83 FR 48588 - Guarantee Fee Rates for Guaranteed Loans for Fiscal Year 2019; Maximum Portion of Guarantee Authority Available for Fiscal Year 2019; Annual Renewal Fee for Fiscal Year 2019

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 187 (September 26, 2018)

Page Range		48588-48589
FR Document		2018-20944

This notice helps to improve applicants' awareness of the Guarantee Fee rates for Guaranteed Loans for fiscal year (FY) 2019, the Maximum Portion of Guarantee Authority Available for FY 2019, and the Annual Renewal Fee for FY 2019 when applying for guaranteed loans under the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program. The Agency has the authority to charge a guarantee fee and an annual renewal fee for loans made under the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program. Pursuant to that authority, and subject to the Continuing Resolution, the Agency is establishing an initial guarantee fee rate of 3 percent and an annual renewal fee rate of one-half of 1 percent for the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program. The initial guarantee fee is paid at the time the Loan Note Guarantee is issued. The annual renewal fee is paid by the lender to the Agency once a year. Payment of the annual renewal fee is required in order to maintain the enforceability of the guarantee. Additionally, the Agency will require the borrower to have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration prior to obligation and maintain the active registration until all funds are disbursed.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48588-48589]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20944]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Guarantee Fee Rates for Guaranteed Loans for Fiscal Year 2019; 
Maximum Portion of Guarantee Authority Available for Fiscal Year 2019; 
Annual Renewal Fee for Fiscal Year 2019

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice helps to improve applicants' awareness of the 
Guarantee Fee rates for Guaranteed Loans for fiscal year (FY) 2019, the 
Maximum Portion of Guarantee Authority Available for FY 2019, and the 
Annual Renewal Fee for FY 2019 when applying for guaranteed loans under 
the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program.
    The Agency has the authority to charge a guarantee fee and an 
annual renewal fee for loans made under the B&I Guaranteed Loan 
Program. Pursuant to that authority, and subject to the Continuing 
Resolution, the Agency is establishing an initial guarantee fee rate of 
3 percent and an annual renewal fee rate of one-half of 1 percent for 
the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program.
    The initial guarantee fee is paid at the time the Loan Note 
Guarantee is issued. The annual renewal fee is paid by the lender to 
the Agency once a year. Payment of the annual renewal fee is required 
in order to maintain the enforceability of the guarantee. Additionally, 
the Agency will require the borrower to have an active System for Award 
Management (SAM) registration prior to obligation and maintain the 
active registration until all funds are disbursed.

DATES: Applicability date: September 26, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tanner Hinkel, USDA, Rural 
Development, Business Programs, Business and Industry Division, STOP 
3224, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3224, telephone 
(202) 720-1970, email tanner.hinkel@wdc.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As set forth in 7 CFR 4279.120, the Agency 
has the authority to charge an initial guarantee fee and an annual 
renewal fee for loans made under the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program. 
Pursuant to that authority, and subject to the Continuing Resolution, 
the Agency is establishing an initial guarantee fee rate of 3 percent 
and an annual renewal fee rate of one-half of 1 percent for the B&I 
Guaranteed Loan Program. Unless precluded by a subsequent FY 2019 
appropriation, these rates will apply to all loans obligated in FY 2019 
that are made under the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program. As established in 
7 CFR 4279.120(b)(1), the amount of the annual fee on each guaranteed 
loan will be determined by multiplying the annual fee rate by the 
outstanding principal loan balance as of December 31, multiplied by the 
percentage of guarantee.
    As set forth in 7 CFR 4279.120(a) and 4279.119(b), each fiscal 
year, the Agency shall establish a limit on the maximum portion of B&I 
guarantee authority available for that fiscal year that may be used to 
guarantee loans with a reduced guarantee fee or guaranteed loans with 
an increased percentage of guarantee. The Agency has established that 
not more than 12 percent of the Agency's apportioned B&I guarantee 
authority will be reserved for loan guarantee requests with a reduced 
fee, and not more than 15 percent of the Agency's apportioned B&I 
guarantee authority will be reserved for guaranteed loan requests with 
an increased percentage of guarantee. Once the respective limits are 
reached, all additional loans will be at the standard fee and guarantee 
limits.
    Allowing a reduced guarantee fee or increased percentage of 
guarantee on certain B&I guaranteed loans that meet the conditions set 
forth in 7 CFR 4279.120 and 4279.119 will increase the Agency's ability 
to focus guarantee assistance on projects that the Agency has found 
particularly meritorious. Subject to annual limits set by the Agency in 
this notice, the Agency may charge a reduced guarantee fee if requested 
by the lender for loans of $5 million or less when the borrower's 
business supports value-added agriculture and results in farmers 
benefitting financially, promotes access to healthy foods, or is a high 
impact business development investment located in a rural community 
that is experiencing long-term population decline; has remained in 
poverty for the last 30 years; is experiencing trauma as a result of 
natural disaster; is located in a city or county with an unemployment 
rate 125 percent of the statewide rate or greater; or is located within 
the boundaries of a federally recognized Indian tribe's reservation or 
within tribal trust lands or within land owned by an Alaska Native 
Regional or Village Corporation as defined by the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act. Subject to annual limits set by the Agency in this 
notice, the Agency may allow increased percentages of guarantee for 
high-priority projects or loans where the lender needs the increased 
percentage of guarantee due to its legal or regulatory lending limit.
    As set forth in 2 CFR 25.200(b), each entity that applies and does 
not have an exemption under 2 CFR 25.110 must be registered in the SAM 
prior to submitting an application or plan, maintain an active SAM 
registration with current information at all times during which it has 
an active Federal award or an application or plan under

