* Act of November 28, 1990 (P.L. 101-624, Title XXIV, 104 Stat. 4058; 7 U.S.C. 2007(note), 6702-10)

Short Title

Sec. 2401. This title may be cited as the "Global Climate Change Prevention Act of 1990". (7 U.S.C. 2007(note))

Global Climate Change Program

Sec. 2402. (a) Establishment.- For the purpose of having within the Department of Agriculture a focal point for coordinating all issues of climate change, the Secretary of Agriculture (hereafter in this title referred to as the "Secretary") shall establish a Global Climate Change Program (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Program"). The Secretary shall designate a director of the Program who shall be respon-sible to the Secretary for carrying out the duties specified in subsec-tions (b) and (c).

(b) General duties.-The Direc-tor shall-

(1) coordinate policy analysis, long range planning, research, and response strategies relating to cli-mate change issues;

(2) provide liaison with other Federal agencies, through the Office of Science and Technology Policy, regarding issues of climate change;

(3) inform the Department of scientific developments and policy issues relating to the effects of climate change on agriculture and forestry, including broader issues that affect the impact of climate change on the farms and forests of the United States;

(4) recommend to the Secre-tary alternative courses of action with which to respond to such sci-entific developments and policy issues; and

(5) ensure that recognition of the potential for climate change is fully integrated into the research, planning, and decision-making pro-cesses of the Department.

(c) Specific Responsibilities.--The Director shall-

(1) coordinate the global cli-mate change studies required by section 2403;

(2) provide, through such other agencies as the Secretary deter-mines appropriate, competitive grants for research in climatology relating to the potential impact of climate change on agriculture;

(3) coordinate the participation of the Department in interagency climate-related activities;

(4) consult with the National Academy of Sciences and private, academic, State, and local groups with respect to climate research and related activities;

(5) represent the Department to the Office of Science and Technolo-gy Policy and coordinate the activi-ties of the Department in response to requirements of this title;

(6) represent the Department on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and

(7) review all Department budget items relating to climate change issues, including specifically the research budget to be submitted by the Secretary to the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget. (7 U.S.C. 6701)

Study of Global Climate Change, Agriculture, and Forestry

Sec. 2403. (a) Crops.- (1) In general. The Secretary shall study the effects of global climate change on agriculture and forestry. The study shall, at a mini-mum address-

(A) the effects of simulta-neous increases in temperature and carbon dioxide on crops of econom-ic significance;

(B) the effects of more frequent or more severe weather events on such crops;

(C) the effects of potential changes in hydrologic regimes on current crop yields;

(D) the economic effects of widespread and increased drought frequency in the south, midwest, and plains States; and

(E) changes in pest prob-lems due to higher temperatures.

(2) Further studies.-If the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1) warrant, the Secretary shall conduct further studies that address the means of mitigating the effects of global climate change on crops of economic significance that shall, at a minimum-

(A) identify whether climate change tolerance can be bred into these crops, the amount of time necessary for any such breeding, and the effects on the income of farmers;

(B) evaluate existing genetic resource and breeding programs for crops for their ability to develop new varieties that can tolerate po-tential climate changes; and

(C) assess the potential for the development of crop varieties that are tolerant to climate changes and other environmental stresses, such as drought, pests, and salinity.

(b) Forests.-The Secretary shall conduct a study on the emissions of methane, nitrous oxide, and hydro-carbons from tropical and temperate forests, the manner in which such emissions may affect global climate change; the manner in which global climate change may affect such emissions; and the manner in which such emissions may be reduced through management practices. The study shall, at a minimum-

(1) obtain measurements of nitrous oxide, methane, and nonmethane hydrocarbons from tropical and temperate forests;

(2) determine the manner in which the nitrous oxide, methane, and nonmethane hydrocarbon emissions from temperate and tropical forest systems will respond due to climate change; and

(3) identify and address alter-native management strategies for temperate and tropical forests that may mitigate any negative effects of global climate change.

