40216 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices 

ACTION: Correction and extension of 

comment period. 

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, 

Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) 

published in the Federal Register on 

August 3, 2018 a Notice of Intent (NOI) 

to prepare an Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) for the Snow King 

Mountain Resort On-mountain 

Improvements Project. The NOI 

referenced an incorrect project website 

address and the date the comment 

period ends was unclear; this notice 

provides a technical correction to the 

NOI to provide the correct website and 

also clarifies and extends the scoping 

comment period. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mary Moore, Jackson District Ranger, 

marymoore@fs.fed.us or (307) 739–5410. 

Individuals who use telecommunication 

devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the 

Federal Information Relay Service 

(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8:00 

a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, 

Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Correction 

In the Federal Register on August 3, 

2018 (83 FR 38117), on p. 38117, in the 

first column, correct the DATES caption 

to read: 

DATES: Comments concerning the 

scope of the analysis must be received 

by September 13, 2018. 

Correction 

In the Federal Register on August 3, 

2018 (83 FR 38117) on page 38118, in 

the second column, correct the first 

paragraph (under SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION caption, in the Proposed 

Action subheading) to read: 

A more detailed description of the 

proposed action, including maps, is 

available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/ 

project/?project=54201. 

Dated: August 6, 2018. 

Kevin Heikkila, 

Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National 

Forest System. 

[FR Doc. 2018–17511 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

Notice of Solicitation of Applications 

for the Rural Energy for America 

Program for Fiscal Year 2019 

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Rural BusinessCooperative Service (the Agency) Notice 

of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) 

is being issued prior to passage of a final 

appropriations act to allow potential 

applicants time to submit applications 

for financial assistance under Rural 

Energy for America Program (REAP) for 

Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, and give 

the Agency time to process applications 

within the current FY. This NOSA is 

being issued prior to enactment of full 

year appropriation for FY2019. The 

Agency will publish the amount of 

funding received in any continuing 

resolution or the final appropriations act 

on its website at https://

www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/noticessolicitation-applications-nosas. 

Expenses incurred in developing 

applications will be at the applicant’s 

risk. 

The REAP has two types of funding 

assistance: (1) Renewable Energy 

Systems and Energy Efficiency 

Improvements Assistance and (2) 

Energy Audit and Renewable Energy 

Development Assistance Grants. 

The Renewable Energy Systems and 

Energy Efficiency Improvement 

Assistance provides grants and 

guaranteed loans to agricultural 

producers and rural small businesses to 

purchase and install renewable energy 

systems and make energy efficiency 

improvements to their operations. 

Eligible renewable energy systems for 

REAP provide energy from: Wind, solar, 

renewable biomass (including anaerobic 

digesters), small hydro-electric, ocean, 

geothermal, or hydrogen derived from 

these renewable resources. 

The Energy Audit and Renewable 

Energy Development Assistance Grant is 

available to a unit of State, Tribal, or 

local government; instrumentality of a 

State, Tribal, or local government; 

institution of higher education; rural 

electric cooperative; a public power 

entity; or a council, as defined in 16 

U.S.C. 3451. The recipient of grant 

funds, grantee, will establish a program 

to assist agricultural producers and rural 

small businesses with evaluating the 

energy efficiency and the potential to 

incorporate renewable energy 

technologies into their operations. 

DATES: See under SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The 

applicable USDA Rural Development 

Energy Coordinator for your respective 

State, as identified via the following 

link: https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/ 

RBS_StateEnergyCoordinators.pdf. 

For information about this Notice, 

please contact Anthony Crooks, Rural 

Energy Policy Specialist, USDA Rural 

Development, Energy Division, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Stop 3225, 

Room 6870, Washington, DC 20250. 

Telephone:(202) 205–9322. Email: 

anthony.crooks@wdc.usda.gov. 

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: 

• Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural 

America 

• Developing the Rural Economy 

• Harnessing Technological Innovation 

• Supporting a Rural Workforce 

• Improving Quality of Life 

I. Program Description 

The Rural Energy for America 

Program (REAP) helps agricultural 

producers and rural small businesses 

reduce energy costs and consumption 

and helps meet the Nation’s critical 

energy needs. REAP has two types of 

funding assistance: (1) Renewable 

Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency 

Improvements Assistance and (2) 

Energy Audit and Renewable Energy 

Development Assistance Grants. 

The Renewable Energy Systems and 

Energy Efficiency Improvements 

Assistance provides grants and 

guaranteed loans to agricultural 

producers and rural small businesses for 

renewable energy systems and energy 

efficiency improvements. Eligible 

renewable energy systems for REAP 

provide energy from: Wind, solar, 

renewable biomass (including anaerobic 

digesters), small hydro-electric, ocean, 

geothermal, or hydrogen derived from 

these renewable resources. 

The Energy Audit and Renewable 

Energy Development Assistance Grant is 

available to a unit of State, Tribal, or 

local government; instrumentality of a 

State, Tribal, or local government; 

institution of higher education; rural 

electric cooperative; a public power 

entity; or a council, as defined in 16 

U.S.C. 3451. The recipient of grant 

funds, grantee, will establish a program 

to assist agricultural producers and rural 

small businesses with evaluating the 

energy efficiency and the potential to 

incorporate renewable energy 

technologies into their operations. 


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A. General. Applications for REAP 

can be submitted any time throughout 

the year. This Notice announces the 

deadlines, dates and times that 

applications must be received in order 

to be considered for REAP funds 

provided by the Agricultural Act of 

2014, (2014 Farm Bill), and any 

appropriated funds that REAP may 

receive from the appropriation for FY 

2019 for grants, guaranteed loans, and 

combined grants and guaranteed loans 

to purchase and install renewable 

energy systems, and make energy 

efficiency improvements; and for grants 

to conduct energy audits and renewable 

energy development assistance. 

