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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