antagonism of         including the            
                          Activities: Investigate the     nondecay microorganisms  possibility of rapidly   
                          presence of decay in a          required to enhance      correlating specific     
                          particular wood structure to    their establishment in   enzymes of the fungus    
                          determine conditions promoting  wood to prevent fungal   with the corresponding   
                          such decay and, where           attack in order to       genes.                   
                          necessary, the microorganisms   develop new and                                   
                          responsible for the decay.      effective biocontrol     Problem: Need to         
                                                          agents.                  determine the conditions 
                          Problem: Lack of understanding                           required for bioremoval  
                          in how to enhance nondecay      Activities: Identify     and recycling of         
                          microorganisms to prevent       microorganisms with      preservatives from       
                          fungal attack of wood.          improved biocontrol      preservative-treated     
                                                          qualities.               wood waste in order to   
                          Activities: Identify potential                           safely dispose of        
                          antagonists by laboratory       Problem: Need to         preventative-treated     
                          screening and select the most   determine the conditions wood without damaging    
                          promising control agents by     required for bioremoval  soils and watersheds.    
                          applying them to wood blocks    of metals from chromated                          
                          for exposure to important       copper arsenate          Activities: Develop a    
                          wood-attacking fungi.           (CCA)-treated wood waste fuller understanding of  
                                                          in order to dispose of   the microbial            
                                                          CCA-treated wood without remediation and          
                                                          damaging soils and       degradation of           
                                                          watersheds.              preservative-treated     
                                                                                   wood wastes and the      
                                                          Activities: Develop a    conditions required for  
                                                          fuller understanding of  remediation, recycling,  
                                                          the microbial            or degradation           
                                                          degradation of           (composting).            
                                                          CCA-treated wood wastes                           
                                                          and the conditions       Problem: Need to develop 
                                                          required for             rapid detection methods  
                                                          remediation, recycling,  and the conditions       
                                                          or composting.           required for mold growth 
                                                                                   in order to prevent mold 
                                                                                   growth in housing.       
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Develop      
                                                                                   improved moisture        
                                                                                   control parameters to    
                                                                                   prevent the              
                                                                                   establishment of mold    
                                                                                   and spread of mold       
                                                                                   spores.                  
4701                                                                               
                          Center for Wood Anatomy         Center for Wood Anatomy  Center for Wood Anatomy  
                          Research, 1992-98               Research, 1998-2003      Research, 2003-08        
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To accumulate and make known    To accumulate and        To develop, accumulate,  
                          information on the anatomical   disseminate information  and disseminate          
                          and other characteristics of    on the anatomical,       information on the       
                          woods of the world that may     biochemical, and         anatomical, biochemical, 
                          affect their utilization        physical characteristics and physical             
                          potential, and to develop new   of wood species that may characteristics of wood  
                          and improved techniques for     affect their utilization species that may affect  
                          their identification.           and decay, and to        their utilization and    
                                                          develop new and improved wood quality, and to     
                                                          techniques for wood      develop new and improved 
                                                          identification.          techniques for wood      
                                                                                   identification.          
Research problem and      Problem: Need to develop a      Problem: Need to better  Problem: Need to better  
activities                complete body of fundamental    understand the macro-    understand the macro-    
                          knowledge on the macro- and     and microscopic anatomy  and microscopic anatomy  
                          microscopic structures and      of wood and develop new  of wood and to develop   
                          other characteristics for wood  techniques and           new techniques and       
                          to better understand, utilize,  methodologies for wood   methodologies for wood   
                          and identify lesser-known and   identification.          identification.          
                          lesser-used woods, especially                                                     
                          tropical woods.                 Activities:              Activities:              
                                                          Data-gathering and       Data-gathering and       
                          Activities: Data-gathering and  analysis that is         analysis that is         
                          analysis that is directed       directed toward the      directed toward the      
                          toward the development of       development of           development of           
                          descriptions and keys for       descriptions and keys    descriptions and keys    
                          commercially important and      for commercially         for commercially         
                          emerging tropical groups.       important and emerging   important and emerging   
                                                          tropical groups.         tropical groups.         
                          Problem: Need to investigate                                                      
                          new and improved nonanatomical  Problem: More            Problem: Need to         
                          techniques and methodologies    information is needed to understand the           
                          for wood identification for     understand the           relationships between    
                          more accurate and reliable      interrelationships       wood anatomical          
                          identifications.                between specific         characteristics and wood 
                                                          anatomical and chemical  quality.                 
                          Activities: New and novel       features and the                                  
                          approaches to the separation of mechanisms of decay and  Activities: Develop      
                          similar woods must be           natural durability.      better methods for       
                          developed. One of the first                              delineating juvenile     
                          techniques to be studied will   Activities: Identify and zones, and conduct       
                          be unique chemical tests that   test selected wood       closer comparisons of    
                          might aid in identifying woods  species for the ability  juvenile and mature wood 
                          at the work site.               to resist decay and      anatomy and properties   
                                                          discoloration by         to better assess the     
                          Problem: Need to accumulate     brown-rot, white-rot,    impact of juvenile wood  
                          common and scientific names,    and soft-rot fungi.      on overall wood quality. 
                          origin, physical and strength   Emphasis will be given   
                          properties, uses, and other     to laboratory testing of 
                          information on tropical species selected temperate and   
                          in databases to assist in       tropical species.        
                          organizing and disseminating                             
                          information to customers.       Problem: Need to         
                                                          understand the           
                          Activities: Gather information  relationships between    
                          on properties, uses, and other  wood anatomical          
                          data on native and tropical     characteristics and wood 
                          species, convert it to a        quality.                 
                          standard format, and develop                             
                          database structures that can    Activities: In the past, 
                          readily retrieve selected       several characteristics  
                          information in an orderly and   (mostly anatomical) have 
                          efficient manner.               been investigated as     
                                                          predictors of wood       
                                                          quality. These include   
                                                          growth rate (ring        
                                                          width), density/specific 
                                                          gravity, percentage of   
                                                          latewood, tracheid       
                                                          length, cell diameter,   
                                                          cell wall thickness, and 
                                                          cellulose microfibril    
                                                          angle. Cellulose         
                                                          microfibril angle        
                                                          contributes to many wood 
                                                          properties, such as      
                                                          modulus of elasticity,   
                                                          creep, shrinkage, and    
                                                          maximum crushing         
                                                          strength.                
4703                                                                               
                          Wood Adhesives Science and      Wood Adhesives Science   Wood Adhesives Science   
                          Technology, 1994-99             and Technology,1999-2004 and Technology, 2004-09  
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   Improve the utilization of wood Improve the utilization  Improve the utilization  
                          through a combination of basic  of wood through a        of wood through a        
                          and applied research that will  combination of basic and combination of basic and 
                          ensure adequate future supplies applied research that    applied research that    
                          of durable, environmentally     seeks to ensure more     ensures more efficient   
                          acceptable adhesives, and       efficient fabrication    fabrication and          
                          improve the applicability,      and performance of       performance of           
                          efficiency, and durability of   bonded-wood products.    bonded-wood products.    
                          adhesives for bonding                                    
                          wood-to-wood and                                         
                          wood-to-nonwood materials.                               
Research problem and      Problem: Need to develop        Problem: Need to improve Problem: Need to improve 
activities                durable wood adhesives from     the properties and       the durability, safety,  
                          renewable resources.            performance of wood      and structural           
                                                          adhesive systems.        performance of           
                          Activities: Utilize the                                  adhesively bonded wood   
                          chemical constituents that      Activities: Demonstrate  assemblies.              
                          occur in wood and other biomass the use of computational                          
                          (or compounds derived from      chemistry methods to     Activities: Develop a    
                          these constituents) for         develop a better         methodology to           
                          obtaining adhesive systems      fundamental              understand where and why 
                          suitable for bonding wood       understanding of the     failure is taking place  
                          products.                       chemistry involved in    when bondline failure    
                                                          the synthesis and cure   occurs.                  
                          Problem: Need to eliminate      of existing adhesive                              
                          chemical and physical barriers  systems.                 Problem: Need to better  
                          to bonding wood-based                                    understand the adhesion  
                          materials.                      Problem: Need to improve of adhesives to wood and 
                                                          the adhesion of          nonwood substrates.      
                          Activities: Identify and        adhesives to wood and                             
                          develop means to overcome       nonwood substrates.      Activities: Understand   
                          chemical and physical barriers                           the factors that lead to 
                          to bonding and wood-based       Activities: Understand   poor wood-surface        
                          materials that have been        the factors that lead to quality and their        
                          chemically or physically        poor wood-surface        influence on wood        
                          altered through treating or     quality and their        bonding so that the most 
                          processing, among other things. influence on wood        efficient,               
                                                          bonding so that the most cost-effective bonding   
                          Problem: Need to improve the    efficient,               solutions can be         
                          environmental acceptability of  cost-effective bonding   determined.              
                          wood adhesives through the      solutions can be                                  
                          modification of conventional    determined.              Problem: Need to improve 
                          adhesives and the development                            the properties and       
                          of new adhesives.               Problem: Need to improve performance of wood      
                                                          the durability, safety,  adhesive systems.        
                          Activities: Quantify the        and structural                                    
                          magnitude of the environmental  performance of           Activities: Determine    
                          impact of composite wood panel  adhesively bonded wood   the mechanical           
                          production and use and develop  assemblies.              properties of existing   
                          methods to decrease the                                  adhesive systems.        
                          environmental impact of the     Activities: Determine                             
                          composite products.             the mechanical behavior  Problem: Need to utilize 
                                                          of adhesives within      more environmentally     
                          Problem: Need to determine the  bonded materials and     acceptable wood          
                          behavior of adhesives and the   develop new information  adhesives in wood        
                          performance of adhesive-bonded  on the mechanical        composite panels.        
                          assembly joints in wood         properties of adhesively                          
                          structures used for             bonded joints.           Activities: Evaluate the 
                          construction.                                            VOC emissions from       
                                                          Problem: Need to         composite wood products. 
                                                          understand the           
                                                          environmental            
                                                          acceptability of wood    
                                                          adhesives and composite  
                                                          wood panels.             
                                                                                   
                                                          Activities: Develop      
                                                          information on volatile  
                                                          organic compounds (VOC)  
                                                          emitted from wood        
                                                          products. Successful     
                                                          completion of this       
                                                          component will provide   
                                                          the information needed   
                                                          by other researchers,    
                                                          manufacturers, and       
                                                          regulatory agencies to   
                                                          determine the impacts    
                                                          that wood products have  
                                                          on indoor air quality,   
                                                          and to develop           
                                                          strategies to control or 
                                                          prevent exposure to      
                                                          VOCs.                    
                          Activities: Develop knowledge                            
                          that will support and encourage                          
                          the use of adhesives in                                  
                          building construction, opening                           
                          the way for improvements in the                          
                          use of wood and the performance                          
                          of wood structures.                                      
4706                                                                               
                          Performance Designed            Performance Designed     Performance Designed     
                          Composites, 1993-97             Composites, 1997-2002    Composites, 2002-07      
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To develop the capabilities in  To conserve wood and     To conserve wood, alone  
                          processing technology to        other renewable fiber    or in combination with   
                          improve the value and yield of  resources, this research other renewable fiber    
                          existing (and new)              unit determines the      resources, fundamental   
                          lignocellulosic-based           relationship between     relationships between    
                          composites.                     alternative resource     base materials and       
                                                          options, processing      product performance are  
                                                          technologies, and        defined and then         
                                                          composite performance    processes are derived to 
                                                          levels to improve the    engineer reliable,       
                                                          value and yield of       high-performance         
                                                          existing and new         composites from wood-    
                                                          lignocellulosic-based    and                      
                                                          composites.              wood-lignocellulosics,   
                                                                                   including new hybrid     
                                                                                   composites melding wood  
                                                                                   and alternative          
                                                                                   materials.               
Research problem and      Problem: There is a lack of     Problem: Knowledge is    Problem: It is necessary 
activities                knowledge that relates the      needed to characterize,  to understand the        
                          resource and processing         assess, and prepare      fundamental              
                          variables to composite product  alternative raw          relationships between    
                          performance.                    materials for processing wood-, natural-fiber-    
                                                          into value-added         and alternative          
                          Activities: Study alternative   composite products.      materials and use this   
                          material options and                                     knowledge to optimize    
                          fabrication techniques that     Activities: Develop      composite processing and 
                          result in flat or shaped        correlations between raw performance.             
                          products that can either span   material influences,                              
                          distances of 4 feet or more or  composite design, the    Activities: Develop      
                          that possess other unique       physical properties of   correlations between raw 
                          properties.                     the constituent biomass  material influences,     
                                                          components, adhesive     composite design, the    
                          Problem: There is a lack of     bonding mechanisms, and  physical properties of   
                          information available on how to the manipulative         the constituent biomass  
                          economically produce and        variables of product     components, adhesive     
                          characterize the performance of fabrication.             bonding mechanisms, and  
                          inorganic bonded structural                              the manipulative         
                          composites in adverse           Problem: Need to develop variables of product     
                          environments.                   new composite processing fabrication.             
                                                          technologies and to                               
                          Activities: Develop a broad     refine existing          Problem: Need to improve 
                          database of processing and      technologies to ensure   the performance,         
                          performance information, which  that the composite raw   durability and value of  
                          will make possible the          materials of the future  existing composites and  
                          introduction of economically    are optimally assembled  define the next          
                          produced and                    to achieve maximum       generation of hybrid     
                          performance-characterized       performance at minimum   composites made from     
                          inorganic bonded composites     cost.                    natural fiber(s) and     
                          into the U.S. marketplace.                               alternative materials.   
                                                          Activities: Develop a                             
                          Problem: There is a lack of     database of information  Activities: Build upon   
                          information to allow the        to define and            the fundamental          
                          development of processing       characterize various raw knowledge gained in the  
                          methodology for the production  materials and processing above activities to      
                          of high-performance composites  options that can affect  develop a database of    
                          from virgin and recycled        the performance of       information to define    
                          lignocellulosic, plastic, and   alternative composites.  and characterize various 
                          other nonwood materials.                                 raw materials and        
                                                          Problem: Information is  processing options that  
                          Activities: Develop technology  needed to characterize,  can improve the          
                          to convert recycled biofibers   predict, and correlate   performance of           
                          and nonwood materials into      composite performance    traditional composites   
                          durable, long-service-life      based on raw material,   (or define new           
                          products that are recyclable    processing, and          composites).             
                          and otherwise environmentally   structure                                         
                          friendly, and will effectively  considerations.          Problem: Need to develop 
                          remove raw materials from the                            tools to address         
                          waste stream.                   Activities: Develop      resource sustainability, 
                                                          technology to convert    enhance recyclability,   
                                                          wood and woody biomass,  and minimize the         
                                                          recycled, and nonwood    environmental impacts of 
                                                          materials into durable,  composite processing.    
                                                          cost-effective,                                   
                                                          high-performing and      Activities: Optimize how 
                                                          long-service-life        wood and woody biomass,  
                                                          products that are        recycled and nonwood     
                                                          recyclable and otherwise materials are converted  
                                                          environmentally          into durable,            
                                                          friendly.                cost-effective,          
                                                                                   high-performing, and     
                                                                                   long-service-life        
                                                                                   products that are        
                                                                                   recyclable and otherwise 
                                                                                   environmentally          
                                                                                   friendly.                
4707                                                                               
                          Wood Surface Chemistry, 1994-99 Wood Surface Chemistry,  Wood Surface Chemistry,  
                                                          1999-2004                2004-09                  
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To determine the basic          To determine the basic   To improve the           
                          mechanisms of wood surface      mechanisms of            durability of wood and   
                          deterioration outdoors-and      deterioration of wood    wood-based composites.   
                          innovative products and         and wood-based           
                          processes-for modifying wood    composites used outdoors 
                          surfaces to enhance             and develop innovative   
                          finishability and gluability    technologies for         
                          and to improve properties of    modifying wood surfaces  
                          wood and nonwood composites.    to enhance durability.   
Research problem and      Problem: Rapid changes in wood  Problem: Premature       Problem: Wood and        
activities                and wood-based materials,       weathering and decay of  wood-based materials     
                          products used on these          wood products used       used in residential      
                          materials, and the environment, outdoors causes an       construction are not     
                          have led to premature failure   unnecessary drain on our performing as expected   
                          of many wood products used      forest resource.         because of inadequate    
                          outdoors.                                                understanding of the     
                                                          Activities: Address      mechanisms by which they 
                          Activities: Address chemical    chemical changes on the  are failing and          
                          changes on the surface of wood  surface of wood and at   inadequate methods for   
                          and between the paint and wood  the paint/wood interface predicting their service 
                          interface and evaluate paint    and evaluate paint       life.                    
                          adhesion so that the chemical   adhesion so that the                              
                          changes can be linked to        chemical changes can be  Activities: Address      
                          measurable paint performance    linked to measurable     chemical changes on the  
                          parameters.                     paint performance        surface of wood and at   
                                                          parameters.              the interface with other 
                          Problem: Inadequate wetting and                          materials and also       
                          penetration of wood finishes,   Problem: Water-based     evaluate adhesion so     
                          adhesives, and other treatments water-repellent          that the chemical        
                          cause decreased service life of preservatives are not    changes can be linked to 
                          many wood products.             protecting products as   measurable performance   
                                                          well as traditional      parameters.              
                          Activities: Research will       solvent-based                                     
                          concentrate on the basic        formulations.            Problem: Lack of         
                          surface properties of wood and                           understanding of the     
                          wood-based materials as they    Activities: Research     surface interactions     
                          relate to interaction with      will concentrate on the  between water and wood   
                          liquids.                        basic surface properties or other lignocellulosic 
                                                          of wood and wood-based   materials limits their   
                          Problem: Chemical               materials as they relate use in many traditional  
                          incompatibilities at the        to interaction with      and new applications.    
                          wood/nonwood interface do not   liquids.                                          
                          permit the development of                                Activities: Research     
                          high-performance composites.    Problem: Incompatibility will concentrate on the  
                                                          of surface interactions  basic surface properties 
                          Activities: Attempt to          between wood and other   of wood and wood-based   
                          elucidate the complex chemical  materials impedes the    materials as they relate 
                          structure of wood/nonwood       development of advanced  to interaction with      
                          interphases and to modify the   wood-based composites.   liquids and solutions.   
                          chemistry of the wood surface                                                     
                          to achieve better bonding       Activities: Attempt to   Problem: Inadequate      
                          between wood and nonwood        elucidate the complex    understanding of the     
                          materials.                      chemical structure of    surface chemistry of     
                                                          wood/nonwood interphases wood and the mechanism   
                                                          and to modify the        by which other materials 
                                                          chemistry of the wood    bond to wood impedes the 
                                                          fiber surface to achieve development of advanced  
                                                          better bonding between   wood-based composites.   
                                                          wood and nonwood                                  
                                                          materials. The major     Activities: Elucidate    
                                                          emphasis of this         the complex chemical     
                                                          research is the          structure of             
                                                          measurement of wood      wood/nonwood interphases 
                                                          surface properties       and develop processes to 
                                                          critical to good         modify the chemistry of  
                                                          bonding.                 the wood fiber surface   
                                                                                   to achieve better        
                                                                                   bonding between wood and 
                                                                                   nonwood materials.       
4709                                                                               
                          Chemistry and Pulping, 1991-97  Chemistry and Pulping,   Chemistry and Pulping,   
                                                          1997-2002                2002-07                  
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To combine state-of-the-art     To develop               To develop more          
                          knowledge in wood chemistry and environmentally benign   efficient,               
                          chemical engineering science in and resource-conserving  environmentally benign,  
                          developing environmentally      processes for the        and resource-conserving  
                          benign processes for the        production and           processes for the        
                          production and utilization of   utilization of wood pulp conversion of wood to    
                          wood pulp fibers and the        fibers, and of the       fibers and chemicals,    
                          chemical byproducts of pulping  chemical byproducts of   and to improve our       
                          processes. The new processes    wood and pulp            understanding of the     
                          will seek to conserve forest    processing, and to       chemical, molecular, and 
                          and water resources, avoid      improve our              physical characteristics 
                          adverse effects on air quality  understanding of the     of wood and fibers to    
                          and the global ecosystem, and   molecular and physical   provide a basis for      
                          reduce capital investment in    characteristics of wood  sustainable conversion   
                          order to enhance the            and wood pulp in order   of wood into value-added 
                          competitiveness of U.S. pulp    to achieve a sustainable products.                
                          and paper products in world     basis for the production 
                          markets.                        of U.S. pulp and paper   
                                                          products to meet the     
                                                          needs of the American    
                                                          people.                  
Research problem and      Problem: Need to develop new    Problem: New             Problem: New             
activities                bleaching technologies.         technologies are needed  technologies are needed  
                                                          to deliqnify wood for    to fractionate wood for  
                          Activities: Identify the major  the production of pulp   the production of pulp   
                          barriers to developing          in ways that will        in ways that will        
                          alternative bleaching systems   eliminate contamination  eliminate contamination  
                          (to chlorine-based systems),    of our air and           to our air and           
                          and target fundamental research waterways.               waterways.               
                          programs to overcome these                                                        
                          barriers.                       Activities: Continue to  Activities: Further      
                                                          define the fundamental   develop the potential of 
                          Problem: Brightness reversion   science and engineering  polyosometalate          
                          in high-yield pulps.            that must be understood  delignification to       
                                                          in order to fully        provide solutions to the 
                          Activities: Develop information develop the potential of environmental problems   
                          to provide a basis for          polyoromeralate          currently associated     
                          addressing the problem of       delignification for      with delignification     
                          brightness reversion and        effluent-free oxygen     processes.               
                          address the gap in knowledge    bleaching.                                        
                          about the phenomena responsible                          Problem: Need to improve 
                          for reversion.                  Problem: Need for        papermaking of           
                                                          improved papermaking     high-yield mechanical    
                          Problem: New pulping concepts.  properties of high-yield and chemi-mechanical     
                                                          mechanical and           pulps, which make more   
                          Activities: Seek systems which  chemi-mechanical pulps,  efficient use of our     
                          rely on catalysts to break down which makes more         wood resources, to       
                          the lignin, rather than         efficient use of our     increase public          
                          requiring severe thermal and    wood resource; increase  acceptance of and build  
                          chemical environments implicit  public acceptance of,    markets for papers       
                          in high-temperature alkaline    and build markets for    produced from these      
                          pulping, and developing systems papers, produced from    pulps.                   
                          that are based on simulating    these pulps.                                      
                          the action of biological                                 Activities: Develop      
                          systems that break down lignin. Activities: Develop      information to provide a 
                                                          information to provide a basis for addressing the 
                          Problem: Recycling.             basis for addressing the problem of brightness    
                                                          problem of brightness    reversion and to develop 
                          Activities: Research programs   reversion and to develop brightness-stabilizing   
                          addressing the problem of       brightness-stabilizing   approaches.              
                          surface hardening will need to  procedures.                                       
                          focus on new approaches to                               Problem: Need for new    
                          reactivating the surface to     Problem: Need for        and innovative methods   
                          enhance interfiber bonding.     increased understanding  to convert wood and      
                                                          of the biogenesis and    other lignocellulosics   
                          Problem: High-value chemicals   molecular architecture   into fibers and          
                          from wood.                      of wood cell walls,      chemicals.               
                                                          their response to                                 
                                                          environmental stresses,  Activities: Develop      
                                                          and their transformation technologies for         
                                                          in the course of         biorefining wood into    
                                                          industrial processing to ethanol and other        
                                                          improve forest health,   chemicals, fiber, and    
                                                          utilize mixed species of structural materials in  
                                                          uneven acres, and        much higher yields than  
                                                          increase efficiency of   are currently possible.  
                                                          conversion.                                       
                                                                                   Problem: Need for        
                                                          Activities: Studies of   increased understanding  
                                                          the molecular            of the biogenesis and    
                                                          architecture of cell     molecular architecture   
                                                          walls in wood and the    of wood cell walls,      
                                                          manner in which it is    their response to        
                                                          transformed by the       environmental stresses,  
                                                          various biological and   and their transformation 
                                                          industrial processes     in the course of         
                                                          that break down the      industrial processing to 
                                                          native structures.       improve forest health,   
                                                                                   utilize mixed species of 
                                                                                   uneven age, and increase 
                                                                                   efficiency of            
                                                                                   conversion.              
                          Activities: Continue some                                Activities: Studies of   
                          efforts directed at the                                  the molecular            
                          development of analytical                                architecture of cell     
                          procedures currently underway                            walls in wood and its    
                          and develop a new effort with a                          relationship to the      
                          focus on the problem of color                            process of biogenesis.   
                          in certain products.                                     
                                                                                   