The Notice of Solicitation of 

Applications (NOSA) announces the 

acceptance of applications under REAP 

for FY 2019 for grants, guaranteed loans, 

and combined grants and guaranteed 

loans for the development of renewable 

energy systems and energy efficiency 

projects as provided by the Agricultural 

Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). The Notice 

also announces the acceptance of 

applications under REAP for FY 2019 

for energy audit and renewable energy 

development assistance grants as 

provided by the 2014 Farm Bill. 

The administrative requirements in 

effect at the time the application 

window closes for a competition will be 

applicable to each type of funding 

available under REAP and are described 

in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart B. In 

addition to the other provisions of this 

Notice: 

(1) The provisions specified in 7 CFR 

4280.101 through 4280.111 apply to 

each funding type described in this 

Notice. 

(2) The requirements specified in 7 

CFR 4280.112 through 4280.124 apply 

to renewable energy system and energy 

efficiency improvements project grants. 

(3) The requirements specified in 7 

CFR 4280.125 through 4280.152 apply 

to guaranteed loans for renewable 

energy system and energy efficiency 

improvements projects. For FY 2019, 

the guarantee fee amount is one percent 

of the guaranteed portion of the loan, 

and the annual renewal fee is onequarter of 1 percent (0.250 percent) of 

the guaranteed portion of the loan. 

(4) The requirements specified in 7 

CFR 4280.165 apply to a combined grant 

and guaranteed loan for renewable 

energy system and energy efficiency 

improvements projects. 

(5) The requirements specified in 7 

CFR 4280.186 through 4280.196 apply 

to energy audit and renewable energy 

development assistance grants. 

II. Federal Award Information 

A. Statutory Authority. This program 

is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 8107. 

B. Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number. 10.868. 

C. Funds Available. This Notice is 

announcing deadline times and dates 

for applications to be submitted for 

REAP funds provided by the 2014 Farm 

Bill and any appropriated funds that 

REAP may receive from the 

congressional enactment of a full-year 

appropriation for FY 2019. This Notice 

is being published prior to the 

congressional enactment of a full-year 

appropriation for FY 2019. The Agency 

will continue to process applications 

received under this announcement and 

should REAP receive appropriated 

funds, these funds will be announced 

on the following website: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/ 

rural-energy-america-programrenewable-energy-systems-energyefficiency, and are subject to the same 

provisions in this Notice. 

To ensure that small projects have a 

fair opportunity to compete for the 

funding and are consistent with the 

priorities set forth in the statute, the 

Agency will set-aside not less than 20 

percent of the FY 2019 funds until June 

29, 2019, to fund grants of $20,000 or 

less. 

(1) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements grantfunds. There will be allocations of grant 

funds to each Rural Development State 

Office for renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements 

applications. The State allocations will 

include an allocation for grants of 

$20,000 or less funds and an allocation 

of grant funds that can be used to fund 

renewable energy system and energy 

efficiency improvements applications 

for either grants of $20,000 or less or 

grants of more than $20,000, as well as 

the grant portion of a combination grant 

and guaranteed loan. These funds are 

commonly referred to as unrestricted 

grant funds. The funds for grants of 

$20,000 or less can only be used to fund 

grants requesting $20,000 or less, which 

includes the grant portion of 

combination requests when applicable. 

(2) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements loan 

guarantee funds. Rural Development’s 

National Office will maintain a reserve 

of guaranteed loan funds. 

(3) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements 

combined grant and guaranteed loan 

funds. Funding availability for 

combined grant and guaranteed loan 

applications are outlined in paragraphs 

II.(C)(1) and II.(C)(2) of this Notice. 

(4) Energy audit and renewable energy 

development assistance grant funds. 

The amount of funds available for 

energy audits and renewable energy 

development assistance in FY 2019 will 

be 4 percent of FY 2019 mandatory 

funds and will be maintained in a 

National Office reserve. Obligations of 

these funds will take place through 

March 30, 2019. Any unobligated 

balances will be moved to the renewable 

energy budget authority account and 

may be utilized in any of the renewable 

energy system and energy efficiency 

improvements national competitions. 

D. Approximate Number of Awards. 

The estimated number of awards is 

1,000 based on the historical average 

grant size and the anticipated 

mandatory funding of $50 million for 

FY 2019, but will depend on the actual 

amount of funds made available and on 

the number of eligible applicants 

participating in this program. 

E. Type of Instrument. Grant, 

guaranteed loan, and grant/guaranteed 

loan combinations. 

III. Eligibility Information 

The eligibility requirements for the 

applicant, borrower, lender, and project 

(as applicable) are clarified in 7 CFR 

part 4280 subpart B, and are 

summarized in this Notice. Failure to 

meet the eligibility criteria by the time 

of the competition window may result 

in the Agency reviewing an application, 

but will preclude the application from 

receiving funding until all eligibility 

criteria have been met. 

A. Eligible Applicants. This 

solicitation is for applications from 

agricultural producers and rural small 

businesses for grants or guaranteed 

loans, or a combination grant and 

guaranteed loan, for the purpose of 

purchasing and installing renewable 

energy systems and energy efficiency 

improvements. This solicitation is also 

for applications for Energy Audit or a 

Renewable Development Assistance 

grants from units of State, Tribal, or 

local government; instrumentalities of a 

State, Tribal, or local government; 

institutions of higher education; rural 

electric cooperatives; public power 

entities; and councils, as defined in 16 

U.S.C. 3451, which serve agricultural 

producers and rural small businesses. 

To be eligible for the grant portion of the 

program, an applicant must meet the 

requirements specified in 7 CFR 

4280.110, and 7 CFR 4280.112, or 7 CFR 

4280.186, as applicable. 

B. Eligible Lenders and Borrowers. To 

be eligible for the guaranteed loan 

portion of the program, lenders and 

borrowers must meet the eligibility 


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requirements in 7 CFR 4280.125 and 7 

CFR 4280.127, as applicable. 

C. Eligible Projects. To be eligible for 

this program, a project must meet the 

eligibility requirements specified in 7 

CFR 4280.113, 7 CFR 4280.128, and 7 

CFR 4280.187, as applicable. 

