This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

20779 

Vol. 77, No. 67 

Friday, April 6, 2012 

1Note that it may take Grants.gov up to 48 hours 

to send an email confirming that the application 

was received and validated by the Grants.gov 

system. The application must have been received by 

Grants.gov prior to the FMPP deadline. 

2Section 10605 of the Farm Security and Rural 

Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–171) 

authorizing the establishment of the Farmers’ 

Market Promotion Program (7 U.S.C. 3005) (FMPP) 

and as amended by section 10106 of the Food, 

Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110– 

246). 

ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF 

THE UNITED STATES 

Committee on Administration and 

Management 

AGENCY: Administrative Conference of 

the United States. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a 

public meeting of the Committee on 

Administration and Management of the 

Assembly of the Administrative 

Conference of the United States. The 

meeting will provide an opportunity for 

the committee to continue its 

consideration of a draft 

recommendation regarding the 

Paperwork Reduction Act. Complete 

details regarding the committee 

meeting, the contours of the project, 

how to attend (including information 

about remote access and obtaining 

special accommodations for persons 

with disabilities), and how to submit 

comments to the committee can be 

found in the ‘‘About’’ section of the 

Conference’s Web site, at http:// 

www.acus.gov. Click on ‘‘About,’’ then 

on ‘‘The Committees,’’ and then on 

‘‘Committee on Administration and 

Management.’’ 

Comments may be submitted by email 

to Comments@acus.gov, with 

‘‘Committee on Administration and 

Management’’ in the subject line, or by 

postal mail to ‘‘Committee on 

Administration and Management 

Comments’’ at the address given below. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

1120 20th Street NW., Suite 706 South, 

Washington, DC 20036. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Emily Schleicher Bremer, Designated 

Federal Officer, Administrative 

Conference of the United States, 1120 

20th Street NW., Suite 706 South, 

Washington, DC 20036; Telephone 202– 

480–2080. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Committee on Administration and 

Management 

The Committee on Administration 

and Management will meet to continue 

its consideration of a draft 

recommendation on the Paperwork 

Reduction Act and proposed 

improvements to its implementation. 

Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Dated: April 3, 2012. 

Shawne C. McGibbon, 

General Counsel. 

[FR Doc. 2012–8369 Filed 4–5–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6110–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Doc# AMS–TM–12–0004; TM–12–01] 

Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) 

Inviting Applications for the 2012 

Farmers’ Market Promotion Program 

(FMPP) 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) announces the 

availability of approximately $10 

million in competitive grant funds for 

fiscal year (FY) 2012 to increase 

domestic consumption of agricultural 

commodities by expanding direct 

producer-to-consumer market 

opportunities. Examples of direct 

producer-to-consumer market 

opportunities include new farmers 

markets, roadside stands, communitysupported agriculture (CSA) programs, 

agri-tourism activities, and other direct 

producer-to-consumer infrastructures. 

AMS hereby requests proposals from 

eligible entities within the following 

categories: Agricultural cooperatives, 

producer networks, producer 

associations, local governments, 

nonprofit corporations, public benefit 

corporations, economic development 

corporations, regional farmers market 

authorities, and Tribal governments. 

Based on the available funding, AMS 

will award the most competitive 

applications that demonstrate 

measurable, outcome-based strategies 

that help increase farmers’ or 

agricultural producers’ revenue through 

direct producer to consumer marketing 

opportunities. The minimum award per 

grant is $5,000 and the maximum award 

per grant is $100,000. No matching 

funds are required. 

DATES: Applications should be received 

and accepted,1 via Grants.gov, not later 

than May 21, 2012. Applications 

received after the deadline will not be 

considered. 

ADDRESSES: The 2012 Farmers’ Market 

Promotion Program (FMPP), 

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 

Room 4509–South Building, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC, 20250–0269, phone 

(202) 720–0933. 

