7 U.S.C. § 7655c — Clarification of research and development program for wood building construction
submitted 8 years ago by Pub. L. 115-334 to r/title-7-AGRICULTURE · 300 words · no verdicts yet
USDA must research and support innovative wood use in building construction. Work happens at the Forest Products Laboratory or through grants to universities. Priorities include commercializing new wood products and studying tall wood building safety and environmental impact.
(a) In general: The Secretary must carry out performance-driven research, development, education, and technical assistance to help spread the use of innovative wood products in building construction across the U.S.
(b) Activities: To do this, the Secretary must (1) after getting input from the wood products industry, conservation groups, and universities, conduct research, development, education, and technical assistance at the Forest Products Laboratory or through the State and Private Forestry program, meeting measurable goals tied to (c)'s priorities; and (2) after coordinating with the wood products industry and conservation groups, award competitive grants to universities to do the same kind of work toward those same priorities.
(c) Priorities: This work must prioritize (1) ways to better commercialize innovative wood products; (2) analyzing the safety of tall wood building materials; (3) the Forest Products Laboratory calculating the full lifecycle environmental footprint of tall wood construction, from raw material extraction through manufacturing; (4) methods to reduce that environmental footprint; (5) how using innovative wood products in construction might affect wildlife; and (6) any other research areas the Secretary identifies after consulting conservation groups, universities, and the wood products industry.
(d) Timeframe: As much as practical, the measurable goals for this work should be achievable within five years.
The Secretary shall conduct performance-driven research and development, education, and technical assistance for the purpose of facilitating the use of innovative wood products in wood building construction in the United States.
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
after receipt of input and guidance from, and collaboration with, the wood products industry, conservation organizations, and institutions of higher education, conduct research and development, education, and technical assistance at the Forest Products Laboratory or through the State and Private Forestry deputy area that meets measurable performance goals for the achievement of the priorities described in subsection (c); and
after coordination and collaboration with the wood products industry and conservation organizations, make competitive grants to institutions of higher education to conduct research and development, education, and technical assistance that meets measurable performance goals for the achievement of the priorities described in subsection (c).
The research and development, education, and technical assistance conducted under subsection (a) shall give priority to—
ways to improve the commercialization of innovative wood products;
analyzing the safety of tall wood building materials;
calculations by the Forest Products Laboratory of the lifecycle environmental footprint, from extraction of raw materials through the manufacturing process, of tall wood building construction;
analyzing methods to reduce the lifecycle environmental footprint of tall wood building construction;
analyzing the potential implications of the use of innovative wood products in building construction on wildlife; and
1 or more other research areas identified by the Secretary, in consultation with conservation organizations, institutions of higher education, and the wood products industry.
To the maximum extent practicable, the measurable performance goals for the research and development, education, and technical assistance conducted under subsection (a) shall be achievable within a 5-year timeframe.
Source credit: (Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8642, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4871.)
- 2018Enacted · Pub. L. 115-334 · 132 Stat. 4871
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 115-334 on 2018-12-20.
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