D. Cost Sharing or Matching. The 

2014 Farm Bill mandates the maximum 

percentages of funding that REAP can 

provide. Additional clarification is 

provided in paragraphs IV.E.(1) through 

(3) of this Notice. 

(1) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements 

funding. Requests for guaranteed loan 

and combined grant and guaranteed 

loan will not exceed 75 percent of total 

eligible project costs, with any Federal 

grant portion not to exceed 25 percent 

of total eligible project costs, whether 

the grant is part of a combination 

request or is a grant-only. 

(2) Energy audit and renewable energy 

development funds. Requests for the 

energy audit and renewable energy 

development assistance grants, will 

indicate that the grantee that conducts 

energy audits must require that, as a 

condition of providing the energy audit, 

the agricultural producer or rural small 

business pay at least 25 percent of the 

cost of the energy audit. The Agency 

recommended practice for on farm 

energy audits, audits for agricultural 

producers, ranchers, and farmers is the 

American Society of Agricultural and 

Biological Engineers S612 Level II audit. 

This audit conforms to program 

standards used by the Natural Resource 

Conservation Service. As per 7 CFR 

4280.110(a), an applicant who has 

received one or more grants under this 

program must have made satisfactory 

progress towards completion of any 

previously funded projects before being 

considered for subsequent funding. The 

Agency interprets satisfactory progress 

as at least 50 percent of previous awards 

expended by January 31, 2019. Those 

who cannot meet this requirement will 

be determined to be a ‘‘risk’’ pursuant 

to 2 CFR 200.205 and may be 

determined in-eligible for a subsequent 

grant or have special conditions 

imposed. 

E. Other. Ineligible project costs can 

be found in 7 CFR 4280.114(d), 7 CFR 

4280.129(f), and 7 CFR 4280.188(c), as 

applicable. The U.S. Department of 

Agriculture Departmental Regulations 

and Laws that contain other compliance 

requirements are referenced in 

paragraphs VI.B.(1) through (3), and 

IV.F of this Notice. Applicants who 

have been found to be in violation of 

applicable Federal statutes will be 

ineligible. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Address to Request Application 

Package. Application materials may be 

obtained by contacting one of Rural 

Development’s Energy Coordinators, as 

identified via the following link: https:// 

www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_StateEnergy

Coordinators.pdf. In addition, for grant 

applications, applicants may obtain 

electronic grant applications for REAP 

from www.grants.gov. 

B. Content and Form of Application 

Submission. Applicants seeking to 

participate in this program must submit 

applications in accordance with this 

Notice and 7 CFR part 4280, subpart B. 

Applicants must submit complete 

applications by the dates identified in 

Section IV.C., of this Notice, containing 

all parts necessary for the Agency to 

determine applicant and project 

eligibility, to score the application, and 

to conduct the technical evaluation, as 

applicable, in order to be considered. 

(1) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements grant 

application. 

(a) Information for the required 

content of a grant application to be 

considered complete is found in 7 CFR 

part 4280, subpart B. 

(i) Grant applications for renewable 

energy systems and energy efficiency 

improvements projects with total project 

costs of $80,000 or less must provide 

information required by 7 CFR 

4280.119. 

(ii) Grant applications for renewable 

energy systems and energy efficiency 

improvements projects with total project 

costs of $200,000 or less, but more than 

$80,000, must provide information 

required by 7 CFR 4280.118. 

(iii) Grant applications for renewable 

energy systems and energy efficiency 

improvements projects with total project 

costs of greater than $200,000 must 

provide information required by 7 CFR 

4280.117. 

(iv) Grant applications for energy 

audits or renewable energy development 

assistance grant applications must 

provide information required by 7 CFR 

4280.190. 

(b) All grant applications must be 

submitted either as hard copy to the 

appropriate Rural Development Energy 

Coordinator in the State in which the 

applicant’s proposed project is located, 

or electronically using the Governmentwide www.grants.gov website. 

(i) Applicants submitting a grant 

application as a hard copy must submit 

one original to the appropriate Rural 

Development Energy Coordinator in the 

State in which the applicant’s proposed 

project is located. A list of USDA Rural 

Development Energy Coordinators is 

available via the following link: https:// 

www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_StateEnergy

Coordinators.pdf. 

(ii) Applicants submitting a grant 

application to the Agency via 

www.grants.gov (website) will find 

information about submitting an 

application electronically through the 

website, and may download a copy of 

the application package to complete it 

off line, upload and submit the 

completed application, including all 

necessary assurances and certifications, 

via www.grants.gov. After electronically 

submitting an application through the 

website, the applicant will receive an 

automated acknowledgement from 

www.grants.gov that contains a 

www.grants.gov tracking number. USDA 

Rural Development strongly 

recommends that applicants do not wait 

until the application deadline date to 

begin the application process through 

www.grants.gov. 

(c) After successful applicants are 

notified of the intent to make a Federal 

award, applicants must meet the 

requirements of 7 CFR 4280.122(a) 

through (h) for the grant agreement to be 

executed. 

(2) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements 

guaranteed loan application. 

(a) Information for the content 

required for a guaranteed loan 

application to be considered complete is 

found in 7 CFR 4280.137. 

(b) All guaranteed loan applications 

must be submitted as a hard copy to the 

appropriate Rural Development Energy 

Coordinator in the State in which the 

applicant’s proposed project is located. 

A list of USDA Rural Development 

Energy Coordinators is available via the 

following link: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_StateEnergy

Coordinators.pdf. 

(c) After successful applicants are 

notified of the intent to make a Federal 

award, borrowers must meet the 

conditions prior to issuance of loan note 

guarantee as outlined in 7 CFR 

4280.142. 

(3) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements 

combined guaranteed loan and grant 

application. 

(a) Information for the content 

required for a combined guaranteed loan 

and grant application to be considered 

complete is found in 7 CFR 4280.165(c). 

