PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 104 STAT. 3749 eral agencies, private organizations and corporations, and individuals to carry out research in all aspects of atmospheric sciences and climatology that can be shown to be important in both a basic and developmental way to understanding, forecasting, and delivering agricultural weather information. (2) COMPETITIVE BASIS.—Grants made under this subsection shall be made on a competitive basis, (d) PRIORITY.—In selecting among applications for grants under subsection (c), the Secretary shall give priority to proposals which emphasize— (1) techniques and processes that relate to weather-induced agricultural losses, and to improving the advisory information on weather extremes such as drought, floods, freezes, and storms well in advance of their actual occurrence; (2) the improvement of site-specific weather data collection and forecasting; or (3) the impact of weather on economic and environmental costs in agricultural production. SEC. 1639. NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD ON AGRICULTURAL WEATHER. 7 USC 5853. (a) ESTABLISHMENT. — The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish the Advisory Board on Agricultural Weather (hereinafter referred to in this section as the "Board") to advise the Director of the Agricultural Weather Office with respect to carrying out this Act. (b) COMPOSITION.— The Board shall be composed of nine members, appointed by the Secretary in consultation with the Director of the National Weather Service. Two of the members shall be from each of the four regions of the cooperative extension service. Of the two members from each region, one shall be an agricultural producer and one shall be an agricultural or atmospheric scientist. At least two members of the Board shall be appointed from among individuals who are engaged in providing private meteorology services or consulting with a private meteorology firm. (c) CHAIRPERSON.—The Board shall elect a chairperson from among its members. (d) TERM.—Each Board member shall be appointed for a threeyear term, except that to ensure that members of the Board serve staggered terms, the Secretary shall appoint three of the original members of the Board to appointments for one year, and three of the original members to appointments for two years. (e) MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet not less than twice annually. (f) COMPENSATION. —Members of the Board shall serve without compensation, but while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Board, members of the Board shall be allowed travel expenses, including a per diem allowance in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as individuals employed in Government service are allowed travel expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. (g) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT. —Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the Board. SEC. 1640. STATE AGRICULTURAL WEATHER INFORMATION SYSTEMS. 7 USC 5854. (a) ADVISORY PROGRAM GRANTS. — (1) GRANTS REQUIRED. —With funds allocated to carry out this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall make grants to not fewer than 10 eligible States to plan and administer, in coopera-
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