AMS will only accept application 

packages submitted via http:// 

www.Grants.gov. AMS will not accept 

application packages by mail, hand 

delivery, email, or fax. Except for the 

submission of multiple applications (for 

instance, an EBT and a non-EBT 

project), all forms, narrative, letters of 

support, and other required materials 

must be forwarded in one application 

package. AMS strongly recommends 

that each applicant visit the AMS Web 

site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/FMPP 

to review a copy of the 2012 FMPP 

Guidelines and application instructions 

prior to preparing the proposal narrative 

and application. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Carmen Humphrey, Branch Chief, 

Marketing Grants and Technical 

Services Branch, Marketing Services 

Division, Transportation and Marketing 

Programs, AMS, USDA, on (202) 720– 

0933, or via facsimile on (202) 690– 

4152. State that your request for 

information refers to Docket No. TM– 

12–01. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

solicitation is issued pursuant to 

Section 6 of the Farmer-to-Consumer 

Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 

3001–3006) as amended.2 The amended 

act states that the purposes of the FMPP 

are ‘‘(A) to increase domestic 

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20780 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 67 / Friday, April 6, 2012 / Notices 

3U.S. territories include: The Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. 

Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands. 

consumption of agricultural 

commodities by improving and 

expanding, or assisting in the 

improvement and expansion of 

domestic farmers markets, roadside 

stands, community-supported 

agriculture programs, agri-tourism 

activities and other direct producer-toconsumer market opportunities; and (B) 

to develop, or aid in the development of 

new farmers markets, roadside stands, 

community-supported agriculture 

programs, agri-tourism activities, and 

other direct producer-to-consumer 

marketing opportunities.’’ 

Detailed program guidelines may be 

obtained at http://www.ams.usda.gov/ 

FMPP or from the contact listed above. 

In accordance with the Secretary’s 

Statement of Policy (36 FR 13804), it is 

found and determined upon good cause 

that it is impracticable, unnecessary, 

and contrary to the public interest to 

engage in further public participation 

under 5 U.S.C 553 because the 

applications for the FMPP need to be 

made available as soon as possible as 

the program season approaches. 

Background 

AMS will grant awards for projects 

that assist in developing, promoting, 

and expanding direct marketing of 

agricultural commodities from farmers 

to consumers. Eligible FMPP proposals 

should support marketing entities where 

agricultural farmers or vendors sell their 

own products directly to consumers, 

and the sales of these farm products 

represent the core business of the entity. 

Proprietary projects and projects that 

benefit one agricultural producer or 

individual will not be considered. 

All eligible entities shall be entities 

owned, operated, and located within 

one or more of the 50 United States, the 

District of Columbia, or the U.S. 

territories.3

Additionally, eligible entities must 

apply for FMPP funds on behalf of 

direct marketing operators that include 

two or more agricultural farmers/ 

vendors that produce and sell their own 

products through a common 

distribution channel. Individual 

agricultural producers and sole 

proprietors, including farmers and 

farmers market vendors, roadside stand 

operators, community-supported 

agriculture participants, and other 

individual direct marketers are not 

eligible for FMPP funds. 

FMPP grant funds that are requested 

must support the specific programs and 

objectives identified in the application. 

In addition, all applications submitted 

under FMPP must include measurable, 

outcome-based strategies that describe 

how the project will achieve the goals 

identified in the application. Budget 

items that do not directly support these 

objectives will not be funded. 

In a coordinated effort to enhance 

healthy food access in urban and rural 

areas in the United States, AMS is 

giving funding priority to the 

development and expansion of direct 

producer-to-consumer marketing outlets 

that sell healthy foods in food deserts 

(areas with limited access to affordable 

and nutritious food, particularly areas 

composed of predominantly lowerincome neighborhoods and 

communities) or low-income areas 

(where the percentage of the population 

living in poverty is at least 20 percent). 

Under FMPP, healthy foods include 

whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, 

whole grains, fat free or low-fat dairy, 

and lean meats that are perishable 

(fresh, refrigerated, or frozen) or canned 

as well as nutrient-dense foods and 

beverages encouraged by the 2010 

Dietary Guidelines for Americans (see 

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010– 

PolicyDocument.htm for more 

information). Direct producer-toconsumer marketing outlets will 

include, but not be limited to, farmers 

markets, CSAs, and road-side stands. 

These projects will receive five 

additional points under FMPP if, in 

addition to meeting all the other 

established criteria for FMPP projects, 

they are located in one of the USDAidentified food desert census tracts or 

they are located in a low-income area 

(as reported in the most recently 

completed decennial census published 

by the U.S. Bureau of the Census). For 

additional information, see the 2012 

FMPP Guidelines at http:// 

www.ams.usda.gov/FMPP. 

