85148 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 207 / Friday, October 25, 2024 / Notices 

Grand Total Reporting and 

Recordkeeping Annual Burden: 

125,778.55. 

REPORTING AND RECORDKEEPING BURDEN FOR STATE AGENCIES FNS 245, OMB 0584–0034 

Regulation Description of activity Number of 

respondents 

Estimated 

frequency 

number of 

negative 

sample 

cases per 

respondent 

Estimated 

total 

annual 

number of 

negative 

sample 

cases per 

annum 

Estimated 

annual 

reporting 

hours per 

respondents 

Estimated 

total 

annual 

burden 

hours 

Previous 

submission 

total hours 

Difference 

due to 

program 

changes 

Difference 

due to 

adjustments 

Reporting Burden 

275.13(b) ......... Household Case 

Record Review.

53 741.94 39,323.00 1.525 59,967.58 53,169.00 983.08 5,815.50 

275.13(c) ......... Error analysis ............ 53 741.94 39,323.00 1.15 45,221.45 40,762.90 .................... 4,458.55 

275.13(d) ......... Reporting of review 

findings.

53 741.94 39,323.00 0.25 9,830.75 8,861.50 .................... 969.25 

275.13(e) ......... Disposition of case review.53 741.94 39,323.00 0.25 9,830.75 8,861.50 .................... 969.25 

Total Reporting Burden .................... 53 2,967.77 157,292.00 3.175 124,850.53 111,654.90 983.08 12,212.55 

...................... ...................... .................... ...................... .................... ttl rep diff 13,195.63 

Recordkeeping Burden 

275.4 ............... Record Retention ...... 53 741.9433962 39,323.00 0.0236 928.0228 836.5256 .................... 91.4972 

Total Recordkeeping Burden 

Total Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden.53 3709.72 196,615.00 3.1986 125,778.55 112,491.43 983.08 12,304.05 

...................... ...................... .................... ...................... .................... ttl rep/rcdkp 

difference 

13,287.12 

Tameka Owens, 

Acting Administrator and Assistant 

Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–24866 Filed 10–24–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–30–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

[Docket No.: RUS–24–ELECTRIC–0032] 

Notice of Funding Opportunity for 

Section 313A Guarantees for Bonds 

and Notes Issued for Utility 

Infrastructure Purposes for Fiscal Year 

(FY) 2025 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS or the Agency), a Rural 

Development agency of the United 

States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA), announces the acceptance of 

applications under the Guarantees for 

Bonds and Notes Issued for Utility 

Infrastructure Purposes Program (the 

313A Program) for Fiscal Year (FY) 

2025. This notice is being issued in 

order to allow applicants sufficient time 

to prepare and submit their applications 

and give the Agency time to process 

applications within FY 2025. In FY 

2024, Congress appropriated $900 

million for the 313A Program. Because 

full-year appropriations have not been 

enacted as of this date, the final amount 

that will be made available in FY 2025 

will be determined by subsequent 

Congressional action. The agency is 

accepting applications up to the amount 

made available in FY 2024, subject to 

Congressional action. The purpose of 

the 313A Program is to guarantee loans 

to selected applicants as a Guaranteed 

Lender. Successful applications will be 

selected by the Agency for funding and 

subsequently awarded to the extent that 

funding may ultimately be made 

available through apportionment. All 

applicants are responsible for all 

expenses incurred in developing their 

applications. 

DATES: Completed applications must be 

electronically received by RUS no later 

than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 

December 24, 2024. Applicants 

intending to submit applications must 

have their applications received by the 

closing deadline. 

ADDRESSES: Completed applications 

must be submitted electronically to 

Amy McWilliams, Branch Chief, Policy 

and Outreach Branch, Office of 

Customer Service and Technical 

Assistance, Electric Program, RUS at 

amy.mcwilliams@usda.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy McWilliams, Branch Chief, Policy 

and Outreach Branch, Office of 

Customer Service and Technical 

Assistance, Electric Program, Rural 

Utilities Service, USDA, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 

1560, Room 4121-South, Washington, 

DC 20250–1560, by email at 

amy.mcwilliams@usda.gov, or call (202) 

205–8663. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Awarding Agency Name: 

Rural Utilities Service. 

Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of 

Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for 

Section 313A Guarantees for Bonds and 

Notes Issued for Utility Infrastructure 

Purposes for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. 

Announcement Type: Notice of 

Funding Opportunity. 

Assistance Listing: 10.850. 

Dates: Completed applications must 

be received by RUS no later than 5:00 

p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on December 24, 

2024. 

Rural Development Key Priorities: The 

Agency encourages applicants to 

consider projects that will advance the 

following key priorities (more details 

available at rd.usda.gov/priority-points): 

• Addressing Climate Change and 

Environmental Justice—Reducing 


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climate pollution and increasing 

resilience to the impacts of climate 

change through economic support to 

rural communities. 

• Advancing Racial Justice, PlaceBased Equity, and Opportunity— 

Ensuring all rural residents have 

equitable access to RD programs and 

benefits from RD funded projects. 

• Creating More and Better Market 

Opportunities—Assisting rural 

communities recover economically 

through more and better market 

opportunities and through improved 

infrastructure. 

A. Program Description 

1. Purpose of the Program. The 

purpose of the 313A Program is to 

guarantee loans to selected applicants 

(each referred to as the ‘‘Guaranteed 

Lender’’ in this NOFO). The proceeds of 

the guaranteed loan are to be used (a) to 

make utility infrastructure loans, or (b) 

to refinance bonds or notes issued for 

such purposes to a borrower that has at 

any time received, or is eligible to 

receive, a loan under the Rural 

Electrification Act of 1936, as amended 

(RE Act). Each applicant must provide 

a statement on how it proposes to use 

the proceeds of the guaranteed bonds, 

and the financial benefit it anticipates 

deriving from participating in the 

program pursuant to 7 CFR 1720.6(a)(3), 

or its equivalent in any subsequent 

regulation. Objectives may include, but 

are not limited to the annual savings to 

be realized by the ultimate borrower(s) 

as a result of the applicant’s use of 

lower cost loan funds provided by the 

Federal Financing Bank (FFB) and 

guaranteed by RUS. 

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 

2018 (2018 Farm Bill) modified the 

313A Program by amending the RE Act 

to allow proceeds of guaranteed bonds 

awarded under this NOFO to be used to 

make broadband loans, or to refinance 

broadband loans made to a borrower 

that has received, or is eligible to 

receive, a broadband loan under Title VI 

of the RE Act. 

The 2018 Farm Bill has also modified 

the 313A Program to allow the proceeds 

of guaranteed loans made under this 

NOFO to be used by the Guaranteed 

Lender to fund projects for the 

generation of electricity. 

2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. 

The 313A Program is authorized by 

Section 313A of the Rural Electrification 

Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 940c– 

1), and is implemented by regulations 

located at 7 CFR part 1720. The 

Administrator of RUS (the 

Administrator) has been delegated 

responsibility for administering the 

313A Program. 

3. Definitions. The definitions 

applicable to this NOFO are currently 

published at 7 CFR 1720.3. 

4. Application of Awards. RUS will 

review and evaluate applications 

received in response to this NOFO 

based on the regulations at 7 CFR 

1720.7, and as provided in this NOFO. 

B. Federal Award Information 

Type of Awards: Guaranteed Loans. 

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2025. 

Anticipated Available Funds: 

$900,000,000. Should additional 

funding become available this FY, RUS 

reserves the right to increase the total 

funds available under this notice. 

Award Amounts: RUS anticipates 

making multiple guarantees under this 

NOFO. The number, amount, and terms 

of awards under this NOFO will depend 

in part on the number of eligible 

applications and the amount of funds 

requested and the final amount 

appropriated by Congress. In 

determining whether to make an award, 

RUS will take overall program policy 

objectives into account. 

Anticipated Award Date: Awards will 

be made on or before September 30, 

2025, but no earlier than December 24, 

2024. 

Performance Period: The RE Act 

provides that loans guaranteed under 

this program cannot exceed 30 years in 

length. 

Renewal or Supplemental Awards: N/ 

A. 

Type of Assistance Instrument: The 

type of assistance is in the form of an 

RUS FFB Guaranteed Loan and is 

supported by a perfected lien on 

collateral sufficient to provide for full 

loan security. 

C. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants. To be eligible 

to participate in the 313A Program or 

receive a guarantee, a Guaranteed 

Lender must meet the eligibility criteria 

specified in 7 CFR 1720.5. 

2. Cost Sharing or Matching. There is 

no requirement for cost sharing or 

matching; however, borrowers must 

provide sufficient unencumbered 

collateral to secure loan guarantees 

made under this program. 

3. Other. Applications will only be 

accepted from lenders that serve rural 

areas as defined in 7 CFR 1710.2(a). 

D. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address to Request Application 

Package. All applications must be 

prepared and submitted in accordance 

with this NOFO and 7 CFR part 1720 

(ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/ 

chapter-XVII/part-1720). 

2. Content and Form of Application 

Submission. In addition to the required 

application specified in 7 CFR 1720.6, 

all applicants must submit the following 

additional required documents and 

materials: 

a. Restrictions on Lobbying. 

Applicants must comply with the 

requirements relating to restrictions on 

lobbying activities (See 2 CFR part 418). 

This form is available at gsa.gov/formslibrary/disclosure-lobbying-activities. 

b. Uniform Relocation Act assurance 

statement. Applicants must comply 

with 49 CFR part 24, which implements 

the Uniform Relocation Assistance and 

Real Property Acquisition Policies Act 

of 1970, as amended. (See 7 CFR 

1710.124.) This form (Assurances 

Required by 49 CFR 2.2(a)) is available 

at rd.usda.gov/resources/directives/ 

electric-sample-documents. 

c. Federal debt delinquency 

requirements. This report indicates 

whether the applicants are delinquent 

on any Federal debt (See 7 CFR 

1710.126 and 7 CFR 1710.501(a) (12)). 

This form (the Federal Debt 

Delinquency Certification) is available 

at rd.usda.gov/directives/federal-debtdelinquency-certification. 

d. Form RD 400–4, Assurance 

Agreement. Applicants must submit a 

non-discrimination assurance 

commitment to comply with certain 

regulations on non-discrimination in 

program services and benefits and on 

equal employment opportunity as set 

forth in 7 CFR part 15, 12 CFR part 202, 

7 CFR part 1901 Subpart E, DR 4300– 

003, DR 4330–0300, and DR 4330–005. 

This form is available at rd.usda.gov/ 

directives/compliance-assurance-rdform-400-4-nov-2017. 

e. Articles of Incorporation and 

Bylaws. See 7 CFR 1710.501(b)(1). These 

are required if either document has been 

amended since the last loan application 

was submitted to RUS, or if this is the 

applicant’s first application for a loan 

under the RE Act. 

f. Pro forma financial statements 

including cash flow projections and 

assumptions. Each applicant must 

include five-year pro forma income 

statements, balance sheets and cash 

flow projections or business plans and 

clearly state the assumptions that 

underlie the projections, demonstrating 

that there is reasonable assurance that 

the applicant will be able to repay the 

guaranteed loan in accordance with its 

terms (See 7 CFR 1720.6(a)(4)). 

g. Pending litigation statement. A 

statement from the applicant’s counsel 

listing any pending litigation, including 

levels of related insurance coverage and 

the potential effect on the applicant, 

must be submitted to RUS. 


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3. System for Award Management and 

Unique Entity Identifier. 

a. At the time of application, each 

applicant must have an active 

registration in the System for Award 

Management (SAM) before submitting 

its application in accordance with 2 

CFR part 25 (ecfr.gov/current/title-2/ 

subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25). To register 

in SAM, entities will be required to 

obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). 

Instructions for obtaining the UEI are 

available at sam.gov/content/entityregistration. 

b. Applicant must maintain an active 

SAM registration, with current, accurate 

and complete information, at all times 

during which it has an active Federal 

award or an application under 

consideration by a Federal awarding 

agency. 

c. Applicant must ensure it completes 

the Financial Assistance General 

Certifications and Representations in 

SAM. 

d. Applicant must provide a valid UEI 

in its application, unless determined 

exempt under 2 CFR 25.110. 

e. The Agency will not make an award 

until the applicant has complied with 

all SAM requirements including 

providing the UEI. If an applicant has 

not fully complied with the 

requirements by the time the Agency is 

ready to make an award, the Agency 

may determine that the applicant is not 

qualified to receive a Federal award and 

use that determination as a basis for 

making a Federal award to another 

applicant. 

