[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38119-38123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16664]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Biorefinery, 
Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance 
Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the solicitation of applications for 
funds available under the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased 
Product Manufacturing Assistance Program (the Program) to provide 
guaranteed loans to fund the development, construction, and 
retrofitting of commercial scale biorefineries using eligible 
technology and of Biobased product manufacturing facilities that use 
technologically new commercial scale processing and manufacturing 
equipment to convert renewable chemicals and other biobased outputs of 
biorefineries into end-user products, on a commercial scale.

DATES: With this Notice, the Agency is announcing two separate 
application cycles, as is provided which are application closing dates 
of 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, October 1, 2018, and 4:30 p.m. 
Eastern Daylight Time, April 1, 2019.
    Applications must be received in the USDA Rural Business-
Cooperative Service, Energy Programs no later than 4:30 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time of the application closing date to compete for program 
funds. Any application received after 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time 
of the application closing date will be considered for the subsequent 
application cycle, provided that funding is available.

ADDRESSES: Applications and forms may be obtained from:
    <bullet> USDA, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Energy Programs, 
Attention: Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product 
Manufacturing Assistance Program, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 
6901-S, Washington, DC 20250-3225.
    <bullet> Agency website: http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms/welcomeAction.do?Home. Follow the 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/biorefinery-assistance-program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aaron Morris, Assistant Deputy 
Administrator, USDA Rural Business-

[[Page 38120]]

Cooperative Service, Energy Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 
6901-S, Washington, DC 20250-3225. Telephone: 202-720-1501. Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#753414071a1b5b381a07071c06350211165b000611145b121a03"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="440525362b2a6a092b36362d37043320276a313720256a232b32">[email protected]</span></a>.

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, 
partnerships, and innovation. Key strategies include:
    <bullet> Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
    <bullet> Developing the Rural Economy
    <bullet> Harnessing Technological Innovation
    <bullet> Supporting a Rural Workforce
    <bullet> Improving Quality of Life
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
information collection requirements associated with the Program, as 
covered in this Notice, have been approved by the Office of Management 
Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0570-0065.

Overview

    Federal Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (an Agency 
of USDA in the Rural Development mission area).
    Solicitation Opportunity Title: Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, 
and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program.
    Announcement Type: Notice of Solicitation of Applications.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: The CFDA 
number for this Notice is 10.865.
    Dates: Applications must be received in the USDA Rural Business-
Cooperative Service, Energy Programs no later than the application 
closing dates of 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, October 1, 2018, and 
4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, April 1, 2019. Any application 
received after 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time of the application 
closing date will be considered for the subsequent application cycle, 
provided that funding is available.
    Availability of Notice and Rule: This Notice and the interim rule 
for the Program are available on the USDA Rural Development website at: 
http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/biorefinery-assistance-program.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    A. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of the Biorefinery, 
Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance 
Program is to assist in the development of new and emerging 
technologies for the development of advanced biofuels, renewable 
chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing. This is achieved through 
guarantees for loans made to fund the development, construction, and 
retrofitting of commercial scale biorefineries using eligible 
technology and of biobased product manufacturing facilities that use 
technologically new commercial scale processing and manufacturing 
equipment and required facilities to convert renewable chemicals and 
other biobased outputs of biorefineries into end-user products on a 
commercial scale.
    B. Statutory Authority. This Program is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 
8103. Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 4279, subpart C and in 7 
CFR part 4287, subpart D.
    C. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this Notice 
are published at 7 CFR 4279.202 and 7 CFR 4287.302.
    D. Application awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, score, and 
award applications received in response to this Notice based on the 
provisions found in 7 CFR part 4279, subpart C and as indicated in this 
Notice.

II. Award Information

    A. Available funds. This Notice is a solicitation for applications 
that will be funded using budget authority provided by the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) and the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill).
    B. Type of Award. Guaranteed loan.
    C. Approximate Number of Awards. Subject to the amount of funding 
available.
    D. Guarantee Loan Funding. The provisions of 7 CFR 4279.232 apply 
to this Notice. The Borrower needs to provide the remaining funds from 
other non-Federal sources to complete the Project.
    E. Guarantee and Annual Renewal Fees. The guarantee and annual 
renewal fees specified in 7 CFR 4279.231 are applicable to this Notice.
    F. Anticipated Award Date. The award date will vary based on timing 
of completion of each project's individual application process.

