83 FR 38678 - Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 152 (August 7, 2018)

Page Range		38678-38680
FR Document		2018-16852

The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), is republishing this announcement to extend the application deadline for the availability of competitive grants to conduct a forest inventory analysis, forest management, and economic outcomes modelling, for certain currently enrolled Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land. The analysis is focused on lands enrolled in CRP for at least 8 years and located in areas with a substantial concentration of acres enrolled under the following conservation practices devoted to multiple bottomland hardwood tree species: General tree planting, hardwood tree planting, vegetative cover on previously established tree stands, riparian buffers, bottomland timber establishments, and farmable and aquaculture wetlands. Qualified applicants must be non-profit organizations dedicated to conservation, forestry, and wildlife habitats that have experience in conducting accurate forest inventory analysis through the use of advanced, cost- effective technology, as determined by FSA.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 152 (Tuesday, August 7, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38678-38680]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16852]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP) Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency, U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC), is republishing this announcement to extend the
application deadline for the availability of competitive grants to
conduct a forest inventory analysis, forest management, and economic
outcomes modelling, for certain currently enrolled Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP) land. The analysis is focused on lands enrolled in CRP
for at least 8 years and located in areas with a substantial
concentration of acres enrolled under the following conservation
practices devoted to multiple bottomland hardwood tree species: General
tree planting, hardwood tree planting, vegetative cover on previously
established tree stands, riparian buffers, bottomland timber
establishments, and farmable and aquaculture wetlands. Qualified
applicants must be non-profit organizations dedicated to conservation,
forestry, and wildlife habitats that have experience in conducting
accurate forest inventory analysis through the use of advanced, cost-
effective technology, as determined by FSA.

DATES: Application Deadline: August 25, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted in the following method:
Grants Portal: Go to www.grants.gov. Follow the online instructions for
submitting grants.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Iovanna, telephone (202) 720-
5291.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

When the NOFA was initially published on July 19, 2018, (83 FR
34098-34100), the application deadline was August 15, 2018. FSA is
republishing the NOFA to extend the application deadline to August 25,
2018. No other changes have been made to the announcement.
Section 743 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L.
115-141) requires that the USDA enter into grant agreements for forest
inventory analysis, and forest management, and economic outcomes
modelling of certain CRP land. Under this authority, the CCC will make
available not more than $1 million in grants to non-profit
organizations. The CRP Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot will be
administered under the general supervision of FSA on behalf of CCC, in
accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR part 200.

Description

The CRP Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot is focused on lands
enrolled in CRP for at least 8 years and located in areas with a
substantial concentration of acres enrolled under certain conservation
practices devoted to multiple bottomland hardwood tree species,
including conservation practices for general tree planting, hardwood
tree planting, vegetative cover on previously established tree stands,
riparian buffers, bottomland timber establishments, and farmable and
aquaculture wetlands. Qualified applicants must be non-profit
organizations dedicated to conservation, forestry, and wildlife
habitats that have experience in conducting accurate forest inventory
analysis through the use of advanced, cost-effective technology.
Comprehensive data analysis using advanced, cost-effective
technology on land enrolled in CRP with certain bottomland hardwood
practices is important for several reasons. Such data will provide the
FSA CRP program manager with the information needed to more effectively
manage enrollment. For example, the inventory may find that

[[Page 38679]]