4. Submission Dates and Times. To be 

considered, applications must be 

submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. 

Eastern Time (ET) on December 24, 

2024. 

5. Funding Restrictions. Funds from 

loans guaranteed under this program 

may only be used in accordance with 

this notice, the program regulations, and 

the RE Act. 

6. Other Submission Requirements. 

Each applicant is required to submit 

such other application documents and 

submissions deemed necessary by the 

Secretary for evaluation of applications. 

E. Application Review Information 

1. Criteria. Each application will be 

reviewed by the Secretary to determine 

whether it is eligible under 7 CFR 

1720.5, the information required under 

7 CFR 1720.6 is complete, and the 

proposed guaranteed bond complies 

with applicable statutes and regulations. 

The Secretary can at any time reject an 

application that fails to meet these 

requirements. 

2. Review and Selection Process. 

Applications will be subject to a 

substantive review, on a competitive 

basis, by the Administrator based upon 

the evaluation factors listed in 7 CFR 

1720.7(b). The Administrator may limit 

the number of guarantees made to a 

maximum of five per year, to ensure a 

sufficient examination is conducted of 

applicant requests. RUS will notify the 

applicant in writing of the 

Administrator’s approval or denial of an 

application. Approvals for guarantees 

will be conditioned upon compliance 

with 7 CFR 1720.4 and 7 CFR 1720.6. 

The Administrator reserves the 

discretion to approve an application for 

an amount that is less than the 

applicant’s request. 

Before an award decision is made by 

the Administrator, the Administrator 

shall request that FFB review the rating 

agency determination required by 7 CFR 

1720.5(b)(2) as to whether the bond or 

note to be issued would receive an 

investment grade rating without regard 

to the guarantee. 

F. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

1. Federal Award Notices. RUS will 

send a commitment letter to an 

applicant once the guaranteed loan has 

been approved. Applicants must accept 

and commit to all terms and conditions 

of the guaranteed loan which are 

requested by RUS and FFB before the 

loan guarantee award can be obligated. 

The requirements under 7 CFR 1720.8 

must be met by the applicant prior to 

the endorsement of a guarantee by the 

Administrator. Each Guaranteed Lender 

will be required to enter into a 

Guarantee Agreement with RUS that 

contains the provisions described in 7 

CFR 1720.8 (Issuance of the Guarantee), 

7 CFR 1720.9 (Guarantee Agreement), 

and 7 CFR 1720.12 (Reporting 

Requirements). The Guarantee 

Agreement will also obligate the 

Guaranteed Lender to pay, on a semiannual basis, a guarantee fee equal to 30 

basis points (0.30 percent) of the 

outstanding principal amount of the 

guaranteed loan (See 7 CFR 1720.10). 

2. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements. Applicants must accept 

and commit to all terms and conditions 

of the guaranteed loan which are 

requested by RUS and FFB as follows: 

a. Compliance conditions. In addition 

to the standard conditions placed on the 

313A Program or conditions requested 

by RUS to ensure loan security and 

statutory compliance, applicants must 

comply with the following conditions: 

(1) Each Guaranteed Lender selected 

under the 313A Program will be 

required to post collateral for the benefit 

of RUS in an amount at least equal to 

the aggregate amount of loan advances 

made to the Guaranteed Lender under 

the 313A Program. 

(2) The pledged collateral (the 

Pledged Collateral) shall consist of 

outstanding notes or bonds payable to 

the Guaranteed Lender (the Eligible 

Instruments) and shall be placed on 

deposit with a collateral agent for the 

benefit of RUS. To be deemed Eligible 

Instruments that can be pledged as 

collateral, the notes or bonds to be 

pledged (i) cannot be classified as nonperforming, impaired, or restructured 

under generally accepted accounting 

principles; special mention loans as 

defined by the Office of the Comptroller 

of the Currency; or any other elevated 

risk categories used by the Guaranteed 

Lender, (ii) must be free and clear of all 

liens other than the lien created for the 

benefit of RUS, (iii) cannot be 

comprised of more than 30 percent of 

bonds or notes from generation and 

transmission borrowers, (iv) cannot 

have more than 5 percent of bonds and 

notes be from any one particular 

borrower and (v) cannot be unsecured 

notes. 