III. Eligibility Information

    A. Eligible Lenders. To be eligible for this program, lenders must 
meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4279.208.
    B. Eligible Borrowers. To be eligible for this program, borrowers 
must meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4279.209.
    C. Eligible Projects. To be eligible for this program, projects 
must meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4279.210.
    D. Application Completeness. Incomplete Phase 1 applications will 
be rejected and the project will be given no further consideration. 
Lenders will be informed of the element(s) that made the application 
incomplete. If the lender makes the required edits and resubmits the 
application to the USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Energy 
Programs by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on the application closing 
date, the Agency will reconsider the application.

IV. Application Submission Information

    A. Letter of Intent. For each guarantee request, the lender or the 
borrower must submit to the Agency a non-binding letter of intent to 
apply for a loan guarantee, not less than 30 calendar days prior to the 
application deadline. The letter of intent due date is August 31, 2018, 
for the October 1, 2018, application cycle and March 1, 2019, for the 
April 1, 2019, cycle. The letter must identify the borrower, the lender 
and any project sponsors; describe the project and project location; 
describe the proposed feedstock, primary technologies of the facility, 
and primary products produced; estimate the total project cost and 
amount of loan requested; and identify the application cycle due date. 
The Agency reserves the right to request additional information from 
potential applicants. Applications submitted without a letter of intent 
may be accepted by the Agency at the Agency's discretion.
    B. Application Submittal. For each guarantee request, the lender 
must submit to the Agency an application that is in conformance with 7 
CFR 4279.261. The content and methods of application submittal are 
specified below. Additionally, the Agency has developed an application 
guide that explains the application procedures and details the process 
for submission of an application. This guide is located at http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_Section9003Biorefinery_ApplicationGuide.pdf.
    C. Content and Form of Submission. All applicants must submit one 
paper copy of the application materials and an electronic copy 
containing the same information that is included in the

[[Page 38121]]

paper copy. Detailed instructions regarding application submission are 
explained in the application guide that the Agency has developed. The 
application guide is available online on the ``Forms and Resources'' 
page at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/biorefinery-assistance-program or by contacting Aaron Morris, Telephone: 202-720-
1501. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#abeacad9c4c585e6c4d9d9c2d8ebdccfc885ded8cfca85ccc4dd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1f5e7e6d70713152706d6d766c5f687b7c316a6c7b7e31787069">[email protected]</span></a>. Application materials should be 
submitted to USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Energy Programs, 
Attention: Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product 
Manufacturing Assistance Program, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 
6901-S, Washington, DC 20250-3225.
    The Agency's application process is divided into two phases. Phase 
1 applications will provide information needed to determine lender, 
borrower, and project eligibility; preliminary economic and technical 
feasibility; and the priority score of the application. Based on the 
priority score ranking, the Agency will invite applicants whose Phase 1 
applications receive higher priority scores to submit Phase 2 
applications. Phase 2 application materials will be submitted as the 
project planning and engineering are finalized and will include 
information such as: Environmental compliance information, technical 
report, financial model, and the lender's credit evaluation. Phase 1 
applications must contain the information required in the Agency's 
application guide and in accordance with 7 CFR 4279.261.
    D. Local Owner. For applications submitted under this Notice, when 
the majority of feedstock to be utilized by the project on an annual 
basis is harvested from the land, the term ``local owner'' is defined 
as an individual who owns any portion of an eligible biorefinery and 
whose primary residence is located within the geographic area that the 
biorefinery's feedstock originates. In all other cases, ``local owner'' 
is defined as an individual who owns any portion of an eligible 
biorefinery and whose primary residence is located within 100 miles of 
the biorefinery. This definition will remain in effect until amended by 
a future Federal Register Notice.

V. Biobased Product Manufacturing

    This notice also includes the solicitation of applications for 
funds available under the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased 
Product Manufacturing Assistance Program to specifically fund biobased 
product manufacturing. The 2014 Farm Bill added biobased product 
manufacturing to the Program and provided for up to 15 percent of the 
mandatory funds for fiscal years 2014 and 2015 to be used to support 
facilities producing biobased products for end use. The 2014 Farm Bill 
provides the definition of ``biobased product manufacturing,'' which 
the Agency has incorporated into the subsequent interim rule (see 7 CFR 
4279.202). This definition requires that the biobased product 
manufacturing facility use renewable chemicals and other biobased 
outputs of biorefineries as inputs and also requires that the borrower 
use technologically new commercial scale processing and manufacturing 
equipment and required facilities. The facility must produce end-user 
products.