                          Problem: Characterization of                             
                          wood components.                                         
                                                                                   
                          Activities: Studies of the                               
                          molecular architecture of cell                           
                          walls in wood, and the manner                            
                          in which it is transformed by                            
                          the various biological and                               
                          industrial processes which                               
                          break down the native                                    
                          structures using novel methods                           
                          for characterizing the solid                             
                          state and states of molecular                            
                          aggregation.                                             
4710                                                                               
                          Fiber Processes and Products,   Fiber Processing and     Fiber Processing and     
                          1990-97                         Paper Performance,       Paper Performance,       
                                                          1997-2002                2002-07                  
Areas of research         National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To improve the efficiency with  To conserve fiber        To conserve forest       
                          which pulps derived from the    resources by developing  resources through paper  
                          nation's wood and recycled      the knowledge and        performance research     
                          fiber resources are converted   technology needed to     aimed at increasing the  
                          to fiber-based products.        better utilize a fiber   use of small-diameter    
                                                          supply from a wide range and underutilized tree   
                                                          of biomass resources,    species, recycled fiber, 
                                                          increase the use of      and a wide range of      
                                                          recycled fiber, improve  biomass resources        
                                                          paper performance, and   addressing environmental 
                                                          address environmental    and energy concerns.     
                                                          concerns.                
Research     Problem: Need to improve        Problem: New technologies are  Problem: Basic knowledge and
problem and  papermaking processing to       needed to better utilize fiber technology is needed to
activities   reduce fiber needs and increase from a wide range of biomass   increase the use of
             the use of underutilized fiber  resources for pulp and         small-diameter and
             sources.                        papermaking to improve forest  underutilized tree species for
                                             health and conditions to       pulp and paper products to
             Activities: Develop ways to     utilize wood now going to      improve forest health and
             permit basis weight to be       waste streams.                 reduce fire risk.
             reduced without decreasing                                            
             strength and opacity. An        Activities: Mechanical pulps   Activities: Substituting
             approach to this problem would  are currently made from a      mechanical pulp for chemical
             be to apply press-drying        small number of select         pulp is one way to extend the
             principles.                     softwood species, and only one current wood supply. There are
                                             or two low-density hardwoods.  some indications that juvenile
             Problem: Need to develop the    There are some indications     wood, which predominates in
             technologies to increase the    that juvenile wood, which      thinnings and small-diameter
             use potential of high-yield     predominates in thinnings and  trees, might be advantageous
             mechanical pulps from a wide    small-diameter trees, might be for mechanical pulp production.
             variety of hardwood and         advantageous for mechanical           
             softwood species.               pulp production.               Problem: New high-yield pulping
                                                                            technologies are needed to
             Activities: Research will be    Problem: New technologies are  reduce energy consumption,
             conducted to minimize reduction needed to overcome undesirable improve paper quality, and
             in optical properties whenever  environmental impacts in       overcome undesirable
             strength properties are         converting wood to paper and   environmental impacts in
             increased.                      paperboard.                    converting wood to paper and
                                                                            paperboard.
             Problem: Need to develop the    Activities: Investigate the           
             technologies to increase the    use of fungal pretreatment for Activities: Investigate
             use of recycled wastepaper.     kraft pulping. Fungal          enzyme-assisted grafting of
                                             pretreatment of the wood chips carboxylic acid groups on the
             Activities: Use a               enhances the strength          surface of lignin-containing
             materials-science approach to   properties of the paper while  pulp fibers as a post treatment
             develop a better understanding  reducing the toxicity of the   for biotreated
             of the role of solid-liquid     waste stream for mechanical    thermal-mechanical pulps.
             interfacial phenomena in        and sulfite pulping, as well          
             separation of synthetic         as reducing the consumption of Problem: New technologies are
             adhesive contaminants from      mechanical pulping energy.     needed to overcome barriers to
             wastepaper pulp slurries.                                      increased recycling of
                                             Problem: New recycling         recovered papers.
             Problem: Need to improve        technologies are needed to            
             product performance of paper    overcome barriers to increased Activities: New approaches are
             and the efficient use of fiber  use of wastepaper.             needed to better use fibers
             resources through chemical                                     from recovered paper and paper
             treatments and incorporation on Activities: The technology for mill residues. The major
             nonwood components.             using enzymes to remove ink    contaminant categories are
                                             from toners needs to be        inks, adhesives, plastics, and
             Activities: Part of the         transferred to industrial      inorganic materials.
             solution to the problem of      practice. The recycling of            
             insufficient opacity of         paper into pulp suitable for   Problem: Need for a fundamental
             low-basis weight papers         papermaking requires numerous  understanding of the
             involves the use of nonfiber    steps of several unit          relationship between fiber
             components as fillers and       operations to produce an       properties and paper
             opacifiers.                     acceptable product.            performance to optimize fiber
                                                                            use and extend forest
                                             Problem: Greater knowledge is  resources.
                                             needed to overcome limits in          
                                             our fundamental understanding  Activities: An improved
                                             of the relationship between    understanding of how the
                                             fiber properties and paper     performance of corrugated
                                             performance to optimize fiber  containers relates to paper
                                             use and extend forest          properties can provide the
                                             resources.                     rationale to differentiate
                                                                            among alternative fiber
                                             Activities: An improved        sources.
                                             understanding of how the       
                                             performance of corrugated      
                                             containers relates to paper    
                                             properties can provide the     
                                             rationale to differentiate     
                                             among alternative fiber        
                                             sources.                       
4712                                                                               
                          Institute for Microbial and     Institute for Microbial  Institute for Microbial  
                          Biochemical Technology, 1991-97 and Biochemical          and Biochemical          
                                                          Technology, 1992-2002    Technology, 2002-07      
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To explore, through basic and   To explore, through      Develop biotechnology    
                          applied research, the           basic and applied        for wood and fiber       
                          potentials of biotechnology in  research, the potentials conversion through       
                          wood conversions.               of biotechnology in wood fundamental and applied  
                                                          conversions, and to      research that            
                                                          better understand the    contributes to efficient 
                                                          roles of such            utilization and improved 
                                                          conversions in enhancing health of our forests.   
                                                          our environment.         
Research problem and      Problem: Need to understand the Problem: Need to better  Problem: Need for        
activities                aromatic-mineralizing system of understand oxidative     technologies for         
                          lignin-degrading fungi to       systems in wood decay    efficient and economical 
                          permit its use in many          fungi to permit their    bioconversion of forest  
                          applications, as well as its    use in many              thinnings,               
                          appreciation as a key component applications, including  unmerchantable timber    
                          of the earth's carbon cycle.    improvement of forest    and mixed species to     
                                                          health.                  produce a full array of  
                          Activities: Basic                                        wood-based materials     
                          investigations into the         Activities: Basic        ranging from fiber to    
                          mechanism of lignin degradation investigations into the  constitutive polymers    
                          by selected fungi.              mechanisms of lignin and and chemicals.           
                                                          cellulose degradation by                          
                          Problem: Need for a greater     selected white rot and   Activities: Increase the 
                          understanding of the            brown rot fungi.         efficiency of            
                          biochemistry, physiology, and                            bioconversion to ethanol 
                          engineering of xenobiotic       Problem: Research is     by engineering the       
                          degradation by lignin-degrading needed to provide basic  metabolic pathways for   
                          fungi to allow use of these     information and          sugar utilization and    
                          organisms in bioremediation     operating conditions for fermentation.            
                          technologies.                   enzymatic processing of  
                                                          wood fiber.              
                          Activities: Gain an                                      
                          understanding of fungal                                  
                          physiology, fungal ecology, and                          
                          microbial engineering.                                   
                                                                                   
                          Problem: Need to identify the                            
                          best enzymes and necessary                               
                          conditions for their action to                           
                          permit their use in improving                            
                          properties of virgin and                                 
                          recycled fibers.                                         
                          Activities: Basic and applied   Activities: Basic and    Problem: Need to         
                          studies on the use of microbial applied studies on the   identify and understand  
                          enzymes to treat virgin and     discovery and use of     the oxidative systems of 
                          recycled fibers.                microbial and low-grade  wood decay fungi to      
                                                          enzymes to treat virgin  increase the efficacy of 
                          Problem: Need to evaluate       and recycled fibers,     these naturally          
                          completely the promising        wood residues from       occurring organisms in   
                          concept of biopulping to        timber harvest, or       bioconversion            
                          determine its technical         excess growth.           technologies, devising   
                          feasibility.                                             new environmentally      
                                                          Problem: Need            sound ways to protect    
                          Activities: Biopulping research fundamental knowledge of wood in use, and         
                          is divided into research teams, the molecular genetics   accelerating             
                          each charged with a specific    of                       decomposition of forest  
                          part of the overall effort:     lignocellulose-degrading litter.                  
                          fungal, pulp and paper,         fungi for their optimal                           
                          engineering and scale-up,       biotechnological use.    Activities: Basic        
                          enzyme, and molecular genetics                           investigations into the  
                          teams.                          Activities: Identify and mechanisms of lignin and 
                                                          characterize key genes   cellulose degradation by 
                          Problem: Need to develop        involved in the          selected white rot and   
                          fundamental knowledge           degradation of lignin    brown rot fungi.         
                          concerning the molecular        and related aromatic                              
                          genetics of ligninolytic fungi  hydrocarbons, cellulose, Problem: Need to develop 
                          for biotechnical exploitation.  and hemicellulose.       basic information and    
                                                                                   operating conditions for 
                          Activities: Elucidate the       Problem: Need to improve efficient and effective  
                          structure, organization, and    processing and           enzymatic and microbial  
                          regulation of fungal genes      fermentation technology  processing of wood and   
                          involved in lignocellulose      to convert low-grade     wood fiber.              
                          degradation.                    lignocellulosic                                   
                                                          materials into fuels and Activities: Basic and    
                          Problem: Lack of fundamental    chemicals.               applied studies on the   
                          knowledge of the enzymes and                             discovery and use of     
                          conditions necessary for        Activities: Examine the  microorganisms and       
                          producing fermentable           effects of microbial     enzymes to treat virgin  
                          hydrolystes; and need to        cellulases and           fibers, recycled fibers, 
                          improve microbial strains       hemicellulases on        and wood residues.       
                          before fermentation of the      pretreated wood and                               
                          principal hemicellulosic sugars lignocellulosic residues Problem: Need to         
                          is economical.                  with the objective of    understand the           
                                                          maximizing sugar yields  functional genomics of   
                          Activities: Examine the effects and concentrations.      lignocellulose-degrading 
                          of microbial cellulases and                              fungi to optimize these  
                          hemicellulases on pretreated                             organisms for            
                          wood and lignocellulosic                                 bioprocessing and        
                          residues with the objective of                           bioconversion of wood.   
                          maximizing sugar yields and                                                       
                          concentrations.                                          Activities: Identify and 
                                                                                   characterize key genes   
                                                                                   involved in the          
                                                                                   degradation of lignin    
                                                                                   and related aromatic     
                                                                                   hydrocarbons, cellulose, 
                                                                                   and hemicellulose.       
4714                                                                               
                          Engineering Properties of Wood, Engineering Properties   Engineering Properties   
                          1991-98                         of Wood, 1998-2004       and Structures, 2004-09  
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To establish methods and data   As part of the Forest    To contribute to the     
                          for the improved                Products Laboratory's    conservation and         
                          characterization of the         mission to conserve wood productivity of the      
                          physical and mechanical         and forest resources,    nation's forest          
                          properties of wood that are     the mission of the       resources by             
                          important in engineering        research work unit is to establishing methods and 
                          design.                         establish methods and    gathering data for the   
                                                          gather data for the      improved                 
                                                          improved                 characterization of the  
                                                          characterization of the  mechanical and physical  
                                                          mechanical and physical  properties of solid sawn 
                                                          properties of solid sawn and composite structural 
                                                          and composite structural products that are        
                                                          products that are        important in engineering 
                                                          important in engineering design and to foster     
                                                          design.                  their efficient          
                                                                                   utilization in wood      
                                                                                   building systems.        
Research problem and      Problem: Physical and           Problem: Properties and  Problem: Properties and  
activities                mechanical properties of clear  grading of solid-sawn    grading of solid-sawn    
                          wood.                           lumber.                  products.                
                                                                                                            
                          Activities: Investigate wood    Activities: Extend the   Activities: Promote      
                          quality effects on properties   nation's forest resource public safety and        
                          and broadening of fundamental   by developing and        support management of    
                          property data required as input applying better grading  the nation's forest      
                          for analytical modeling of      procedures to structural resources by developing  
                          material or structural          lumber.                  and applying better      
                          performance.                                             grading and property     
                                                          Problem: Properties of   assignment procedures    
                          Problem: Properties of          structural composite     for solid-sawn           
                          commercial lumber.              products.                structural wood          
                                                                                   products.                
                          Activities: Focus over the next Activities: Extend the                            
                          2 years on getting the last of  nation's forest          Problem: Properties of   
                          the descriptive information     resources by developing  structural composite     
                          published.                      analytical models and    products.                
                                                          gathering data for                                
                          Problem: Principles of grading  predicting the end-use   Activities: Promote      
                          and property assignment for     performance of composite public safety and        
                          solid sawn and composite        structural products.     support management of    
                          lumber.                                                  the nation's forest      
                                                          Problem: Serviceability  resources by developing  
                          Activities: Develop optimum     of solid and composite   better methods for       
                          techniques for sorting lumber,  products.                predicting the field     
                          predicting its mechanical                                performance of           
                          properties, and assuring the    Activities: Extend the   engineered wood          
                          reliability of these products   nation's forest resource composites as a function 
                          in practice.                    by developing better     of their constitutive    
                                                          methods for              components.              
                          Problem: Processing, treating,  characterizing the                                
                          and environmental influences on end-use performance of   Problem: Serviceability  
                          design properties of lumber.    structural lumber        of solid sawn and        
                                                          products as a function   composite wood products. 
                          Activities: Develop scientific  of environmental and                              
                          and technical understanding of  industrial treatment     Activities: Improve      
                          the effects of processing,      processes.               public safety and        
                          treating, and environmental                              support management of    
                          factors of the mechanical       Problem: Fundamental     the nation's forest      
                          properties of lumber.           research.                resources by developing  
                                                                                   better methods for       
                                                          Activities: Develop data characterizing the       
                                                          and procedures for       end-use performance of   
                                                          characterizing the       structural products as a 
                                                          fundamental physical and function of              
                                                          mechanical properties of environmental change,    
                                                          wood as a basis for use  time-dependent behavior, 
                                                          in other problems, and   and industrial treating  
                                                          for use by researchers   processes.               
                                                          outside the work unit.                            
                                                                                   Problem: Wood drying and 
                                                                                   heat sterilization.      
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Develop      
                                                                                   economical wood drying   
                                                                                   strategies aimed at      
                                                                                   promoting value-added    
                                                                                   uses for small-diameter  
                                                                                   softwood and low-value,  
                                                                                   underutilized hardwood   
                                                                                   timber, with both the    
                                                                                   established lumber       
                                                                                   industry and small,      
                                                                                   rural, community-based   
                                                                                   businesses as the        
                                                                                   targeted users of the    
                                                                                   technology.              
                                                                                   Problem: Properties of   
                                                                                   nontraditional wood      
                                                                                   products used in         
                                                                                   structural applications. 
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Characterize 
                                                                                   the properties of wood   
                                                                                   products for safe and    
                                                                                   efficient design of      
                                                                                   structures and efficient 
                                                                                   use of the wood          
                                                                                   resource.                
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Problem: Structural      
                                                                                   performance of           
                                                                                   wood-building systems.   
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Better       
                                                                                   understand the           
                                                                                   structural performance   
                                                                                   of wood-building systems 
                                                                                   to better understand the 
                                                                                   use of traditional       
                                                                                   materials in             
                                                                                   residential, commercial, 
                                                                                   and industrial buildings 
                                                                                   and provide a better     
                                                                                   basis for using wood     
                                                                                   composites, reused, and  
                                                                                   recycled materials.      
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Problem: Performance of  
                                                                                   wood transportation      
                                                                                   systems.                 
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Improve      
                                                                                   existing wood            
                                                                                   transportation           
                                                                                   structures, develop new  
                                                                                   systems that conserve    
                                                                                   and improve wood use and 
                                                                                   improve the adequacy and 
                                                                                   condition of the U.S.    
                                                                                   transportation           
                                                                                   infrastructure.          
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Problem: Fundamental     
                                                                                   research.                
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Develop data 
                                                                                   and procedures for       
                                                                                   characterizing the       
                                                                                   fundamental physical and 
                                                                                   mechanical properties of 
                                                                                   wood as required for use 
                                                                                   in the other problem     
                                                                                   areas, and for use by    
                                                                                   researchers outside of   
                                                                                   the work unit.           
4716                                                                               
                          Engineered Wood Products and    Engineered Wood Products Building Moisture and    
                          Structures, 1992-99             and Structures,          Durability, 2005-10      
                                                          1999-2005                
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To extend the wood resource     To conserve the wood     To extend the service    
                          through engineering technology  resource through         life of wood products in 
                          for effective design and use of engineering technology   buildings through        
                          wood and wood-based materials   and contribute to        improved building design 
                          in structures.                  effective design and use and operation.           
                                                          of wood and wood-based   
                                                          materials in structures. 
Research problem and      Problem: Engineered wood        Problem: Properties of   Problem: Building        
activities                products.                       engineered wood          moisture design          
                                                          products.                methodology.             
                          Activities: Gain the knowledge                                                    
                          necessary to use                Activities: Characterize Activities: Develop a    
                          reliability-based design, which the properties of        performance-based        
                          primarily involves structural   engineered wood products moisture design approach 
                          properties; however, the effect for safe, efficient      for wood frame buildings 
                          of moisture content changes on  design of structures,    that is firmly based on  
                          dimensional stability is also a and efficient use of the technical information    
                          concern with some types of      forest resource by       and engineering          
                          engineered wood products.       determining the          principles.              
                                                          suitability of various                            
                          Problem: Engineered wood        materials and designs    Problem: Wetting and     
                          subsystems.                     and their performance    drying of wood-frame     
                                                          characteristics in       buildings and building   
                          Activities: Formulate           engineered wood          components.              
                          technology for characterizing   products.                                         
                          the structural performance of                            Activities: Provide      
                          light-frame subsystems in terms Problem: Structural      information to better    
                          of the properties of the        performance of           predict the potential    
                          lumber, panel products, and     wood-building systems.   for mold and decay in    
                          connections used in their                                wood building            
                          construction.                   Activities: Create new   components.              
                                                          technologies,                                     
                          Problem: Engineered building    guidelines, and          Problem: Moisture and    
                          systems.                        knowledge that improve   thermal properties of    
                                                          the quality, safety,     wood products.           
                          Activities: Relate the          durability and                                    
                          performance of major            reliability of           Activities: Build a      
                          components-floors, walls, and   buildings, particularly  database for wood        
                          roof-to the performance of the  housing.                 products, with a special 
                          entire structure. Develop                                emphasis on wood         
                          computer programs that can be   Problem: Moisture        composites. Make the     
                          used by engineers.              control in buildings.    Forest Products          
                                                                                   Laboratory a center for  
                          Problem: Engineered timber      Activities: Create new   collecting and           
                          bridge systems.                 technologies and         documenting reliable,    
                                                          guidelines that minimize unbiased property data   
                          Activities: Develop new         the potential for        for use in hygrothermal  
                          technology for engineered       moisture damage to the   models and building      
                          timber bridge systems to        structure while          design.                  
                          provide economical alternatives maintaining the energy                            
                          to bridges of other materials   efficiency of the        Problem: Durability of   
                          and assist in implementing the  building and indoor air  composite wood products. 
                          technology in national design   quality for the                                   
                          standards.                      occupants.               Activities: Industry     
                                                                                   needs assistance in the  
                                                          Problem: Performance of  development of better    
                                                          wood transportation      industrywide standards   
                                                          structures.              and testing methods (for 
                                                                                   hardboard and oriented   
                                                          Activities: Improve      strandboard (OSB)        
                                                          existing wood            siding, and more         
                                                          transportation           recently, with OSB       
                                                          structures and develop   sheathing) that would    
                                                          new systems that         provide a more           
                                                          conserve and improve     consistent product with  
                                                          wood use, and improve    greater durability.      
                                                          the adequacy and         
                                                          condition of the U.S.    
                                                          transportation           
                                                          infrastructure.          
                          Problem: In-place evaluation of                          
                          structures.                                              
                                                                                   
