SELECTION PROCESS.

SEC. 606. SELECTION PROCESS. (a) After consulting with the technical advisory panel established in subsection (b), the Secretary shall select the proposals that will receive funding through the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program. (b) The Secretary shall convene a technical advisory panel to evaluate the proposals for forest restoration grants and provide recommendations regarding which proposals would best meet the objectives of the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program. The technical advisory panel shall consider eligibility criteria established in section 605, the effect on long-term management, and seek to use a consensus-based decisionmaking process to develop such recommendations. The panel shall be composed of 12 to 15 members, to be appointed by the Secretary as follows: (1) A State Natural Resource official from the State of New Mexico. (2) At least two representatives from Federal land management agencies. (3) At least one tribal or pueblo representative. (4) At least two independent scientists with experience in forest ecosystem restoration. (5) Equal representation from— (A) conservation interests; (B) local communities; and (C) commodity interests.