[[Page 48589]]

consideration by the Agency, and provide its unique entity identifier 
in each application or plan it submits to the Agency.

Non-Discrimination 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: program.intake@usda.gov.
    This action has been reviewed and determined not to be a rule or 
regulation as defined in Executive Order 12866.

    Dated: September 10, 2018.
Bette B. Brand,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-20944 Filed 9-25-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P

48588 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2018 / Notices

Description of Respondents: ACTION: Notice. As set forth in 7 CFR 4279.120(a) and
Commercial growers and importers, 4279.119(b), each fiscal year, the
Foreign Governments. SUMMARY: This notice helps to improve Agency shall establish a limit on the
Number of Respondents: 52 applicants’ awareness of the Guarantee maximum portion of B&I guarantee
Frequency of Responses: Reporting on Fee rates for Guaranteed Loans for fiscal authority available for that fiscal year
occasion, and recordkeeping. year (FY) 2019, the Maximum Portion of that may be used to guarantee loans
Total Burden Hours: 1,507. Guarantee Authority Available for FY with a reduced guarantee fee or
2019, and the Annual Renewal Fee for guaranteed loans with an increased
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
FY 2019 when applying for guaranteed percentage of guarantee. The Agency
Service
loans under the Business and Industry has established that not more than 12
Title: Importation of Apples from (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program. percent of the Agency’s apportioned B&I
China. The Agency has the authority to guarantee authority will be reserved for
OMB Control Number: 0579–0423. charge a guarantee fee and an annual loan guarantee requests with a reduced
Summary of Collection: Under the renewal fee for loans made under the fee, and not more than 15 percent of the
Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701, et B&I Guaranteed Loan Program. Pursuant Agency’s apportioned B&I guarantee
seq.) the Secretary of Agriculture is to that authority, and subject to the authority will be reserved for
authorized to prohibit or restrict the Continuing Resolution, the Agency is guaranteed loan requests with an
importation, entry, or movement of establishing an initial guarantee fee rate increased percentage of guarantee. Once
plants and plant pests to prevent the of 3 percent and an annual renewal fee the respective limits are reached, all
introduction into the United States or rate of one-half of 1 percent for the B&I additional loans will be at the standard
their dissemination within the United Guaranteed Loan Program. fee and guarantee limits.
States. The regulations in ‘‘Subpart— The initial guarantee fee is paid at the Allowing a reduced guarantee fee or
Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56) time the Loan Note Guarantee is issued. increased percentage of guarantee on
prohibit or restrict the importation of The annual renewal fee is paid by the certain B&I guaranteed loans that meet
fruits and vegetables into the United lender to the Agency once a year. the conditions set forth in 7 CFR
States from certain parts of the world to Payment of the annual renewal fee is 4279.120 and 4279.119 will increase the
prevent the introduction and required in order to maintain the Agency’s ability to focus guarantee
dissemination of plant pests that are enforceability of the guarantee. assistance on projects that the Agency
new to or not widely distributed within Additionally, the Agency will require has found particularly meritorious.
the United States. the borrower to have an active System Subject to annual limits set by the
Need and Use of the Information: for Award Management (SAM) Agency in this notice, the Agency may
APHIS uses the following information registration prior to obligation and charge a reduced guarantee fee if
collection activities to prevent the
maintain the active registration until all requested by the lender for loans of $5
spread of fruit flies and other plant pests
funds are disbursed. million or less when the borrower’s
from entering into the United States:
DATES: Applicability date: September business supports value-added
Operational workplan, production site,
26, 2018. agriculture and results in farmers
and packinghouse registrations, tracking
