Science Policy Report

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13 May 2009

In This Issue:

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

Congressional/Administration News

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications from eligible applicants to plan, prepare, and conduct a training workshop for Biosolids Regulators. Deadline 22 Jun. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47328As partners of the EPA, participation by States, local government officials, and other interested stakeholders is critical to the achievement of workshop goals. Funds awarded under this announcement may be used by the recipient to promote participation and support the travel expenses of non-Federal personnel to attend the workshop. This project will benefit biosolid program coordinators, utilities, state and local governments and other stakeholder groups.  

Noxious weed control on public lands within the county boundaries. Deadline 22 May.  http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47338

Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) provide eligible applicants an opportunity to conduct projects that promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Deadline 30 Jun. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47293 While WPDGs can continue to be used by recipients to build and refine any element of a comprehensive wetland program, proposals that address one or more of the three national priorities (Wetland Program Planning Based on the Four Core Elements, Regulation-Enhancing Wetland Protection and/or Monitoring and Assessment) identified in Section I funding opportunity description may increase their chances of being selected for award States, tribes, local government agencies, interstate agencies, and intertribal consortia are eligible to apply under this announcement. Universities that are agencies of state government are eligible. Non-profit organizations are not eligible to compete under this RFP.  

Scientific discoveries are emerging at an accelerated pace, presenting new frontiers for exploration, stimulating innovation and economic growth, and driving the development of new tools and systems to support research. Deadline 24 Aug. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47294Likewise, the convergence of disciplines and the cross-fertilization that characterized contemporary science and engineering have made collaboration a centerpiece of the 21st century science and engineering enterprise. In 2005, NSF estimated that academic institutions then had at least $3.6 billion in deferred projects to repair and renovate science and engineering research facilities (FY05 Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities.) As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, NSF will invest $200 million in the Nation's research facilities and research training infrastructure.

Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology supports studies of: (1) the changing aspects of life, ecology, environments, and biogeography in past geologic time based on fossil plants, animals, and microbes; (2) all aspects of the Earth’s sedimentary carapace’s insights into geological processes recorded in its historical records and rich organic and inorganic resources locked in rock sequences; (3) the science of dating and measuring the time sequence of events and rates of geological processes of the Earth’s past sedimentary and biological (fossil) record; (4) the geologic record of the production, transportation, and deposition of physical and chemical sediments; and (5) understanding the complexities of Earth's deep time (pre-Holocene) climate systems. The Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology Program especially encourages integrative studies at the national and international levels that seek to link subdisciplines, such as geochronology, paleoclimatology, paleogeography, paleoenvironments and paleoecology. Deadline 16 Jan. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47295

The Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) serves to increase access to shared scientific and engineering instruments for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education, museums and science centers, and not-for-profit organizations. Deadline 10 Aug. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47296This program especially seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and engineering, by providing shared instrumentation that fosters the integration of research and education in research-intensive learning environments. Development and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter- and/or intra-organization use are encouraged, as are development efforts that leverage the strengths of private sector partners to build instrument development capacity at academic institutions. To accomplish these goals, the MRI program assists with the acquisition or development of shared research instrumentation that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.

Funding is available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Anadromous Fish Restoration Program (AFRP) to develop a sediment budget for Cottonwood Creek based upon geomorphological data from 1939 to present; quantify spatial and temporal characteristics of sediment supply, storage, and transport in the system; and to identify the effects of sediment transport dynamics on perceived channel and watershed changes. Deadline 29 May. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47238The project will include the collection of needed additional data; and synthesis of current and collected data needed to complete the sediment budget. No substantial involvement on the part of the Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objective to be funded. It is anticipated that the Service's involvement will consist of standard Federal stewardship responsibilities, such as monitoring project performance, technical assistance at the request of the recipient, etc.