mortality of a selected species of tree is high in certain situations.
As a result, the CRP program manager may adjust what tree species can
be enrolled in CRP on a regional and site-specific basis. Economic
modeling will provide information on the expected net returns to CRP
enrollees, as well as an evaluation of taxpayer costs. In short, there
is a need for data collection and analysis of bottomland hardwood
conservation practices and economics.
For more than 30 years under CRP, landowners have voluntarily
enrolled tens of millions of farmland acres to conserve and improve
soil, protect water quality, and provide wildlife habitat by
establishing long-term cover, primarily grasses and trees. Landowners
voluntarily enroll their lands for periods of between 10 and 15 years.
CRP cost share funding is provided to landowners who install the
prescribed conservation practices. These practices can be costly and
require ample investment by the landowner and technical assistance
provider to ensure that the practices are appropriate and properly
installed. The adequacy of the conservation plan is paramount to
achieving CRP enrollment goals, especially for bottomland hardwoods.
Bottomland hardwoods are streamside forest trees--such as
cottonwood, sycamore, oak, maple, ash, cypress, and tupelo--that
typically grow on lands prone to flooding. Over the past 8 years, 46
States have enrolled land into CRP that is devoted to bottomland
hardwood trees. Cumulative CRP bottomland hardwood tree enrollment,
over the past 8 years, is just over 799,000 acres, with over 550,000
acres (69 percent) located in the States shown in Table 1.

Table 1--Tree Enrollment in CRP by State Over the Past 8 Years; USDA May 31, 2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total CRP tree Cumulative Acres of total
State acres acres percent Region
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mississippi........................... 204,870 204,870 26 Southern Forest.
Arkansas.............................. 79,341 284,211 36 Southern Forest.
Louisiana............................. 75,087 359,298 45 Southern Forest.
Alabama............................... 58,035 417,333 52 Southeast Forest.
Illinois.............................. 47,824 465,156 58 Midwest Forest.
Georgia............................... 35,212 500,369 63 Southeast Forest.
North Carolina........................ 26,942 527,310 66 Southeast Forest.
Minnesota............................. 24,346 551,674 69 Northern Forest.
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The CRP Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot is intended to provide
information and analysis needed to better inform CRP decision making
associated with the following bottomland hardwood conservation and
stand maintenance practices:
1. CP03--Tree Planting;
2. CP03A--Hardwood Tree Planting;
3. CP11--Vegetative Cover--Trees Already Established; \1\
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\1\ The purpose of the CP11 practice is to maintain a stand of
trees in a timber planting previously established on cropland as
practice CP-3 or CP-3A to enhance environmental benefits. This CP11
practice was available only through a re-offer of expiring or
expired CRP acres.
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4. CP22--Riparian Buffer;
5. CP31--Bottomland Timber Establishment; and
6. CP40--Farmable Wetland Program--Aquaculture Wetland.
The inventory, analysis, and modeling must estimate, at a minimum,
stand composition, stand density, basal area, and tree height using
remotely sensed data (rather than data collected by visiting a site).
The data will be used to generate statistically robust estimates of
commercial value, economic returns, carbon sequestration, and wildlife
and water quality impacts for each of the practices in at least one of
the regions and states enumerated in Table 1. These estimates will
identify species appropriate for bottomland CRP practices or sites, as
well as forest management practices needed to maintain cover during the
contract period. An accurate assessment of the model output will be
conducted using ground plots.

Definitions

The 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act uses the term ``non-profit
organizations.'' Consistent with OMB Circular A-122, the term ``non-
profit organization'' means any corporation, trust, association,
cooperative, or other organization that:
1. Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service,
charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest;
2. Is not organized primarily for profit; and
3. Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand its
operations.
The term ``non-profit organization'' excludes:
1. Colleges and universities, unless a 501(c)(3) has been
established;
2. Hospitals;
3. State, local, and federally-recognized Indian tribal
governments; and
4. Those non-profit organizations that are excluded from coverage
under paragraph 5 of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-
122.
The term ``economic outcomes modelling'' as used in this NOFA, must
include multiple dimensions, including, but not limited to, baseline
return estimates to CRP participants (taking into account, among other
items, commercial value), and returns under alternative scenarios that
reflect management recommendations.

