Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/09/30/03-24727/office-of-energy-policy-and-new-uses-biodiesel-fuel-education-program-administrative-provisions
Timestamp: 2017-09-26 11:24:14
Document Index: 367237580

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3015', 'art 2903', 'art 3019', 'art 3052', 'art 15', 'art 401']

Federal Register :: Office of Energy Policy and New Uses; Biodiesel Fuel Education Program-Administrative Provisions
Office of Energy Policy and New Uses; Biodiesel Fuel Education Program-Administrative Provisions
A Rule by the Agriculture Department on 09/30/2003
56137-56143 (7 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/03-24727 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/03-24727
The Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU) adds new regulations for the purpose of administering the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program conducted under the authority of section 9004 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. This action establishes and codifies the administrative procedures to be followed in the solicitation of competitive proposals, the evaluation of such proposals, and the award and administration of grants under this Program.
Effective Date: This rule is effective September 30, 2003.
On July 15, 2003, the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU) published a Proposed Rule (68 FR 41751, July 15, 2003) to provide administrative provisions for the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. In the Proposed Rule, OEPNU invited comments, which were due by August 14, 2003. The Agency did not receive any comments. No public meetings were requested or held. Therefore, the text in the Final Rule substantively is unchanged from the text proposed on July 15, 2003. OEPNU did make three minor grammatical or stylistic changes, corrected a reference to this part in section 2903.15, and removed specific references to 7 CFR part 3015, since those regulations have been proposed for removal (68 FR 41947, July 16, 2003). Even without those specific references, the Final Rule clearly reminds the public that this program is subject to all applicable USDA regulations.
The Biodiesel Fuel Education Program was authorized in Sec. 9004 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (“2002 Farm Bill”) (7 U.S.C. 8104). This Final Rule describes the policies and procedures OEPNU will apply to the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. These policies are consistent with those used by other USDA agencies, particularly the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). The rules are consistent with the basic parameters by which most Federal agencies operate competitive grants programs and will be revised as needed to conform with Federal streamlining efforts.
Section 9004 of the 2002 Farm Bill (7 U.S.C. 8104) requires that the Secretary make competitive grants to eligible entities to educate governmental and private entities that operate vehicle fleets, other interested entities (as determined by the Secretary), and the public about the benefits of biodiesel fuel use. In the Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of Conference accompanying the 2002 Farm Bill, the Managers encouraged the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize the expertise of OEPNU in carrying out the purposes of this section. The Secretary delegated this authority to the Chief Economist, who is implementing this authority through OEPNU. The USDA Farm Bill Implementation Task Force acknowledged that OEPNU would provide technical oversight for the Program and utilize the services of CSREES in administering the Program.
The committee has recommended guidelines for the Program, which are included in the Notice of Request for Applications published on July 15, 2003 (68 FR 41770). The closing date for receiving applications was August 14, 2003. Qualified applications that responded to the Request for Applications will be reviewed by the Oversight Committee. and the Committee will recommend awards. OEPNU plans to award one or two continuation grants in FY 2003. Awards made pursuant to the Request for Applications for the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program will be made in accordance with this Final Rule. Start Printed Page 56138
In designing the Request for Applications for the Program, committee members relied on their past experiences with biodiesel education and outreach. For over a decade, USDA has been involved in biodiesel outreach programs. USDA's Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU) coordinates activities related to biodiesel and other renewable fuels for the Department. Since 1993, OEPNU has been involved with producer and consumer stakeholder groups interested in developing a biodiesel industry in the United States. One of the Department's first efforts to bring biodiesel stakeholders together took place in September 1995 when OEPNU and the Department of Energy organized a stakeholder meeting in Washington, DC. The purpose of the meeting was to develop a life cycle inventory of biodiesel. This life cycle inventory furthered knowledge about the benefits of biodiesel. Several groups were represented at the meeting, including biodiesel producers, the oilseed processing industry, the rendering industry, engine manufacturers, state and local governments, and environmental groups.
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) leads the Department's efforts on biodiesel research and demonstration. Since the summer of 1999, the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) has been conducting a biodiesel demonstration project that has become a working model for others interested in using biodiesel. All of the Center's 150 pieces of diesel equipment and trucks were converted to a fuel blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel (B20). Vehicles from BARC that run on biodiesel and educational materials have been displayed and distributed throughout the country. In January 2000, ARS conducted a workshop to highlight the BARC biodiesel demonstration project. The workshop's 75 attendees represented a broad range of potential users, including Federal Agencies, such as the Departments of Energy, Defense, and the Interior, and the U.S. Postal Service. Officials from nearby cities, counties, and states were also in attendance, as well as private industry groups, farmers and biodiesel suppliers. The biodiesel demonstration project has been highlighted at the BARC Public Day, an annual event that provides an opportunity for ARS scientists to describe their research projects to the public.