(3) The Guaranteed Lender will be 

required to place a lien on the Pledged 

Collateral in favor of RUS (as secured 

party) at the time that the Pledged 

Collateral is deposited with the 

collateral agent. RUS will have the right, 

in its sole discretion, within 14 business 

days of the Guaranteed Lender’s written 

request to pledge Pledged Collateral, to 

reject any of the Pledged Instruments 

and require the Guaranteed Lender to 

substitute other Pledged Instruments as 

collateral with the collateral agent. Prior 

to receiving any advances under the 

313A Program, the Guaranteed Lender 

will be required to enter into a pledge 

agreement, satisfactory to RUS, with a 

banking institution serving as collateral 

agent. 

(4) The Guaranteed Lender will be 

required to agree not to take any action 

that would have the effect of reducing 

the value of the pledged collateral below 

the level described above. 

(5) Applicants must certify to the 

RUS, the portion of their loan portfolio 

that is: 

i. Refinanced RUS debt; 

ii. Debt of borrowers for whom both 

RUS and the applicants have 

outstanding loans; and 

iii. Debt of borrowers for whom both 

RUS and the applicant have outstanding 

concurrent loans pursuant to Section 

307 of the RE Act, and the amount of 

Eligible Loans. 

b. Schedule of Loan Repayment: The 

amortization method for the repayment 

of the guaranteed loan shall be repaid by 

the Guaranteed Lender: (i) in periodic 

installments of principal and interest, 


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(ii) in periodic installments of interest 

and, at the end of the term of the bond 

or note, as applicable, by the repayment 

of the outstanding principal, or (iii) 

through a combination of the methods 

described in (i) and (ii) above. The 

amortization method will be agreed to 

by RUS and the Guaranteed Lender. 

c. Geospatial Data. Awardee, and any 

and all contracts entered into by the 

awardee with respect to the award, shall 

ensure that geospatial data required to 

be collected and provided to the agency, 

conforms with the requirements of 

USDA Department Regulation DR– 

3465–001 and the Geospatial Metadata 

Standards set forth in DM 3465–001, 

which can be obtained online at https:// 

www.usda.gov/directives/dr-3465-001. 

3. Compliance with Federal Laws. 

Applicants must comply with all 

applicable Federal laws and regulations. 

a. The loan guarantee will be subject 

to the provisions contained in the 

appropriations act for FY 2025, once 

enacted by Congress. Prior 

appropriations acts have included 

prohibitions against RUS making 

awards to applicants having corporate 

felony convictions within the past 24 

months or to applicants having 

corporate federal tax delinquencies. It is 

possible that such provisions will be 

included in the appropriations act for 

FY 2025. 

b. An authorized official within your 

organization must execute, date, and 

return the loan commitment letter to 

RUS within 14 calendar days from the 

date of the letter, otherwise the 

commitment will be voided. 

4. Reporting. Guaranteed Lenders are 

required to comply with the financial 

reporting requirements and Pledged 

Collateral review and certification 

requirements set forth in 7 CFR 1720.12. 

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 

For general questions about this 

announcement, please contact the 

USDA Rural Development contact 

provided in the ADDRESSES section of 

this notice. 

H. Other Information 

1. Paperwork Reduction Act. Under 

the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 

3501 et seq.), OMB must approve all 

‘‘collection of information’’ as a 

requirement for ‘‘answers to identical 

questions posed to, or identical 

reporting or recordkeeping requirements 

imposed on, ten or more persons’’ (44 

U.S.C. 3502(3)(A)). RUS has concluded 

that the reporting requirements 

contained in this funding 

announcement will involve fewer than 

10 persons and do not require approval 

under the provisions of the Act. 

2. National Environmental Policy Act. 

In accordance with 7 CFR 1970.53(a)(7), 

any proceeds to be used to refinance 

bonds or notes previously issued by the 

Guaranteed Lender for RE Act purposes 

are classified as categorical exclusions. 

However, for any new projects using 

313A Program funds, applicants must 

consult with RUS and comply with the 

Agency regulations at 7 CFR part 1970. 