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: benefitting financially, promotes access
system, box labeling, phytosanitary
Tanner Hinkel, USDA, Rural to healthy foods, or is a high impact
certificates with declarations,
Development, Business Programs, business development investment
inspections, investigation for detection,
Business and Industry Division, STOP located in a rural community that is
handling procedures, and emergency
3224, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, experiencing long-term population
action notification. Falling to collect
Washington, DC 20250–3224, telephone decline; has remained in poverty for the
this information would cripple APHIS’
(202) 720–1970, email tanner.hinkel@ last 30 years; is experiencing trauma as
ability to ensure that apples from China
wdc.usda.gov. a result of natural disaster; is located in
are not carrying plant pests.
Description of Respondents: Business a city or county with an unemployment
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As set rate 125 percent of the statewide rate or
or other for-profit; Federal Government. forth in 7 CFR 4279.120, the Agency has
Number of Respondents: 186. greater; or is located within the
the authority to charge an initial boundaries of a federally recognized
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
guarantee fee and an annual renewal fee Indian tribe’s reservation or within
On occasion; Annually.
for loans made under the B&I tribal trust lands or within land owned
Total Burden Hours: 1,117.
Guaranteed Loan Program. Pursuant to by an Alaska Native Regional or Village
Ruth Brown, that authority, and subject to the Corporation as defined by the Alaska
Departmental Information Collection Continuing Resolution, the Agency is Native Claims Settlement Act. Subject to
Clearance Officer. establishing an initial guarantee fee rate annual limits set by the Agency in this
[FR Doc. 2018–20939 Filed 9–25–18; 8:45 am] of 3 percent and an annual renewal fee notice, the Agency may allow increased
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P rate of one-half of 1 percent for the B&I percentages of guarantee for high-
Guaranteed Loan Program. Unless priority projects or loans where the
precluded by a subsequent FY 2019 lender needs the increased percentage of
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE appropriation, these rates will apply to guarantee due to its legal or regulatory
all loans obligated in FY 2019 that are lending limit.
Rural Business-Cooperative Service made under the B&I Guaranteed Loan As set forth in 2 CFR 25.200(b), each
Program. As established in 7 CFR entity that applies and does not have an
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Guarantee Fee Rates for Guaranteed
4279.120(b)(1), the amount of the exemption under 2 CFR 25.110 must be
Loans for Fiscal Year 2019; Maximum
annual fee on each guaranteed loan will registered in the SAM prior to
Portion of Guarantee Authority
be determined by multiplying the submitting an application or plan,
Available for Fiscal Year 2019; Annual
annual fee rate by the outstanding maintain an active SAM registration
Renewal Fee for Fiscal Year 2019
principal loan balance as of December with current information at all times
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 31, multiplied by the percentage of during which it has an active Federal
Service, USDA. guarantee. award or an application or plan under

VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:21 Sep 25, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26SEN1.SGM 26SEN1

Document Created: 2018-09-26 00:47:11
Document Modified: 2018-09-26 00:47:11

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		Applicability date: September 26, 2018.
Contact		Tanner Hinkel, USDA, Rural Development, Business Programs, Business and Industry Division, STOP 3224, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3224, telephone (202) 720-1970, email [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 48588

83 FR 48588 - Guarantee Fee Rates for Guaranteed Loans for Fiscal Year 2019; Maximum Portion of Guarantee Authority Available for Fiscal Year 2019; Annual Renewal Fee for Fiscal Year 2019

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURERural Business-Cooperative Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 187 (September 26, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service