(c) After successful applicants are 

notified of the intent to make a Federal 

award, applicants must meet the 

requirements of 7 CFR 4280.122(a) 

through (h) for the grant agreement to be 

executed. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices 40219 

(2) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements 

guaranteed loan application. 

(a) Information for the content 

required for a guaranteed loan 

application to be considered complete is 

found in 7 CFR 4280.137. 

(b) All guaranteed loan applications 

must be submitted as a hard copy to the 

appropriate Rural Development Energy 

Coordinator in the State in which the 

applicant’s proposed project is located. 

A list of USDA Rural Development 

Energy Coordinators is available via the 

following link: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_StateEnergy

Coordinators.pdf. 

(c) After successful applicants are 

notified of the intent to make a Federal 

award, borrowers must meet the 

conditions prior to issuance of loan note 

guarantee as outlined in 7 CFR 

4280.142. 

(3) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements 

combined guaranteed loan and grant 

application. 

(a) Information for the content 

required for a combined guaranteed loan 

and grant application to be considered 

complete is found in 7 CFR 4280.165(c). 

(b) All combined guaranteed loan and 

grant applications must be submitted as 

hard copy to the appropriate Rural 

Development Energy Coordinator in the 

State in which the applicant’s proposed 

project is located. A list of USDA Rural 

Development Energy Coordinators is 

available via the following link: 

www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_

StateEnergyCoordinators.pdf. 

(c) After successful applicants are 

notified of the intent to make a Federal 

award, applicants must meet the 

requirements, including the requisite 

forms and certifications, specified in 7 

CFR 4280.117, 4280.118, 4280.119, and 

4280.137, as applicable, for the issuance 

of a grant agreement and loan note 

guarantee. 

(4) Energy audits or renewable 

development assistance grant 

applications. 

(a) Grant applications for energy 

audits or renewable energy development 

assistance must provide the information 

required by 7 CFR 4280.190 to be 

considered a complete application. 

(b) All energy audits or renewable 

development assistance grant 

applications must be submitted either as 

hard copy to the appropriate Rural 

Development Energy Coordinator in the 

State in which the applicant’s proposed 

project is located, electronically using 

the Government-wide www.grants.gov 

website, or via an alternative electronic 

format with electronic signature 

followed up by providing original 

signatures to the appropriate Rural 

Development office. Instructions for 

submission of the application can be 

found at section IV.B. of this Notice. 

(c) After successful applicants are 

notified of the intent to make a Federal 

award, applicants must meet the 

requirements of 7 CFR 4280.195 for the 

grant agreement to be executed. 

5. Dun and Bradstreet Universal 

Numbering System (DUNS) Number and 

System for Award Management (SAM). 

Unless exempt under 2 CFR 25.110, or 

who have an exception approved by the 

Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 

25.110(d), applicants as applicable are 

required to: 

(a) Grant applicants must be 

registered in SAM prior to submitting a 

grant application; which can be 

obtained at no cost via a toll-free request 

line at (866) 705–5711 or online at 

www.sam.gov. Registration of new 

entities in SAM requires an original, 

signed notarized letter stating that you 

are the authorized Entity Administrator 

before your registration will be 

activated. 

(b) Guaranteed loan applicants are 

required to have an active SAM 

registration prior to obligation and must 

maintain the active registration until all 

funds are disbursed to the lender by the 

Agency. 

(c) Provide a valid DUNS number in 

its grant or loan application. 

(d) Continue to maintain an active 

SAM registration with current 

information at all times during which it 

has an active Federal grant award or a 

grant application under consideration 

by the Agency. 

(e) If an applicant has not fully 

complied with the requirements of 

IV.C.(1) through (3) at the time the 

Agency is ready to make an award, the 

Agency may determine the applicant is 

not eligible to receive the award. 

C. Submission Dates and Times. Grant 

applications, guaranteed loan-only 

applications, and combined grant and 

guaranteed loan applications for 

financial assistance provided by the 

2014 Farm Bill for FY 2019, and for 

appropriated funds that REAP may 

receive from the appropriation for FY 

2019, may be submitted at any time on 

an ongoing basis. When an application 

window closes, the next application 

window opens on the following day. 

This Notice establishes the deadline 

dates for the applications to be received 

in order to be considered for funding. If 

an application window falls on a 

Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, 

the application package is due the next 

business day. An application received 

after these dates will be considered with 

other applications received in the next 

application window. In order to be 

considered for funds under this Notice, 

complete applications must be received 

by the appropriate USDA Rural 

Development State Office or via 

www.grants.gov. The deadline for 

applications to be received to be 

considered for funding in FY 2019 are 

outlined in the following paragraphs 

and also summarized in a table at the 

end of this section: 

(1) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements grant 

applications and combination grant and 

guaranteed loan applications. As per 

RD Instruction 4280–B Application 

deadlines for FY 2019 grant funds are: 

(a) For applicants requesting a grant 

only of $20,000 or less or a combination 

grant and guaranteed loan where the 

grant request is $20,000 or less, that 

wish to have their grant application 

compete for the ‘‘Grants of $20,000 or 

less set aside,’’ complete applications 

must be received no later than 

(i) 4:30 p.m. local time on October 31, 

2018, or 

(ii) 4:30 p.m. local time on April 1, 

2019. 

(b) For applicants requesting a grant 

only of over $20,000 (unrestricted) or a 

combination grant and guaranteed loan 

where the grant request is greater than 

$20,000, complete applications must be 

received no later than 4:30 p.m. local 

time on April 1, 2019. 

(2) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements 

guaranteed loan-only applications. 

Eligible applications will be reviewed 

and processed when received for 

periodic competitions. 

(3) Energy audits and renewable 

energy development assistance grant 

applications. Applications must be 

received no later than 4:30 p.m. local 

time on January 31, 2019. 

Application Application window 

opening dates 

Application window 

closing dates 

Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants ($20,000 or less grant 

only request or a combination grant and guaranteed loan where the grant request is $20,000 

or less competing for up to approximately 50 percent of the set aside funds).

