80 FR 77314 - Amendment to Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 239 (December 14, 2015)

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency) published a notice in the Federal Register of October 6, 2015 (80 FR 60349), announcing the acceptance of applications for funds available under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. The 2014 Farm Bill provides funding for the program for FY 2016. This notice provides an amendment to Section V. Application Review Information, subsection A. Evaluation Criteria, to allow points to be awarded if any of the criteria are met and to maintain consistency with other Rural Development programs on how poverty areas are defined.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 239 (Monday, December 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77314-77315]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31325]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Amendment to Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Rural 
Energy for America Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency) published a 
notice in the Federal Register of October 6, 2015 (80 FR 60349), 
announcing the acceptance of applications for funds available under the 
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. The 
2014 Farm Bill provides funding for the program for FY 2016. This 
notice provides an amendment to Section V. Application Review 
Information, subsection A. Evaluation Criteria, to allow points to be 
awarded if any of the criteria are met and to maintain consistency with 
other Rural Development programs on how poverty areas are defined.

[[Page 77315]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this Notice, 
please contact Kelley Oehler, USDA Rural Development, Energy Division, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 3225, Room 6870, Washington, DC 
20250. Telephone: (202) 720-6819. Email: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The October 6, 2015, Notice identified on 
page 60353, in the third column toward the bottom of the page, under 
Section V. Application Review Information, subsection A. Evaluation 
Criteria, paragraph (1)(a) indicates an ``and'' between the words 
``unserved'' and ``under-served populations'', and an ``and'' between 
subparagraphs (i) and (ii), as well as between subparagraphs (i) and 
(ii) of paragraph (1)(b), which is on page 60354 on the top of the 
first column. The ``and'' is being replaced with ``or'' in each of 
these locations to indicate the State Director and Administrator can 
award points if only one of the criterion is met.
    Further, on page 60354 of the Notice, under paragraph (1)(b)(i), 
which is on the top of the first column, the following language is 
inserted after the phrase ``living in poverty.'' The period is replaced 
with a comma and the phrase is being added ``a project is located in a 
community (village, town, city, or Census Designated Place) with median 
household income of 60 percent or less of the state's non-metropolitan 
median household income.''
    The changes are being made to ensure REAP maintains consistency 
with other Agency programs on how poverty areas are defined for State 
Director and Administrator points and to not restrict points from being 
awarded if only one criteria is met.
    The following Summary of Changes apply to the October 6, 2015, 
Notice.

Summary of Changes

    1. In the third column on page 60353, Section V. Application Review 
Information, subsection A. Evaluation Criteria, paragraph (1)(a), the 
sentence is revised to read as follows:
    With regard to 7 CFR 4280.120(g)(3), which addresses applicants who 
are members of unserved or under-served populations, a project that is:
    2. In the third column on page 60353, Section V. Application Review 
Information, subsection A. Evaluation Criteria, paragraph (1)(a)(i), 
the last sentence is revised to read as follows:
    In order to receive points, applicants must provide a statement in 
their applications to indicate that owners of the project have veteran 
status; or
    3. In the first column on page 60354, paragraph (1)(b)(i)is revised 
to read as follows:
    (i) Located in rural areas with the lowest incomes where, according 
to the most recent 5-year American Community Survey data by the U.S. 
Census Bureau, tracts show that at least 20 percent of the population 
is living in poverty or a project is located in a community (village, 
town, city, or Census Designated Place) with a median household income 
of 60 percent or less of the State's non-metropolitan median household 
income. This will support the Secretary of Agriculture's priority of 
providing 20 percent of its funding by 2016 to these areas of need; or

Nondiscrimination Statement

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the 
basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender 
identity, religion, reprisal and where applicable, political beliefs, 
marital status, familial or parental status, religion, sexual 
orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from 
any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in 
employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the 
Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or 
employment activities.)
    If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of 
discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form 
(PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or complete the form at any USDA office, or 
call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter 
containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your 
completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442, or email at 
[email protected].
    Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech 
disabilities and wish to file either an Equal Employment Opportunity or 
program complaint, please contact USDA through the Federal Relay 
Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).
    Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, 
please see information above on how to contact us directly by mail or 
email. If you require alternative means of communication for program 
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please 
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Dated: December 8, 2015.
Samuel H. Rikkers,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-31325 Filed 12-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P