VI. Biobased Product Manufacturing Eligibility Information

    The eligibility requirements for prospective lenders and borrowers 
will not change from those listed above for the program, generally. For 
biobased product manufacturing projects, the eligible project 
requirement is modified to reflect that eligible projects will use 
technologically new commercial scale processing and manufacturing 
equipment and required facilities to convert renewable chemicals and 
other biobased outputs of biorefineries into end-user products on a 
commercial scale.
    Additionally, for purposes of biobased product manufacturing 
projects, only for purposes of technical review, technical reports need 
to address only the technologically new commercial scale processing and 
manufacturing equipment and required facilities.

VII. Biobased Product Manufacturing Application Processing Procedures

    The application processing procedures will remain the same for 
biobased product manufacturing projects as for the projects described 
above.
    For applications submitted under this Notice, ``local owner'' is 
defined as an individual who owns any portion of an eligible 
biorefinery and whose primary residence is located within 100 miles of 
the biorefinery.

VIII. Biobased Product Manufacturing Scoring

    In lieu of the criteria listed in 7 CFR 4279.266, biobased product 
manufacturing projects will be scored using the criteria listed below. 
The scoring criteria below will remain in effect until amended by 
another Federal Register Notice. The scoring criteria are as follows:
    (a) Whether the borrower has established a market for the 
manufactured biobased product, as applicable. A maximum of 16 points 
can be awarded. Points to be awarded will be determined as follows:
    (1) Degree of commitment of contracted sales agreements. A maximum 
of 6 points will be awarded.
    (i) If the borrower has signed contracts for purchase for greater 
than 50 percent of the dollar value of manufactured biobased product, 6 
points will be awarded.
    (ii) If the borrower has signed letters of intent to enter into 
contracted sales agreements, or comparable documentation, for the 
purchase for greater than 50 percent of the dollar value of the 
manufactured biobased product, or combination of signed contracts or 
agreements and letters of intent or comparable documentation, 4 points 
will be awarded.
    (iii) If the borrower has signed letters of interest to enter into 
contracted sales agreements, or comparable documentation, for the 
purchase for greater than 50 percent of the dollar value of the 
manufactured biobased product, or combination of signed contracts, 
letters of intent or comparable documentation, 2 points will be 
awarded.
    (2) Duration of contracted sales agreements. A maximum of 6 points 
will be awarded.
    (i) If the borrower commits to enter into contracted sales 
agreements prior to loan closing for purchase for greater than or equal 
to 50 percent of the dollar value of manufactured biobased product for 
the period not less than the loan term, 6 points will be awarded.
    (ii) If the borrower commits to enter into contracted sales 
agreements prior to loan closing for purchase for greater than or equal 
to 50 percent of the dollar value of the manufactured biobased product 
for the period not less than 5 years but less than the term of the 
loan, 4 points will be awarded.
    (iii) If the borrower commits to enter into contracted sales 
agreements prior to loan closing for purchase for greater than or equal 
to 50 percent of the dollar value of the manufactured biobased product 
for the period not less than 1 year but less than 5 years, 2 points 
will be awarded.
    (3) Financial strength of the contracted sales agreement 
counterparty. A maximum of 4 points will be awarded.
    (i) If the borrower commits to enter into contracted sales 
agreements prior to loan closing for purchase for greater than or equal 
to 50 percent of the dollar value of the manufactured biobased

[[Page 38122]]