(c) Reports.-The Secretary shall submit reports of the studies con-ducted under subsections (a) and (b) within 3 and 6 years, respectively, after the date of enactment of this Act to the Committee on Agricul-ture and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-tives, and the Commit-tee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. In addition, interim reports regarding such stud-ies shall be provided by the Secre-tary to such Committees annually, with recommendations for actions which may be taken to mitigate the negative effects of global climate change and to adapt to global cli-mate changes and related phenome-na. (7 U.S.C. 6702)

Technical Advisory Committee

Sec. 2404. (a) Establishment.- The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a technical advisory com-mittee to provide advice to the Secretary concerning the major study areas required under this title.

(b) Members.-The committee established under subsection (a) shall be composed of such represen-tatives of universities, professional societies, government laboratories, and agricultural, environmental and other organizations as the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Office of Science and Technolo-gy Policy and the Administrator of the Environmen-tal Protection Agen-cy, determines appropriate based on an assessment by the Secretary of qualifications required for service on such committee. Appointments to such committee shall be made not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Such com-mittee shall have a chairperson who shall be elected by the mem-bers of the committee from among such members. (7 U.S.C. 6703)

Office of International Forestry

Sec. 2405. (a) Establishment.- The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish an Office of International Forestry within the Forest Service within six months after the date of enactment of this Act.

(b) Deputy Chief designation.- The Chief shall appoint a Deputy Chief for International Forestry.

(c) Duties.-The Deputy Chief shall-

(1) be responsible for the inter-national forestry activities of the Forest Service;

(2) coordinate the activities of the Forest Service in implementing the provisions of this title; and

(3) serve as Forest Service liaison to the director for the program established pursuant to section 2402. (7 U.S.C. 6704)

Line Item

Sec. 2406. The President's pro-posed budget to Congress for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act and for each subsequent fiscal year shall specifically identify funds to be spent on Forest Service international coop-eration and assistance. (7 U.S.C. 6705)

Institutes of Tropical Forestry

Sec. 2407. The Secretary is au-thorized and directed to establish an Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico and an Institute of Pacif-ic Islands Forestry (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Insti-tutes"). The Institutes shall conduct research on forest management and natural resources that shall in-clude-

(1) management and develop-ment of tropical forests;

(2) the relationship between climate change and tropical forests;

(3) threatened and endangered species;

(4) recreation and tourism;

(5) development of tropical forest resources on a sustained yield basis;

(6) techniques to monitor the health and productivity of tropical forests;

(7) tropical forest regeneration and restoration; and

(8) the effects of tropical deforestation on biodiversity, global climate, wildlife, soils, and water. (7 U.S.C. 6706)

The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974

Sec. 2408. (a) Renewable resource assessment.-Section 3(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(a)) is amended-

Note-Section 2408(a) and (b) amendments are included in the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, P.L. 93-378, and excluded here.

Urban Forestry Demonstration Projects

Sec. 2409. The Secretary is authorized to undertake, through the Forest Service's Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry program, a study and pilot implementation project to demonstrate the benefits of retaining and integrating forests in urban development. The focus of such a study and implementation project should be to protect the environment and associated natural resource values, for current and future generations. (7 U.S.C. 6706)

Biomass Energy Demonstration Projects

Sec. 2410. The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, may carry out projects that demonstrate the potential of short--rotation silvicultural methods to produce wood for electricity produc-tion and industrial energy needs. In carrying out such projects, the Sec-retary shall cooperate with private industries, Federal and State agen-cies, and other organiza-tions. (7U.S.C. 6708)

Interagency Cooperation to Maxi-mize Biomass Growth

Sec. 2411. The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense to-

(1) conduct a study of refores-tation and improved management of Department of Defense military installations and lands; and

(2) develop a program to man-age such forests and lands so as to maximize their potential for biomass growth and sequestering carbon dioxide. (7 U.S.C. 6709)

Authorization of Appropriations

Sec. 2412. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1996, to carry out this title. (7 U.S.C. 6710)