Eligibility and Application Process

Non-profit organizations dedicated to conservation, forestry, and
wildlife habitats, that have experience in conducting forest inventory
analysis through the use of remote sensing data and technology are
eligible to apply. Applicants must submit an application by August 25,
2018, through www.grants.gov. To find the CRP Forest Inventory Analysis
Pilot in www.grants.gov, search on funding opportunity number USDA-FSA-
CRPFIA-2018. Applications must include, but are not limited to, an
executive summary, work plan, and budget information using Application
for Federal Assistance (SF-424) form. (See www.grants.gov for more
details about the specific application requirements.)
Non-profit organizations may submit a combined cross-organization
proposal to include work that will be coordinated across more than one
organization, especially if a joint proposal creates synergies or
increased efficiencies. The application may include one or more forest
regions.
The result of a successful application will be a one-time grant
agreement. Successful applicants will be required to sign the grant
agreement with FSA, which will include reporting and recordkeeping
requirements. It is possible that not all of the $1 million

[[Page 38680]]

authorized by Congress for this pilot will be expended. All
applications are subject to the approval of FSA, and FSA reserves the
right to reject any and all applications.

Application Selection Criteria

FSA will evaluate applications using the evaluation criteria
specified in this NOFA and on www.grants.gov to select the
application(s) that best support the goals of CRP Forest Inventory
Analysis Pilot. A proposal must include the following information; this
information will be used by FSA in the awarding of grants:
1. Amount of funding requested;
2. Amount of funding from other parties (with sufficient
documentation) that provide additional leverage, if any; for example,
specifying the regions, states, practices and plots where the proposal
goes beyond minimal requirements (such as by considering CP-36, long-
leaf pine);
3. Sampling approach to be used;
4. Remotely sensed data to be used, including its sources and its
spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution;
5. Number and relevance of metrics to be estimated and the modeling
approach to be used to estimate the metrics;
6. The accuracy assessment, including sampling approach and
location of ground plots following the U.S. Forest Service's Common
Stand Examination protocols or those in the peer-reviewed literature;
and
7. Work plan and timeline for completion by September 30, 2020.

Process for Evaluation and Application and Awards of Grants

After applicants submit applications, FSA, on behalf of CCC, will
screen each application to determine whether the applicant is eligible
and whether the application is complete and sufficiently responsive to
the requirements specified in this NOFA. Applicants may revise their
applications and re-submit them prior to the published deadline if
there is sufficient time to do so. FSA will appoint an inter-agency
review panel to evaluate the applications. During the evaluation
period, FSA may contact an applicant to seek clarification and
modification of the proposal. The resulting CRP Forest Inventory
Analysis Pilot grant agreements will be between the non-profit
organization(s) and FSA.
Any non-profit organization that receives a grant must commit to
fully expend the awarded federal funds by September 30, 2020, with an
opportunity for extension upon approval by FSA.

Responsibilities of the Participants

Successful applicants will be required to sign an agreement with
FSA and provide detailed budget and schedule information. The agreement
will require periodic achievement reports. The agreement will require
the grantee to commit to do all of the following:
1. Perform inventory, analysis, modelling and validating, including
conducting site visits and plot sampling, on the CRP enrolled acreage;
and
2. Provide an accounting for the money received by the grantee.
During the term of the grant, the grantee will be required to
obtain prior approval for any changes to the scope, objectives, or
funding allocation of the approved agreement. Failure to obtain prior
approval of such changes may be considered a violation, and in such
case the grantee may be required to return all grant funds, including
any funds already expended, as determined appropriate by FSA. Grantees
will be required to monitor funds and report on expenditures. The
grantee must certify that the CCC funds will not be used to:
1. Duplicate existing inventories, analysis, or economic modelling
efforts; however, grant funds may be used to expand the prior
inventories, analysis, or economic modelling efforts;
2. Pay costs of preparing a CRP Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot
grant application;
3. Pay costs of the project incurred prior to the date of grant
approval;
4. Fund political activities or lobbying efforts;
5. Pay any judgment or debt owed to the United States;
6. Pay for the repair of privately owned vehicles;
7. Pay for unrelated salaries, overhead, and expenses; or
8. Pay for unrelated research.
Failure of the grantee to execute a grant agreement in a timely
fashion, as determined by FSA, will be construed to be a withdrawal
from the CRP Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot. In this event, FSA will
demand a refund of the grant funds as deemed appropriate by FSA.