May 1, 2018 ............. October 31, 2018. 


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Application Application window 

opening dates 

Application window 

closing dates 

Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants ($20,000 or less grant 

only request or a combination grant and guaranteed loan where the grant request is $20,000 

or less competing for the remaining set aside funds).

November 1, 2018 .... April 1, 2019.* 

Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants (Unrestricted grants, 

including combination grant and guaranteed loan where the grant request is greater than 

$20,000).

May 1, 2018 ............. April 1, 2019.* 

Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Guaranteed Loans .................. Continuous application cycle.Continuous application cycle. 

Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants .......................................... February 1, 2018 ...... January 31, 2019. 

* Applications received after this date will be considered for the next funding cycle in the subsequent FY. 

D. Intergovernmental Review. REAP is 

not subject to Executive Order 12372, 

Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs. 

E. Funding Restrictions. The 

following funding limitations apply to 

applications submitted under this 

Notice. 

(1) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements 

projects. 

(a) Applicants can be awarded only 

one renewable energy system grant and 

one energy efficiency improvement 

grant in FY 2019. 

(b) For renewable energy system 

grants, the minimum grant is $2,500 and 

the maximum is $500,000. For energy 

efficiency improvements grants, the 

minimum grant is $1,500 and the 

maximum grant is $250,000. 

(c) For renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements loan 

guarantees, the minimum REAP 

guaranteed loan amount is $5,000 and 

the maximum amount of a guaranteed 

loan to be provided to a borrower is $25 

million. 

(d) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements 

guaranteed loan and grant combination 

applications. Paragraphs IV.E.(1)(b) and 

(c) of this Notice contain the applicable 

maximum amounts and minimum 

amounts for grants and guaranteed 

loans. Requests for guaranteed loan and 

combined grant and guaranteed loan 

will not exceed 75 percent of eligible 

project costs, with any Federal grant 

portion not to exceed 25 percent of the 

eligible project costs, whether the grant 

is part of a combination request or is a 

grant-only. 

(2) Energy audit and renewable energy 

development assistance grants. 

(a) Applicants may submit only one 

energy audit grant application and one 

renewable energy development 

assistance grant application for FY 2019 

funds. 

(b) The maximum aggregate amount of 

energy audit and renewable energy 

development assistance grants awarded 

to any one recipient under this Notice 

cannot exceed $100,000 for FY 2019. 

(c) The 2014 Farm Bill mandates that 

the recipient of a grant that conducts an 

energy audit for an agricultural 

producer or a rural small business must 

require the agricultural producer or 

rural small business to pay at least 25 

percent of the cost of the energy audit, 

which shall be retained by the eligible 

entity for the cost of the audit. 

(3) Maximum grant assistance to an 

entity. For the purposes of this Notice, 

the maximum amount of grant 

assistance to an entity will not exceed 

$750,000 for FY 2019 based on the total 

amount of the renewable energy system, 

energy efficiency improvements, energy 

audit, and renewable energy 

development assistance grants awarded 

to an entity under REAP. 

F. Other Submission Requirements. 

(1) Environmental information. For 

the Agency to consider an application, 

the application must include all 

environmental review documents with 

supporting documentation in 

accordance with 7 CFR part 1970. Any 

required environmental review must be 

completed prior to obligation of funds 

or the approval of the application. 

Applicants are advised to contact the 

Agency to determine environmental 

requirements as soon as practicable to 

ensure adequate review time. 

(2) Felony conviction and tax 

delinquent status. Corporate applicants 

submitting applications under this 

Notice must include Form AD 3030, 

‘‘Representations Regarding Felony 

Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status 

for Corporate Applicants.’’ Corporate 

applicants who receive an award under 

this Notice will be required to sign Form 

AD 3031, ‘‘Assurance Regarding Felony 

Conviction or Tax Delinquent Status for 

Corporate Applicants.’’ Both forms can 

be found online at http://

www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad3030 

and http://www.ocio.usda.gov/ 

document/ad3031. 

(3) Original signatures. USDA Rural 

Development may request that the 

applicant provide original signatures on 

forms submitted through 

www.grants.gov at a later date. 

(4) Transparency Act Reporting. All 

recipients of Federal financial assistance 

are required to report information about 

first-tier sub-awards and executive 

compensation in accordance with 2 CFR 

part 170. If an applicant does not have 

an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b), 

the applicant must then ensure that they 

have the necessary processes and 

systems in place to comply with the 

reporting requirements to receive 

funding. 

(5) Race, ethnicity, and gender. The 

Agency is requesting that each applicant 

provide race, ethnicity, and gender 

information about the applicant. The 

information will allow the Agency to 

evaluate its outreach efforts to underserved and under-represented 

populations. Applicants are encouraged 

to furnish this information with their 

applications, but are not required to do 

so. An applicant’s eligibility or the 

likelihood of receiving an award will 

not be impacted by furnishing or not 

furnishing this information. However, 

failure to furnish this information may 

preclude the awarding of State Director 

and Administrator points in Section 

V.E.(3) of this Notice. 

(6) Transfer of obligations. REAP 

grant obligations will be serviced in 

accordance with 7 CFR 4280.123 and 7 

CFR 4280.196 as applicable. Transfer of 

obligations will no longer be considered 

by the Agency. 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Criteria. In accordance with 7 CFR 

part 4280 subpart B, the application 

dates published in Section IV.C. of this 

Notice identify the times and dates by 

which complete applications must be 

received in order to compete for the 

funds available. 

(1) Renewable energy systems and 

energy efficiency improvements grant 

applications. Complete renewable 

energy systems and energy efficiency 

improvements grant applications are 

eligible to compete in competitions as 

described in 7 CFR 4280.121. 

