§ 18644. Biological and environmental research

• (a) The Director shall carry out research and development activities in fundamental, structural, computational, and systems biology to increase systems-level understanding of the complex biological systems, which may include activities—
  • (1) to accelerate breakthroughs and new knowledge that would enable the cost-effective, sustainable production of—
    • (A) biomass-based liquid transportation fuels;
    • (B) bioenergy; and
    • (C) biobased materials;
  • (2) to improve understanding of the global carbon cycle, including processes for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, through photosynthesis and other biological processes, for sequestration and storage; and
  • (3) to understand the biological mechanisms used to transform, immobilize, or remove contaminants from subsurface environments.
• (b) The Director shall not approve new climate science-related initiatives without making a determination that such work is well-coordinated with any relevant work carried out by other Federal agencies.
• (c)
  • (1) The Director shall carry out a research program on low-dose radiation.
  • (2) The purpose of the program is to enhance the scientific understanding of, and reduce uncertainties associated with, the effects of exposure to low-dose radiation to inform improved risk-management methods.