1. A. There is hereby created the Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee. The Committee shall consist of the following members appointed by the Governor:

   1. 1. The Director of the Department of Agriculture or designee;
   2. 2. The Director of the Department of Environmental Quality or designee;
   3. 3. The Director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission or designee;
   4. 4. One member representing the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture;
   5. 5. One member representing Oklahoma State University;
   6. 6. One member representing the Oklahoma Energy Board;
   7. 7. One member representing an entity which generates electrical energy and operates facilities/equipment associated with the transmission and distribution of electrical energy;
   8. 8. Two members who are producers of field crops at least one of whom actively employs a minimum tillage management system in his or her farming operation;
   9. 9. Two members who are producers of livestock at least one of whom is actively involved in range management;
   10. 10. One member with expertise in carbon dioxide emissions marketing or trading;
   11. 11. One member representing an agri-business that does business and trading with farmers and ranchers and is involved with day-to-day merchandising in agricultural products;
   12. 12. One member representing conservation districts in this state;
   13. 13. One member representing the ethanol industry;
   14. 14. One member representing electric cooperatives in this state designated by the industry; and
   15. 15. One member representing production agriculture who is actively engaged in carbon-based energy and wildlife-related activities to be designated by the Director of the Conservation Commission.
2. B. Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission shall, subject to availability of appropriations, provide space for meetings of the Committee and shall provide other assistance and staffing needs of the Committee.

3. C. The Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee shall:

   1. 1. Advise and assist the Oklahoma Conservation Commission in preparing any reports required by this section and in conducting the assessment pursuant to Section 3-4-103 of this title;
   2. 2. Identify existing opportunities for Oklahoma agricultural and nonagricultural landowners to participate in any system of carbon dioxide emissions marketing or trading that may be developed in the future, and to optimize the economic benefits to Oklahoma agricultural and nonagricultural landowners who participate in such carbon dioxide emissions trading transactions. Such policies or programs may include, but are not limited to, identifying existing or new nonprofit organizations or other public or private entities capable of serving as assemblers of carbon dioxide emissions credits or as intermediaries on behalf of agricultural and nonagricultural landowners in any carbon dioxide emissions trading or marketing system that may be developed in the future;
   3. 3. Encourage the production of educational and advisory materials regarding carbon sequestration and the opportunities to participate in any system of carbon dioxide emissions trading or marketing that may be developed in the future; and
   4. 4. Identify and recommend areas of research needed to better understand and quantify the processes of carbon sequestration on agricultural and nonagricultural lands within the state.

4. D. On or before December 1, 2002, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, in consultation with the Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee, shall prepare a report to the Legislature. The report shall include, but not be limited to:

   1. 1. The potential economic impact from utilizations of a voluntary system of carbon dioxide emissions trading or marketing for carbon sequestered on agricultural or nonagricultural lands in the state that could be used in the event carbon dioxide emissions regulations are adopted in the future;
   2. 2. Improved agricultural practices, soil and vegetation including trees, conservation practices, revegetation including reforestation activities, and other methods of stewardship of soil and vegetation resources which occur on agricultural and nonagricultural lands and which increase stored soil carbon and/or minimize carbon dioxide emissions associated with agricultural practices and other types of activities that may generate carbon dioxide emissions;
   3. 3. Methods for measuring and modeling net carbon sequestration associated with improved agricultural practices, soil and vegetation including trees, conservation practices, revegetation including reforestation activities and other methods of stewardship of soil and vegetation resources which occur on agricultural and nonagricultural lands;
   4. 4. Areas of scientific uncertainty with respect to quantifying and understanding sequestration associated with improved agricultural practices, soil and vegetation conservation practices, revegetation activities, and other methods of stewardship of soil and vegetation resources occurring on agricultural and nonagricultural lands; and
   5. 5. Any recommendations of the Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee developed pursuant to the Oklahoma Carbon Sequestration Enhancement Act.

Laws 2001, HB 1192, c. 81, § 2, emerg. eff. April 16, 2001; Amended by Laws, HB 2040, c. 273, § 1, emerg. eff. May 20, 2002 (superseded document available).