(a) Complete renewable energy 

systems and energy efficiency 

improvements grant applications 


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requesting $20,000 or less are eligible to 

compete in up to five competitions 

within the FY as described in 7 CFR 

4280.121(b). If the application remains 

unfunded after the final National Office 

competition for the FY it must be 

withdrawn. Pursuant to the publication 

of this announcement, all complete and 

eligible applications will be limited to 

competing in the FY that the application 

was received, versus rolling into the 

following FY, which may result in less 

than five total competitions. This was 

effective for any application submitted 

on or after April 1, 2017. 

(b) Complete renewable energy 

systems and energy efficiency 

improvements grant applications, 

regardless of the amount of funding 

requested, are eligible to compete in two 

competitions a FY—a State competition 

and a national competition as described 

in 7 CFR 4280.121(a). 

(2) Renewable energy systems and 

energy efficiency improvements 

guaranteed loan applications. Complete 

guaranteed loan applications are eligible 

for periodic competitions as described 

in 7 CFR 4280.139(a). 

(3) Renewable energy systems and 

energy efficiency improvements 

combined guaranteed loan and grant 

applications. Complete combined 

guaranteed loan and grant applications 

with requests of $20,000 or less are 

eligible to compete in up to five 

competitions within the FY as described 

in 7 CFR 4280.121(b). Combination 

applications where the grant request is 

greater than $20,000, are eligible to 

compete in two competitions a FY—a 

State competition and a national 

competition as described in 7 CFR 

4280.121(a). 

(4) Energy audit and renewable energy 

development assistance grant 

applications. Complete energy audit and 

renewable energy development 

assistance grants applications are 

eligible to compete in one national 

competition per FY as described in 7 

CFR 4280.193. 

B. Review and Selection Process. All 

complete applications will be scored in 

accordance with 7 CFR part 4280 

subpart B and this section of the Notice. 

Specifically, sections C and D below 

outline revisions to the scoring criteria 

found in 7 CFR 4280.120. 

(1) Renewable energy systems and 

energy efficiency improvements grant 

applications. Renewable energy system 

and energy efficiency grant applications 

will be scored in accordance with 7 CFR 

4280.120 and selections will be made in 

accordance with 7 CFR 4280.121. For 

grant applications requesting greater 

than $250,000 for renewable energy 

systems, and/or greater than $125,000 

for energy efficiency improvements a 

maximum score of 90 points is possible. 

For grant applications requesting 

$250,000 or less for renewable energy 

systems and/or $125,000 or less for 

energy efficiency improvements, an 

additional 10 points may be awarded 

such that a maximum score of 100 

points is possible. Due to the 

competitive nature of this program, 

applications are competed based on 

submittal date. The submittal date is the 

date the Agency receives a complete 

application. The complete application 

date is the date the Agency receives the 

last piece of information that allows the 

Agency to determine eligibility and to 

score, rank, and compete the application 

for funding. 

(a) Funds for renewable energy system 

and energy efficiency improvements 

grants of $20,000 or less will be 

allocated to the States. Eligible 

applications must be submitted by April 

1, 2019, in order to be considered for 

these set-aside funds. Approximately 50 

percent of these funds will be made 

available for those complete 

applications the Agency receives by 

October 31, 2018, and approximately 50 

percent of the funds for those complete 

applications the Agency receives by 

April 1, 2019. All unused State 

allocated funds for grants of $20,000 or 

less will be pooled to the National 

Office. 

(b) Eligible applications received by 

April 1, 2019, for renewable energy 

system and energy efficiency 

improvements grants of $20,000 or less, 

that are not funded by State allocations 

can be submitted to the National Office 

to compete against grant applications of 

$20,000 or less from other States at a 

national competition. Obligations of 

these funds will take place prior to June 

28, 2019. 

(c) Eligible applications for renewable 

energy system and energy efficiency 

improvements, regardless of the amount 

of the funding request, received by April 

30, 2019, can compete for unrestricted 

grant funds. Unrestricted grant funds 

will be allocated to the States. All 

unused State allocated unrestricted 

grant funds will be pooled to the 

National Office. 

(d) National unrestricted grant funds 

for all eligible renewable energy system 

and energy efficiency improvements 

grant applications received by April 30, 

2019, which include grants of $20,000 

or less, that are not funded by State 

allocations can be submitted to the 

National Office to compete against grant 

applications from other States at a final 

national competition. 

(2) Renewable energy systems and 

energy efficiency improvements 

guaranteed loan applications. 

Renewable energy systems and energy 

efficiency improvements guaranteed 

loan applications will be scored in 

accordance with 7 CFR 4280.135 and 

selections will be made in accordance 

with 7 CFR 4280.139. The National 

Office will maintain a reserve for 

renewable energy system and energy 

efficiency improvements guaranteed 

loan funds. Applications will be 

reviewed and processed when received. 

Those applications that meet the 

Agency’s underwriting requirements, 

are credit worthy, and score a minimum 

of 40 points will compete in national 

competitions for guaranteed loan funds 

periodically. All unfunded eligible 

guaranteed loan-only applications 

received that do not score at least 40 

points 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, on September 2, 2019. If funds 

remain after the final guaranteed loanonly national competition, the Agency 

may elect to utilize budget authority to 

fund additional grant-only applications. 

(3) Renewable energy systems and 

energy efficiency improvements 

combined grant and guaranteed loan 

applications. Renewable energy systems 

and energy efficiency improvements 

combined grant and guaranteed loan 

applications will be scored in 

accordance with 7 CFR 4280.120 and 

selections will be made in accordance 

with 7 CFR 4280.121. For combined 

grant and guaranteed loan applications 

requesting grant funds of $250,000 or 

less for renewable energy systems, or 

$125,000 or less for energy efficiency 

improvements, a maximum score of 100 

points is possible. For combined grant 

and guaranteed loan applications 

requesting grant funds of more than 

$250,000 for renewable energy systems, 

or more than $125,000 for energy 

efficiency improvements, a maximum 

score of 90 points is possible. 