                          Activities: Improved methods                             
                          are needed to determine the                              
                          in-place capacity of existing                            
                          structures in order to extend                            
                          their life.                                              
                                                                                   
                          Problem: Moisture management in                          
                          buildings.                                               
                                                                                   
                          Activities: Develop better                               
                          criteria for the design and                              
                          operation of energy-efficient                            
                          wood buildings for satisfactory                          
                          performance with regard to                               
                          moisture.                                                
Research work unit and                                                             
plan components                                                                    
4719                                                                               
                          Wood Processing and Drying      Wood Engineering and     Condition Assessment and 
                          Systems, 1993-98                Drying Systems Design    Rehabilitation of        
                                                          Criteria, 1998-2004      Structures, 2004-05      
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   Develop primary wood processing Develop nondestructive   Develop nondestructive   
                          systems that have minimum       evaluation technologies, evaluation technologies, 
                          impact on our environment and   engineering design       structural analysis      
                          enhance the value and yield of  criteria, and drying     procedures, inspection   
                          products obtained from forest   systems that facilitate  methods, and             
                          resources.                      use of underutilized     rehabilitation           
                                                          materials and help       procedures for wood      
                                                          conserve the forest      structures.              
                                                          resource.                
Research problem and      Problem: Need to develop        Problem: Need to develop Problem: Need to develop 
activities                analytical tools to define      drying technologies for  baseline analysis        
                          product recovery.               economical use of the    methods and information  
                                                          changing resource base   for designing and        
                          Activities: Development of a    while reducing energy    inspecting wood          
                          series of computer models of    costs and environmental  structures.              
                          key processing subsystems.      concerns.                                         
                          These models will be developed                           Activities: Establish    
                          by using existing processes and Activities: Work toward  baseline analysis        
                          quality control information     developing new           methods for design and   
                          supplemented with mill product  strategies by, among     inspection of wood       
                          yield information.              other things, estimating structures. Research     
                                                          changed or previously    will be applicable to    
                          Problem: A lack of              unknown drying           building codes to allow  
                          understanding of the dynamic    characteristics and      for new wood-based       
                          variables of sawing hinders     developing fundamental   materials, advanced      
                          improvements in sawing          heat and mass transfer   connections, and         
                          technology.                     information with an eye  inspection efficiencies. 
                                                          toward computer                                   
                          Activities: Basic research      simulations of kiln      Problem: Need to develop 
                          aimed at developing an          drying.                  and evaluate new         
                          understanding of the primary                             nondestructive           
                          dynamic variables in sawing,    Problem: Need to develop technologies for         
                          and the means to control them.  engineering design       assigning engineering    
                                                          analysis methods and     properties to wood       
                          Problem: There is a need for    information for          products and structural  
                          improved technology and         designing efficient wood systems.                 
                          techniques for manufacturing    structures.                                       
                          and drying quality veneer.                               Activities: Develop      
                                                          Activities: Establish    nondestructive           
                          Activities: The Modular Veneer  methods and data for     evaluation and           
                          Press dryer has demonstrated    designing efficient and  assessment technologies  
                          the capability of reducing      reliable wood            and to understand the    
                          buckling when drying fine       structures. Applicable   influence of             
                          hardwood veneers. Final         to building codes to (1) environmental variables  
                          engineering design efforts will ensure adequate design   on their reliability.    
                          lead into commercial            for high winds and                                
                          development.                    earthquakes, and (2)     Problem: Need to develop 
                                                          allow for new wood-based new procedures for       
                          Problem: There is a need for    materials and design     in-place assessment and  
                          better drying techniques,       efficiencies.            new methods of field     
                          appropriate pre-sorting                                  repair to extend service 
                          technology, and tools to better Problem: Need to develop life of timber bridges.  
                          predict and control the         and evaluate new                                  
                          response of lumber to kiln      nondestructive           Activities: Despite      
                          drying.                         technologies for         technological gains for  
                                                          assigning engineering    the inspection of other  
                                                          properties.              materials, inspection    
                                                                                   methods and equipment    
                                                          Activities: Develop      for timber               
                                                          nondestructive           transportation           
                                                          techniques that provide  structures have remained 
                                                          information regarding    virtually unchanged for  
                                                          the properties of wood   the past 50 years.       
                                                          products used in a wide                           
                                                          variety of applications  Problem: Need to develop 
                                                          and under a wide range   new design procedures    
                                                          of environmental         for repairing            
                                                          conditions.              components, assemblies,  
                                                                                   and systems.             
                                                          Problem: Need to develop                          
                                                          new design procedures    Activities: Provide      
                                                          for repairing            fundamental knowledge of 
                                                          components, assemblies,  how to assess the        
                                                          and systems.             condition of a           
                                                                                   structure, how the decay 
                                                          Activities: Provide      and defects affect the   
                                                          fundamental knowledge of strength and reliability 
                                                          how to assess the        of the structure, and    
                                                          condition of a           how to repair the        
                                                          structure, how the decay structure.               
                                                          and defects affect the   
                                                          strength and reliability 
                                                          of the structure, and    
                                                          how to repair the        
                                                          structure.               
                          Activities: Develop physical                             
                          property data and analytical                             
                          methods to predict the response                          
                          of wood to drying in terms of                            
                          drying time, moisture content                            
                          gradients, and stress; and                               
                          establish relationships between                          
                          these responses and relevant                             
                          material and process variables.                          
                                                                                   
                          Problem: There is a need for                             
                          better information on                                    
                          environmental aspects of wood                            
                          drying and environmentally                               
                          appropriate drying technology.                           
                                                                                   
                          Activities: Develop and                                  
                          transfer information and                                 
                          readily applied technology to                            
                          promote environmentally                                  
                          responsible lumber-drying                                
                          technologies.                                            
4722                      Modification of                 Modified Lignocellulosic Modified Lignocellulosic 
                          Lignocellulosics for Advanced   Materials, 1997-2002     Materials, 2002-07       
                          Materials and New Uses, 1993-97                          
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To develop advanced paper-based To develop advanced      To develop advanced      
                          products and composite          environmentally friendly environmentally friendly 
                          materials based on sustainable  composite materials from composite materials from 
                          property enhanced bio-fibers    chemically and           chemically and           
                          alone or in combination with    physically modified      physically modified      
                          other resources.                wood-based resources     wood-based resources     
                                                          alone or in combination  alone or in combination  
                                                          with other resources to  with other materials to  
                                                          extend the use of our    extend the use of our    
                                                          forest resources.        forest resources.        
Research problem and      Problem: Need to understand     Problem: Need to         Problem: Need to         
activities                chemical and physical           understand the           understand the           
                          properties of lignocellulosics  relationship between the relationship between the 
                          to identify new sources of      chemical and physical    chemical and physical    
                          polymeric feedstocks and        properties of wood-based properties of wood-based 
                          advanced composite materials.   materials and final      materials and final      
                                                          composite properties to  composite properties to  
                          Activities: Determining         identify new sources of  identify new sources of  
                          chemical and physical           polymeric feedstocks and polymeric feedstocks and 
                          properties of the wide          advanced composite       advanced composite       
                          varieties of biobased fibers    materials.               materials.               
                          that can be used in combination                                                   
                          with wood-based fiber for       Activities: Determining  Activities: Determine    
                          composite materials.            chemical and physical    chemical and physical    
                                                          properties of the wide   properties of the wide   
                          Problem: Need to understand     varieties of             varieties of             
                          chemical and morphological      lignocellulosic-based    lignocellulosic-based    
                          modifications of                fibers that can be used  fibers that can be used  
                          lignocellulosics to improve     in combination with wood in combination with      
                          properties and to maximize      fiber for composite      other materials to       
                          end-use performance of          materials.               produce new generations  
                          paper-based products and                                 of composite materials.  
                          biobased materials.             Problem: Need chemical                            
                                                          and structural           Problem: Need for        
                          Activities: Chemically modify   modifications of         chemical and structural  
                          biobased resources to enhance   wood-based materials to  modifications of         
                          properties such as dimensional  improve properties and   wood-based materials to  
                          stability and to characterize   to maximize end-use      improve properties and   
                          the resistance of wood          performance of biobased  to maximize end-use      
                          composites after modification   composite materials.     performance of biobased  
                          when they are exposed to                                 composite materials.     
                          adverse environments.           Activities: Chemically                            
                                                          modify lignocellulosic   Activities: Chemically   
                          Problem: Improved methodologies resources to enhance     modify lignocellulosic   
                          are needed for the development  properties such as       resources to enhance     
                          of ligocellulosic and           dimensional stability    properties such as water 
                          nonlignocellulosic composites   and to characterize the  repellency, and to       
                          by understanding the materials  resistance of wood       characterize the         
                          science and the                 composites after         resistance of wood       
                          matrix/interface morphology of  modification when they   composites after         
                          these resources.                are exposed to adverse   modification when they   
                                                          environments.            are exposed to adverse   
                          Activities: Provide data for                             environments.            
                          industry to produce a whole new Problem: Improved                                 
                          line of value-added products    techniques are needed    Problem: Improved        
                          taking advantage of the         for better understanding techniques are needed to 
                          properties of many different    of the interface and     convert forest biomass   
                          types of resources.             interphase chemistry     into geotextiles and     
                                                          between wood-based       filters and to maximize  
                                                          resources and other      effectiveness in soil    
                                                          resources to improve     stabilization and        
                                                          surface interactions.    removal of contaminates  
                                                                                   from water.              
                                                          Activities: Provide data                          
                                                          for industry to produce  Activities: Use          
                                                          a whole new line of      small-diameter trees,    
                                                          value-added products     waste biomass from our   
                                                          taking advantages of the forests and agricultural 
                                                          properties of many       land, break them down    
                                                          different types of       into usable particles    
                                                          resources.               and fibers, and form     
                                                                                   geotextiles and filters. 
                                                          Problem: Environmentally                          
                                                          friendly technologies    Problem: Improved        
                                                          are lacking for the      technologies are needed  
                                                          development of new       to understand nature's   
                                                          wood-based composite     chemical and biological  
                                                          materials that will lead degradation mechanisms   
                                                          to more efficient use of and to interfere with    
                                                          our forest resources.    these degradation        
                                                                                   processes to extend the  
                                                          Activities: Develop      useful life of a         
                                                          technology that results  biobased composite.      
                                                          in environmentally       
                                                          friendly lignocellulosic 
                                                          composite materials.     
                                                                                   Activities: Develop an   
                                                                                   understanding of the     
                                                                                   chemistries involved in  
                                                                                   the degradation of wood  
                                                                                   and use that information 
                                                                                   to develop new durable   
                                                                                   products that are        
                                                                                   environmentally          
                                                                                   friendly.                
4723                                                                               
                          Wood Preservation, 1994-97      Wood Preservation and    Wood Preservation and    
                                                          Fire Research, 1997-2002 Fire Safety Engineering, 
                                                                                   2002-05                  
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To enhance the durability of    To develop fire safety   To improve the           
                          wood through the development of and wood preservation    durability and fire      
                          environmentally innocuous       data, methodologies, and safety of forest         
                          products and technologies.      technologies that        products in the context  
                                                          improve or facilitate    of changing              
                                                          value-added utilization  environmental and        
                                                          and recycling of wood    societal needs, thereby  
                                                          products.                sustaining forests, the  
                                                                                   economy, and the quality 
                                                                                   of life.                 
Research problem and      Problem: Need to develop        Problem: Need to develop Problem: Need to develop 
activities                innovative, environmentally     new environmentally      the data and models for  
                          preferable preservative systems preferable preservative  fire safety engineering  
                          for the production of durable   systems for durable wood of forest products in a  
                          wood products.                  products.                performance-based        
                                                                                   building code            
                          Activities: Identify and        Activities: Identify and environment.             
                          develop preservative treatments develop treatments to                             
                          to provide wood products that   provide wood products    Activities: Obtain       
                          meet multiple performance       that meet multiple       property and validation  
                          requirements (such as           performance requirements data and simulate        
                          durability) while also          such as durability,      full-scale fire          
                          satisfying such requirements as while also satisfying    scenarios with computer  
                          environmental safety, ease of   such requirements as     fire models. Primary     
                          disposal, and recycling.        environmental safety,    emphasis will be the     
                                                          ease of disposal, and    growth of a fire from    
                          Problem: Need to develop new    recycling.               ignition to "flashover." 
                          methodologies for abbreviating                                                    
                          the time necessary to perform   Problem: Need to develop Problem: Need to         
                          evaluations of the long-term    methodologies for the    document and optimize    
                          performance of wood             accurate prediction of   fire safety of           
                          preservatives.                  long-term performance of engineered wood products 
                                                          durable wood species and in structural            
                          Activities: Develop             treatments.              applications.            
                          methodologies that will permit                                                    
                          the rapid and quantitative      Activities: Develop      Activities: Obtain data  
                          evaluation of long-term         methodologies that       on the components of the 
                          preservation performance.       permit rapid and         engineered wood          
                                                          quantitative evaluation  products, develop models 
                          Problem: Lack of adequate       of long-term             to better understand     
                          knowledge of preservative       preservative             their fire performance,  
                          processing technologies for     performance.             and develop              
                          producing durable products from                          recommendations on how   
                          our changing forest resources.  Problem: Need to improve to optimize their fire   
                                                          the treatability and     performance.             
                          Activities: Research will       durability of                                     
                          address solid and composite     underutilized species    Problem: Need to improve 
                          wood products and will include  and new wood composites  the survivability of     
                          investigations of treatments    and the recycling of     wood structures in the   
                          for softwood and hardwood       existing treated         wildland-urban           
                          species that are currently      materials.               interface.               
                          underutilized.                                                                    
                                                          Activities: Research     Activities: Reduce the   
                                                          will address solid and   fire hazards in the      
                                                          composite wood products  wildland-urban interface 
                                                          and will include         by improving the quality 
                                                          investigations of        and flexibility of fire  
                                                          treatments for softwood  safety recommendations   
                                                          and hardwood species     for wood structures.     
                                                          that are currently       Such recommendations are 
                                                          underutilized.           part of the National     
                                                                                   Fire Plan community      
                                                          Problem: Need to develop assistance programs.     
                                                          information and                                   
                                                          methodologies that will  Problem: Improved        
                                                          improve the service life methods of evaluation    
                                                          of wood structures in    and analysis of test     
                                                          the wildland-urban       samples and data are     
                                                          interface.               needed for timely and    
                                                                                   accurate prediction of   
                                                          Activities: Research     long-term performance of 
                                                          efforts will emphasize   durable forest products. 
                                                          the responsibility of                             
                                                          homeowners and supply    Activities:              
                                                          guidelines concerning    Methodologies for        
                                                          the structure and        evaluating the           
                                                          immediate surrounding    durability of forest     
                                                          areas.                   products include the     
                                                                                   soil bottle test, the    
                                                          Problem: Need to develop larger-scale fungal      
                                                          fire safety data and     cellar, and the field    
                                                          methodologies to         plots. We anticipate     
                                                          preserve or expand the   assessing potential      
                                                          use of wood products     improvements to all      
                                                          that conserve our wood   these levels of          
                                                          resources and use new    evaluations.             
                                                          timber resources.        
                                                                                   
                                                          Activities: Research     
                                                          emphasis will be on the  
                                                          ability of wood products 
                                                          to contribute to fire    
                                                          growth.                  
                                                                                   Problem: Need to reduce  
                                                                                   environmental impact of  
                                                                                   treated forest products. 
                                                                                   This problem area will   
                                                                                   have two main elements:  
                                                                                   new, more                
                                                                                   environmentally          
                                                                                   compatible treatments    
                                                                                   for wood protection and  
                                                                                   assessment, and          
                                                                                   reduction of             
                                                                                   preservative chemicals   
                                                                                   released into the        
                                                                                   environment.             
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Investigate  
                                                                                   various methods for      
                                                                                   reducing the levels of   
                                                                                   preservative chemicals   
                                                                                   in the wood.             
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Problem: Need to improve 
                                                                                   ability to treat a       
                                                                                   diverse range of species 
                                                                                   and underutilized        
                                                                                   small-diameter materials 
                                                                                   for treated wood         
                                                                                   applications.            
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Efforts to   
                                                                                   evaluate both            
                                                                                   conventional and         
                                                                                   alterative preservatives 
                                                                                   in a wide range of       
                                                                                   hardwood and softwood    
                                                                                   species will continue.   
4724                                                                               
                                                          Statistical Methods in   Statistical Methods in   
                                                          Wood and Fiber Research, Wood and Fiber Research, 
                                                          1998-2004                2004-05                  
Area of research                                          National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                                                   To enhance the integrity To enhance the integrity 
                                                          and efficiency of the    and efficiency of the    
                                                          Forest Products          Forest Products          
                                                          Laboratory's research    Laboratory's research    
                                                          efforts through the      efforts through the      
                                                          development, evaluation, development, evaluation, 
                                                          and promotion of modern  and promotion of modern  
                                                          statistical methods.     statistical methods.     
Research problem and                                      Problem: Need to enhance Problem: Need to enhance 
activities                                                the quality of wood      the quality of wood      
                                                          utilization research and utilization research and 
                                                          economic assessments.    economic assessments.    
                                                                                                            