3. Federal Funding Accountability 

and Transparency Act. All applicants, 

in accordance with 2 CFR part 25 

(ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-25), must 

be registered in SAM and have an UEI 

number as stated in Section D.3 of this 

notice. All recipients of Federal 

financial assistance are required to 

report information about first-tier subawards and executive total 

compensation in accordance with 2 CFR 

part 170 (ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part170). 

4. Civil Rights Act. RD has reviewed 

this NOFO in accordance with USDA 

Regulation 4300–4, Civil Rights Impact 

Analysis,’’ to identify any major civil 

rights impacts the NOFO might have on 

program participants on the basis of age, 

race, color, national origin, sex, 

disability, gender identity (including 

gender expression), genetic information, 

political beliefs, sexual orientation, 

marital status, familial status, parental 

status, veteran status, religion, reprisal 

and/or resulting from all or a part of an 

individual’s income being derived from 

any public assistance program. This 

NOFO is within a Guarantee-based 

program. Guarantees are not covered 

under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 

1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation 

Act of 1973, and Title IX of the 

Education Amendments Act of 1972, as 

amended, when the Federal assistance 

does not include insurance or interest 

credit loans. Lenders must comply with 

other applicable Federal laws, including 

Equal Employment Opportunities, the 

Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair 

Housing Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 

1964. Guaranteed loans that involve the 

construction of or addition to facilities 

that accommodate the public must 

comply with the Architectural Barriers 

Act Accessibility Standard. The 

borrower and lender are responsible for 

ensuring compliance with these 

requirements. 

5. Equal Opportunity for Religious 

Organizations. 

a. Faith-based organizations may 

apply for this award on the same basis 

as any other organization, as set forth at, 

and subject to the protections and 

requirements of, this part and any 

applicable constitutional and statutory 

requirements. USDA will not, in the 

selection of recipients, discriminate for 

or against an organization on the basis 

of the organization’s religious character, 

motives, or affiliation, or lack thereof, or 

on the basis of conduct that would not 

be considered grounds to favor or 

disfavor a similarly situated secular 

organization. 

b. A faith-based organization that 

participates in this program will retain 

its independence from the Government 

and may continue to carry out its 

mission consistent with religious 

freedom and conscience protections in 

Federal law. Religious accommodations 

may also be sought under many of these 

religious freedom and conscience 

protection laws. 

c. A faith-based organization may not 

use direct Federal financial assistance 

from USDA to support or engage in any 

explicitly religious activities except 

when consistent with the Establishment 

Clause of the First Amendment and any 

other applicable requirements. An 

organization receiving Federal financial 

assistance also may not, in providing 

services funded by USDA, or in their 

outreach activities related to such 

services, discriminate against a program 

beneficiary or prospective program 

beneficiary on the basis of religion, a 

religious belief, a refusal to hold a 

religious belief, or a refusal to attend or 

participate in a religious practice. 

6. Nondiscrimination Statement. In 

accordance with Federal civil rights 

laws and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its 

Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, 

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. 

Program information may be made 

available in languages other than 

English. Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means of 

communication to obtain program 

information (e.g., Braille, large print, 

audiotape, American Sign Language) 

should contact the responsible Mission 

Area, agency, or staff office; or the 711 

Relay Service. 

To file a program discrimination 

complaint, a complainant should 

complete a Form AD–3027, USDA 


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Program Discrimination Complaint 

Form, which can be obtained online at 

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/ 

files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any 

USDA office, by calling (866) 632–9992, 

or by writing a letter addressed to 

USDA. The letter must contain the 

complainant’s name, address, telephone 

number, and a written description of the 

alleged discriminatory action in 

sufficient detail to inform the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about 

the nature and date of an alleged civil 

rights violation. 

The completed AD–3027 form or 

letter must be submitted 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; or 

(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690– 

7442; or 

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

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender. 

Andrew Berke, 

Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, USDA 

Rural Development. 

[FR Doc. 2024–24930 Filed 10–24–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Notice of Public Meeting of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands Advisory Committee 

to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights 

AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil 

Rights. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: 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, that 

the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands Advisory Committee 

(Committee) to the U.S. Commission on 

Civil Rights will hold a public meeting 

via Zoom at 9:30 a.m. ChST on Friday, 

November 8, 2024 (6:30 p.m. ET on 

Thursday, November 7, 2024). The 

purpose of this meeting is to discuss the 

Committee’s report on the topic, Access 

to Adequate Health Care for 

Incarcerated Individuals in the CNMI 

Judicial System. 