Not less than 10 percent of the total 

available funds will be used to support 

the use of new electronic benefits 

transfer (EBT) for Federal nutrition 

programs at farmers markets. To be 

considered within the 10 percent 

allotment of funds for EBT, the 

application narrative must clearly 

designate the applicant’s intent to 

compete for FMPP funds as a new EBT 

project. FMPP funds shall be provided 

to successful proposals that demonstrate 

a plan to continue to provide EBT card 

access at one or more farmers markets 

following the completion of the grant. 

When an applicant has multiple 

project goals, AMS requires that similar 

proposals be submitted in the 

application package. Due to the 

legislative mandate, the Agency 

differentiates projects as EBT-related or 

non EBT-related submissions. As such, 

all non-EBT projects must be submitted 

in one application and all new or 

existing EBT-related projects submitted 

in a second, distinctly separate 

application. For applicants submitting 

two or more applications, such 

applications must not contain the same 

or substantially the same narrative, logic 

model, or budget narrative. Each 

application must include distinctly 

separate information with an 

explanation of the goals and 

corresponding budget requests for each 

project submitted. Failure to comply 

with this requirement will result in the 

rejection of one or all of the applicant’s 

proposals. Visit the 2012 FMPP 

Guidelines at http://www.ams.usda.gov/ 

FMPP for instructions on submitting 

multiple applications. 

While there is no limit to the number 

of applications that may be submitted, 

AMS will only award a maximum of 

one grant per organization in a funding 

year. Awardees from the FY 2011 grant 

program will not be considered for 

FMPP funding in FY 2012. 

FMPP reserves the right to reject an 

application that is incomplete, does not 

follow the application requirements 

(i.e., is hand-written or in excess of the 

required page limitation), or propose 

activities that do not meet FMPP goals 

and objectives. Application packages 

without all of the required information 

will not be considered. FMPP’s award 

decisions are final. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 

Chapter 35), the FMPP information 

collection was previously approved by 

OMB and was assigned OMB control 

number 0581–0235. 

AMS is committed to compliance 

with the Government Paperwork 

Elimination Act (GPEA) that requires 

Government agencies in general to 

provide the public the option of 

submitting information or transacting 

business electronically to the maximum 

extent possible. 

How To Submit Proposals and 

Applications 

Each applicant must follow the 

application preparation and submission 

instructions provided within the 2012 

FMPP Guidelines located at http:// 

www.ams.usda.gov/FMPP. Forms, 

proposals, letters of support, or any 

other application materials (electronic 

or hard-copy) that are emailed, faxed, 

mailed, or hand-delivered directly to 

AMS–FMPP, AMS, or USDA staff will 

not be accepted. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 67 / Friday, April 6, 2012 / Notices 20781 

Applicants will have only one 

submission method for proposals and 

applications to AMS—electronically 

through Grants.gov at http:// 

www.Grants.gov (enter 10.168 in grant 

search field). AMS strongly encourages 

the applicant to initiate the electronic 

submission process at least four weeks 

prior to the application deadline. In 

cases where an applicant error has been 

made in Grants.gov, an early submission 

will ensure the appropriate time for the 

applicant to resubmit the application. 

Grants.gov applicants are not required 

to submit any paper documents to 

FMPP. 

Any documents accompanying the 

application (acceptable written proof of 

eligibility, proposal narrative, budget(s), 

and other supporting documents) must 

be uploaded after item #15 (descriptive 

title of applicant’s project section) on 

the Grants.gov form SF–424. FMPP 

prefers that all accompanying 

documents and support materials be 

scanned as a single PDF file; however, 

other acceptable formats include MS– 

Word (for text documents) and MS– 

Excel (for spreadsheet documents). 

Failure to comply with this requirement 

will result in rejection of the 

application. 

FMPP will not accept corrections or 

additions to Grants.gov submissions, 

including corrections submitted by 

phone, fax, mail, hand-delivery, or 

electronic mail to AMS. All 

documentation accompanying each 

application must be submitted in the 

Grants.gov application package. The 

only means of making a correction or 

addition to a Grants.gov application is 

by re-submitting a new application prior 

to the deadline. 

AMS/FMPP staff will not extend the 

application deadline or accept any 

application after the deadline due to 

Grants.gov submission errors. 