                                                          Activities: Enhancing    Activities: Enhancing    
                                                          the Forest Products      the Forest Products      
                                                          Laboratory's research    Laboratory's research    
                                                          through collaborative    through collaborative    
                                                          research with other      research with other      
                                                          laboratory scientists,   laboratory scientists,   
                                                          professional support to  professional support to  
                                                          the scientists, and the  the scientists, and the  
                                                          transfer of              transfer of              
                                                          research-derived         research-derived         
                                                          technology in the form   technology in the form   
                                                          of user-friendly         of user-friendly         
                                                          computer programs that   computer programs that   
                                                          provide new capabilities provide new capabilities 
                                                          to the scientists.       to the scientists.       
                                                                                                            
                                                          Problem: Need to improve Problem: Need to improve 
                                                          the statistical modeling statistical modeling of  
                                                          of properties,           properties, processing   
                                                          processing, and the      and performance of wood, 
                                                          performance of wood,     fiber, and composites.   
                                                          fiber, and composites.                            
                                                                                   Activities: Research     
                                                          Activities: Develop      efforts focus on         
                                                          improved statistical     developing the improved  
                                                          modeling methodology     statistical modeling     
                                                          needed by the Forest     methodology needed by    
                                                          Products Laboratory's    the Forest Products      
                                                          research programs.       Laboratory's research    
                                                                                   programs and the         
                                                                                   evaluation of existing   
                                                                                   statistical methods.     
4725 (new research work                                                            Fire Safety, 2003-04     
unit Dec. 2003)                                                                    
Area of research                                                                   National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                                                                            To develop data,         
                                                                                   methodologies, and       
                                                                                   technologies needed to   
                                                                                   ensure that wood         
                                                                                   products and wood-based  
                                                                                   structures do not        
                                                                                   adversely contribute to  
                                                                                   the loss of life and     
                                                                                   property in fires.       
Research problem and                                                               Problem: Data and models 
activities                                                                         are required for fire    
                                                                                   safety engineering of    
                                                                                   forest products in a     
                                                                                   performance-based        
                                                                                   building code            
                                                                                   environment.             
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Obtain       
                                                                                   property and validation  
                                                                                   and simulate full-scale  
                                                                                   fire scenarios with      
                                                                                   computer models. Primary 
                                                                                   emphasis will be the     
                                                                                   growth of a fire from    
                                                                                   ignition to a flashover. 
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Problem: Need to         
                                                                                   document and optimize    
                                                                                   fire safety of           
                                                                                   engineered wood products 
                                                                                   in structural            
                                                                                   applications.            
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Obtain data  
                                                                                   on the components of the 
                                                                                   engineered wood          
                                                                                   products, develop models 
                                                                                   to better understand     
                                                                                   their fire performance,  
                                                                                   and develop              
                                                                                   recommendations on how   
                                                                                   to optimize their fire   
                                                                                   performance.             
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Problem: Need to improve 
                                                                                   survivability of wood    
                                                                                   structures in the        
                                                                                   wildland-urban           
                                                                                   interface.               
                                                                                                            
                                                                                   Activities: Developing   
                                                                                   improved safety          
                                                                                   recommendations will     
                                                                                   include databases of     
                                                                                   material properties,     
                                                                                   investigations of        
                                                                                   potential fire           
                                                                                   scenarios, and           
                                                                                   identification of design 
                                                                                   changes to reduce        
                                                                                   hazards.                 
4851                      Timber Demand and Technology    Timber Demand and        Timber Demand and        
                          Assessment Research, 1994-97    Technology Assessment    Technology Assessment    
                                                          Research, 1997-2002      Research, 2002-04        
Area of research          National                        National                 National                 
applicability                                                                      
Mission                   To develop long-term            To provide economic      To provide economic      
                          projections of consumption,     information, analysis,   information, analysis,   
                          production, price,              and projections          and projections          
                          manufacturing costs, and        indicating (1) how wood  indicating how and why   
                          conversion yields for pulp and  is used in the economy,  the markets and          
                          paper, fuel wood, hardwood      (2) how and why wood use technologies for wood    
                          lumber, and nonstructural panel changes over time, (3)   products change over     
                          markets; and manufacturing cost changes in the kinds and time, implications for   
                          and conversion yields for       amounts of wood and      natural resources        
                          softwood lumber and structural  fiber needs, (4) natural management, and selected 
                          panel markets; to assess new    resources management     broad environmental and  
                          technologies for converting     needs, (5) market        social impacts.          
                          timber into new or improved     equilibrium quantities   
                          paper and wood products.        and prices, and (6)      
                                                          selected environmental   
                                                          impacts.                 
Research problem and      Problem: Improvements in the    Problem: There is a lack Problem: There is a need 
activities                Forest Products Laboratory's    of understanding of the  to monitor market trends 
                          Pulpwood Model are needed to    effects of long-range    and improve the          
                          provide long-term projections   market equilibria,       understanding and        
                          of production, consumption,     production, and          modeling of market       
                          price, costs, and conversion    technological changes on equilibria, production   
                          yields for the pulp and paper   the pulp and paper       trends, and technology   
                          market.                         industry.                changes of the U.S. pulp 
                                                                                   and paper industry.      
                          Activities: Research will       Activities: Improving                             
                          provide long-term projections   modeling and analysis    Activities: Economic     
                          of regional consumption,        with the North American  modeling and analysis of 
                          production, and price in North  Pulp and Paper model for market trends in the     
                          America for pulpwood and        the Forest and Rangeland U.S. pulp and paper      
                          recycled fiber, wood, pulp, and Renewable Resources      sector for RPA           
                          paper and board.                Planning Act of 1974     assessments and other    
                                                          (RPA) assessments        purposes requires a      
                          Problem: New economic models    requires a range of      range of research        
                          are needed to provide long-term research studies and     studies and              
                          projections of production,      collaboration with       collaboration with       
                          consumption, price,             research partners.       research partners.       
                          installation costs, and                                                           
                          conversion yields for           Problem: There is a lack Problem: Improved        
                          residential and industrial wood of understanding of      understanding is         
                          energy markets.                 long-range production    required about the       
                                                          and technological        effect of production     
                          Activities: Economic models     changes in the solid     trends and technology    
                          will be developed to produce    wood industries and      changes in solid wood    
                          long-term projections of        solid wood end-use       industries and end-use   
                          installation costs and factors  industries.              industries on product    
                          for converting fuel wood to                              and wood needs.          
                          energy.                         Activities: Provide a                             
                                                          model of the solid wood  Activities: Develop      
                          Problem: Economic models are    sector to project        estimates of the amounts 
                          needed to provide long-term     interaction of end-use   of solid wood waste      
                          projections of production,      demand, technology       available in the United  
                          consumption, price, costs, and  change, and supply       States, and assess       
                          coercion yields/for lumber and  sources to determine     opportunities to         
                          panel markets.                  wood and fiber           increase its utilization 
                                                          requirements.            in recycled products.    
                          Activities: Provide long-term                                                     
                          projections on regional         Problem: There is a lack Problem: Readily         
                          consumption in North America    of readily available,    available, consistent    
                          for timber consumed in the      consistent information   information is needed on 
                          manufacture of hardwood lumber  on timber, wood          timber, wood products,   
                          and nonstructural panels.       products, and paper      and paper products       
                                                          products industries for  industries for forestry  
                                                          forestry and forest      and forest industry      
                                                          industry strategic       strategic planning.      
                                                          planning.                                         
                                                                                   Activities: Maintain     
                                                          Activities: Maintain     national data series     
                                                          national data series     using most appropriate   
                                                          using most appropriate   sources and develop new  
                                                          sources, and develop new data series, in          
                                                          data series, in          cooperation with users,  
                                                          cooperation with users,  to show new industry     
                                                          to show new industry     developments and adjust  
                                                          developments and adjust  series as needed.        
                                                          series as needed.                                 
                                                                                   Problem: Knowledge is    
                                                          Problem: There is a lack needed on the economic   
                                                          of understanding of the  viability of new         
                                                          effects of sustainable   technologies for         
                                                          forestry efforts and     converting wood and      
                                                          certification of forests fiber into new or        
                                                          and forest products on   improved paper and wood  
                                                          demand for and supply of products.                
                                                          wood in the United                                
                                                          States.                  Activities: Evaluate     
                                                                                   market prospects and     
                                                          Activities: Provide      material needs for       
                                                          information to aid in    alternative products     
                                                          projecting market trends that would use           
                                                          and technology change in small-diameter timber in 
                                                          the pulp and paper       the West.                
                                                          industry and the solid   
                                                          wood industry.           
                          Problem: Economic analysis is                            
                          needed to assess new                                     
                          technologies for converting                              
                          timber into new or improved                              
                          paper and wood products.                                 
                                                                                   
                          Activities: Assess new                                   
                          technologies for producing new                           
                          or improved paper and wood                               
                          products. The technologies                               
                          evaluated will be those                                  
                          developed at the Forest                                  
                          Products Laboratory.                                     

Source: Forest Service documents.

Note: The Forest Products Laboratory's research work unit activities for
4708, 4715, and 4718 are not listed in the table because they were
combined with other units during the 1990s.

Table 15: Conducted and Planned Activities for the Forest Service's
Research Work Units Associated with Research Stations

Research                                  
station-associated 
work unit, and     
plan components     Research work unit title, and period and activities covered
Northeastern                                                    
Research Station                                                
4701                                                            
                   Improved Processing    Efficient Use of the  Efficient Use of
                   Technology for         Northern Forest       the Northern
                   Hardwoods, 1990-97     Resource, 1997-2003   Forest Resource,
                                                                2003-08
Area of research   Eastern U.S. and       Northern U.S. and     Northern U.S.
applicability      wherever hardwood      hardwood growth and   and hardwood
                   lumber and products    processing regions    growth and
                   are processed.         nationwide.           processing
                                                                regions
                                                                nationwide.
Mission            To increase effective  To promote natural    To develop and
                   use of hardwood        resource conservation deliver
                   resources through      and help sustain      knowledge and
                   research to improve    forest-based          innovative
                   processing technology. industries and        technology that
                                          economies through     improves
                                          research and          efficiency in
                                          development on        forest products
                                          resource              conversions to
                                          characteristics,      strengthen U.S.
                                          forest management,    worker
                                          and innovative        productivity in
                                          processing            global wood
                                          technologies and      products
                                          their influence on    marketplace;
                                          conversion efficiency increase the
                                          in solid wood         value of the
                                          processing.           timber resource
                                                                and the economic
                                                                viability of
                                                                forest
                                                                management
                                                                options.
Research problem   Problem: Techniques    Problem: Research is  Problem:
and activities     are needed to evaluate needed to determine   Research is
                   production and         how wood quality and  needed to
                   economic implications  utilization           determine how
                   of using new           opportunities are     wood quality and
                   processing             affected by           utilization can
                   technologies.          silvicultural systems be enhanced
                                          and forest            through
                   Activities: Develop    operations.           silvicultural
                   realistic simulation                         and forest pest
                   models to evaluate     Activities: Determine management
                   technical              the effects of        systems and
                   characteristics of     silvicultural systems operations.
                   integrated hardwood    and forest operations   
                   processing systems     on wood quality       Activities:
                   using new technology.  (including physical   Determine the
                                          and mechanical        effects of
                   Problem: Standards and properties, decay,    silvicultural
                   test criteria are      and bacterial         systems, forest
                   needed for evaluating  infection) of certain pests, and
                   computer-numeric       northern hardwood     forest
                   controlled (CNC)       species.              operations on
                   machinery and                                wood quality of
                   associated tooling.    Problem: More         selected eastern
                                          effective production  hardwood
                   Activities: Develop    control methods and   species.
                   standards for          software tools must     
                   evaluating the         be developed to       Problem: More
                   accuracy, efficiency,  analyze the impact of effective
                   and safety of CNC      current and proposed  manufacturing
                   woodworking machinery. production systems on strategies and
                                          efficiency of         production
                   Problem: More          resource utilization. control
                   efficient techniques                         technologies
                   are needed to make     Activities: Develop   must be
                   existing information   optimal rough-mill    developed and
                   available to decision  processing strategies implemented so
                   makers in a timely     and product recovery  that solid wood
                   manner and in a form   benchmarks for        products
                   suitable to answer     different lumber      manufacturers
                   specific questions.    characteristics       can improve
                                          through research into resource
                   Activities: Quantify   interactions among    utilization
                   the existing knowledge such factors as       efficiency and
                   in specific areas of   lumber size and       international
                   wood processing and    grade, and develop    competitiveness.
                   develop expert systems improved                
                   using this             lumber-scanning       Activities:
                   information.           technology.           Develop and
                                                                enhance the
                                                                adoption of
                                                                optimal
                                                                rough-mill
                                                                processing and
                                                                product-recovery
                                                                strategies by
                                                                researching
                                                                interactions
                                                                among such
                                                                factors as
                                                                lumber size and
                                                                grade.
4751                                                            
                   Forest Engineering     Forest Engineering    Integration of
                   Research Systems to    Research-Systems      Forest
                   Integrate Harvesting   Analysis to Evaluate  Operations Into
                   with Other Resource    Alternative           Eastern Hardwood
                   Management Objectives, Harvesting            Intermediate
                   1988-97                Strategies, 1997-2003 Cuttings and
                                                                Structural
                                                                Retention
                                                                Treatments,
                                                                2003-08
Area of research   Mountainous, ridge and United States         Northeastern
applicability      valley, and plateau                          United States
                   regions of the eastern                       
                   United States.                               
Mission Nominal    To use systems         To use systems        To improve and
dollars in         analysis to            analysis to evaluate  integrate forest
thousands          effectively integrate  alternative           operations to
                   silviculture, logging  harvesting strategies accomplish
                   technology, economics, for all forested      intermediate
                   and wildlife           geographic regions in silvicultural
                   management into a      the Northeast.        treatments in
                   forest management                            hardwood forests
                   decision model with                          of the
                   particular                                   Northeast.
                   applications to steep                        
                   terrain.                                     
Research problem   Problem: Forest        Problem: Management   Problem: There
and activities     management planning    planning models are   is a lack of
                   tools are inadequate   inadequate for forest synthesis of the
                   for steep terrain.     operations and forest forest
                                          product               operations
                   Activities: The goal   transportation.       process to
                   of this research is to                       improve
                   develop a system       Activities: The goal  intermediate
                   analysis computer      of this research is   cuttings and
                   model, MANAGE, that    to develop a systems  structural
                   adequately models the  analysis computer     retention
                   biological,            model that adequately harvests for
                   technological,         incorporates          eastern
                   economical, and        validated growth      hardwoods. 1995
                   silvicultural          models, logging         
                   treatment of a forest  technology, wildlife, Activities: The
                   stand over a rotation. economical, and       goal of this
                                          silvicultural         research is to
                   Problem: Methods are   treatments of a       provide better
                   inadequate to plan and forest stand over a   information and
                   carry out multiproduct rotation.             synthesis of the
                   harvesting and                               forest
                   utilization of eastern Problem: There is a   operations
                   hardwoods on steep     lack of complete      process so that
                   terrain.               synthesis on all      economical
                                          aspects of the forest decisions can be
                   Activities: Systems    operations process,   made when
                   theory would be used   selection of the      selecting and
                   to model multiproduct  harvesting process,   implementing
                   harvesting and         multiproduct          intermediate
                   utilization of eastern harvesting, loss      cuttings and
                   hardwoods on steep     caused by log damage, structural
                   terrain in order to    and other procedures. retention
                   measure the impact of                        treatments. 1996
                   multiproduct           Activities: The goal    
                   harvesting on forest   of this research is   1997
                   management.            to provide better     
                                          information and       
                                          synthesis of all      
                                          phases of the forest  
                                          operations so that    
                                          better management     
                                          models can be         
                                          developed.            
                                          Information will be   
                                          synthesized with      
                                          other stand data to   
                                          determine the maximum 
                                          revenue that can be   
                                          expected from a       
                                          stand. Wood           
                                          utilization research  
                                          centers               
4803 1999          2000                   2001                  2002
2004               Analysis of Domestic   Economics of Eastern  Eastern Forest
                   and International      Forest Use, 1997-2003 Use in a Global
                   Hardwood Product                             Economy, 2003-08
                   Markets, 1992-97 2005                        Alaska
Area of research   United States and      National, but with a  National, but
applicability a    countries with which   primary focus on      with an emphasis
                   it conducts trade in   hardwood and softwood on issues
                   hardwood products. a   forest resources in   affecting the
                                          the eastern United    hardwood forest
                                          States. a             industry and
                                                                resources of the
                                                                eastern United
                                                                States. a
Mission $596       To develop economic    To develop annual     To provide
                   and technical          estimates of primary  economic,
                   information which      and secondary         market, and
                   enables concerned      hardwood product      wood-use
                   individuals and        production and        information that
                   organizations to make  consumption, identify will support the
                   more informed          and analyze economic  health and
                   decisions regarding    and other factors or  sustainability
                   the use of forest      events that are       of forest-based
                   resources and the      likely to             industries,
                   production and         significantly alter   hardwood
                   marketing of forest    wood production and   forests, and
                   products. $596         consumption patterns  forest
                                          and future trends,    communities in
                   $585                   and examine and       the eastern
                                          analyze alternatives  United States.
                                          (opportunities) for   $602
                                          extending and         
                                          conserving the        
                                          hardwood resource and 
                                          improving the         
                                          efficacy of hardwood  
                                          forest management,    
                                          utilization, and      
                                          rural development     
                                          initiatives. $543     
Research problem   Problem: There is a    Problem: Information  Problem: There
and activities b   need to explain the    is needed on all      is a need to
                   interrelationships     markets for roundwood benchmark and
                   among domestic markets and on the principal  monitor hardwood
                   for hardwood products. consumers (domestic   use to assess
                   b                      and overseas) of      the impacts of
                                          hardwood lumber and   change and
                   Activities: Develop    wood fiber on a       competing
                   refined databases for  continuing basis. 514 demands on the
                   hardwood product                             forest industry,
                   production, usage, and Activities: Compile   forest resource,
                   price. b               statistics on primary and forest-based
                                          hardwood product      communities of
                   Problem: There is a    production in         the eastern
                   need to develop more   cooperation with FIA  United States.
                   detailed information   and assume            509
                   on international       responsibility within   
                   hardwood products and  the Northeastern      Activities:
                   describe the impact of Research Station for  Compile
                   international trade on activities associated statistics on
                   domestic hardwood      with the TPO. 504     roundwood
                   product markets. b                           receipts by
                                          Problem: Research is  primary
                   Activities: Collect    needed on viable,     processors
                   and validate all       market-based,         within the 13
                   domestic and foreign   value-added product   states
                   data relating to the   opportunities that    comprising the
                   exportation or         improve use of the    Northeastern
                   importation of         forest resource,      Research
                   hardwood products from enhance achievement   Station.
                   or into the United     of resource           
                   States. $514           management            
                                          objectives, and       
                   457                    sustain rural         
                                          communities. 511      
                                                                
                                          Activities: Research  
                                          conducted in this     
                                          area will be product, 
                                          process, site, and    
                                          market-specific. 460  
$752               Problem: There is a    $704                  Problem: Need to
                   need to develop                              provide
                   market-based           824                   information,
                   decision-making tools                        analysis, and
                   that can be used by                          tools to assist
                   hardwood processors                          in assessing
                   (secondary and                               competitive
                   primary) and rural                           environments and
                   development personnel.                       evaluating
                   $752                                         product, market,
                                                                and management
                   Activities: Develop a                        opportunities
                   profile of common                            and challenges
                   characteristics based                        facing U.S.
                   on different types of                        producers of
                   primary and secondary                        wood and
                   hardwood manufacturers                       wood-based
                   on the basis of size,                        products so as
                   productive inputs                            to more
                   purchased, marketing                         effectively
                   practices, and                               manage and
                   product(s) produced.                         utilize the U.S.
                   $704                                         eastern hardwood
                                                                resource. 732
                                                                  