The Program will fund Biodiesel Fuel Education Program grants in each of FYs 2003 through 2007. Because of the scope of this Program and the limited funds available to support it, OEPNU plans to award one or two continuation grants in FY 2003. A continuation grant is a grant instrument by which the Department agrees to support a specified level of effort for a predetermined project period with a statement of intention to provide additional support at a future date, provided that performance has been satisfactory, appropriations are available for this purpose, and continued support would be in the best interest of the Federal government and the public. If these three elements are met, OEPNU plans to provide additional support to the funded projects in each of FYs 2004 through 2007.
The Final Rule is divided into subparts. Subpart A contains general information about the Program prescribed by the authorizing legislation, including the purpose of the Program and eligibility restrictions established by the legislation. Subpart A limits indirect costs to the rate that an applicant has negotiated with the cognizant Federal negotiating agency, and explains that there are no matching funds requirements for the Program. Subpart B describes the continuation grant instrument that OEPNU plans to use and outlines objectives for projects funded by the Program. Subpart C provides information about the publication of program announcements, instructs applicants regarding the minimum content requirements for applications, and directs them to the program announcement for specific instructions regarding application requirements and the order of application contents. Subpart C also lists the application submission information that will appear in program announcements and describes the process for acknowledging the receipt of Start Printed Page 56139applications. In Subpart D of the rule, the process for selecting reviewers is described, and the evaluation criteria applied to applications are enumerated. Subpart D also contains a discussion of the measures employed by OEPNU to protect against conflicts of interest and safeguard applicant and reviewer confidentiality. General award administration guidelines are outlined in Subpart E. Subpart E also delineates the one-time requirement that applicants submit organizational management information and lists the minimum contents of the award document. The last subpart of the rule, Section F, includes supplementary information. This subpart tells grantees how they can obtain review information, what uses of funds and changes to projects are permissible, where they can find instructions about reporting requirements, and other Federal statutes and regulations that apply to the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. It describes the process for handling confidential aspects of applications and awards and defines terms that are used elsewhere in the rule.
USDA certifies that this rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities as defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Public Law 96-354, as amended (5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) because it is a Federal assistance program, not a regulatory regime, and awards will be made to fewer than ten entities.
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. In accordance with that Executive Order: (1) All State and local laws and regulations that are in conflict with this rule will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this rule; and (3) no administrative proceedings are required before bringing any judicial action regarding this rule.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses amends title 7, subtitle B, chapter XXIX, of the Code of Federal Regulations by adding part 2903 to read as follows:
Confidential aspects of applications and awards. Start Printed Page 56140
(a) The regulations of this part only apply to Biodiesel Fuel Education Program grants awarded under the provisions of section 9004 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) (7 U.S.C. 8104) which authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible entities to educate governmental and private entities that operate vehicle fleets, other interested entities (as determined by the Secretary), and the public about the benefits of biodiesel fuel use. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education (as defined in sec. 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that have demonstrated both knowledge of biodiesel fuel production, use, or distribution and the ability to conduct educational and technical support programs. The Secretary delegated this authority to the Chief Economist, who in turn delegated this authority to the Director of OEPNU.
OEPNU will publish periodic program announcements to notify potential applicants of the availability of funds for competitive continuation grants. The program announcement will provide information about obtaining program application materials.
The receipt of all applications will be acknowledged. Applicants who do not receive an acknowledgment within 60 days of the submission deadline should contact the program contact indicated Start Printed Page 56141on the program announcement. Once the application has been assigned a proposal number, that number should be cited on all future correspondence.
Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in this part. The date specified by the ADO as the effective date of the grant shall be no later than September 30 of the Federal fiscal year in which the project is approved for support and funds are appropriated for such purpose, unless otherwise permitted by law. It should be noted that the project need not be initiated on the grant effective date, but as soon thereafter as practical so that project goals may be attained within the funded project period. All funds granted by OEPNU under this program shall be expended solely for the purpose for which the funds are granted in accordance with the approved application and budget, the regulations of this part, the terms and conditions of the award, the applicable Federal cost principles, and the applicable Department assistance regulations (including part 3019 of this title).
(2) Title of project; Start Printed Page 56142
7 CFR Part 3052—USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-profit Organizations. 29 U.S.C. 794 (sec. 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973) and 7 CFR part 15b (USDA implementation of statute)—prohibiting discrimination based upon physical or mental handicap in Federally assisted programs. 35 U.S.C. 200 et seq.—Bayh-Dole Act, controlling allocation of rights to inventions made by employees of small business firms and domestic nonprofit organizations, including universities, in Federally assisted programs (implementing regulations are contained in 37 CFR part 401).
Authorized organizational representative or AOR means the president or chief executive officer of the applicant organization or the official, designated by the president or chief executive officer of the applicant organization, who has the authority to commit the resources of the organization. Start Printed Page 56143
Institution of higher education, as defined in sec. 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), means an educational institution in any State that:
[FR Doc. 03-24727 Filed 9-29-03; 8:45 am]