product with a counterparty with a corporate credit rating not less 
than AA, Aa2, or equivalent, 4 points will be awarded.
    (ii) If the borrower commits to enter into contracted sales 
agreements prior to loan closing for purchase for greater than or equal 
to 50 percent of the dollar value of the manufactured biobased product 
with a counterparty with a corporate credit rating less than AA, Aa2, 
or equivalent, but not less than A-, or A3, or equivalent, 2 points 
will be awarded.
    (iii) If the borrower commits to enter into contracted sales 
agreements prior to loan closing for purchase for greater than or equal 
to 50 percent of the dollar value of the manufactured biobased product 
with a counterparty with a corporate credit rating less than A-, or A3, 
or equivalent, but not less than BBB-, or Baa3, or equivalent, 1 point 
will be awarded.
    (b) Whether the area in which the borrower proposes to place the 
project, defined as the area that will supply the renewable chemicals 
and other biobased outputs of biorefineries to the proposed project, 
has any other similar facilities. A maximum of 5 points can be awarded. 
Points to be awarded will be determined as follows:
    (1) If the area that will supply the renewable chemicals and other 
biobased outputs of biorefineries to the proposed project does not have 
any other similar facilities, 5 points will be awarded.
    (2) If there are other similar facilities located within the area 
that will supply the renewable chemicals and other biobased outputs of 
biorefineries to the proposed project, 0 points will be awarded.
    (c) Whether the borrower is proposing to use renewable chemicals 
and other biobased outputs of biorefineries not previously used in the 
biobased product manufacturing. A maximum of 10 points can be awarded. 
Points to be awarded will be determined as follows:
    (1) If the borrower proposes to use renewable chemicals and other 
biobased outputs of biorefineries previously used in the manufacture of 
a biobased product in a commercial facility, 0 points will be awarded.
    (2) If the borrower proposes to use renewable chemicals and other 
biobased outputs of biorefineries not previously used in the 
manufacture of a biobased product in a commercial facility, 10 points 
will be awarded.
    (d) Whether the borrower is proposing to work with producer 
associations or cooperatives. A maximum of 5 points can be awarded. 
Points to be awarded will be determined as follows:
    (1) If at least 50 percent of the dollar value of renewable 
chemicals and other biobased outputs of biorefineries to be used by the 
proposed project will be supplied by producer associations and 
cooperatives or biorefineries supplied by producer associations and 
cooperatives, 5 points will be awarded.
    (2) If at least 30 percent of the dollar value of renewable 
chemicals and other biobased outputs of biorefineries to be used by the 
proposed project will be supplied by producer associations and 
cooperatives or biorefineries supplied by producer associations and 
cooperatives, 3 points will be awarded.
    (e) The level of financial participation by the borrower, including 
support from non-Federal Government sources and private sources. A 
maximum of 20 points can be awarded. Points to be awarded will be 
determined as follows:
    (1) If the sum of the loan amount requested and other direct 
Federal funding is less than or equal to 50 percent of total eligible 
project costs, 20 points will be awarded.
    (2) If the sum of the loan amount requested and other direct 
Federal funding is greater than 50 percent but less than or equal to 55 
percent of total eligible project costs, 16 points will be awarded.
    (3) If the sum of the loan amount requested and other direct 
Federal funding is greater than 55 percent but less than or equal to 60 
percent of total eligible project costs, 12 points will be awarded.
    (4) If the sum of the loan amount and other direct Federal funding 
is greater than 60 percent but less than or equal to 65 percent of 
total eligible project costs, 8 points will be awarded.
    (5) If the sum of the loan amount and other direct Federal funding 
is greater than 65 percent but less than or equal to 70 percent of 
total eligible project costs, 4 points will be awarded.
    (f) Whether the borrower has established that the adoption of the 
manufacturing process proposed in the application will have a positive 
effect on three impact areas: resource conservation (e.g., water, soil, 
forest), public health (e.g., potable water, air quality), and the 
environment (e.g., compliance with an applicable renewable fuel 
standard, greenhouse gases, emissions, particulate matter). A maximum 
of 10 points can be awarded. Based on what the borrower has provided in 
either the application or the feasibility study, points to be awarded 
will be determined as follows:
    (1) If process adoption will have a positive impact on any one of 
the three impact areas (resource conservation, public health, or the 
environment), 3 points will be awarded.
    (2) If process adoption will have a positive impact on two of the 
three impact areas, 6 points will be awarded.
    (3) If process adoption will have a positive impact on all three 
impact areas, 10 points will be awarded.
    (g) Whether the borrower can establish that, if adopted, the 
technology proposed in the application will not have any economically 
significant negative impacts on existing manufacturing plants or other 
facilities that use renewable chemicals and other biobased outputs of 
biorefineries. A maximum of 5 points can be awarded. Points to be 
awarded will be determined as follows:
    (1) If the borrower has failed to establish, through an independent 
third-party feasibility study, that the production technology proposed 
in the application, if adopted, will not have any economically 
significant negative impacts on existing manufacturing plants or other 
facilities that use similar renewable chemicals and other biobased 
outputs of biorefineries, 0 points will be awarded.
    (2) If the borrower has established, through an independent third-
party feasibility study, that the production technology proposed in the 
application, if adopted, will not have any economically significant 
negative impacts on existing manufacturing plants or other facilities 
that use renewable chemicals and other biobased outputs of 
biorefineries, 5 points will be awarded.
    (h) The potential for rural economic development. A maximum of 10 
points can be awarded. Points to be awarded will be determined as 
follows:
    (1) If the project is located in a rural area, 5 points will be 
awarded.
    (2) If the project creates jobs through direct employment with an 
average wage that exceeds the county median household wages where the 
project will be located, 5 points will be awarded.
    (i) The level of local ownership of the facility proposed in the 
application. For the purposes of this Notice, a local owner is defined 
as ``An individual who owns any portion of an eligible advanced biofuel 
biorefinery and whose primary residence is located within 100 miles of 
the biorefinery.'' A maximum of 5 points can be awarded. Points to be 
awarded will be determined as follows:
    (1) If local owners have an ownership interest in the facility of 
more than 20 percent but less than or equal to 50 percent, 3 points 
will be awarded.
    (2) If local owners have an ownership interest in the facility of 
more than 50 percent, 5 points will be awarded.