The U.S. Geological Survey’s is offering a cooperative-agreement opportunity to universities that have the ability to conduct modeling research for hydroecological questions that meet the objectives listed below. Deadline 18 May. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47240The objectives are to use the RHESSys (Regional HydroEcological Simulation System) model to simulate ecosystem processes and hydrology in five forested montane watersheds representing diverse conditions across the western U.S. (MacDonald Watershed, MT, Loch Vale Watershed, CO, Jemez Watershed, NM, Upper Merced watershed, CA, and Stehekin Watershed, WA).

FY 2009 Program Priorities include: Developing case studies at intensively monitored watersheds suitable for investigating the effectiveness of multiple conservation practices in solving watershed health problems related to grazing land use at the watershed scale. Applying an appropriate range of quantitative interpretive techniques and geographically-based methods, including physical, statistical, and landscape modeling methods to the analysis of the effects of grazing land conservation practices. Expanding knowledge on the watershed health of grazing land watersheds to better inform decision-making for and management of grazing land watersheds. Deadline 1 Jul.  http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47127

Grants awarded under this announcement may involve Geospatial Information. An estimated amount of up to $3,000,000 depending on Agency funding levels and other applicable considerations for approximately 10 to 50 cooperative agreements may be awarded under this announcement to eligible applicants for projects that improve the health of the Gulf of Mexico by addressing improved water quality and public health, priority coastal habitat conservation and restoration, more effective coastal environmental education, improved ecosystems integration and assessment, strategic nutrient reductions, and coastal community resilience. Deadline 15 Jun. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47087Projects must actively involve stakeholders and focus on support and implementation of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors’ Action Plan II for Healthy and Resilient Coasts. Details: http://www2.nos.noaa.gov/gomex/action_plan2/welcome.html

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University is now accepting applications for a new Visiting Faculty program. The 2010 faculty member will work with the Center’s Ecology Initiative and with ISU faculty and staff to examine systems-based approaches to agricultural production that protect and improve the long-term health and resilience of agricultural communities and associated natural systems. Faculty members in this program will be expected to conduct research and extend information and education on sustainable agriculture to Iowans. Special attention will be directed toward assessments of how various forms of diversity affect the ability of agricultural systems to provide multiple benefits to society and the environment. Applicants for the Leopold Visiting Faculty position must have an established, nationally recognized record of accomplishment, a Ph.D. in a field related to sustainable agriculture, a strong scientific background, and demonstrated interest and proficiency in sustainable agriculture to be considered for the 9- to 12-month (non-renewable) position. The faculty member will serve in-residence at ISU and be affiliated with an academic department or research unit at ISU. The Center will provide the faculty member with a portion of the yearly salary/benefits stipend and limited operating funds for research and outreach needs. The new Visiting Faculty program is funded by an educational gift to the Leopold Center. The application form for the 2010 Leopold Visiting Faculty position  may be downloaded at  http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/scholar.pdf or obtained from the Leopold Center office at 209 Curtiss Hall, Ames, IA  50011-1050, or by calling (515) 294-3711 or sending an e-mail to leocenter@iastate.edu. Deadline 15 Jul.

Crop Rotation on Organic Farms: A Planning Manual provides an in-depth review of the applications of crop rotation-including improving soil quality and health, and managing pests, diseases, and weeds. Consulting with expert organic farmers, the authors share rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions and with a wide range of crops. Published by the Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service (NRAES) and funded in part by USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, the book includes instructions for making rotation planning maps and discusses the transition to organic farming.  Other features include: *Problems and opportunities for over 500 crop sequences; *Characteristics of more than 60 crops and 70 weeds; *Crop diseases hosted by over 80 weed species; *Modes of transmission for 250 diseases of 24 crops; *Thirteen sample four- and five-year vegetable and grain crop rotations; *Managing Crop Rotation Chart with key tasks & steps; *Sample worksheets and calculations; *Step-by-step procedure for determining crop rotation plans  NRAES will take pre-print orders through June 15, 2009. The book will be available in July. The pre-print price for 1-24 copies is $16.80 per copy plus S&H and the pre-print price for 25 or more copies is $14.40 per copy plus S&H. The list price after printing is expected to be $24 per copy. (Standard quantity discounts will be available after printing; visit http://www.nraes.org for discount information.)

