---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12406"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12406"
heading: "Coordination and consultation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12406"
units:
  - "Chapter 128 — Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Program"
---

# §12406. Coordination and consultation

- (a) **Secretary’s responsibility—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/12401.md?p=c-3) shall have overall management responsibility for carrying out programs under this chapter. In carrying out such programs, the [Secretary](/usc/42/12401.md?p=c-3), consistent with such overall management responsibility—
  - (1) shall use the expertise of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the [Department](/usc/42/12401.md?p=c-2) of Transportation; and
  - (2) may use the expertise of any other Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) in accordance with [subsection (b)](#b) in carrying out any activities under this chapter,[^1] to the extent that the [Secretary](/usc/42/12401.md?p=c-3) determines that any such [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) has capabilities which would allow such [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) to contribute to the purpose of this chapter.
- (b) **Assistance—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/12401.md?p=c-3) may, in accordance with [subsection (a)](#a), obtain the assistance of any [department](/usc/42/12401.md?p=c-2), [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), or instrumentality of the Executive branch of the Federal Government upon written request, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise and with the consent of such [department](/usc/42/12401.md?p=c-2), [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), or instrumentality. Each such request shall identify the assistance the [Secretary](/usc/42/12401.md?p=c-3) deems necessary to carry out any duty under this chapter.
- (c) **Consultation—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/12401.md?p=c-3) shall consult with the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Environmental Protection [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/12401.md?p=c-3) of Transportation, and the Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel established under [section 12407 of this title](/usc/42/12407.md) in carrying out his authorities pursuant to this chapter.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–566, § 107, Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2800.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, the first time appearing in subsec. (a)(2), was in the original “this title”, and was translated as reading “this Act” meaning Pub. L. 101–566, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because Pub. L. 101–566 is not divided into titles.