[[Page 38123]]

    (j) Whether the project can be replicated. A maximum of 10 points 
can be awarded. Points to be awarded will be determined as follows:
    (1) If the project can be commercially replicated regionally (e.g., 
Northeast, Southwest, etc.), 5 points will be awarded.
    (2) If the project can be commercially replicated nationally, 10 
points will be awarded.
    (k) If the project uses a particular technology, system, or process 
that is not currently operating at commercial scale as of October 1 of 
the fiscal year for which the funding is available; October 1, 2018, 5 
points will be awarded.
    (l) The Administrator can award up to a maximum of 10 bonus points:
    (1) To ensure, to the extent practical, there is diversity in the 
types of projects approved for loan guarantees to ensure a wide a range 
as possible technologies, products, and approaches are assisted in the 
program portfolio; and
    (2) To applications that promote partnerships and other activities 
that assist in the development of new and emerging technologies for the 
development of renewable chemicals and other biobased outputs of 
biorefineries, so as to, as applicable, promote resource conservation, 
public health, and the environment; diversify markets for agricultural 
and forestry products and agriculture waste material; and create jobs 
and enhance the economic development of the rural economy. No 
additional information regarding partnerships is provided at this time. 
If additional information does become available, the Agency will 
publish those details in a Federal Register notice.

IX. General Program Information

    A. Loan Origination. Lenders seeking a loan guarantee under this 
Notice must comply with all of the provisions found in 7 CFR 4279, 
subpart C.
    B. Loan Processing. The Agency will process loans guaranteed under 
this Notice in accordance with the provisions specified in 7 CFR 
4279.260 through 4279.290.
    C. Evaluation of Applications and Awards. Awards under this Notice 
will be made on a competitive basis; submission of an application 
neither reserves funding nor ensures funding. The Agency will evaluate 
each application received in the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, Energy Programs, select Phase 1 applications in accordance 
with 7 CFR 4279.267 to invite submittal of Phase 2 applications and 
will make awards using the provisions specified in 7 CFR 4279.278.
    D. Guaranteed Loan Servicing. The Agency will service loans 
guaranteed under this Notice in accordance with the provisions 
specified in 7 CFR 4287.301 through 4287.399.
    E. System for Award Management (SAM) and Dun and Bradstreet Data 
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Registration. Unless exempt under 2 
CFR 25.110, the applicant must be registered in the SAM prior to 
submitting an application and maintain an active SAM registration with 
current information at all times during which it has an active Federal 
award or an application under consideration by the Agency. Applicants 
must provide a DUNS number for each application submitted to the 
Agency.

X. Administration Information

    A. Notifications. The Agency will notify, in writing, lenders whose 
Phase 1 applications have scored highest and will invite them to submit 
Phase 2 applications. If the Agency determines it is unable to 
guarantee any particular loan, the lender will be informed in writing. 
Such notification will include the reason(s) for denial of the 
guarantee.
    B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
    1. Review or Appeal Rights. A person may seek a review of an Agency 
decision or appeal to the National Appeals Division in accordance with 
7 CFR 4279.204.
    2. Exception Authority. The provisions specified in 7 CFR 4279.203 
and 7 CFR 4287.303 apply to this Notice.
    C. Environmental Review. The Agency will review all applicant 
proposals that may qualify for assistance under this section in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 1970, Environmental Policies and Procedures. 
The environmental review for projects that score high enough will be 
submitted during the Phase 2 application process and must be conducted 
in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970, Environmental Policies and 
Procedures.

XI. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this Notice, please contact Aaron 
Morris, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Energy Programs, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6901-S, 
Washington DC 20250-3225. Telephone: 202-720-1501. Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#662707140908482b0914140f1526110205481315020748010910"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="054464776a6b2b486a77776c76457261662b707661642b626a73">[email protected]</span></a>.

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Requirements

    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 TARTET 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 a 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 at: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e292908d8590838fcc8b8c96838987a297918683cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7c7c5d8d0c5d6da99ded9c3d6dcd2f7c2c4d3d699d0d8c1">[email protected]</span></a>. USDA is an equal opportunity 
provider, employer, and lender.

    Dated: July 30, 2018.
Bette B. Brand,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16664 Filed 8-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P


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