Congressional/Administration News

The president is also seeking additional funding for satellites and other climate-related programs at NASA. The president's budget request for the space agency totals $18.686 billion, well above the 2009 mark of $17.782 billion. Earth science programs at NASA would receive about a $1.3 billion budget increase for FY 2010. http://www.ostp.gov/galleries/budget/FY2010RD.pdf

After hitting roadblocks within in their own party, leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have agreed to push back their short-term targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as they work to write a cap-and-trade climate change bill that can move to the House floor. On May 12, Energy and Commerce Chair Henry Waxman (D-CA) said the core issues that were in dispute over draft legislation released last month have been resolved within his caucus. Waxman also announced that he will release the text of his bill by tomorrow, begin markup on May 18 and get it passed by the committee by the end of next week. Waxman was forced to retreat from his early target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. In the agreement, the bill caps emissions at 17 percent below 2005 levels in 2020, instead of the original draft’s 20 percent. However, the later reductions of 42 percent by 2030 and 83 percent by 2050 would not change.  Trying to gain supporters, Waxman stressed that the bill would provide for special projects to reduce emissions, such as reducing deforestation both domestically and worldwide. Members are very close to reaching consensus on how to design the bill’s market-based program for companies to trade emissions allowances under the cap. The revised bill would require 15 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass by 2020, and another 5 percent from energy efficiency. The compromise bill also would expand the definition of biomass that could be used to meet the standard. In the upper chamber, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) predicts that Senate panels will work through the summer on separate energy and climate bills which he hopes to combine into a package this coming fall after the passage of health care legislation.

Citing loss of faith in EPA due to its bungling of the proposed biofuels regulation, House Agriculture Committee chair Collin Peterson (D-MN) announced last week that he will not support the House climate change bill. Driving Peterson’s anger are EPA draft rules for the implementation of renewable fuels standards that includes measurement of biofuels' greenhouse gas emissions from "indirect" land-use changes associated with biofuels, an assumption that Peterson and other ag-state representatives claim is unfair and will hurt the renewable energy industry in the US.

Last week, President Obama finally released details of his $3.4 trillion fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget proposal. Budget details are provided for science agencies funding the agronomic, crop and soil sciences including USDA-National Institute of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service and National Resources Conservation Service; National Science Foundation, Department of Energy Office of Science, US Geological Survey, EPA, NASA and NOAA . The president’s budget proposal boosts funding for many energy and environment programs, and also recommends $17 billion in proposed spending cuts.  The release of the budget will allow lawmakers to begin in earnest the FY 2010 appropriations process, with markups of agency spending bills likely coming in the next few weeks. For now, leaders on Capitol Hill have announced their wish to embrace the administration's proposed cuts, adding that they will take steps to look for their own reductions in the budget. Details for selected agencies follow. Full budget details: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/. View R&D funding in the budget: http://www.ostp.gov/galleries/budget/FY2010RD.pdf

Overall, the Obama FY 2010 budget request for USDA was very disappointing with flat funding recommended for Hatch ($207.106 million), McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry ($27.535 million), Agriculture and Food Research Initiative ($201.504 million), Integrated Research, Education and Extension, Sec 406 ($41.92 million), Smith-Lever 3(b) and 3(c) ($288.548 million), and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education ($14.399 million). The president is seeking significant increases for education programs. A more than 300% increase in funding for the Institution Challenge Grants program bringing FY 2010 funding to $23.154 million, a more than $3 million increase in funding for the 1890s Capacity Building Grants (total funding $18.00 million), a huge jump from $0.983 to $18.483 million for the Secondary/2-year Post Secondary program, and a $3 million increase for Hispanic Education Partnership Grants (total $9.237 million). The 2010 Budget does also provide $37 million in new intramural research funding for bioenergy, nutrition, climate, and world hunger research, and a $70 million extramural initiative of research and extension funds for rural revitalization. The Agricultural Research Service would see a 1.14% ($13 million) over FY 2009, bringing total funding to $1.153 billion. Natural Resources Conservation Service would be funded at $867.197 million, a $14 million increase over FY 09 levels. President Obama requests more than $128 million for USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), a farm bill program that gives loan guarantees and grants to farmers, ranchers and small rural businesses to start energy development projects or improve energy efficiency on their property. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fy2010_department_agriculture/