                                                                Activities:
                                                                Studies will be
                                                                conducted to
                                                                determine the
                                                                effects of size,
                                                                product type,
                                                                management style
                                                                and quality,
                                                                financial
                                                                structure,
                                                                employee
                                                                relations,
                                                                material cost,
                                                                and other
                                                                factors that
                                                                affect
                                                                competitiveness.
                                                                824
4805 807           736                    717                   
752                Enhancing the          The Influence of      704
                   Performance and        Markets on the        
                   Competitiveness of the Sustainability of     
                   U.S. Hardwood          Eastern Hardwood      
                   Industry, 1994-2000    Forests, 2000-05 704  
                   752                                          
Area of research   Eastern United States  Primary focus on the  736
applicability 732  824                    hardwood region of    
                                          the eastern United    
                   807                    States 807            
Mission            To explore alternative To examine            233
                   strategies that will   interrelationships    
                   improve the long-term  between forest        
                   performance and        product markets and   
                   competitiveness of the the composition,      
                   U.S. hardwood products structure, and        
                   industry and analyze   sustainability of the 
                   the impact of these    eastern hardwood      
                   strategies on the      forest. 233           
                   hardwood resources.                          
                   Minnesota                                    
Research problem   Problem: There is a    Problem: There is a   752
and activities 218 need to analyze the    need to examine       
                   structure, conduct,    current impact of     
                   and performance of the different localized   
                   various hardwood       market situations on  
                   products industries    forests and provide   
                   that utilize hardwood, information that will 
                   roundwood, or hardwood allow policy makers,  
                   timber. 255            industry, and others  
                                          to assess forest      
                   Activities: Classify,  sustainability under  
                   in economic terms, the current               
                   structure of the major market-induced        
                   primary hardwood       disturbance regimes.  
                   processing industry on 222                   
                   a regional basis and                         
                   assess the conduct and Activities: Develop a 
                   performance of each    framework to examine  
                   industry based on this market-induced        
                   classification. 227    disturbance utilizing 
                                          the constructs of     
                   Problem: There is a    economic theory in    
                   need to assess the     combination with      
                   impact of alternative  current and historic  
                   intervention           information on the    
                   approaches to remedy   changing forest       
                   externalities from the industry and markets. 
                   production,                                  
                   harvesting, and        Problem: There is a   
                   processing of hardwood need to develop       
                   timber. 255            procedures to predict 
                                          how future            
                   Activities: Examine    market-induced        
                   intervention           disturbance will      
                   mechanisms that are    change species        
                   currently being used   distribution, timber  
                   to remedy market       quality, and the      
                   externalities          sustainability of     
                   associated with        specific ecosystems   
                   hardwood timber        and examine how       
                   production,            adaptive technology   
                   harvesting, and        will influence these  
                   processing. 250        changes. Mississippic 
                                                                
                   Problem: There is a    Activities: Relate    
                   need to explore        long-term changes in  
                   strategies that will   price, demand, and    
                   help hardwood          biological supply to  
                   processing firms and   changes in technology 
                   industries remain      and the type of       
                   competitive while      forest that will be   
                   adhering to the        impacted by the       
                   mandates of a changing technology. 752       
                   society. 246                                 
                                                                
                   Activities: Isolate                          
                   the major                                    
                   "unresolvable issues"                        
                   that are likely to                           
                   polarize environmental                       
                   organizations and the                        
                   hardwood industry and                        
                   examine the major                            
                   reasons why these                            
                   conflicts exist. 228                         
Pacific Northwest  824                    732                   824
Research Station                                                
704                                                             
4865 1,260         1,154                  1,180                 
289                Human and Natural      Human and Natural     271
                   Resources Interactions Resources             
                   Research Program,      Interactions Research 
                   1995-2002 290          Program, 2002-current 
                                          271                   
Area of research   No information. 317    Utilization,          306
applicability 282                         economics, and social 
                                          science research;     
                                          regional (Pacific     
                                          Northwest), national, 
                                          and international     
                                          scales. 311           
Mission 276        No information.        To improve            752
                                          understanding of      
                                          social and economic   
                                          values as input to    
                                          and evaluation of     
                                          resource management   
                                          decisions. Oregon     
Research problem   Problem: Ecologically  Problem: There is a   807
and activities 704 sustainable production need to improve       
                   of forest activities.  knowledge of the      
                   704                    opportunities to use  
                                          local, regional, and  
                   Activities: Evaluate   international markets 
                   the influence of       and how to use        
                   specific stand         management practices  
                   structure-manipulation to sustain diversity  
                   operations on the      of forest conditions  
                   quality and quantity   and outputs. 732      
                   of forest products.                          
                   824                    Activities: Improve   
                                          understanding of how  
                                          the forest sector     
                                          (broadly defined)     
                                          functions, including  
                                          intrasectoral         
                                          dynamics, and         
                                          interactions between  
                                          the forest sector and 
                                          other sectors. 824    
Pacific Southwest  717                                          Tennessee
Research Station                                                
736                                                             
4202 b             b                      b                     421
421                No wood utilization    No wood utilization   Sierra Nevada
                   412                    412                   Research Center,
                                                                2005-15 376
Area of research   West Virginia          d                     Local, regional,
applicability                                                   and
                                                                international d
Mission d          d                      d                     Sierra Nevada
                                                                ecosystems are
                                                                complex and our
                                                                knowledge of
                                                                them is
                                                                incomplete. As a
                                                                result, the
                                                                long-term
                                                                outcome of any
                                                                given land and
                                                                resource
                                                                management
                                                                strategy is
                                                                uncertain. We
                                                                will provide
                                                                assistance to
                                                                land managers
                                                                and policy
                                                                makers by
                                                                addressing this
                                                                management
                                                                dilemma through
                                                                targeted
                                                                research
                                                                emphasizing an
                                                                integrated,
                                                                ecoregional
                                                                approach to
                                                                examine
                                                                particular
                                                                physical,
                                                                ecological, and
                                                                socio-economic
                                                                issues, across a
                                                                range of
                                                                appropriate
                                                                spatial and
                                                                temporal scales
                                                                specific to each
                                                                issue. d
Research problem   418                    463                   Problem:
and activities d                                                Institutional
                                                                and policy
                                                                processes.
                                                                  
                                                                Activities:
                                                                Develop
                                                                appropriate
                                                                research
                                                                methodologies to
                                                                understand
                                                                institutional
                                                                processes by
                                                                which resource
                                                                values are
                                                                established as
                                                                public goods.
                                                                Total
Rocky Mountain     $3,305                 $3,305                $4,805
Research Station                                                
$3,532                                                          
4156 $5,400        $5,304                 $5,730                $5,670
                   No wood utilization    No wood utilization   Southwestern
                   Sources: Wood          Note: Totals may not  Forest Health
                   utilization research   add due to rounding.  Restoration and
                   centers' annual                              Wildland-Urban
                   special grant                                Interface Fuels
                   proposals.                                   Management,
                                                                2005- aThis
                                                                center was added
                                                                in fiscal year
                                                                2000.
Area of research   dThis center was added                       Unknown Appendix
applicability cIn  in fiscal year 2004.                         V: A Appendix V:
fiscal year 2003,                                               GAO Contact and
the Mississippi                                                 Staff
center began                                                    Acknowledgments
receiving a                                                     
committee-directed                                              
special grant to                                                
inventory forest                                                
resources                                                       
statewide. This                                                 
grant was included                                              
in the center's                                                 
fiscal year 2003                                                
proposal, and                                                   
thereafter the                                                  
center has                                                      
submitted separate                                              
proposals for the                                               
inventory, which                                                
were included in                                                
the center's total                                              
budget for fiscal                                               
years 2004 and                                                  
2005.                                                           
Mission Robin M.                                                Unknown Staff
Nazzaro (202)                                                   Acknowledgments
512-3841                                                        
Research problem                                                Problem: A need
and activities                                                  exists to
                                                                develop and
                                                                understand
                                                                economics,
                                                                markets, and
                                                                utilization
                                                                opportunities to
                                                                support the
                                                                management and
                                                                restoration of
                                                                southwestern
                                                                forests that
                                                                also contribute
                                                                to the economic
                                                                vitality of
                                                                local and
                                                                regional
                                                                communities.
                                                                  
                                                                Activities:
                                                                Understand the
                                                                economic and
                                                                social impacts
                                                                of alternative
                                                                forest
                                                                management
                                                                options on
                                                                communities and
                                                                sustainable
                                                                utilization
                                                                opportunities.
Southern Research                                               
Station                                                         
Area of research   Southern United States Southeastern United   Southern United
applicability                             States                States
4104 (previously   Utilization of         Ecology and Genetics  Disturbance and
4104 and 4701)     Southern Timber        of Southern Pine      the Management
                   (4701), 1993-98        Ecosystems, 1994-99   of Southern Pine
                                          (4104)                Ecosystems,
                                                                1999-2004
Mission            To define how          To develop scientific To increase
                   environmental and      knowledge needed for  understanding
                   socioeconomic factors  regenerating,         and develop
                   will change the        managing, protecting  applications of
                   southern timber        and improving pine    disturbance to
                   resource; and develop  plantations, natural  sustain the
                   fundamental            stands, and           productivity and
                   information and        ecosystems.           functions of
                   technology to utilize                        southern pine
                   this resource while                          ecosystems.
                   conserving                                   
                   biodiversity and                             
                   providing for a                              
                   sustained supply of                          
                   raw material.                                
Research problem   Problem: Information                         Problem: There
and activities     is lacking on the                            is a need to
                   effects of site,                             better
                   species composition,                         understand the
                   stockings, rotation                          effects of
                   age and their                                within tree,
                   interactions on value,                       stand,
                   yield, anatomical,                           environmental,
                   physical and                                 and forest
                   mechanical properties                        management
                   of southern timber,                          factors on wood
                   which is a barrier to                        properties to
                   meeting management and                       meet
                   utilization goals.                           productivity and
                                                                sustainability
                   Activities: Three                            objectives.
                   areas of research                              
                   emphasis: (1) value                          Activities: The
                   and yield of forest                          emphasis of this
                   products; (2)                                research is on
                   anatomical and                               relating basic
                   physical properties;                         wood properties
                   and (3) mechanical                           to and within
                   properties. These                            its tree, stand,
                   areas are                                    environmental,
                   interrelated.                                and management
                                                                factors that
                                                                affect southern
                                                                pine wood
                                                                formation.
4701                                                            
                   Utilization of         Utilization of        Utilization of
                   Southern Forest        Southern Forest       Southern Forest
                   Resources, 1993-99     Resources, 1999-2005  Resources,
                                                                2005-10
Area of research   Southern United States Southern United       Southern United
applicability      and tropical areas     States and tropical   States and
                                          areas                 tropical areas
Mission            To define and apply    To define and         To define and
                   fundamental chemistry, describe the          describe the
                   material science, and  fundamental raw       fundamental raw
                   engineering principles material              material
                   to the utilization and characteristics       characteristics
                   processing of southern influencing the       influencing the
                   forest resources in an sustainable and       sustainable and
                   environmentally sound  environmentally sound environmentally
                   way.                   use of southern       sound use of
                                          forest resources.     southern forest
                                                                resources.
Research problem Problem: Little is known Problem: A gap in our   Problem:       
and activities   of the composition of    understanding of the    Information is 
                 secondary metabolites in fundamental physical    insufficient   
                 plants of forest         properties that are     on the         
                 communities, their       central to the          physical,      
                 biological significance, biological/ecological   chemical, and  
                 or their potential value significance of plant   mechanical     
                 as a renewable source of polyphenols or terpenes properties of  
                 specialty chemicals.     limits their            woody raw      
                                          usefulness.             material       
                 Activities: Define the                           originating    
                 chemistry and            Activities: Define      from southern  
                 significance of          fundamental physical    forests.       
                 secondary metabolites of properties that are                    
                 selected plants in the   important in            Activities:    
                 forest community to help determining the         This problem   
                 determine the biological biological or           area will      
                 significance of these    ecological significance focus on three 
                 compounds.               of secondary plant      elements       
                                          metabolites.            pertinent to   
                 Problem: Information is                          the effective  
                 inadequate on the        Problem: There is a     utilization of 
                 physical and mechanical  need to improve         our southern   
                 properties of primary    composite properties by forest         
                 wood constituents to     evaluating the physical resource.      
                 analytically model and   and mechanical                         
                 understand the           properties of primary   Problem: There 
                 properties of many       wood constituents.      is a need to   
                 wood-based composites.                           better design  
                                          Activities: Research    biobased       
                 Activities: Research     will focus on property  products based 
                 will focus on            assessment and material on the         
                 development of new       characterization as     properties and 
                 structural wood-based    they relate to the      composition of 
                 composites as well as    structural performance  the southern   
                 improvements on          of wood-based           forest raw     
                 conventional composites. composites.             material.      
                                                                                 
                 Problem: New adhesive    Problem: There is a     Activities:    
                 systems and bonding      lack of adequate        Research on    
                 processes are needed to  understanding of        this problem   
                 enhance adhesion, reduce interfacial structure   area will be   
                 bonding costs, and       and properties to       accomplished   
                 provide technological    develop new composite   by a           
                 improvements.            material development.   three-pronged  
                                                                  approach,      
                 Activities: This         Activities: This        which includes 
                 research will focus on   problem area will study the            
                 defining the performance the relationship        relationship   
                 of adhesive bonding      between wood surface    between        
                 process for              properties and          component      
                 wood-and-polymer         interfacial             properties and 
                 composites and           characteristics.        their          
                 developing new                                   composite      
                 processing technology to Problem: There is a     products.      
                 utilize mixture of       need to improve         
                 recycled wood fiber and  effective utilization   
                 plastics for high-value  of wood from            
                 products.                difficult-to-recycle    
                                          and intensively managed 
                 Problem: More            sources into high       
                 understanding of the     performance composite   
                 fundamental chemistry    products.               
                 and physics of                                   
                 interaction between      Activities: This        
                 synthetic polymers and   research will support   
                 wood materials is needed the development of      
                 to accommodate the use   intensively-cultured    
                 of wood in new composite production approaches   
                 systems.                 for wood by             
                                          investigating this      
                 Activities: The research material's performance  
                 in this area will        in existing process     
                 continue along the       technologies and        
                 program lines that have  composite systems.      
                 been established over                            
                 the last several years   Problem: There is a     
                 of investigation that    need to sufficiently    
                 address the              understand the          
                 physico-chemical         relationships between   
                 interaction between wood tree growth variables,  
                 fibers and synthetic     fundamental wood        
                 polymers.                properties, and         
                                          end-product performance 
                                          for optimal utilization 
                                          of the forest resource. 
                                                                  
                                          Activities: This        
                                          research area will      
                                          focus on the            
                                          development and use of  
                                          rapid assessment        
                                          methods to study wood   
                                          characteristic/product  
                                          property relationships  
                                          at the molecular level. 
4702                                                            
                   Primary Hardwood       Integrated Life Cycle Forest Products
                   Processing and         of Wood: Tree         Conservation,
                   Products, 1988-97      Quality, Processing,  2003-08
                                          and Recycling,        
                                          1997-2003             
Area of research   National               National              National
applicability                                                   
Mission            To identify, evaluate, To enhance wood       To enhance
                   and develop new or     resource conservation sustainable
                   improved automated     and sustainability    forest resource
                   primary hardwood       through advanced      use through
                   processing             timber analysis and   improved
                   technologies and       wood processing, and  product,
                   hardwood products that effective wood        processing, and
                   make U.S. industry     product recovery,     recycling
                   more competitive in    reuse, and recycling. analysis.
                   domestic and foreign                         
                   markets.                                     
Research problem   Problem: There is a    Problem: There is a   Problem:
and activities     need to develop        need for reliable and Reliable and
                   improved and new       accurate              accurate
                   automated primary      nondestructive timber nondestructive
                   hardwood processing    assessment and        timber
                   technologies.          allocation methods to assessment and
                                          evaluate standing and allocation
                   Activities: This       felled trees.         methods are
                   research will evaluate                       needed to
                   and develop computer   Activities: This      evaluate
                   simulations, expert    research will         standing and
                   systems, and           investigate the use   felled trees.
                   vision-system          and application of      
                   supported              ground-based digital  Activities: This
                   computer-aided         imagery, combined     research will
                   hardwood sawmill       with image processing investigate the
                   edging and trimming.   software and product  use and
                                          allocation software   application of
                   Problem: There is a    to estimate tree      ground-based
                   need to identify,      volume, product       digital data
                   evaluate, and develop  allocation, and tree  collection,
                   new or improved        grade for inventory   combined with
                   products that use our  purposes.             information
                   abundant nonselect                           extraction
                   hardwood sawtimber     Problem: There is a   software and
                   resources.             need to improve wood  product
                                          processing technology allocation
                   Activities: Emerging   and equipment to      software to
                   and potential primary  efficiently evaluate  estimate tree
                   hardwood products will and process wood      volume, product
                   be identified along    resources.            allocation, and
                   with new production                          tree grade for
                   concepts.              Activities: This      inventory
                                          research will develop purposes.
                   Problem: There is a    and use expert          
                   need to develop and    systems and vision    Problem: Wood
                   demonstrate systems to systems to support    processing
                   make and market        computer-aided and    technology and
                   short-length lumber    automated hardwood    equipment must
                   and dimension for      sawmill edging and    be improved to
                   profitable use of      trimming.             efficiently
                   low-grade hardwood                           evaluate and
                   sawtimber.             Problem: There is a   process wood
                                          need to extend the    resources.
                   Activities: Research   life of resources,      
                   will determine through effectively           Activities:
                   simulation and actual  refurbishing and      Develop and use
                   testing whether short  reusing wood pallets  expert systems
                   lumber grading systems and other solid wood  and vision
                   can be designed to     products, or          systems to
                   facilitate the use of  converting them to    support
                   short logs, low        alternative           computer-aided
                   quality logs, thick    high-value products.  and automated
                   shortslabs, and/or                           hardwood sawmill
                   low-grade lumber to    Activities: This      edging and
                   make short lumber.     research will         trimming.
                                          investigate and         
                                          evaluate current and  Problem: There
                                          new repairs for       is a need to
                                          damaged and used wood extend the life
                                          pallets and compare   of resources,
                                          these to new pallets. effectively
                                                                refurbishing and
                                                                reusing wood
                                                                pallets and
                                                                other solid wood
                                                                products, or
                                                                converting them
                                                                to alternative
                                                                high-value
                                                                products.
                                                                  
                                                                Activities: This
                                                                research will
                                                                investigate and
                                                                evaluate current
                                                                and new repairs
                                                                for damaged and
                                                                used wood
                                                                pallets and
                                                                compare these to
                                                                new pallets.
4703                                                            
                   Title unknown, 1994-99 Forest Operations     
                                          Research to Achieve   
                                          Sustainable           
                                          Management, 1999-2005 
Area of research   No information         National              
applicability      available.                                   
Mission            To provide engineering To provide the        
                   knowledge and          science and           
                   improved, economically technology            
                   viable forest          integrating           
                   operations for         ecological and        
                   sustained resource     engineering           
                   management and develop disciplines to        
                   an understanding of    achieve economically  
                   the interactions       and ecologically      
                   between biological and viable forest         
                   engineering systems in operations which are  
                   forest ecosystems.     necessary for         
                                          sustainable and       
                                          socially acceptable   
                                          forest resource       
                                          management.           
Research problem   Problem: There is a    Problem: There is a   
and activities     need to sufficiently   need to develop a     
                   understand the         better understanding  
                   implications and       of the effect of      
                   interactions between   forest operations     
                   biological systems,    systems on the        
                   soil, and hydrologic   ecological processes  
                   site factors, and      of forest ecosystems. 
                   forest operations for                        
                   the design and         Activities: To        
                   development of         understand more       
                   environmentally sound  completely the        
                   forest operations.     complex machine-soil  
                                          interaction in terms  
                   Activities: The        of temporal, spatial, 
                   cause-effect           vegetative, site, and 
                   relationship between   climatic differences, 
                   selected engineering   and to integrate the  
                   variables and soil     results into a        
                   physical property      comprehensive systems 
                   changes will be        approach to           
                   established. Such      management for        
                   information will be    sustained above- and  
                   used to improve        below-ground          
                   systems for forest     productivity.         
                   operations.                                  
                                          Problem: There is a   
                   Problem: Current       need to develop new   
                   techniques and         and innovative        
                   technologies are not   methods and           
                   always feasible or     technologies to       
                   cost effective under a reduce the ecological 
                   holistic approach to   impacts of forest     
                   forest resource        operations.           
                   management.                                  
                                          Activities:           
                   Activities: Approaches Considering the       
                   to solving this        impact roads have on  
                   problem involve        the forest ecosystem, 
                   improving system       more work needs to be 
                   design, management,    undertaken to design  
                   and performance, or    road systems which    
                   developing alternative are acceptable based  
                   concepts such as       on the goal of        
                   innovative             sustainable forestry  
                   technologies and       practice.             
                   small-scale machinery.                       
                                          Problem: Better       
                   Problem: The           information about the 
                   capabilities and       performance, cost,    
                   limitations of the     and operational       
                   human element are not  ranges of new and     
                   adequately considered  existing forest       
                   in current forest      operations systems is 
                   operations, resulting  needed.               
                   in degraded safety,                          
                   productivity, and      Activities:           
                   system performance.    Performance will be   
                                          measured in terms of  
                   Activities: Three      factors such as       
                   distinct research      production, energy    
                   elements will be       consumption, labor    
                   pursued-industrial     input, and            
                   safety management,     capitalization.       
                   effective personal                           
                   protective equipment,  Problem: New          
                   and application of     approaches are needed 
                   ergonomic principles   to acquire and        
                   to equipment design.   utilize information   
                                          for planning and      
                   Problem: Available     management of forest  
                   analytical methods for operations across     
                   forest operations are  landscapes.           
                   not sufficient to                            
                   support the            Activities: Studies   
                   implementation of      will be conducted to  
                   multi-resource,        develop tools for     
                   multi-scale management optimizing            
                   in southern forests.   application           
                                          efficiency of         
                   Activities: Research   equipment on given    
                   will focus on the      sites, identifying    
                   development of a       those factors that    
                   specific model for     most influence        
                   tactical planning of   effectiveness of      
                   access and management  operations, and       
                   activities.            techniques to adapt   
                                          systems to local      
                                          conditions.           

