PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 112 STAT. 571 (c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR BiOBASED PRODUCTS.— (1) AGREEMENTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with private entities described in subsection (d), under which the facilities and technical expertise of the Agricultural Research Service may be made available to operate pilot plants and other large-scale preparation facilities for the purpose of bringing teclmologies necessary for the development and commercialization of new biobased products to the point of practical application. (2) DESCRIPTION OF COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES. —Cooperative activities may include— (A) research on potential environmental impacts of a biobased product; (B) methods to reduce the cost of manufacturing a biobased product; and (C) other appropriate research. (d) ELIGIBLE PARTNERS.— The following entities shall be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement under subsection (c): (1) A party that has entered into a cooperative research and development agreement with the Secretary under section \ 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a). (2) A recipient of funding from the Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation established under section 1658 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5902). (3) A recipient of funding from the Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation. (4) A recipient of funding from the Secretary under a Small Business Innovation Research Program established under section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638). (e) PILOT PROJECT. — The Secretary, acting through the Agricultural Research Service, may establish and carry out a pilot project under which grants are provided, on a competitive basis, to scientists of the Agricultural Research Service to— (1) encourage innovative and collaborative science; and (2) during each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001, develop biobased products with promising commercial potential. (f) SOURCE OF FUNDS. — (1) IN GENERAL.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), to carry out this section, the Secretary may use— (A) funds appropriated to carry out this section; and (B) funds otherwise available for cooperative research and development agreements under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.). (2) EXCEPTION.— The Secretary may not use funds referred to in paragraph (1)(B) to carry out subsection (e). (g) SALE OF DEVELOPED PRODUCTS.— For the purpose of determining the market potential for new biobased products produced at a pilot plant or other large-scale preparation facility under a cooperative agreement under this section, the Secretary shall authorize the private partner or partners to the agreement to sell the products. (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— T here are authorized to be appropriated such sums as £U"e necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.
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