Additionally, AMS/FMPP staff does not 

provide technical assistance with the 

Grants.gov related issues. Applicants 

experiencing problems in electronic 

submission of documentation must 

request assistance via the Grants.gov 

Web site, or telephone the Contact 

Center at 1–800–518–4726. Grants.gov 

will provide confirmation to the 

applicant that the application was 

submitted and received by AMS before 

the deadline. AMS will email the 

organization’s authorized representative 

(as listed on the SF–424) an explanation 

if the application is being rejected. 

FMPP is listed in the ‘‘Catalog of 

Federal Domestic Assistance’’ under 

number 10.168. Subject agencies, 

including FMPP, must adhere to Title VI 

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which 

bars discrimination in all federally 

assisted programs. 

Dated: April 3, 2012. 

Robert C. Keeney, 

Acting Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2012–8395 Filed 4–5–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Business—Cooperative Service 

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) 

for the Rural Energy for America 

Program 

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice; correction. 

SUMMARY: The Agency published a 

document in the Federal Register on 

January 20, 2012, at 77 FR 2948 to 

announce the acceptance of applications 

under the Rural Energy for America 

Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year 2012 for 

financial assistance as follows: Grants, 

guaranteed loans, and combined grants 

and guaranteed loans for the 

development and construction of 

renewable energy systems and for 

energy efficiency improvement projects; 

grants for conducting energy audits; 

grants for conducting renewable energy 

development assistance; and grants for 

conducting renewable energy system 

feasibility studies. The document 

contained two errors on page 2951 in 

reference to deadline dates for National 

competitions. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Contact the applicable USDA Rural 

Development Energy Coordinator for 

your respective State as identified in the 

original NOFA at 77 FR 2948. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Need for Corrections 

The deadline dates for National 

competitions need to reflect the correct 

year. The dates in the original NOFA 

contained the year ‘‘2011’’ rather than 

‘‘2012’’. To clarify, all unfunded eligible 

grant only and grant and guaranteed 

loan combination applications received 

by March 30, 2012, will be competed 

against other grant only and grant and 

guaranteed loan combination 

applications from other States at a final 

National competition. In addition, all 

unfunded eligible guaranteed loan only 

applications received by June 29, 2012, 

will be competed against other 

guaranteed loan only applications from 

other States at a final National 

competition if the guaranteed loan 

reserves have not been completely 

depleted. 

Correction of Publication 

In the Federal Register dated January 

20, 2012, the following are corrected: 

1. On page 2951, column 1, the 

eighteenth line down under C. State and 

National competitions, ‘‘March 30, 

2011’’ is corrected to read ‘‘March 30, 

2012’’. 

2. On page 2951, column 2, tenth line 

down, ‘‘June 29, 2011’’ is corrected to 

read ‘‘June 29, 2012’’. 

Dated: March 21, 2012. 

Judith A. Canales, 

Administrator, Rural Business—Cooperative 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–8252 Filed 4–5–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting 

of the North Carolina Advisory 

Committee 

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to 

the provisions of the rules and 

regulations of the U.S. Commission on 

Civil Rights (Commission) and the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(FACA) that the North Carolina 

Advisory Committee (Committee) to the 

Commission will meet on Wednesday, 

April 25, 2012, at the Conference 

Center, Sheraton Hotel, 3121 Highpoint 

Rd., Greensboro, NC 27407, for the 

purpose of receiving a briefing on equal 

educational opportunity and to discuss 

the Committee’s draft report on school 

discipline. The briefing meeting is 

scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and 

adjourn at approximately 2 p.m. The 

planning meeting is scheduled to begin 

at approximately 2 p.m. and adjourn at 

approximately 3 p.m. 

Members of the public are entitled to 

submit written comments. The 

comments must be received in the 

Southern Regional Office of the 

Commission by May 25, 2012. The 

address is Southern Regional Office, 

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 61 

Forsyth Street, Suite 16T126, Atlanta, 

GA 30303. Persons wishing to email 

their comments, or to present their 

comments verbally at the meeting, or 

who desire additional information 

should contact Elida Rodriguez, 

Administrative Assistant, Southern 

Regional Office, at (404) 562–7000, (or 

for hearing impaired TDD 800–877– 

8339), or by email to 

erodriguez@usccr.gov. Hearing-impaired 

persons who will attend the meeting 

and require the services of a sign 

language interpreter should contact the 

Regional Office at least ten (10) working 

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