Source: Forest Service documents.

Table 28: Budget Authority for the CSREES Wood Utilization Research
Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

1998

2003

a

$540

Consortium

Maine

807

Michigan

824

717

218

704

807

North Carolina

317

283

752

795

b

374

417

d

d

$3,530

$4,805

$5,820

bThis center was added in fiscal year 1999.

GAO Contact

In addition to the contact named above, Andrea Wamstad Brown, Jacqueline
Adams Cook, Richard Johnson, Rebecca Shea, Jay Cherlow, Carol Herrnstadt
Shulman, Jeremy Ames, and Jaelith Hall-Rivera, made key contributions to
this report.

Appendix III: CSREESR Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization Research
Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

This appendix presents information on CSREES' wood utilization research
centers, including some of their objectives, specialty areas, and research
activities over 11 years-fiscal years 1995 through 2005.

University of Alaska Wood Utilization Research Center

This center specializes in assisting the Alaska Forest Products industry
through research, extension, and education activities.

Table 16: University of Alaska Wood Utilization Research Center-Activities
Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and Product
Development, Fiscal Years 2000-2005

Fiscal year Objectives                        Approach/research activities 
2000        Implement a broad-based program      o  Conduct an overall     
               that will help Alaska become         needs assessment of       
               competitive in the value-added       educational and           
               wood products industry by            industrial clientele in   
               providing specific technical,        Alaska's forest products  
               business, and marketing              industry                  
               assistance; develop a facility       o  Use study results to   
               where promising new projects can     identify and develop a    
               be developed and tested; study       variety of techniques     
               the educational and training         that will be the basis    
               needs of sawmill operators (and      for another research      
               others) involved in present and      project to ascertain the  
               evolving wood products industries    most effective means of   
               and then to respond with a           transferring technology   
               client-centered approach to          to help entrepreneurs and 
               technical transfer and product       their employees develop   
               development; make assistance         and apply technology for  
               available in processing and          peak efficiency           
               performance, marketing research,     o  Support ongoing        
               and development of wood and          efforts to develop        
               forest-based products.               in-grade testing specific 
                                                    to Alaska species         
2001        Help Alaska's forest products        o  Provide course         
               industry develop new,                offerings and technical   
               cost-effective methods for           training that are         
               converting wood and other tree       required by a dynamic     
               and plant components to consumer     industry                  
               products; define new markets;        o  Support applied        
               and, assist individuals and          research projects that    
               organizations by providing           focus on the basic        
               required training and research.      physical and mechanical   
                                                    properties of wood and    
                                                    other tree and plant      
                                                    material                  
                                                    o  Conduct research that  
                                                    identifies new products,  
                                                    technology, production    
                                                    processes, and markets;   
                                                    and, extension services   
                                                    to assist entrepreneurs   
                                                    and firms in the industry 
2002        Help Alaska's forest products     Continues 2001 approach.     
               industry develop new,             
               cost-effective methods for        
               conversion of wood and other      
               forest material to marketable     
               products; emphasize forest        
               products education identification 
               of markets, and new and improved  
               production system to create       
               high-value products from          
               low-value material; help Alaska   
               become competitive in the         
               value-added forest products       
               industry by providing specific    
               technical, business, and          
               marketing assistance and a        
               facility for developing and       
               testing promising new projects.   
2003        Help overcome lack of                o  Continue support for   
               representation on boards,            an in-grade testing       
               committees, and organizations        program at the Ketchikan  
               that create grading rules or         Wood Technology Centers   
               standards and collect marketing      o  Use samples in         
               information, which often results     accordance with ASTM      
               in barriers to the economic          D-143 to evaluate the     
               development and maximum use          properties of small clear 
               (technically and economically) of    samples of western        
               the products from the region.        hemlock lumber, focusing  
               Conduct projects that assist with    on the relationship       
               the restructuring of the forest      between specific gravity  
               products industry in Alaska;         and the evaluated         
               emphasize projects that have the     properties                
               potential to help rebuild the        o  Use results as the     
               forest products industry in          basis for recommendations 
               southeast Alaska.                    for proceeding with an    
                                                    Alaska Wood Density       
                                                    Survey to allow           
                                                    development of new small  
                                                    clear strength values for 
                                                    western hemlock harvested 
                                                    in Alaska                 
2004        Conduct research programs to help    o  Continue an ongoing    
               restructure the forest products      University of Alaska      
               industry in Alaska; design           project at the Ketchikan  
               research projects to respond to      Wood Technology Center to 
               the needs of the industry and        review the basic          
               people in Alaska; develop            properties of Alaska      
               projects based on needs              species                   
               identified by ongoing research       o  Develop updated        
               and studies, direct request from     strength values for       
               industry organizations,              Alaska species, based on  
               educational institutions, and        testing of small clear    
               government agencies.                 samples                   
2005        Continue testing Alaska wood         o  Use standard tests to  
               species for unique properties for    determine the potential   
               value-added products; report the     for using Alaskan birch   
               chemical determination of Alaska     in value-added industries 
               birch bark by species and region     o  Study plant species    
               using the bark from harvested        and potential harvest     
               trees; conduct an integrated         areas to inventory        
               study that inventories and maps      nontimber forest products 
               harvestable nontimber forest         o  Continue to define     
               products, plant species, and         consumer reaction to      
               potential harvest areas; document    terms used to describe    
               traditional and current uses of      lumber produced from      
               special forest products in four      Alaska species and to     
               additional southeast Alaska          promote value-added wood  
               native communities; make             products made from        
               recommendations for marketing        Alaskan wood and special  
               efforts for value-added Alaskan      forest products           
               wood and special forest products. 

Source: GAO's analysis of CSREES data.

Inland Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium

The consortium uses a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional approach to
solving forest operations and wood utilization problems unique to the
Inland Northwest region. The consortium consists of the universities of
Idaho and of Montana, and Washington State University.

Table 17: Inland Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium-Activities
Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and Product
Development, Fiscal Years 1999-2005

Fiscal year Approach/research activities   
1999        Conduct forest products           o  Investigate regional      
               research in the inland            problems in harvesting,      
               northwest region of Idaho,        processing and potential     
               Montana, and Washington on the    products from the wood       
               species quantity, and quality     resource expected in the     
               of raw material; the              future by joint research     
               capabilities and processes        teams at the Forest Products 
               needed by the forest products     Department, University of    
               industry to convert this          Idaho; Bureau of Business    
               resource to wood products; and    and Economic Research,       
               the potential for wood            University of Montana; and   
               products from alternate           Wood Materials and           
               species designed for specific     Engineering Laboratory,      
               applications.                     Washington State University  
                                                 o  Conduct research projects 
                                                 in resource assessment,      
                                                 manufacturing, and           
                                                 harvesting processes; raw    
                                                 material properties; and new 
                                                 and value-added wood         
                                                 products                     
2000        Wood Utilization R&D Continues Continues 1999 activities.      
               1999 objectives. Wood          
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D Wood           
               Utilization R&D                
2001        Continues 1999 objectives.     Continues 1999 activities.      
2002        Continues 1999 objectives.     Continues 1999 activities.      
2003        Continues 1999 objectives.     Continues 1999 activities.      
2004        Conduct research to help make  The Inland Northwest Forest     
               regional sawmills more         Products Research Consortium    
               efficient, assess the color    represents a cooperative effort 
               modification of wood via ohmic between the Forest Products     
               heating, evaluate wood         Department of the University of 
               thermoplastic composites for   Idaho, the Bureau of Business   
               bridge decking, develop        and Economic Research at the    
               flexible wood composite sheets University of Montana, and the  
               for sound or thermo            Wood Materials and Engineering  
               insulation, analyze the        Laboratory at Washington State  
               region's wood products         University. The Consortium      
               industry, develop seismic      takes an interdisciplinary,     
               design parameters for log      multi institutional approach to 
               shear wall, and evaluate       solving forest operations and   
               thermoplastic binders derived  utilization problems unique to  
               from lignin.                   the Inland Northwest, with an   
                                              emphasis on those associated    
                                              with new forest management      
                                              regimes.                        
2005        Conduct research to (1)        Continues 2004 activities.      
               improve the physical and       
               visual properties of ponderosa 
               pine lumber sawn from          
               small-diameter trees; (2)      
               optimize the color of wood via 
               ohmic heating; (3) harden and  
               dimensionally stabilize wood;  
               (4) characterize the           
               Inland-Northwest wood products 
               industry; (5) enhance the      
               utilization of small-diameter  
               timber; (6) develop a fully    
               wood-based wood composite; (7) 
               develop seismic design         
               parameters for log shear       
               walls; and (8) develop         
               alternative treating methods   
               for oriented stand composites. 

Source: GAO's analysis of CSREES data.

University of Maine Wood Utilization Research Center

This center specializes in all aspects of utilization concerning species
indigenous to the New England area.

Table 18: University of Maine Wood Utilization Research Center-Activities
Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and Product
Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Fiscal year Objectives                    Approach/research activities     
1995        Increase knowledge of the        o  Biodegradation and         
               properties of timber species     preservation of wood          
               in New England to improve the    o  Computer-aided processing  
               efficiencies and                 of northeastern species       
               environmental compatibility      o  Fundamental properties of  
               of existing industries, and      northeastern species          
               to develop new products that     o  Structural engineering     
               could help expand the forest     o  Wood-based composites for  
               products industrial base.        structural applications       
                                                o  Wood chemistry             
1996        Continues 1995 objectives.    Continues many 1995 activities,  
                                             and adds the following:          
                                                                              
                                                o  Improved environmental     
                                                compatibility of pulping      
                                                technologies                  
1997        Continues 1995 objectives.       o  Chlorine-free sulfur-free  
                                                high-yield pulps from         
                                                northeastern hardwood species 
                                                o  Wood fiber composites      
                                                utilizing paper deinking      
                                                sludge                        
                                                o  Feasibility of glulam      
                                                beams reinforced with         
                                                fiber-reinforced plastic      
                                                sheets                        
                                                o  Oxidation degradation of   
                                                lignocellulose by low         
                                                molecular weight chelators    
                                                isolated from brown-rot fungi 
                                                o  Novel technology for the   
                                                detection of wood-degrading   
                                                fungi                         
1998        Continues 1995 objectives.       o  Improve design to increase 
                                                efficiency of alkaline oxygen 
                                                pulping                       
                                                o  Technical feasibility and  
                                                cost-effectiveness of         
                                                combining fiber-reinforced    
                                                polymers                      
                                                o  Identify the role of redox 
                                                chemical reactions in the     
                                                breakdown of lignocellulosic  
                                                materials through X-ray       
                                                absorption and fine structure 
                                                spectroscopy                  
                                                o  Experimental techniques of 
                                                fluorescence, genetic, and    
                                                biochemical analysis to       
                                                understand the physiology of  
                                                wood decay fungi              
                                                o  Effect of steaming and dry 
                                                heat on the resonant          
                                                frequency and frequency       
                                                response of wood              
                                                o  Forecast the service life  
                                                of laminated composites       
                                                comprised of glass fibers     
                                                bonded with catalyzed PVAc to 
                                                red pine or red maple species 
1999        Continues 1995 objectives.       o  Determine major factors    
                                                affecting the price of wood   
                                                for use in pulp manufacture   
                                                and softwood dimension        
                                                manufacture                   
                                                o  Evaluate the effects of    
                                                precommercial thinning on     
                                                wood properties of spruce-fir 
                                                forests                       
                                                o  Predict warp potential in  
                                                spruce-fir studs using        
                                                ultrasonic waves              
2000        Continues 1995 objectives.       o  Develop a wood-concrete    
                                                connection and evaluate its   
                                                behavior under static and     
                                                fatigue load                  
                                                o  Identify the causes and    
                                                costs of idle logging product 
                                                capacity, wood supply, labor, 
                                                and other issues related to   
                                                Maine logging                 
                                                o  Evaluate dry matching of   
                                                2x4 SPF studs from green      
                                                condition using three drying  
                                                schedules and variation in    
                                                moisture content loss along   
                                                the length of the dimension   
                                                samples, measure the warp,    
                                                and compare restricted loss   
                                                and unrestricted loss samples 
2001        Evaluate the basic processing    o  Restore a log reducer to   
               and feasibility of               operating condition and use   
               manufacturing structural         it to crush small-diameter    
               composite lumber from            logs; after resin addition,   
               northeastern wood species        use an RF press to produce    
               using a long-strand, high        structural scale material to  
               yield, log breakdown             determine mechanical          
               procedure; assess the            properties                    
               commercial feasibility of        o  Merchandize 3,000 board    
               stock glulam beams produced      feet of #3 common 4/4         
               from Maine hardwood              hardwood by length and width  
               resources; assess the            to established yields for     
               relation of local differences    e-rated lamination stock      
               in shrinkage for the level of    o  Harvest red and white pine 
               warp in red and white pine       trees and saw lumber from two 
               lumber.                          stands. Obtain shrinkage rate 
                                                samples from the logs.        
                                                Measure and correlate full    
                                                sized lumber shrinkage with   
                                                sample rates.                 
2002        Develop an optimized             o  Conduct static and cyclic  
               preassembled narrow shear        connector tests using screws  
               wall system using advanced       and ring shank nails and      
               OSB; improve the strength and    develop allowable design      
               stiffness properties of          values for walls using ICBO   
               polyolefin wood composites by    AC 130 criteria               
               modifying the post-die           o  Monitor cooling rates via  
               process conditions;              thermocouple and physical and 
               investigate the material         mechanical properties         
               requirements planning,           o  Obtain information from    
               logistics, and conversion        publicly available data       
               efficiency of northeastern       sources supplemented by       
               pulp mills.                      on-site interviews with key   
                                                personnel involved in         
                                                inventory planning and        
                                                control at both groundwood    
                                                and kraft pulp mills          
2003        Study impact of processing       o  Identify the influences of 
               additives on extruder            maleation, zinc stearate, EBS 
               operating parameters and         wax, fire retardant,          
               properties of polypropylene      neustrene, and HALS on the    
               wood-plastic composites;         mechanical performance of     
               quantify several factors that    extruded wood polypropylene   
               may affect the levels of VOC     composites through ASTM       
               release from hardwoods and       mechanical and weathering     
               softwoods; evaluate the          tests                         
               competitive position of the      o  Measure VOCs using         
               Maine paper industry.            established procedures on     
                                                fresh logs of red oak, white  
                                                oak, hard maple, and cherry;  
                                                perform other tests with      
                                                white pine that is untreated  
                                                or dipped in various          
                                                fungicides                    
                                                o  Monitor both primary and   
                                                secondary resources to meet   
                                                the objectives; use           
                                                interviews and databases for  
                                                each resource                 
2004        Improve the technical            o  Conduct design parameters, 
               performance and efficiency of    panel, and connection design  
               products that use wood as the    through finite element        
               main constituent.                modeling and experimental     
                                                testing of full-scale panel   
                                                systems                       
                                                o  Use a variety of           
                                                commercial additives to       
                                                prepare extruded wood-plastic 
                                                materials using commercial    
                                                scale equipment available in  
                                                the laboratory                
                                                o  Obtain specimens of        
                                                several Maine wood species    
                                                from sawmills; obtain         
                                                composite panels from         
                                                regional manufacturers and    
                                                measure specific heat         
                                                capacity using a differential 
                                                calorimeter                   
2005        Discover underlying science      o  Use enzymatic pretreatment 
               and develop technology that      of pulps to evaluate          
               will both improve the ability    commercial laccases and       
               to provide sustainable           catechol dioxgenases prior to 
               forest-based products for        oxygen delignification to     
               societal needs and help          reduce the environmental      
               increase the global              footprint                     
               competitiveness of the U.S.      o  Elucidate fundamental      
               forest products industry.        physiological and biochemical 
                                                pathways of fungi to develop  
                                                strategies of biological      
                                                techniques to control         
                                                microbial biodegradation and  
                                                preserve wood and wood        
                                                products                      
                                                o  Evaluate the use of        
                                                chemical and physical foaming 
                                                agents in extrusion systems   
                                                to reduce the density of wood 
                                                plastic composites and the    
                                                application of near InfraRed  
                                                (near-IR) technologies to     
                                                wood plastics composites      
                                                production to provide on-line 
                                                product quality information   

Source: GAO analysis of CSREES data.

Michigan State University Wood Utilization Research Center

The center specializes in sustainable hardwood utilization, with a focus
on wood preservation, wood composite materials, and genetic engineering of
necessary wood properties for specific product development.

Table 19: Michigan State University Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Fiscal year    Objective                    Approach/research activities   
1995           Improve hardwood lumber         o  Improvement of the       
                  yield by examining              hardwood saw log conversion 
                  alternatives to current         process                     
                  rough-mill practices for saw    o  The surface quality and  
                  log conversion and evaluate     stability of wood and wood  
                  short log and underutilized     products                    
                  species for veneer              o  Preservative treatment   
                  production for concealed        of hardwood                 
                  furniture parts; establish      o  Recycling of treated     
                  standards for evaluating        lumber, untreated recycled  
                  composite surface quality       wood fiber, and wood ash    
                  with comparison of contact      o  Laser-cutting of wood    
                  and noncontact methods;         and wood composites         
                  continue hardwood            
                  preservation research.       
1996    Improve hardwood lumber yield and      o  Hardwood preservation    
           utilization; explore recycling         project                     
           opportunities to reduce wood           o  Complete evaluation of   
           consumption; improve quality of        particleboard and           
           wood composites; compare log yields    fiberboard made with        
           by grade sawn and live sawn;           recycled newsprint          
           evaluate economics of short log and    o  Make and evaluate        
           underused species for veneer           composites made from        
           production; set standards for          recycled treated and        
           evaluating composite surface           demolition wood             
           quality; complete comparison of        o  Explore new pulsed laser 
           stability model with lab-produced      cutting approach            
           OSB.                                   o  Economic analysis of log 
                                                  improvement study and       
                                                  recycling projects          
1997    Improve yield and value from           o  Create real log database 
           hardwood logs through conversion       for computer-simulated      
           process improvements; extend forest    sawing comparisons          
           resources by preserving wood and       o  Determine mechanism of   
           composites and by recycling treated    CCA treatment in soft maple 
           wood; use mixed eastern hardwoods      using logs harvested at     
           to manufacture particleboard;          different seasons           
           rationalize internal bond and          o  Determine properties of  
           thickness OSB swell test specimen;     composites made of recycled 
           promote forest sustainability and      treated wood and conduct    
           certification of eastern hardwood      durability tests            
           forests.                               o  Compare properties of    
                                                  single-species and mixed    
                                                  species furnish             
                                                  particleboards              
                                                  o  Expose hardboard siding  
                                                  and other hardboard         
                                                  materials to cyclic         
                                                  swelling and shrinking to   
                                                  establish secondary         
                                                  stability                   
1998    Extend hardwood forest resources by    o  Determine species of     
           preserving wood and wood composites    copper in wood after        
           and by recycling treated wood;         various treatments and      
           improve stability of wood              relationship to             
           composites; rationalize internal       effectiveness of            
           bond and thickness of OSB swell        preservative                
           test specimen; recycle wood ash        o  Develop a method of      
           from power plants; promote forest      removing CCA from treated   
           sustainability and certification of    wood for recycling of       
           eastern hardwoods.                     fibers                      
                                                  o  Make and test            
                                                  particleboards of single    
                                                  and known blend of hardwood 
                                                  species                     
                                                  o  Monitor surface energy   
                                                  changes of treated and      
                                                  untreated wood, glued and   
                                                  not glued and relate        
                                                  changes to properties of    
                                                  wood composites             
1999    Extend forest resource by              o  Compare properties of    
           preserving wood and composites and     single species and mixed    
           by recycling treated wood; evaluate    species furnished           
           the low performance of CCA-treated     o  Evaluate horizontal      
           hardwood; evaluate mixed hardwood      density distribution, among 
           species growing in Michigan as raw     other things, of            
           material for particleboard and OSB     representative commercial   
           manufacture.                           OSB samples and determine   
                                                  the influence of specimen   
                                                  size on measurements        
2000    Extend the service life of forest      o  Conduct field and        
           products, particularly hardwood        laboratory tests to         
           species, by using preservatives,       determine the toxic         
           reusing treated wood, recycling        threshold and the residual  
           wood removed from service, and         chemicals of several        
           applying biotechnological means for    commercial wood             
           producing high decay resistant         preservative formulations   
           wood; evaluate the recovery of CCA     used to treat silver maple, 
           from treated wood removed from         beech, red oak, elm,        
           service; evaluate mixed hardwood       willow, and hard maple      
           species growing in Michigan as raw     after 5 years' exposure     
           materials for particleboard and OSB    o  Manufacture              
           manufacture.                           particleboard and OSB       
                                                  single species and mixed    
                                                  species furnished of        
                                                  hardwoods growing in        
                                                  Michigan and evaluate their 
                                                  properties evaluated to     
                                                  determine the effect of     
                                                  species furnish             
2001    Extend the service life of forest      o  Use laboratory           
           resources, particularly hardwood       soil-block tests and field  
           species, by using preservatives,       tests to evaluate the       
           reusing treated wood, recycling        biological performance of   
           wood removed from service, applying    some environmentally benign 
           biotechnological means to produce      wood preservatives          
           high-decay resistant wood;             o  Test wood cement-bonded  
           investigate environmental benign       particleboard and wood      
           chemicals used in crop protection      fiber thermoplastic made    
           as wood preservatives; evaluate        using recycled materials to 
           mixed hardwood growing in Michigan     determine their physical,   
           as a source of raw materials for       mechanical, and biological  
           flake board and OSB.                   performance according to    
                                                  well-established standards  
                                                  o  Measure and use surface  
                                                  energy of raw materials to  
                                                  explain the adhesion        
                                                  phenomenon between wood     
                                                  fibers and the matrix       
                                                  o  Compare the properties   
                                                  of OSB made with single and 
                                                  mixed species furnished     
                                                  o  Use genetic manipulation 
                                                  technology to increase the  
                                                  levels of wood extractives  
                                                  that render them decay      
                                                  resistant                   
2002    Increase use of hardwood species       o  Screen chemicals with    
           for exterior applications: use         low-to-negligible impact on 
           environmentally benign chemicals;      the environment as          
           reuse and recycle wood products        potential preservatives     
           from demolition as raw materials       o  Use a continuous         
           for wood composites; develop           extrusion process to        
           processes to use sawdust from the      manufacture wood plastic    
           furniture industry as raw materials    composites                  
           to manufacture commercially viable     o  Analyze the relationship 
           and value-added products;              between sawlog price, labor 
           investigate effects of major           demand, and capital         
           economic and social forces on          investment in the Lake      
           timber supply and demand in            States' hardwood sawmill    
           subregions of the Lake States; and     industry                    
           develop biotechnology to produce       o  Use a metabolic          
           value-added wood products.             engineering approach to     
                                                  produce value-added         
                                                  hardwood products           
2003    Continues 2002 objectives.          Continues 2002 activities.     
2004    Continues 2002 objectives.          Continues some 2002 activities 
                                               and adds genomics of decay     
                                               resistance and wood growth     
                                               will be studied using micro    
                                               array analysis to determine    
                                               the genes that are involved in 
                                               the commercially important     
                                               biological processes           
2005    Increase the use of hardwood           o  Screen chemicals with    
           species for exterior applications:     low impact on the           
           use environmentally benign             environment as wood         
           chemicals as wood preservatives and    preservative                
           reuse and recycle wood products as     o  Use laboratory soil      
           raw materials for wood composites;     block tests and field       
           develop processes to use sawdust       exposure tests to determine 
           and wood fiber to produce              the biological              
           commercially viable extruded           effectiveness and study     
           wood-plastic composites; use           samples to determine the    
           biotechnology to evaluate the          degree of fixation in the   
           control of genes that express          wood                        
           important wood characteristics and     o  Use continuous extrusion 
           to develop new value-added             and co-extrusion processes  
           products.                              to manufacture wood-plastic 
                                                  composites as well as       
                                                  particleboards without      
                                                  using formaldehyde-based    
                                                  adhesive                    