Renewable energy system and energy 

efficiency improvements combined 

grant and guaranteed loan applications 

will compete with grant-only 

applications for grant funds allocated to 

their State. If the application is ranked 

high enough to receive State allocated 

grant funds, the State will request 

funding for the guaranteed loan portion 

of any combined grant and guaranteed 

loan applications from the National 

Office guaranteed loan reserve, and no 

further competition will be required. All 

unfunded eligible applications for 

combined grant and guaranteed loan 

applications that are received by April 

30, 2019, and that are not funded by 


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State allocations can be submitted to the 

National Office to compete against other 

grant and combined grant and 

guaranteed loan applications from other 

States at a final national competition. 

(4) Energy audit and renewable energy 

development assistance grant 

applications. Energy audit and 

renewable energy development 

assistance grants will be scored in 

accordance with 7 CFR 4280.192 and 

selections will be made in accordance 

with 7 CFR 4280.193. Energy audit and 

renewable energy development 

assistance grant funds will be 

maintained in a reserve at the National 

Office. Applications received by January 

31, 2019, will compete for funding at a 

national competition, based on the 

scoring criteria established under 7 CFR 

4280.192. If funds remain after the 

energy audit and renewable energy 

development assistance national 

competition, the Agency may elect to 

transfer budget authority to fund 

additional renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements grants 

from the National Office reserve after 

pooling. 

C. Size of Agricultural Producer or 

Rural Small Business. In alignment with 

the Report to the President of the United 

States from the Task Force on 

Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, the 

criterion noted in 7 CFR 4280.120(d) 

which allows for a maximum of 10 

points to be awarded based on the size 

of the Applicant’s agricultural operation 

or business concern, as applicable, 

compared to the SBA Small Business 

size standards categorized by NAICS 

found in 13 CFR 121.201, is being 

removed for applications for renewable 

energy systems or energy efficiency 

improvements effective as of the date of 

this publication. 

D. State Director and Administrator 

Points. The criterion noted in 7 CFR 

4280.120(g) allows for the State Director 

and the Administrator to take into 

consideration paragraphs V.D.(1) 

through (5) below in the awarding of up 

to 10 points for eligible renewable 

energy systems and energy efficiency 

improvement grant applications 

submitted in FY 2019: 

(1) May allow for applications for an 

under-represented technology to receive 

additional points. 

(2) May allow for applications that 

help achieve geographic diversity to 

receive additional points. This may 

include priority points for smaller grant 

requests which enhances geographic 

diversity. 

(3) May allow for applicants who are 

members of unserved or under-served 

populations to receive additional points 

if one of the following criteria are met: 

(a) Owned by a veteran, including but 

not limited to individuals as sole 

proprietors, members, partners, 

stockholders, etc., of not less than 20 

percent. In order to receive points, 

applicants must provide a statement in 

their applications to indicate that 

owners of the project have veteran 

status; or 

(b) Owned by a member of a sociallydisadvantaged group, which are groups 

whose members have been subjected to 

racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice 

because of their identity as members of 

a group without regard to their 

individual qualities. In order to receive 

points, the application must include a 

statement to indicate that the owners of 

the project are members of a sociallydisadvantaged group. 

(4) May allow for applications that 

further a Presidential initiative, or a 

Secretary of Agriculture priority, 

including Federally declared disaster 

areas, to receive additional points. 

(5) The proposed project is located in 

an impoverished area, has experienced 

long-term population decline or loss of 

employment. 

E. Other Submission Requirements. 

Grant-only applications, guaranteed 

loan-only applications, and combined 

grant and guaranteed loan applications 

for financial assistance may be 

submitted at any time. In order to be 

considered for funds, complete 

applications must be received by the 

appropriate USDA Rural Development 

State Office in which the applicant’s 

proposed project is located, or via 

www.grants.gov, as identified in Section 

IV.C., of this Notice. 

(1) Insufficient funds. If funds are not 

sufficient to fund the total amount of an 

application: 

(a) For State allocated funds: 

(i) The applicant must be notified that 

they may accept the remaining funds or 

submit the total request for National 

Office reserve funds available after 

pooling. If the applicant agrees to lower 

its grant request, the applicant must 

certify that the purposes of the project 

will be met and provide the remaining 

total funds needed to complete the 

project. 

(ii) If two or more grant or 

combination applications have the same 

score and remaining funds in the State 

allocation are insufficient to fully award 

them, the Agency will notify the 

applicants that they may either accept 

the proportional amount of funds or 

submit their total request for National 

Office reserve funds available after 

pooling. If the applicant agrees to lower 

its grant request, the applicant must 

certify that the purposes of the project 

will be met and provide the remaining 

total funds needed to complete the 

project. 

(b) The applicant notification for 

national funds will depend on the 

competition as follows: 

(i) For an application requesting a 

grant of $20,000 or less or a combination 

application where the grant amount is 

$20,000 or less from set-aside pooled 

funds, the applicant must be notified 

that they may accept the remaining 

funds, or submit the total request to 

compete in the unrestricted state 

competition. If the applicant agrees to 

lower the grant request, the applicant 

must certify that the purposes of the 

project will be met and provide the 

remaining total funds needed to 

complete the project. A declined partial 

award counts as a competition. 

(ii) For an application requesting a 

grant of $20,000 or less or a combination 

application where the grant amount is 

$20,000 or less from unrestricted pooled 

funds, in which this is the final 

competition or for those applications 

requesting grants of over $20,000 and 

combined grant and guaranteed loan 

application, the applicant must be 

notified that they may accept the 

remaining funds or their grant 

application will be withdrawn. If the 

applicant agrees to lower the grant 

request, the applicant must certify that 

the purposes of the project will be met 

and provide the remaining total funds 

needed to complete the project. 

(iii) If two or more grant or 

combination applications have the same 

score and remaining funds are 

insufficient to fully award them, the 

Agency will notify the applicants that 

they may either accept the proportional 

amount of funds or be notified in 

accordance with V.D.(1)(b)(i) or (ii), as 

applicable. 

(iv) At its discretion, the Agency may 

instead allow the remaining funds to be 

carried over to the next FY rather than 

selecting a lower scoring application(s) 

or distributing funds on a pro-rata basis. 