DATES: Friday, November 8, 2024, 9:30 

a.m.–11:00 a.m. Chamorro Standard 

Time (Thursday, November 7, 2024, 

6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Eastern Time). 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held 

via Zoom Webinar. 

Registration Link (Audio/Visual): 

https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/ 

register/WN_Pw4d_tpJSCKiIDzZIp2bjQ. 

Join by Phone (Audio Only): (833) 

435–1820 USA Toll-Free; Meeting ID: 

160 183 6370. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kayla Fajota, Designated Federal 

Officer, at kfajota@usccr.gov or (434) 

515–2395. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

committee meeting is available to the 

public through the registration link 

above. Any interested member of the 

public may listen to the meeting. An 

open comment period will be provided 

to allow members of the public to make 

a statement as time allows. Per the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, public 

minutes of the meeting will include a 

list of persons who are present at the 

meeting. If joining via phone, callers can 

expect to incur regular charges for calls 

they initiate over wireless lines, 

according to their wireless plan. The 

Commission will not refund any 

incurred charges. Callers will incur no 

charge for calls they initiate over landline connections to the toll-free 

telephone number. Closed captioning 

will be available for individuals who are 

deaf, hard of hearing, or who have 

certain cognitive or learning 

impairments. To request additional 

accommodations, please email Liliana 

Schiller, Support Services Specialist, at 

lschiller@usccr.gov at least 10 business 

days prior to the meeting. 

Members of the public are entitled to 

submit written comments; the 

comments must be received in the 

regional office within 30 days following 

the meeting. Written comments may be 

emailed to Kayla Fajota at kfajota@

usccr.gov. Persons who desire 

additional information may contact the 

Regional Programs Coordination Unit at 

(434) 515–2395. 

Records generated from this meeting 

may be inspected and reproduced at the 

Regional Programs Coordination Unit 

Office, as they become available, both 

before and after the meeting. Records of 

the meetings will be available via the 

file sharing website, www.box.com. 

Persons interested in the work of this 

Committee are directed to the 

Commission’s website, http://

www.usccr.gov, or may contact the 

Regional Programs Coordination Unit at 

the above phone number. 

Agenda 

I. Welcome & Roll Call 

II. Approval of Minutes 

III. Committee Discussion: Report 

Findings 

IV. Public Comment 

V. Next Steps 

VI. Adjournment 

Dated: October 22, 2024. 

David Mussatt, 

Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit. 

[FR Doc. 2024–24887 Filed 10–24–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6335–01–P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Notice of Public Meeting of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands Advisory Committee 

to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights 

AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil 

Rights 

ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting 

SUMMARY: 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, that 

the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands Advisory Committee 

(Committee) to the U.S. Commission on 

Civil Rights will hold a public meeting 

via Zoom at 9:30 a.m. ChST on 

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 (6:30 

p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 3, 2024). 

The purpose of this meeting is to 

discuss the Committee’s report on the 

topic, Access to Adequate Health Care 

for Incarcerated Individuals in the 

CNMI Judicial System. 

DATES: Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 

9:30 a.m.–11 a.m. Chamorro Standard 

Time (Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 6:30 

p.m.–8 p.m. Eastern Time) 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held 

via Zoom Webinar. 

Registration Link (Audio/Visual): 

https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/ 

register/WN_

D0I8XhnpR2yxW02ouY48YA. 

Join by Phone (Audio Only): (833) 

435–1820 USA Toll-Free; Meeting ID: 

160 106 3153. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kayla Fajota, Designated Federal 

Officer, at kfajota@usccr.gov or (434) 

515–2395. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

committee meeting is available to the 

public through the registration link 

above. Any interested member of the 

public may listen to the meeting. An 

open comment period will be provided 

to allow members of the public to make 

a statement as time allows. Per the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, public 

minutes of the meeting will include a 

list of persons who are present at the 

meeting. If joining via phone, callers can 

expect to incur regular charges for calls 

they initiate over wireless lines, 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1