A nearly $200 million increase for the Forest Service is requested in President Obama’s FY 2010 budget. The agency would receive $4.93 billion in fiscal 2010 under the White House plan, up from $4.75 billion in the fiscal 2009 omnibus spending bill. Most of the major line items are slated for small increases, e.g., $1.516 billion would go toward the National Forest System, up from $1.509 billion last year. Around $556.9 million, an $80 million increase over FY 2009, would be provided for capital improvement and maintenance. In his budget proposal, Obama seeks $306 million for state and private forestry initiatives, a $40 million increase over the 2009 omnibus, and $301 million for forest and rangeland research, a $5 million increase. One significant cut, reducing funding for land acquisition to $28.6 million from $50 million in FY 2009, is included in the Forest Service budget. Promising to restore core Forest Service programs, the administration calls for $2.238 billion for wildland fire management, a more than $100 million increase over the 2009 omnibus. Included in that amount are $328 million for hazardous fuels reduction activities, $11.5 million for rehabilitation and restoration, $23.9 million for research activities and $55 million for state fire assistance. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fy2010_department_interior/

President Obama's budget request for the U.S. Geological Survey would increase the agency's budget by $54 million to $1.098 billion in FY 2010. In contrast to previous administrations, the USGS budget request for FY 2010 does not propose budget cuts to programs that are known to be popular in Congress, such as the mineral resources program, the water resources research institutes, and the earthquake hazards extramural grants programs. However, the budget request would eliminate several unrequested increases in funding that were inserted by Congress in the FY 2009 appropriations bill. The budget request would transfer the National Geospatial Program ($69.8 million) back to the Geographic Research budget activity. It would fully fund increases in "fixed costs," such as salary and rent, rather than requiring that some of these costs by borne by efficiencies or programmatic activities. View complete text of "The Interior Budget in Brief: Fiscal Year 2010" at http://www.doi.gov/budget/2010/10Hilites/toc.html. The complete text of the USGS FY 2010 Budget Justification (636 pages; 14 mb) is available at http://www.doi.gov/budget/2010/data/greenbook/FY2010_USGS_Greenbook.pdf

The overall NSF budget will increase by 8.55% over FY 2009 appropriations level, from $6.49 billion to $7.045 billion. A number of areas were highlighted at the budget briefing though few details were provided. Areas mentioned: Increase in graduate research fellowships (1200 to 1600); emphasis on transformative research, high-risk, high-reward; computer modeling, simulation, and software development; climate change, climate change education, K-12 to graduate, public understanding of climate change; and, clean energy. Limited overall S&T budget information available at http://www.ostp.gov/cs/rd_budgets/fy_2010_budget. Full NSF budget details will be provided at a future date when the agency releases them.