(2) Award considerations. All award 

considerations will be on a 

discretionary basis. In determining the 

amount of a renewable energy system or 

energy efficiency improvements grant or 

loan guarantee, the Agency will 

consider the six criteria specified in 7 

CFR 4280.114(e) or 7 CFR 4280.129(g), 

as applicable. 

(3) Notification of funding 

determination. As per 7 CFR 

4280.111(c) all applicants will be 

informed in writing by the Agency as to 

the funding determination of the 

application. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices 40223 

VI. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

A. Federal Award Notices. The 

Agency will award and administer 

renewable energy system and energy 

efficiency improvements grants, 

guaranteed loans in accordance with 7 

CFR 4280.122, and 7 CFR 4280.139, as 

applicable. The Agency will award and 

administer the energy audit and 

renewable energy development 

assistance grants in accordance with 7 

CFR 4280.195. Notification 

requirements of 7 CFR 4280.111, apply 

to this Notice. 

B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements. 

(1) Equal Opportunity and 

Nondiscrimination. The Agency will 

ensure that equal opportunity and 

nondiscrimination requirements are met 

in accordance with the Equal Credit 

Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. 1691 et seq. 

and 7 CFR part 15d, Nondiscrimination 

in Programs and Activities Conducted 

by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The Agency will not discriminate 

against applicants on the basis of race, 

color, religion, national origin, sex, 

marital status, or age (provided that the 

applicant has the capacity to contract); 

because all or part of the applicant’s 

income derives from any public 

assistance program; or because the 

applicant has in good faith exercised 

any right under the Consumer Credit 

Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. 

(2) Civil Rights Compliance. 

Recipients of grants must comply with 

the Americans with Disabilities Act of 

1990, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq., Title VI 

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 

2000d et seq., and Section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 

794. This may include collection and 

maintenance of data on the race, sex, 

and national origin of the recipient’s 

membership/ownership and employees. 

These data must be available to conduct 

compliance reviews in accordance with 

7 CFR 1901.204. 

(3) Environmental Analysis. 

Environmental procedures and 

requirements for this subpart are 

specified in 7 CFR part 1970. 

Prospective applicants are advised to 

contact the Agency to determine 

environmental requirements as soon as 

practicable after they decide to pursue 

any form of financial assistance directly 

or indirectly available through the 

Agency. 

(4) Appeals. A person may seek a 

review of an Agency decision or appeal 

to the National Appeals Division in 

accordance with 7 CFR 4280.105. 

(5) Reporting. Grants, guaranteed 

loans, combination guaranteed loans 

and grants, and energy audit and energy 

audit and renewable energy 

development assistance grants that are 

awarded are required to fulfill the 

reporting requirements as specified in 

Departmental Regulations, the Grant 

Agreement, and in 7 CFR part 4280 

subpart B and paragraphs VI.B.(5)(a) 

through (d) of this Notice. 

(a) Renewable energy system and 

energy efficiency improvements grants 

that are awarded are required to fulfill 

the reporting requirements as specified 

in 7 CFR 4280.123. 

(b) Guaranteed loan applications that 

are awarded are required to fulfill the 

reporting requirements as specified in 7 

CFR 4280.143. 

(c) Combined guaranteed loan and 

grant applications that are awarded are 

required to fulfill the reporting 

requirements as specified in 7 CFR 

4280.165(f). 

(d) Energy audit and renewable 

energy development assistance grants 

grant applications that are awarded are 

required to fulfill the reporting 

requirements as specified in 7 CFR 

4280.196. 

VII. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts 

For further information contact the 

applicable USDA Rural Development 

Energy Coordinator for your respective 

State, as identified via the following 

link: http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_

StateEnergyCoordinators.pdf. 

For information about this Notice, 

please contact Anthony Crooks, Rural 

Energy Policy Specialist, USDA Rural 

Development, Energy Division, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Stop 3225, 

Room 6870, Washington, DC 20250. 

Telephone: (202) 205–9322. Email: 

anthony.crooks@wdc.usda.gov. 

VIII. Other Information 

A. Paperwork Reduction Act 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, the information 

collection requirements associated with 

renewable energy system and energy 

efficiency improvements grants and 

guaranteed loans, as covered in this 

Notice, have been approved by the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) under OMB Control Number 

0570–0067 The information collection 

requirements associated with energy 

audit and renewable energy 

development assistance grants have also 

been approved by OMB under OMB 

Control Number 0570–0067. 

B. Nondiscrimination Statement 

In accordance with Federal civil 

rights law and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its 

Agencies, offices, and employees, and 

institutions participating in or 

administering USDA programs are 

prohibited from discriminating based on 

race, color, national origin, religion, sex, 

gender identity (including gender 

expression), sexual orientation, 

disability, age, marital status, family/ 

parental status, income derived from a 

public assistance program, political 

beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior 

civil rights activity, in any program or 

activity conducted or funded by USDA 

(not all bases apply to all programs). 

Remedies and complaint filing 

deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require 

alternative means of communication for 

program information (e.g., Braille, large 

print, audiotape, American Sign 

Language, etc.) should contact the 

responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET 

Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and 

TTY) or contact USDA through the 

Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. 

Additionally, program information may 

be made available in languages other 

than English. 

To file a program discrimination 

complaint, complete the USDA Program 

Discrimination Complaint Form, AD– 

3027, found online at http://

www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_

cust.html and at any USDA office or 

write a letter addressed to USDA and 

provide in the letter all of the 

information requested in the form. To 

request a copy of the complaint form, 

call (866) 632–9992. Submit your 

completed form or letter to USDA by: 

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20250–9410; 

(2) Fax: (202) 690–7442; or 

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender. 

Dated: August 8, 2018. 

Bette B. Brand, 

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–17513 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting 

of the Maryland Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Commission on Civil Rights. 

ACTION: Announcement of briefing 

meeting. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, 

pursuant to the provisions of the rules 


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