Source: GAO's analysis of CSREES data.

University of Minnesota, Duluth, Wood Utilization Research Center

This center specializes in helping existing small and mid-size wood
products companies remain or become competitive by conducting research and
development and forest productivity work in hybrid poplar, red pine, and
other Minnesota species; and by forming new regional industries based on
forest products materials and technologies. This is done to ensure the
sustainability of the forest products industry

Table 20: University of Minnesota, Duluth, Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Fiscal year Objective                      Approach/research activities    
1995        Develop private sector forest     o  Supply technical          
               products opportunities in the     assistance                   
               Upper Midwest, particularly       o  Help with business plans  
               Minnesota; help existing small    and marketing                
               and mid-size forest products      o  Assist with cost          
               companies implement               accounting and inventory     
               technologies that can help        systems                      
               economic growth.                  o  Perform prototype         
                                                 manufacturing, and conduct   
                                                 product or process research  
                                                 and development              
                                                                              
                                              Much of the work will involve   
                                              the transfer of technologies    
                                              previously developed at the     
                                              center or developed at other    
                                              research institutions.          
1996        Continues 1995 objectives.     Continues 1995 activities.      
1997        Continues 1995 objectives.     Continues 1995 activities.      
1998        Continues 1995 objectives.     Continues 1995 activities.      
1999        Continues 1995 objectives.     Continues 1995 activities.      
2000        Continues 1995 objectives.     Continues 1995 activities.      
2001        Help the sustainable           Generally continues 1995        
               development of private sector  activities and adds the         
               forest products opportunities  following:                      
               in Minnesota and the Upper                                     
               Midwest; emphasize helping        o  Undertakes product or     
               existing small and mid-size       process research and         
               wood products companies remain    development within program   
               or become competitive through     areas-biotechnology,         
               research and development or       chemical derivatives,        
               specific technical or business    biobased composites and      
               expertise; direct work in         manufacturing efficiency,    
               biotechnology and chemical        wood materials and           
               extractives to form new           engineering, and secondary   
               industries in the region,         wood products                
               benefiting farmers, small      
               landowners, and large regional 
               forest products companies;     
               undertake promising            
               independent projects that may  
               lead to new job creation       
               without an identified industry 
               partner.                       
2002        Continues most of 2001            o  Serve more than 50        
               objectives and adds specific      companies as clients and     
               subprojects in the areas of       strategic partners           
               wood engineering, secondary       o  Use funding from previous 
               wood products manufacturing,      special grants to work with  
               and biobased composites.          more than 100 different      
                                                 companies, resulting in the  
                                                 formation of new companies,  
                                                 and facilitating the rapid   
                                                 growth of others             
2003        Help the sustainable              o  Chemical extractives      
               development of private sector     o  Wood materials and        
               forest products opportunities     engineering                  
               in Minnesota and the Upper        o  Secondary wood products   
               Midwest.                          o  Biobased composites       
                                                 o  Manufacturing efficiency  
2004        Assist with the sustainable       o  Lean manufacturing        
               development of private sector     o  Nondestructive evaluation 
               forest products opportunities     o  Portable wood finishing   
               in Minnesota and the Upper        systems                      
               Midwest; help small and           o  Membrane press technology 
               mid-size wood products            o  Ready-to-assemble wood    
               companies remain or become        frame housing internal       
               competitive through research      connectors                   
               and development; form new         o  Lightweight sandwich      
               regional industries.              panel                        
                                                 o  Phosphate bonded          
                                                 composites                   
                                                 o  ThermoWood                
                                                 o  Larch tree extractives    
2005        Assist with the sustainable       o  Lean manufacturing        
               development of private sector     concepts                     
               forest products opportunities     o  Nondestructive evaluation 
               in Minnesota and the Upper        technologies                 
               Midwest; help small and           o  Membrane press technology 
               mid-size wood products            o  Breathable and waterproof 
               companies remain or become        mineral-bonded strandboard   
               competitive through research      o  Iron phosphate            
               and development; form new         impregnated wood products    
               regional industries based on      o  Radio frequency           
               forest products materials and     identification               
               technologies.                     o  Process technology for    
                                                 aspen, poplar, and sycamore  
                                                 tree extractives             
                                                 o  Utilization of forest     
                                                 harvest residues for         
                                                 renewable energy             

Source: GAO's analysis of CSREES data.

Mississippi State University Wood Utilization Research Center

This center specializes in timber harvesting, transportation, and
economics; lumber manufacturing and processing; wood-based composite
materials; protection and preservation of wood; wood chemistry; economic
evaluation; and technology transfer.

Table 21: Mississippi State University Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Fiscal year Objectives                       Approach/research activities  
1995        Administer a continuing research    o  Harvesting,             
               program on using southern pines;    transportation, and        
               strengthen existing efforts in      primary processing         
               wood utilization; provide           o  Economic evaluation and 
               support for research initiatives    technology transfer        
               in these areas.                     o  Structural engineering  
                                                   o  Wood chemistry          
                                                   o  Protection and          
                                                   preservation of wood       
                                                   o  Timber manufacturing    
                                                   and processing             
                                                   o  Wood-based composite    
                                                   materials                  
1996        Continues 1995 objectives and    Continues 1995 activities.    
               adds timber harvesting.          
1997        Continues 1996 objectives.       Continues 1995 activities.    
1998        Continues 1996 objectives.       Activities in five of seven   
                                                broad program areas:          
                                                                              
                                                   o  Harvesting,             
                                                   transportation, and        
                                                   primary processing         
                                                   o  Economic evaluation and 
                                                   technology transfer        
                                                   o  Wood chemistry          
                                                   o  Protection and          
                                                   preservation of wood       
                                                   o  Timber manufacturing    
                                                   and processing             
1999        Administer a continuing program  Research to be conducted      
               of research and technical        within five of the seven      
               assistance on utilization of     broad areas:                  
               southern pines, to strengthen                                  
               existing efforts in wood            o  Harvesting,             
               utilization, and to provide         transportation and timber  
               support for new research            processing                 
               initiatives in these areas.         o  Economic evaluation and 
                                                   technology transfer        
                                                   o  Structural engineering  
                                                   o  Protection and          
                                                   preservation of wood       
                                                   o  Timber manufacturing    
                                                   and processing             
2000        Administer a continuing program  Continues 1999 activities.    
               of research and technical        
               assistance to improve the use    
               and value of southern timber     
               resources; strengthen existing   
               efforts in timber harvesting and 
               wood utilization; and support    
               new research initiatives in      
               these areas.                     
2001        Continues 2000 objectives.       Research to be conducted      
                                                within five of the seven      
                                                broad areas:                  
                                                                              
                                                   o  Harvesting and          
                                                   transportation             
                                                   o  Economic and market     
                                                   evaluation and technology  
                                                   transfer                   
                                                   o  Wood engineering and    
                                                   wood-based composites      
                                                   o  Wood protection and     
                                                   biodeterioration           
                                                   o  Timber manufacturing    
                                                   and processing             
2002        Continues 2000 objectives.       Continues 2001 activities,    
                                                except for harvesting and     
                                                transportation.               
2003a       Continues 2000 objectives.          o  Forest resources        
                                                   o  Economic and market     
                                                   evaluation and technology  
                                                   transfer                   
                                                   o  Engineered wood         
                                                   products                   
                                                   o  Wood protection and     
                                                   biodeterioration           
                                                   o  Timber manufacturing    
                                                   and processing             
2004        Continues 2000 objectives.          o  Utilization of          
                                                   wood-based materials in    
                                                   housing                    
                                                   o  New manufacturing       
                                                   systems for wood-based     
                                                   industry                   
                                                   o  Fiber and chemicals     
                                                   from wood                  
                                                   o  Timber harvesting and   
                                                   wood utilization in        
                                                   Mississippi                
2005        Continue 2000 objectives.           o  Biotechnology and       
                                                   fundamental research       
                                                   o  Chemicals and energy    
                                                   from wood                  
                                                   o  New manufacturing       
                                                   systems for wood-based     
                                                   industries                 
                                                   o  Performance of wood     
                                                   structures and housing     

Source: GAO's analysis of CSREES data.

aIn fiscal year 2003, the Mississippi center began receiving a
committee-directed grant to conduct a statewide forest resources
inventory. This grant was included in the center's fiscal year 2003
proposal; thereafter, the center has submitted separate proposals for the
inventory.

North Carolina State University Wood Utilization Research Center

This center specializes in wood machining and tooling technology.

Table 22: North Carolina State University Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Fiscal year Objective                         Approach/research activities 
1995        Improve understanding of the         o  Machine and tool       
               interface between the woodworking    vibration and stability   
               machine and the wood product,        o  Tool materials and     
               including the machine power          tool wear mechanisms      
               source, spindle assembly, cutting    o  Process monitoring and 
               tool, method of attachment of the    control                   
               tool to the spindle, cutting tool    o  Surface measurement    
               geometry and cutting edge            technology                
               materials and treatment, and      
               resulting work piece accuracy and 
               surface finish quality.           
1996        Continues 1995 objective.         Continues 1995 activities.   
1997        Establish a national educational  Adapt and develop technology 
               and research resource to foster   to further understanding of  
               improvements in woodworking       the wood-machining process,  
               machine and tool performance;     including cross-transfer of  
               focus on the machine-tool-work    computer models from metal   
               piece interface to develop a      working to woodworking to    
               better understanding of spindle   help relate tool forces to   
               and tool dynamics, tool materials the machining conditions     
               and tool wear, and machining      (process monitoring) and     
               conditions.                       work piece surface quality   
1998        Establish education and research  Activities conform with      
               programs to help the wood         objectives.                  
               machining and tooling industries  
               conserve natural resources,       
               compete with foreign markets, and 
               compete with other building       
               material industries; provide      
               industry with graduates           
               knowledgeable in wood machining   
               practices and the means to        
               educate employees in the latest   
               technology through technology     
               transfer. Conduct applied         
               research focusing on the          
               machine-tool-work piece           
               interface.                        
1999        Continues 1998 objectives.        Objectives and descriptions  
                                                 of research activities are   
                                                 similar to objectives.       
2000        Continues 1998 objectives.           o  Adapt existing         
                                                    technologies from other   
                                                    disciplines, such as the  
                                                    metal-cutting and         
                                                    aerospace industries      
                                                    o  Use high speed         
                                                    machining techniques to   
                                                    achieve higher            
                                                    throughputs               
                                                    o  Adapt process          
                                                    monitoring techniques     
                                                    developed for metal       
                                                    cutting to wood machining 
                                                    o  Use surface quality    
                                                    evaluation techniques to  
                                                    monitor the machining     
                                                    process as well as the    
                                                    condition of the work     
                                                    piece.                    
2001        Foster research and education to  Continues 2000 activities,   
               achieve an improved understanding and adds                     
               of tool/work piece interaction                                 
               phenomena, including enhancing       o  Conduct abrasive       
               wood utilization and wood            machining research,       
               products manufacturing efficiency    resulting in significant  
               through increased tool life,         energy savings            
               improving surface quality,        
               reducing machine and tool         
               maintenance problems, improving   
               cutting accuracy, and increasing  
               machine productivity.             
2002        Continues 2001 objectives.        Continues 2001 activities.   
2003        Continues 1998 objectives.        Continues 2001 activities.   
2004        Help the wood machining and       Continues 2001 activities.   
               tooling industries conserve       
               natural resources, compete with   
               foreign markets, and compete with 
               other building material           
               industries; provide industry with 
               graduates knowledgeable in wood   
               machining practices and with the  
               means to educate employees in the 
               latest technology through         
               technology transfer efforts;      
               conduct applied research focusing 
               on the machine-tool-work piece    
               interface.                        
2005        Help the wood machining and       Continues some 2001          
               tooling industries conserve       activities.                  
               natural resources, compete with   
               foreign markets, compete with     
               other building material           
               industries, as well as provide    
               these industries with graduates   
               knowledgeable in wood machining   
               practices. Focus on the           
               machine-tool-work piece interface 
               to better understand and improve  
               tool materials, machine and tool  
               designs, and process monitoring   
               and control techniques.           

Source: GAO's analysis of CSREES data.

Oregon State University Wood Utilization Research Center

This center specializes in science, technology, and business practices
that will enhance the domestic and global competitiveness of the U.S. wood
products industry, especially in the western United States; this will
ensure more efficient use of available wood resources. A special emphasis
is placed on training future scientists, researchers, and practitioners.

Table 23: Oregon State University Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Fiscal year Objective                       Approach/research activities   
1995        Meet environmental goals during    o  Applied and basic        
               timber harvest and forest          studies on forest           
               product manufacture, leading to    harvesting and other        
               sustained timber production;       operations such as          
               extend the forest resource base    road-building               
               through improved manufacturing     o  Basic studies on wood    
               and processing, developing new     and other materials         
               wood composites, and extending     properties to use in        
               the service life of wood;          applied research on         
               develop new structural             composites manufacture and  
               applications for wood; exploit     testing                     
               wood extractives as                o  Basic and applied        
               alternatives to current            studies in wood             
               preservatives, pesticides and      engineering, wood           
               adhesives, and as a potential      preservation, and wood      
               source of pharmaceuticals.         chemistry                   
1996        Continues 1995 objectives.      Continues 1995 activities.     
1997        Continues 1995 objectives.      Continues 1995 activities.     
1998        Continues 1995 objectives.      Continues 1995 activities.     
1999        Continues 1995 objectives.      Continues 1995 activities.     
2000        Meet environmental goals,          o  Applied and basic        
               particularly water quality,        research studies, including 
               during timber harvest and          modeling, on forest         
               forest products manufacture,       harvesting and other        
               leading to sustained timber        operations, such as         
               production; improve                road-building and           
               understanding of slope             maintenance                 
               stability in forested              o  Basic research on slope  
               environments; extend the forest    stability in forest         
               resource base through improved     environments                
               timber harvest and road-related    o  Basic studies on         
               practices, manufacturing and       properties of wood and      
               processing, developing new wood    other materials to use in   
               products, and extending the        applied research on         
               life of wood; develop new          composites manufacturing    
               structural applications for        and testing; basic and      
               wood; explore new ways to          applied studies in wood     
               detect wood defects; and           engineering, wood           
               understand the effects of          preservation, and wood      
               different silvicultural            chemistry                   
               practices on wood quality.      
2001        Develop the relationships          o  Dry wood under a variety 
               between temperature, humidity,     of conditions, and panel    
               airflow, and the levels of VOC     products manufactured to    
               emissions from wood during the     compare emissions at both   
               kiln drying process; create a      dryer and press-especially  
               decision support system that       to look for any effects of  
               helps forest planners select       drying conditions on        
               efficient transportation routes    subsequent press emissions  
               for montane forest operations;     o  Use global information   
               develop a model to determine       systems and economic        
               the life-cycle assessment of       analysis techniques to      
               structural wood products,          analyze terrain and road    
               considering the steps in           construction and            
               manufacturing.                     maintenance costs and to    
                                                  generate optimization       
                                                  techniques                  
                                                  o  Use an existing computer 
                                                  model to develop life-cycle 
                                                  data for a selected number  
                                                  of wood-based composite     
                                                  products                    
2002        Develop the knowledge and          o  Aggregate existing       
               technology necessary to balance    optimization and simulation 
               the sustainable use of the         software modules into a     
               nation's forest resources with     unified system with a       
               the need to maintain a             user-friendly interface and 
               vigorous, competitive, domestic    demonstrate effectiveness   
               forest products industry.          in solving typical          
                                                  manufacturing problems      
                                                  o  Experimentally determine 
                                                  if slash bundling           
                                                  technology can be           
                                                  effectively used in         
                                                  harvesting of 1- to         
                                                  4-inch-diameter trees in    
                                                  high-fire risk stands       
                                                  o  Select three promising   
                                                  "smart sensor" technologies 
                                                  and experimentally evaluate 
                                                  for field efficacy,         
                                                  accuracy, repeatability,    
                                                  and cost in a forestry      
                                                  application                 
2003        Continues 2002 objectives.         o  Collect data from        
                                                  selected ongoing commercial 
                                                  logging operations and use  
                                                  regression analysis to      
                                                  develop forecasting tools   
                                                  o  Use traditional market   
                                                  research and telephone      
                                                  surveys after in-depth      
                                                  interviews of 16            
                                                  "bellwether firms"          
                                                  o  Modify a base stochastic 
                                                  drying model for recent     
                                                  research on presorting and  
                                                  other features              
2004        Develop the science,               o  Use a mix of log         
               technology, management             production control gaming   
               approaches, and business           in field evaluations and    
               practices that will enhance the    design harvest experiments  
               domestic and global                o  Evaluate bioactivity of  
               competitiveness of the U.S.        species-specific mill       
               wood products industry,            residues and analyze        
               especially in the Pacific          chemical constituents of    
               Northwest.                         those that test positive    
                                                  o  Experimentally assess    
                                                  the effect of range of      
                                                  decay fungi on selected     
                                                  composite material          
                                                  properties                  
2005        Continues 2004 objectives.         o  Employ new life-cycle    
                                                  inventory and assessment    
                                                  models to benchmark current 
                                                  manufacturing practices and 
                                                  analyze process             
                                                  alternatives                
                                                  o  Physically measure       
                                                  hygro-mechanical and other  
                                                  properties using            
                                                  compression tests and       
                                                  controlled changes in       
                                                  climate conditions          
                                                  o  Apply field, laboratory, 
                                                  and computer-simulation     
                                                  techniques to a series of   
                                                  5-10 ha model stands        

Source: GAO's analysis CSREES data.