Distribution of Grant Funds and Reimbursement of Unused Funds

FSA expects to transfer CCC funds to the selected non-profit
organization applicants before September 30, 2018.

Environmental Review

The environmental impacts of this NOFA have been considered in a
manner consistent with the provisions of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the regulations of the Council
on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and the FSA
regulations for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR part 799).
The purpose of the grants for the CRP Forest Inventory Analysis
Pilot is to provide the CRP Program Manager with information to inform
decision-making about the effectiveness of certain conservation
practices on CRP land for bottomland hardwoods and are passive in
nature and will not involve ground disturbance or tree removals or
disturbance. The discretionary aspects of the CRP Forest Inventory
Analysis Pilot include, but are not limited to, eligibility, how many
grants to award, and how to evaluate submissions. As such, the
Categorical Exclusions in 7 CFR 799.31 apply, specifically 7 CFR
799.31(b)(6)(vii) and (viii) (these two categorical exclusions include
site characterization, environmental testing, and monitoring where no
significant alteration of existing ambient conditions would occur; and,
stand analysis for forest management planning, respectively). No
``Extraordinary circumstances'' (7 CFR 799.33) exist; as such, FSA has
determined that this NOFA does not constitute a major Federal action
that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment,
individually or cumulatively. Therefore, beyond this Environmental
Review in this NOFA, FSA will not prepare any additional environmental
documentation for this action.

Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements

The CRP Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot is exempt from the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), as
amended, as specified in subsection 1601(c)(2)(B) of the Agricultural
Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill, 16 U.S.C. 3846(b)), which provides
that CRP, as a Title II program, be promulgated and administered
without regard to the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

The title and number of the Federal assistance in the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance to which this NOFA applies is 10.122, the
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot.

Robert Stephenson,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2018-16852 Filed 8-6-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P