Following through on campaign promises to protect the nation’s environment and tackle global warming, President Obama’s FY 2010 budget proposal includes a $3 billion increase for the Environmental Protection Agency( EPA) which increases total funding for the agency from $7.6 to $10.5 billion. Included in the detailed proposal are increases in funding for air, water and climate programs. Clean air and climate change research and development would be funded at $249 million, a $13 million increase from FY 2009.According to the budget request, science and technology programs at the agency will include research on criteria air pollutants to develop federal clean air standards, studies of the effects of toxic air pollutants on human health and implementation of the renewable fuels provision of the 2005 Energy Policy Act. Funding for compliance and environmental research would be bumped up $4 million to $47 million. Funding for science and technology related to clean and safe water initiatives would increase from an estimated $146 million in fiscal 2009 to $168 million. This funding would help small communities meet new drinking water standards for arsenic, microbial contaminants and disinfection byproducts. Research aimed at managing water risks associated with carbon capture and sequestration activities, a high priority for many lawmakers, is also provided. At total of $981 million, up from the FY 2009 level of $660 million, would be dedicated to healthy communities and ecosystems related to environmental programs and management, much of that large increase attributed to a massive influx of cash for the Great Lakes by way of Obama's $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Problems to be addressed in the Great Lakes include aquatic invasive species, contaminated sediment and nonpoint source pollution. Money also would go toward brownfields programs. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fy2010_department_epa/

The Department of Energy (DOE) is requesting $26.4 billion in discretionary budget authority for FY10, which includes funding for the agency's energy research, science, environmental management, and defense programs. This represents an increase of $146 million, or 0.6 percent, over the FY09 level of 26.2 billion. Within DOE’s budget, the Office of Science budget would grow to $4.9 billion, an increase of $184 million, or 3.9 percent, above the FY09 funding level. This funding is in addition to the $1.6 billion the Office of Science is receiving under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The DOE Office of Science budget request would: *Enable approximately 24,000 researchers from universities, national laboratories, and industry to use DOE scientific facilities in FY10, and *Support about 25,000 PhDs, postdoctoral researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and technicians in FY10. The president’s budget request includes increases for DOE Office of Science program areas—*Biological and Environmental Research (BER) would receive $604.2 million, an increase of $2.6 million, or 0.4 percent, over the FY09 enacted level; *Basic Energy Sciences would be funded at $1.69 billion, an increase of $113.5 million, or 7.2 percent, over the FY09 enacted level; *Advanced Scientific and Computing Research (ASCR) would be funded at $409 million, an increase of $40.2 million, or 10.9 percent, over the FY09 enacted level; *Science Laboratories Infrastructure would receive $133.6 million, a reduction of $11.8 million, or 8.1 percent, below the FY09 enacted level; and *Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists would receive $20.7 million, a $7.1 million, or 52.2 percent, increase over the FY09 enacted amount. Some $5 million of this increase would be used to initiate a new graduate fellowship program that was authorized in the America COMPETES Act of 2007. Additional information about the FY10 DOE budget request, including key budget highlights and the full budget justification, is available at: http://www.energy.gov/about/budget.htm.

President Obama’s FY 2010 budget request would provide $4.479 billion for NOAA (NOAA was funded at $4.4 billion in FY 2009), including increases for climate and environmental satellites, oceanic and atmospheric research, and fisheries programs. This strong funding level continues a trend of increased spending on climate science and satellite programs that began with the $600 million set aside for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in recent economic stimulus legislation. NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service would receive $1.43 billion in 2010. That is about $200 million above the 2009 enacted level, according to the Office of Management and Budget. Increased spending would also be available for polar and geostationary satellite acquisition and funding for a satellite to help monitor sea level rise. The Office of Atmospheric Research is slated for $487 million, which includes additional support to monitor ocean acidification and develop an integrated drought early warning system and a public data portal for climate models. http://www.ostp.gov/galleries/budget/FY2010RD.pdf

Including 13 federal agencies, the federal government’s overarching CCSP would receive $2 billion, a 2.3% increase over 2009 funding levels. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) continues to expand its Global Change program and other related activities, to $63 million (up 40 percent), while the National Science Foundation (NSF) provides $300 million for CCSP activities in the 2010 Budget, an increase of $80 million or 36 percent over the 2009 enacted level. Reports and general information about the CCSP are available on the program's website: www.climatescience.gov/.

