§ 812 — Advisory Committees

(1) The Secretary of the Interior shall appoint an advisory committee on coal or other mine safety research composed of— (A) the Director of the Office of Science and Technology or his delegate, with the consent of the Director; (B) the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce, or his delegate, with the consent of the Director; (C) the Director of the National Science Foundation, or his delegate, with the consent of the Director; and (D) such other persons as the Secretary of the Interior may appoint who are knowledgeable in the field of coal or other mine safety research. (2) The advisory committee shall consult with, and make recommendations to, the Secretary of the Interior on matters involving or relating to coal or other mine safety research. The Secretary of the Interior shall consult with, and consider the recommendations of, such committee in the conduct of such research, the making of any grants, and the entering into of contracts for such research. (3) The chairman of the committee and a majority of the persons appointed by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to paragraph (1)(D) shall be individuals who have no economic interests in the coal or other mining industry, and who are not operators, miners, or officers or employees of the Federal Government or any State or local government. (1) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall appoint an advisory committee on coal or other mine health research composed of— (A) the Director, United States Bureau of Mines, or his delegate, with the consent of the Director; (B) the Director of the National Science Foundation, or his delegate, with the consent of the Director; (C) the Director of the National Institutes of Health, or his delegate, with the consent of the Director; and (D) such other persons as the Secretary of Health and Human Services may appoint who are knowledgeable in the field of coal or other mine health research. (2) The advisory committee shall consult with, and make recommendations to, the Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters involving or relating to coal or other mine health research. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consult with, and consider the recommendations of, such committee in the conduct of such research, the making of any grants, and the entering into of contracts for such research. (3) The chairman of the committee and a majority of the persons appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to paragraph (1)(D) shall be individuals who have no economic interests in the coal or other mining industry, and who are not operators, miners, or officers or employees of the Federal Government or any State or local government. (c) The Secretary or the Secretary of Health and Human Services may appoint other advisory committees as he deems appropriate to advise him in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. The Secretary or the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as the case may be, shall appoint the chairman of each such committee. A majority of the members (including the chairman) of any such advisory committee appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be composed of individuals who have no economic interests in the coal or other mining industry, and who are not operators, miners, or officers or employees of the Federal Government or any State or local government. (d) Advisory committee members, other than officers or employees of Federal, State, or local governments, shall be, for each day (including traveltime) during which they are performing committee business, entitled to receive compensation at a rate fixed by the appropriate Secretary but not in excess of the maximum rate of pay for grade GS–18 as provided in the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, and shall, notwithstanding the limitations of sections 5703 and 5704 of title 5, be fully reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and related expenses.