38678 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 7, 2018 / Notices

ways to minimize the burden of the Need and Use of the Information: advanced, cost-effective technology, as
collection of information on those who USNA officials will collect the determined by FSA.
are to respond, including through the information using applications in the DATES: Application Deadline: August
use of appropriate automated, form of questionnaires. The collected 25, 2018.
electronic, mechanical, or other information is used by USNA ADDRESSES: Applications must be
technological collection techniques or management to determine if a submitted in the following method:
other forms of information technology. requestor’s needs can be met and the Grants Portal: Go to www.grants.gov.
Comments regarding this information request is consistent with the mission Follow the online instructions for
collection received by September 6, and goals of the USNA uses of the submitting grants.
2018 will be considered. Written information. If the basic information is FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
comments should be addressed to: Desk not collected, USNA officials will not be Richard Iovanna, telephone (202) 720–
Officer for Agriculture, Office of able to determine if a requestor’s needs 5291.
Information and Regulatory Affairs, are met.
Office of Management and Budget SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description of Respondents: Business
(OMB), New Executive Office Building, or other for profit; Not-for-profit Background
725—17th Street NW, Washington, DC institutions; Individuals or households;
20502. Commenters are encouraged to When the NOFA was initially
State, Local or Tribal Government. published on July 19, 2018, (83 FR
submit their comments to OMB via Number of Respondents: 302.
email to: OIRA_Submission@ 34098–34100), the application deadline
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: was August 15, 2018. FSA is
OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395–5806
On occasion. republishing the NOFA to extend the
and to Departmental Clearance Office,
USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Total burden Hours: 151. application deadline to August 25, 2018.
Washington, DC 20250–7602. Copies of Ruth Brown, No other changes have been made to the
the submission(s) may be obtained by Departmental Information Collection
announcement.
calling (202) 720–8958. Clearance Officer. Section 743 of the Consolidated
An agency may not conduct or Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115–
[FR Doc. 2018–16849 Filed 8–6–18; 8:45 am]
sponsor a collection of information 141) requires that the USDA enter into
BILLING CODE 3410–03–P
unless the collection of information grant agreements for forest inventory
displays a currently valid OMB control analysis, and forest management, and
number and the agency informs DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE economic outcomes modelling of certain
potential persons who are to respond to CRP land. Under this authority, the CCC
the collection of information that such Commodity Credit Corporation will make available not more than $1
persons are not required to respond to million in grants to non-profit
the collection of information unless it Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for organizations. The CRP Forest Inventory
displays a currently valid OMB control the Conservation Reserve Program Analysis Pilot will be administered
number. (CRP) Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot under the general supervision of FSA on
behalf of CCC, in accordance with the
Agricultural Research Service AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation provisions of 2 CFR part 200.
Title: U.S. National Arboretum Use of and Farm Service Agency, U.S.
the Grounds and Facilities as well as Department of Agriculture (USDA). Description
Commercial Photography and ACTION: Notice. The CRP Forest Inventory Analysis
Cinematography. Pilot is focused on lands enrolled in
OMB Control Number: 0518–0024. SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency CRP for at least 8 years and located in
Summary of Collection: The mission (FSA), on behalf of Commodity Credit areas with a substantial concentration of
of the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) Corporation (CCC), is republishing this acres enrolled under certain
is to conduct research, provide announcement to extend the application conservation practices devoted to
education, and conserve and display deadline for the availability of multiple bottomland hardwood tree
trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plans to competitive grants to conduct a forest species, including conservation
enhance the environment. The USNA is inventory analysis, forest management, practices for general tree planting,
a 446-acre public facility. The grounds and economic outcomes modelling, for hardwood tree planting, vegetative
of the USNA are available to the general certain currently enrolled Conservation cover on previously established tree
public for purposes of education and Reserve Program (CRP) land. The stands, riparian buffers, bottomland
passive recreation. The USNA has many analysis is focused on lands enrolled in timber establishments, and farmable and
spectacular feature and garden displays CRP for at least 8 years and located in aquaculture wetlands. Qualified
which are very popular to visitors and areas with a substantial concentration of applicants must be non-profit
photographers. Section 890(b) of the acres enrolled under the following organizations dedicated to conservation,
Federal Agriculture Improvement and conservation practices devoted to forestry, and wildlife habitats that have
Reform Act of 1996, Public Law multiple bottomland hardwood tree experience in conducting accurate forest
104–107 (‘‘FAIR ACT’’) provided species: General tree planting, inventory analysis through the use of
statutory authorities regarding the hardwood tree planting, vegetative advanced, cost-effective technology.
USNA. These authorities include the cover on previously established tree Comprehensive data analysis using
ability to charge fees for temporary use stands, riparian buffers, bottomland advanced, cost-effective technology on
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

by individuals or groups of USNA timber establishments, and farmable and land enrolled in CRP with certain
facilities and grounds for any purpose aquaculture wetlands. Qualified bottomland hardwood practices is
consistent with the mission of USNA. applicants must be non-profit important for several reasons. Such data
Also, the authority was provided to organizations dedicated to conservation, will provide the FSA CRP program
charge fees for the use of the USNA for forestry, and wildlife habitats that have manager with the information needed to
commercial photography and experience in conducting accurate forest more effectively manage enrollment. For
cinematography. inventory analysis through the use of example, the inventory may find that

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Document Created: 2018-11-06 10:38:55
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 10:38:55

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		Application Deadline: August 25, 2018.
Contact		Richard Iovanna, telephone (202) 720- 5291.
FR Citation		83 FR 38678

83 FR 38678 - Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURECommodity Credit Corporation

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 152 (August 7, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation