83 FR 17522 - Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Repowering Assistance Program

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 77 (April 20, 2018)

Page Range		17522-17524
FR Document		2018-08298

This Notice announces the solicitation of applications for up to $5 Million of available funding under the Repowering Assistance Program to encourage the use of renewable biomass as a replacement fuel source for fossil fuels used to provide process heat or power in the operation of eligible biorefineries. To be eligible for payments, biorefineries must have been in existence on or before June 18, 2008.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17522-17524]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08298]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Repowering 
Assistance Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This Notice announces the solicitation of applications for up 
to $5 Million of available funding under the Repowering Assistance 
Program to encourage the use of renewable biomass as a replacement fuel 
source for fossil fuels used to provide process heat or power in the 
operation of eligible biorefineries. To be eligible for payments, 
biorefineries must have been in existence on or before June 18, 2008.

DATES: Applications will be accepted from April 20, 2018 through July 
19, 2018. Applications received after July 19, 2018, regardless of 
their postmark, will not receive consideration. If the actual deadline 
falls on a weekend or a federally-observed holiday, the deadline is the 
next Federal business day.

ADDRESSES: Applications and forms may be obtained from:
     USDA, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Energy Division, 
Attention: Repowering Assistance Program, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
STOP 3225, Washington, DC 20250-3225.
     Agency website: http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms. 
Follow instructions for obtaining the application and forms. 
Application materials can also be obtained from the Agency's website. 
http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/repowering-assistance-program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on this 
payment program, please contact Fred Petok, USDA, Rural Business-
Cooperative Service, Energy Division, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 
6870, STOP 3225, Washington, DC 20250-3225. Telephone: 202-690-0784. 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Preface

    The Agency encourages applications that will support 
recommendations made in the Rural Prosperity Task Force report to help 
improve life in rural America (www.usda.gov/ruralprosperity). 
Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable 
results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable 
economies through strategic investments in infrastructure,

[[Page 17523]]

partnerships, and innovation. Key strategies include:

 Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
 Developing the Rural Economy
 Harnessing Technological Innovation
 Supporting a Rural Workforce
 Improving Quality of Life

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
information collection requirements associated with the Section 9004 
Repowering Assistance Program, as covered in this Notice, have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control 
Number 0570-0066.

Overview

    Federal Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (an agency 
of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Rural 
Development mission area).
    Payment Proposal Title: Repowering Assistance Program.
    Announcement Type: Notice of Solicitation of Applications.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number. The CFDA 
number for this Notice is 10.866.
    Dates: To receive funding consideration, applications must be 
received in the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Energy 
Division no later than 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 19, 
2018. Any application received after 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on 
July 19, 2018, will not compete for funds announced in this Notice.
    Availability of Notice and Rule. This Notice and the interim rule 
for the Repowering Assistance Program are available on the USDA Rural 
Development website at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/repowering-assistance-program and at http://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    A. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of this program is to 
provide financial incentives to biorefineries in existence on or before 
June 18, 2008 (the date of the enactment of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill, Pub. L. 110-234) to replace the 
use of fossil fuels used to produce heat or power at their facilities 
by installing new systems that use renewable biomass, or to produce new 
energy from renewable biomass.
    B. Statutory Authority. This Program is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 
8104. Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 4288, subpart A.
    C. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this Notice 
are published at 7 CFR 4288.2.
    D. Application Awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and award 
applications received in response to this Notice based on the 
provisions found in 7 CFR part 4288, subpart A.

II. Award Information

    A. Available Funds. The Agency is authorizing up to $5 million for 
this program in FY 2018.
    B. Number of Payments. The number of payments will depend on the 
number of participating biorefineries.
    C. Amount of Payments. The Agency will determine the amount of 
payments to be made to a biorefinery in accordance with its regulations 
at 7 CFR part 4288, subpart A, which take into consideration the 
percentage reduction in fossil fuel used by the biorefinery (including 
the quantity of fossil fuels a renewable biomass system is replacing) 
and the cost and cost-effectiveness of the renewable biomass system.
    D. Payment Limitations. There is no minimum payment amount that an 
individual biorefinery can receive. The maximum amount an individual 
biorefinery can receive under this Notice is 50 percent of total 
eligible project costs up to a maximum of $2 million.
    E. Project Costs. Eligible project costs, in accordance with 7 CFR 
4288.11, will be only for project related construction costs for 
repowering improvements associated with the equipment, installation, 
engineering, design, site plans, associated professional fees, permits 
and financing fees. Any project costs incurred by the applicant prior 
to application for payment assistance under this Notice will be 
ineligible for payment assistance.
    F. Type of Instrument. Payment agreement.

III. Eligibility Information

    A. Eligible Applicants. Applicant eligibility requirements are 
found in 7 CFR 4288.10. Among other things, to be eligible for this 
program, an applicant must be a biorefinery that has been in existence 
on or before June 18, 2008, and will utilize renewable biomass to 
replace fossil fuel for repowering the biorefinery.
    B. Ineligible Projects. In accordance with 7 CFR 4288.10(b), a 
project is not eligible under this Notice if it is using feedstocks for 
repowering that are feed grain commodities that received benefits under 
Title I of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. Similarly, 
in accordance with 7 CFR 4288.10(a)(3) and 7 CFR 4288.10(a)(4) projects 
that do not score the minimum 5 points for cost-effectiveness and 
percentage of reduction of fossil fuel used, as outlined in 7 CFR 
4288.21(b) will be deemed ineligible.

IV. Multiple Submissions

    In accordance with 7 CFR 4288.10(a)(2), Corporations and entities 
with more than one biorefinery can submit an application for only one 
of their biorefineries. However, if a corporation or entity has 
multiple biorefineries located at the same location, the entity may 
submit an application that covers such biorefineries provided the heat 
and power used in the multiple biorefineries are centrally produced.

V. Scoring Advice

    A. Cost Effectiveness. To be eligible and meet the minimum scoring 
criteria, the project must have a simple payback period of no more than 
10 years (i.e., must be awarded at least five points for cost-
effectiveness under 7 CFR 4288.21(b)(1)).
    B. Percentage of Reduction of Fossil Fuel Used. To be eligible and 
meet the minimum scoring criteria, the applicant must demonstrate that 
the repowering project has an anticipated annual reduction in fossil 
fuel use of at least 40 percent (i.e., the application must be awarded 
at least five points for percentage of reduction of fossil fuel used 
under 7 CFR 4288.21(b)(2)).

VI. Project Financing

    The applicant must demonstrate that it has sufficient funds or has 
obtained commitments for sufficient funds to complete the repowering 
project, taking into account the amount of the payment request in the 
application.

VII. Application and Submission Information

    A. To Request Applications. Application forms are available from 
the USDA Rural Development State Office, State Energy Coordinator, and 
the Agency website found at http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov. Follow 
instructions on the Agency website for obtaining the application and 
forms. http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/repowering-assistance-program.
    B. Content and Form of Submission. Applicants must submit a signed 
original and one copy of an application containing all the information 
specified in 7 CFR 4288.20(b) and (c).
    C. Submission Dates and Times. Applications to participate in this 
program must be submitted between April 20, 2018 and July 19, 2018. 
Applications received after 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time July 19, 
2018, regardless of their postmark, will not be

[[Page 17524]]

considered by the Agency for funding consideration.
    D. Submission Instructions. Two copies of the application materials 
should be submitted to: USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Energy 
Division, Attention: Repowering Assistance Program, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Room 6901, STOP 3225, Washington, DC 20250-3225.
    E. Payment Provisions. Payments will be made according to the 
provisions specified in 7 CFR 4288.13(b) and (c) and in 7 CFR 4288.24.

VIII. Application Review and Selection Information

    The Agency will evaluate projects based on the cost, cost-
effectiveness, and capacity of projects to reduce fossil fuels used.
    A. Review. The Agency will review applications submitted under this 
Notice in accordance with 7 CFR 4288.21(a).
    B. Scoring. The Agency will score applications submitted under this 
Notice in accordance with 7 CFR 4288.21(b).
    C. Ranking and Selecting Applications. The Agency will consider the 
score an application has received compared to the scores of other 
applications, with higher scoring applications receiving first 
consideration for payments. Using the application scoring criteria 
point values specified in 7 CFR 4288.21, the Agency will select 
applications for payments.
    D. Availability of Funds. As applications are funded, if 
insufficient funds remain to pay the next highest scoring application, 
the Agency may elect to pay a lower scoring application. Before this 
occurs, the Agency will provide the applicant of the higher scoring 
application the opportunity to reduce the amount of its payment request 
to the amount of funds available. If the applicant agrees to lower its 
payment request, it must certify that the purposes of the project can 
be met, and the Agency must determine the project is feasible at the 
lower amount.

IX. Administration Information

    A. Notice of Eligibility. The provisions of 7 CFR 4288.23 apply to 
this Notice. These provisions include notifying an applicant determined 
to be eligible for participation and notifying an applicant determined 
to be ineligible, including their application score and ranking and the 
score necessary to qualify for payments.
    B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
    (1) Review or Appeal Rights. A person may seek a review of an 
Agency adverse decision or appeal to the National Appeals Division as 
provided in 7 CFR 4288.3.
    (2) Compliance with Other Laws and Regulations. The provisions of 7 
CFR 4288.4 apply to this Notice, which includes requiring participating 
biorefineries to be in compliance with other applicable Federal, State, 
and local laws.
    (3) Oversight and Monitoring. The provisions of 7 CFR 4288.5(a) and 
(b) apply to this Notice, which includes the right of the Agency to 
verify all payment applications and subsequent payments and the 
requirement that each biorefinery must make available, at one place at 
all reasonable times for examination by the Agency, all books, 
documents, papers, receipts, payroll records, and bills of sale 
adequate to identify the purposes for which, and the manner in which, 
funds were expended for all eligible project costs for a period of not 
less than 3 years from the final payment date.
    (4) Reporting. Upon completion of the repowering project funded 
under this Notice, the biorefinery must submit a report, in accordance 
with 7 CFR 4288.5(c), to the Agency annually for the first 3 years 
after completion of the project. The reports are to be submitted as of 
October 1 of each year.
    (5) Exception Authority. The provisions of 7 CFR 4288.7 apply to 
this Notice.
    (6) Succession and Control of Facilities and Production. The 
provisions of 7 CFR 4288.25 apply to this Notice.
    C. Environmental Review. All recipients under this Notice are 
subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970 or successor regulation.

X. Agency Contacts

    For further information about this Notice, please contact Fred 
Petok, USDA, Rural Business--Cooperative Service, Energy Division, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6870, STOP 3225, Washington, DC 20250-
3225. Telephone: 202-690-0784. Email: [email protected].

XI. Nondiscrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or 
write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the 
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint 
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA 
by:
    (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20250-9410;
    (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
    (3) Email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

    Dated: April 16, 2018.
Bette B. Brand,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-08298 Filed 4-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P

17522 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / Notices

and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station detections and checking of traps, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, identification of places of production on
Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. shipping documents, box marking, Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Supporting documents and any phytosanitary certificates with
comments we receive on this docket additional declarations, and emergency Notice of Solicitation of Applications
may be viewed at http:// action notifications. for the Repowering Assistance
www.regulations.gov/#!docket We are asking the Office of Program
Detail;D=APHIS-2018-0023 or in our Management and Budget (OMB) to AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative
reading room, which is located in Room approve our use of these information Service, USDA.
1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th collection activities, as described, for an ACTION: Notice.
Street and Independence Avenue SW, additional 3 years.
Washington, DC. Normal reading room The purpose of this notice is to solicit SUMMARY: This Notice announces the
hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday comments from the public (as well as solicitation of applications for up to $5
through Friday, except holidays. To be affected agencies) concerning our Million of available funding under the
sure someone is there to help you, information collection. These comments Repowering Assistance Program to
please call (202) 799–7039 before will help us: encourage the use of renewable biomass
coming. as a replacement fuel source for fossil
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information is necessary for the proper fuels used to provide process heat or
information on the importation of fresh performance of the functions of the power in the operation of eligible
pitaya fruit from Central America into Agency, including whether the biorefineries. To be eligible for
the continental United States, contact information will have practical utility; payments, biorefineries must have been
Mr. Benjamin Kaczmarski, RCC in existence on or before June 18, 2008.
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our
Assistant Director, PHP, PPQ, APHIS, DATES: Applications will be accepted
estimate of the burden of the collection
4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, of information, including the validity of from April 20, 2018 through July 19,
MD 20737; (301) 851–2127. For copies the methodology and assumptions used; 2018. Applications received after July
of more detailed information on the 19, 2018, regardless of their postmark,
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
information collection, contact Ms. will not receive consideration. If the
clarity of the information to be
Kimberly Hardy, APHIS’ Information actual deadline falls on a weekend or a
collected; and
Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851– federally-observed holiday, the deadline
(4) Minimize the burden of the is the next Federal business day.
2483.
collection of information on those who
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: Applications and forms may
are to respond, through use, as
Title: Importation of Fresh Pitaya be obtained from:
appropriate, of automated, electronic, • USDA, Rural Business-Cooperative
Fruit From Central America Into the mechanical, and other collection
Continental United States. Service, Energy Division, Attention:
technologies; e.g., permitting electronic Repowering Assistance Program, 1400
OMB Control Number: 0579–0378. submission of responses.
Type of Request: Revision to and Independence Avenue SW, STOP 3225,
extension of approval of an information Estimate of burden: The public Washington, DC 20250–3225.
collection. burden for this collection of information • Agency website: http://
Abstract: The Plant Protection Act is estimated to average 0.008 hours per forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms. Follow
(PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) authorizes response. instructions for obtaining the
the Secretary of Agriculture to restrict Respondents: Shippers and producers application and forms. Application
the importation, entry, or interstate of fresh pitaya and the national plant materials can also be obtained from the
movement of plants, plant products, and protection organizations in Central Agency’s website. http://
other articles to prevent the America. www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/
introduction of plant pests into the Estimated annual number of repowering-assistance-program.
United States or their dissemination respondents: 66. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
within the United States. As authorized Estimated annual number of further information on this payment
by the PPA, the Animal and Plant responses per respondent: 2,279. program, please contact Fred Petok,
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Estimated annual number of USDA, Rural Business-Cooperative
regulates the importation of certain responses: 150,432. Service, Energy Division, 1400
fruits and vegetables in accordance with Estimated total annual burden on Independence Avenue SW, Room 6870,
the regulations in ‘‘Subpart—Fruits and respondents: 1,288 hours. (Due to STOP 3225, Washington, DC 20250–
Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56–1 through averaging, the total annual burden hours 3225. Telephone: 202–690–0784. Email:
319.56–82). may not equal the product of the annual frederick.petok@wdc.usda.gov.
Under these regulations, fresh pitaya number of responses multiplied by the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
from Central America may be imported reporting burden per response.)
into the continental United States under Preface
All responses to this notice will be
certain conditions, as listed in § 319.56– The Agency encourages applications
summarized and included in the request
55, to prevent the introduction of plant that will support recommendations
for OMB approval. All comments will
pests into the United States. The made in the Rural Prosperity Task Force
also become a matter of public record.
regulations require information report to help improve life in rural
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

collection activities that include Done in Washington, DC, on April 17, America (www.usda.gov/rural
production site certification and 2018. prosperity). Applicants are encouraged
registration, production site training Michael C. Gregoire, to consider projects that provide
program, review and maintenance of Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant measurable results in helping rural
records, packinghouse registration, Health Inspection Service. communities build robust and
inspections and investigations, bilateral [FR Doc. 2018–08301 Filed 4–19–18; 8:45 am] sustainable economies through strategic
workplans, records of fruit fly BILLING CODE 3410–34–P investments in infrastructure,

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Apr 19, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1

Document Created: 2018-04-20 00:02:30
Document Modified: 2018-04-20 00:02:30

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Applications will be accepted from April 20, 2018 through July 19, 2018. Applications received after July 19, 2018, regardless of their postmark, will not receive consideration. If the actual deadline falls on a weekend or a federally-observed holiday, the deadline is the next Federal business day.
Contact		For further information on this payment program, please contact Fred Petok, USDA, Rural Business- Cooperative Service, Energy Division, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6870, STOP 3225, Washington, DC 20250-3225. Telephone: 202-690-0784. Email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 17522

83 FR 17522 - Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Repowering Assistance Program

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURERural Business-Cooperative Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 77 (April 20, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service