The 2010 Budget makes a renewed commitment to education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), investing $3.7 billion in STEM education programs throughout the federal government in over 100 programs identified by the Academic Competitiveness Council, an increase of $98 million or 2.7 percent over the 2009 enacted level for these programs. In addition, the Recovery Act provides a preliminary $276 million for these programs, which will be spent over 2009 and 2010. For STEM programs, 2010 Budget highlights include: *The President’s commitment to triple the number of Graduate Research Fellowships (GRF)at the National Science Foundation (NSF) to 3,000 by 2013, by providing $122 million for the NSF GRF program; *Funding for the Mathand Science Partnerships (MSPs)are sustained at $179 million for the Department of Education component in the 2010 Budget, and $58 million for the NSF component. Both components facilitate partnerships between local school districts and higher education institutions to improve math and science education; *A new Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) RE-ENERGYSE (Regaining our ENERGY Science and Engineering Edge) program will form the core of DOE’s participation in Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President. http://www.ostp.gov/galleries/budget/FY2010RD.pdf

Late last month, just prior to completion of the 100th day in President Obama’s administration, the House and Senate approved the conference report on the $3.5 trillion budget blueprint. Though nonbinding and more of a blueprint for categories of spending for FY 2010, the budget resolution reinforces a number of President Obama’s legislative priorities in energy policy, environmental protection and elsewhere. Unfortunately, and as occurred with the economic stimulus package and the previous scuffles on the budget blueprints, the final votes on the budget proposal were highly partisan with no Republicans voting for passage of the budget document in either the House or Senate. Total discretionary spending for FY 2010 is set at $1.086 trillion, an amount that is between the two levels proposed by the House and Senate but is also $10 billion less than the amount originally sought by the White House.  Science advocates worry that the $10 billion will almost certainly come from the non-defense spending portion of the budget, because the $556 billion provided for defense spending in the budget document matches the White House’s request. The budget resolution increase funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency by $540 million, a 10% increase over FY 2009 levels.

On 5 May, President Obama issued a presidential directive to Ag Secretary Vilsack to aggressively accelerate the investment in and production of biofuels. On a conference call with Energy Secretary Stephen Chu and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, Vilsack also announced that he will help lead an unprecedented interagency effort to increase America's energy independence and spur rural economic development.  Vilsack claims that increasing renewable fuels will reduce dependence on foreign oil by more than 297 million barrels a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 160 million tons a year when fully phased in by 2022. On the call, Jackson announced that the EPA would establish four categories of renewable fuels, some of which would be produced from new sources. To address lifecyle analysis, the EPA said they are soliciting peer-reviewed, scientific feedback to ensure that the best science available is utilized prior to implementation. President Obama directed Secretary Vilsack to expedite and increase production of and investment in biofuel development efforts by: *Refinancing existing investments in renewable fuels to preserve jobs in ethanol and biodiesel plants, renewable electricity generation plants, and other supporting industries; and *Making renewable energy financing opportunities from the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 available within 30 days. These opportunities include: *Loan guarantees for the development, construction, and retrofitting of commercial scale biorefineries and grants to help pay for the development and construction costs of demonstration-scale biorefineries; *Expedited funding to encourage biorefineries to replace the use of fossil fuels in plant operations by installing new biomass energy systems or producing new energy from renewable biomass; *Expedited funding to biofuels producers to encourage production of next-generation biofuels from biomass and other non-corn feedstocks; *Expansion of Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program, which has been renamed the Rural Energy for America Program, to include hydroelectric source technologies, energy audits, and higher loan guarantee limits; and *Guidance and support for collection, harvest, storage, and transportation assistance for eligible materials for use in biomass conversion facilities.

Sources: Congressional Quarterly; E&E Daily; Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC; Geological Society of America

Vision: The Societies Washington, DC Science Policy Office (SPO) will advocate the importance and value of the agronomic, crop and soil sciences in developing national science policy and ensuring the necessary public-sector investment in the continued health of the environment for the well being of humanity. The SPO will assimilate, interpret, and disseminate in a timely manner to Society members information about relevant agricultural, natural resources and environmental legislation, rules and regulations under consideration by Congress and the Administration.

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