University of Tennessee Wood Utilization Research Center

This center specializes in southern Appalachian hardwood utilization and
manufacturing of composite materials.

Table 24: University of Tennessee Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 1999-2005

Fiscal year Objective                         Approach/research activities 
1999        Apply statistical process control    o  Have researchers from  
               methodologies to manufacturing       the Tennessee Forest      
               hardwood lumber for improved         Products Center work      
               lumber thickness control; develop    together to attain the    
               dimensionally stable wood-based      program objectives        
               composites panel products for        o  Conduct research in    
               improved performance and             cooperating sawmills, in  
               durability; characterize the         the laboratory, and by    
               hardwood sawmill in Tennessee to     mail survey, of sawmill   
               ensure future productivity and       owners                    
               competitiveness.                     o  Analyze data and       
                                                    prepare reports and       
                                                    publications              
                                                    o  Make presentations to  
                                                    industry groups,          
                                                    professional societies,   
                                                    and research cooperators  
2000        The Tennessee Quality Wood        Continues 1999 approach and  
               Products Initiative will address  adds                         
               understanding sources of                                       
               variation in manufacture of          o  Research in flooring   
               hardwood flooring and cabinets;      and cabinet plants and    
               the Tennessee Hardwood Lumber        secondary wood products   
               Processing Initiative will           manufacturers in          
               address efficiency in manufacture    Tennessee                 
               of hardwood lumber; an               o  International          
               international technology transfer    technology transfer       
               conference on dimensional            conference on wood-based  
               stability of wood-based              composites                
               composites will bring together    
               researchers from around the world 
               to address this subject through   
               oral presentations and poster     
               papers.                           
2001        Apply statistical process control    o  Center researchers     
               to improve hardwood lumber           work with other           
               processing; evaluate microwave       university and industry   
               technology for wood drying; and      partners to attain        
               develop technology to improve OSB    program objectives        
               panel with emphasis on thickness     o  Conduct research in    
               swell optimization.                  cooperating industries    
                                                    and the laboratory, and   
                                                    by conference training    
                                                    o  Analyze data and       
                                                    prepare reports and       
                                                    publications              
                                                    o  Make presentations to  
                                                    industry groups,          
                                                    professional societies,   
                                                    and research cooperators  
2002        Improve the efficient and            o  Center researchers     
               effective use of the nation's        work with other           
               hardwood resources by expanding      university, government,   
               their use in composite wood          and industry partners to  
               products like medium-density         accomplish the program    
               fiberboard and OSB. Two research     objectives                
               projects focus on minimizing raw     o  Conduct research       
               material loss by improving           primarily in the Center's 
               process monitoring and control       laboratories              
               methods. The work will explore       o  Compile and analyze    
               the information available from       experimental data for     
               new spectroscopic sensors while      presentation in reports   
               developing new statistical tools     and scientific            
               for data mining and information      publications, and make    
               presentation.                        presentations to industry 
                                                    groups, professional      
                                                    societies, and            
                                                    cooperating researchers   
2003        Define the effect of molecular       o  Build on recent        
               level orientation in regenerated     reprogramming of Center's 
               cellulose fibers on the              research to include a     
               properties of carbon fibers made     focus on renewable        
               from this starting material;         composites and develop    
               develop dynamic mechanical           low-modulus, carbon       
               analysis to assess mechanical        fibers from cellulose     
               properties of red oak at elevated    fibers regenerated from   
               temperature and moisture             NMMO solution             
               contents; determine the effect of    o  Apply nanoindentation  
               adhesive resin content and cure      to study fundamental      
               level on strength characteristics    questions of interphase   
               of wood fibers.                      structure and properties  
                                                    to composite performance  
                                                    and use this tool to      
                                                    generate new information  
                                                    on the material           
                                                    properties of the wood    
                                                    cell wall                 
2004        Focus on delivering new insight      o  Develop new algorithms 
               into the performance of wood in      to model product          
               heterogeneous materials to better    properties based on input 
               define the fundamental parameters    from multiple sensors,    
               that dictate product performance;    including novel near      
               better understand the role of the    infrared fingerprints     
               wood/polymer interface in            o  Use microscopy and     
               composites, and develop improved     thermal analysis to study 
               systems for monitoring and           species effects on        
               control of the manufacturing         wood-plastic composite    
               process.                             structure and properties  
                                                    o  Develop spectroscopic  
                                                    imaging to characterize   
                                                    resin penetration and     
                                                    chemistry in              
                                                    veneer-composite          
                                                    bondlines                 
2005        Focus on developing new              o  Develop new approaches 
               information on processing and        to monitor and model      
               performance of extruded              extruded composite        
               wood-polymer composite materials;    properties based on input 
               better understand the role of the    from multiple sensors,    
               wood and polymer interface in        including novel near      
               composites, better define            infrared fingerprints     
               interfacial structure-property       o  Conduct research on    
               relationships, and develop           wood-polymer composites   
               improved systems for monitoring      to explore the effect of  
               and control of the extrusion         copolymer architecture on 
               process; develop novel wireless      interfacial structure and 
               sensors for moisture content         adhesion with amorphous   
               monitoring during the drying         polymers                  
               process.                             o  Use dynamic mechanical 
                                                    analysis and              
                                                    spectroscopic methods to  
                                                    assess characteristics of 
                                                    the wood-polymer          
                                                    interphase                

Source: GAO analysis of CSREES data.

University of West Virginia Wood Utilization Research Center

This center specializes in improving the utilization of upland hardwoods
in Appalachian forests.

Table 25: University of West Virginia Wood Utilization Research
Center-Activities Conducted Under Grants for Wood Utilization Research and
Product Development, Fiscal Years 2004-2005

Fiscal year Objective                        Approach/research activities  
2004        Provide research leadership to      o  Condition assessment of 
               the forest products sector in       logs using                 
               the Appalachian region and          ground-penetrating radar   
               increase the success of the wood    (GPR): use GPR to develop  
               products industry: assess the       nondestructive scanning    
               fundamental properties of           technology for identifying 
               Appalachian hardwoods relative      subsurface defects in      
               to improved use and                 hardwood logs              
               manufacturing; improve              o  Oak logging residues:   
               opportunities for value-added       determine lumber and       
               products developed from             component yields of        
               residues, poor quality              low-quality logs and bolts 
               resources, and underutilized        remaining after timber     
               upland hardwood species; and        harvesting in West         
               enhance the global                  Virginia                   
               competitiveness of Appalachian      o  Determine economic      
               hardwood industries by promoting    feasibility of converting  
               their quality and efficient use.    logging residues into      
                                                   value-added products for   
                                                   the lumber, tie, pallet,   
                                                   and component industries   
                                                   o  Increase use of         
                                                   low-quality wood: increase 
                                                   use of oak by              
                                                   investigating knife angles 
                                                   and projections during     
                                                   stranding for OSB panel    
                                                   production                 
2005        Provide research leadership to   Continues 2004 activities and 
               the forest products sector in    adds                          
               the Appalachian region and                                     
               increase the success of the wood    o  Value recovery through  
               products industry.                  merchandizing hardwood log 
                                                   products                   
                                                   o  Enhancement of          
                                                   commercial competitiveness 
                                                   through application of     
                                                   advanced technologies      

Source: GAO analysis of CSREES data.

Appendix IV: Budget Authority for the Forest Service's Research Work Units
and for the CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers Appendix IV: Budget
Authority for the Forest Service's Research Work Units and for the CSREES
Wood Utilization Research Centers

This appendix presents budget authority information for the Forest
Service, information on FTE scientists and support staff for the Forest
Service, and budget authority information for CSREES wood utilization
research centers, from fiscal years 1995 through 2005.

Table 26: The Forest Service's Wood Utilization Research Work Units'
Budget Authority, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Nominal dollars in thousands                                                                    
Work units         1995    1996    1997    1998    1999    2000    2001    2002    2003    2004    2005 
Forest Products                                                                                 
Laboratory                                                                                      
4502               $549    $351    $317    $655    $660    $660    $643    $680    $722    $806    $673 
4701                333     333     333     474     478     478     468     469     553     532     425 
4703              1,338   1,125   1,150     976     983     983     960     962     987   1,107   1,107 
4706                874     894     894   1,104   1,113   1,113   1,086   1,163   1,188   1,265   1,265 
4707                610     271     280     523     527     527     515     591     616     697     697 
4708              1,031   1,031   1,031       a       a       a       a       a       a       a       a 
4709              1,395   1,195   1,395   1,340   1,350   1,350   1,316   1,319   1,389   1,877   1,877 
4710              1,147   1,267   1,267   2,042   2,058   2,058   2,206   2,211   2,236   2,231   2,231 
4712              1,333   1,228   1,363   1,349   1,359   1,359   1,427   1,430   1,476   1,474   1,474 
4714                893     953     953     965     973     973   1,091   1,093   1,118   1,193   2,445 
4715                870     910     910       a       a       a       a       a       a       a       a 
4716              1,917   1,502   1,502   1,419   1,430   1,430   2,182   2,514   2,461   2,555     875 
4718                739     335       a       a       a       a       a       a       a       a       a 
4719              1,495   1,300   1,300   1,335   1,345   1,345   1,228   1,231   1,327   1,308   1,308 
4722                918     933     933     972     980     980     956     958   1,028   1,013   1,013 
4723              1,249   1,249   1,249   1,354   1,365   1,365   1,294   1,372   1,397   1,394     925 
4724                  a       a       a       a       a       a     629     630     655     638     638 
4725                  a       a       a       a       a       a       a       a       a       a     775 
4851                905     923     923   1,218   1,229   1,229   1,923   1,928   1,935   1,935   1,485 
Subtotal-Forest                                                                                         
Products                                                                                           $19, 
Laboratory      $17,596 $15,800 $15,800 $15,726 $15,850 $15,850 $17,924 $18,551 $19,088 $20,025     213
Northeastern                                                                                    
Research                                                                                        
Station                                                                                         
4701              1,114   1,059   1,459   1,459   1,059   1,059   1,139   1,137   1,131   1,117   1,084 
4751                300     200     200     200     200     261     233     235     246     250     248 
4803                857     400     478     650   1,050   1,030   1,159   1,157   1,150   1,136   1,103 
4805                112     108     129     126     126     145     155     155     167     168     161 
Pacific                                                                                         
Northwest                                                                                       
Research                                                                                        
Station                                                                                         
4865              1,442   1,131   1,277   1,227   1,569   2,423   2,637   2,671   2,638   2,717   2,644 
Pacific                                                                                         
Southwest                                                                                       
Research                                                                                        
Station                                                                                         
4202                  a       a       a       a       a       a     225     225     225     206     164 
Rocky Mountain                                                                                  
Research                                                                                        
Station                                                                                         
4156                  a       a       a     200     300     300     300     300     300     300     300 
Southern                                                                                        
Research                                                                                        
Station                                                                                         
4104                569     475     375     330     330     336     368     374     381     391     401 
4701              1,089   1,100   1,100   1,100   1,110   1,171   1,226   1,226   1,226   1,250   1,183 
4702                448     400     398     398     402     420     475     495     495     491     479 
4703                200     200     200     200     200     200     200     200     200     200     200 
Total           $23,727 $20,873 $21,416 $21,616 $22,196 $23,195 $26,041 $26,726 $27,246 $28,251 $27,179 

Source: Forest Service data.

aIndicates the research work unit was not established, was discontinued,
or was not doing any wood utilization research in the given year.

Table 27: FTE Scientists and Support Staff in the Forest Service's Wood
Utilization Research Work Units, Fiscal Years 1995-2005

Work unit    Staff       1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
Forest       Total       67.2  69.0  64.3  60.6  56.4  55.8  59.0  58.5  57.2  62.8  59.6 
Products     scientists                                                             
Laboratory                                                                          
             Total       78.0  73.5  61.5  60.4  61.9  60.3  62.3  61.5  62.0  58.3  57.3 
             support                                                                
             Total FTE  145.2 142.5 125.8 121.0 118.3 116.1 121.3 120.0 119.2 121.1 116.9 
4502         Scientists   4.2   4.2   2.8   2.3   2.1   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.1 
             Support      1.1     1     2     2     2     2     2     2   2.2     2   1.1 
4701         Scientists     2     2     3     2     2     1     1     2     2     2     1 
             Support        0   0.2   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9 
4703         Scientists     4     4     4     4     4   2.6   3.3     3     3     3     3 
             Support      3.4   3.3   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5   4.4   4.5 
4706         Scientists     2     2   4.5     5     4     4     3     3     3     5     6 
             Support      4.7     6     6     6     6     6     6     6     6   9.4   9.5 
4707         Scientists   1.2     1   2.1     2     2     2     2     2     2     2     2 
             Support      2.5   2.5   2.5   2.5   2.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   2.5   2.5 
4708         Scientists   3.2   5.1     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a 
             Support        7   4.5     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a 
4709         Scientists     6     6   6.1     6     5   5.8     6     6   4.4     4     5 
             Support      3.5     8   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5 
4710         Scientists     4     4     6     6     6     6   6.5     5   4.6   4.5     6 
             Support       11   8.5   8.5   8.5    12    12  13.5  13.5  14.7   9.3   6.5 
4712         Scientists     5     5   3.5     3     3     4     4     4     4     4     4 
             Support       10   8.1   8.1     7     7     7     7     7     7   6.5   6.5 
4714         Scientists     4     4     4     3     3   2.8   3.5     3     3   7.8     7 
             Support      2.3     2     2     2     2     2     2     2   2.5   2.2   2.2 
4715         Scientists     4     4     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a 
             Support      0.5   0.5     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a 
4716         Scientists   8.3   8.7     7     7     7     7   5.2     6   6.7     7     2 
             Support      6.5   5.5     4     4     3     3   2.5   2.5   1.1   0.5   1.7 
4718         Scientists     2     2     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a 
             Support      3.5   3.5     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a 
4719         Scientists     4     4     5     5     4     4     4     4   3.5   3.5     3 
             Support      5.5   3.5   2.5   2.5   2.5   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9 
4722         Scientists     5     5     5     5     5     5     5     5     5   4.4     5 
             Support      2.5     2     5     5     5     5     5     5     5     5     5 
4723         Scientists     2     2     5     4     3     4     4     4     4     2     3 
             Support      7.3   7.3     6     6     6     6     6     6     6   3.8   4.3 
4724         Scientists     a     a     a     a     a     a     3     3     3     3     3 
             Support        a     a     a     a     a     a     2     2     2     2     2 
4725         Scientists     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     2   2.1 
             Support        a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a   2.6   2.5 
4851         Scientists   6.3     6   6.3   6.3   6.3   5.4   6.3   6.3   6.8   6.4   5.4 
             Support      6.7   7.1     6     6     5     5     4   3.2   3.2   0.8   1.7 
Northeastern Total         13    14    12    10    12    12    11    10     9     9     9 
Research     scientists                                                             
Station                                                                             
             Total         10     9     9    10     8    10    10    11    11    11    10 
             support                                                                
4701         Scientists     7     8     7     6     5     5     5     4     3     3     3 
             Support        4     4     4     4     3     5     5     6     6     6     6 
4751         Scientists     1     1     1     1     1     2     1     1     1     1     1 
             Support        1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1 
4803         Scientists     4     4     3     2     5     4     4     4     4     4     4 
             Support        5     4     4     5     4     4     4     4     4     4     3 
4805         Scientists     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1 
             Support        0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0 
Pacific      Scientists   7.5   5.8   5.8   5.8   5.8   8.8   8.8   7.8  10.1     9   9.3 
Northwest                                                                           
Research                                                                            
Station-4865                                                                        
             Support        8     6     5     5   5.5   7.5   7.5   7.5     6   4.5     7 
Pacific      Scientists     a     a     a     a     a     a     1     1     1     1     1 
Southwest                                                                           
Research                                                                            
Station-4202                                                                        
             Support        a     a     a     a     a     a     0     0     0     0     2 
Rocky        Scientists     a     a     a   0.1   0.1   0.1   0.1   0.1   0.1   0.1   0.1 
Mountain                                                                            
Research                                                                            
Station-4156                                                                        
             Support        a     a     a   0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0 
Southern     Total       10.5   9.5   8.5   8.5   8.5   7.5   6.7   6.7   8.7   8.7   8.7 
Research     scientists                                                             
Station                                                                             
             Total       13.0  13.0  13.0  12.0  11.0  10.0  10.0   9.3   9.3   9.3   9.8 
             support                                                                
4104         Scientists     4     3     2     2     2     1   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2 
             Support        4     4     4     3     3     3     3     3     3     3     3 
4701         Scientists     4     4     4     4     4     3     2     2     4     4     4 
             Support        7     7     7     7     6     5     5   4.3   4.3   4.3   4.8 
4702         Scientists     2     2     2     2     2     3     3     3     3     3     3 
             Support      1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5 
4703         Scientists   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5 
             Support      0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5   0.5 
Forest       Total       98.2  98.3  90.6  85.0  82.8  84.2  86.6  84.1  86.1  90.6  87.7 
Service      scientists                                                             
             Total        109 101.5  88.5  87.4  86.4  87.8  89.8  89.3  88.3  83.1  86.1 
             support                                                                
             Total FTEs 207.2 199.8 179.1 172.4 169.2   172 176.4 173.4 174.4 173.7 173.8 

Source: GAO's analysis of Forest Service data.

aIndicates the research work unit was not yet established, was
discontinued, or was not doing any wood utilization research in the given
year.

Objectives (360532)

www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt? GAO-06-624 .

To view the full product, including the scope

and methodology, click on the link above.

For more information, contact Robin Nazzaro at (202) 512-3841 or
[email protected].

Highlights of GAO-06-624 , a report to congressional requesters

June 2006

WOOD UTILIZATION

Federal Research and Product Development Activities, Support, and
Technology Transfer

More wood is consumed every year in the United States than all metals,
plastics, and masonry cement combined. To maximize their use of wood,
forest product companies rely on research into new methods for using wood.
At least 12 federal agencies have provided support to wood utilization
research and product development activities, including the U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Forest Service and Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service (CSREES)-funded wood utilization research centers,
which historically have specifically targeted support to these activities.

GAO was asked to identify (1) the types of wood utilization research and
product development activities federal agencies support and how these
activities are coordinated; (2) the level of support federal agencies made
available for these activities in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and changes
in the level of support at the Forest Service and at the CSREES-funded
wood utilization research centers for fiscal years 1995 through 2005; and
(3) how the federal government transfers the technologies and products
from its wood utilization research and product development activities to
industry.

GAO provided a draft of this report to the 12 federal agencies for review
and comment. Some of the agencies provided technical comments, which were
incorporated as appropriate.

Federal wood utilization research and product development span a broad
spectrum of activities. These activities fall into five categories:
harvesting, wood properties, manufacturing and processing, products and
testing, and economics and marketing. Of the 12 federal agencies that
provided support to wood utilization research and product development,
only the Forest Service and the CSREES-funded wood utilization centers had
activities in all five categories; although all the agencies had
activities in manufacturing and processing. Coordination of these
activities is both informal and formal. Scientists informally coordinate
their activities by conferring with each other and sharing information at
conferences and professional meetings and through publications. In some
cases, coordination occurs through more formal mechanisms, such as
cooperative arrangements and other joint ventures.

During fiscal years 2004 and 2005, the 12 federal agencies made available
at least $54 million annually for wood utilization research and product
development activities, measured either in budget authority or
expenditures. (Dollars are reported in either budget authority or
expenditure data, depending on the availability of agency data.) The
Forest Service made available about half of these funds. In addition, the
Forest Service-the only agency that directly employs scientists and
support staff to conduct wood utilization research and product
development-reported having almost 175 full-time equivalent scientists and
support staff in each of these years. For fiscal years 1995 through 2005,
the Forest Service's budget authority for wood utilization research and
product development activities fluctuated moderately from year-to-year (in
inflation-adjusted dollars). In contrast, overall, CSREES' budget
authority for the wood utilization research centers increased over the
period (in inflation-adjusted dollars), in part because of the addition of
four new wood utilization research centers between fiscal years 1999 and
2004.

To transfer technologies and products to industry, federal agencies
generally rely on scientists and technology transfer specialists, who use
methods such as information sharing, technical assistance, and
demonstration projects. For example, applying research from the Forest
Products Laboratory, Forest Service technology transfer specialists
assisted a small forest products company in producing flooring from small
trees by, among other things, providing solutions to product imperfections
like warping and discoloration.

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