[Federal Register: March 12, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 48)]

[Notices]               

[Page 11841]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr12mr10-25]                         



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE



Rural Business-Cooperative Service



 

Repowering Assistance Program



AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), USDA.



ACTION: Notice of funds availability (NOFA); new application window.



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SUMMARY: RBS is announcing a new application window to submit 

applications for the Repowering Assistance Program under criteria 

established in the prior NOFA, which was published in this publication 

on June 12, 2009 (74 FR 28009). All payments will be made based upon 

the terms and conditions provided in the prior NOFA, which authorized 

$20 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. This notice announces the 

availability of the remaining FY 2009 funds that were not requested 

under the previous NOFA.



DATES: Applications for participating in this program must be received 

by June 15, 2010.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on this 

payment program, please contact USDA, Rural Development--Energy 

Division, Program Branch, Attention: Repowering Assistance Program, 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 3225, Washington, DC 20250-3225. 

Telephone: 202-720-1400.



SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 12, 2009, RBS published a Notice of 

Funds Availability (NOFA) and Solicitation of Applications in the 

Federal Register announcing general policy and application procedures 

for the Repowering Assistance Program. Not all this funding was used 

and the remaining FY 2009 funding is available to make payments to 

eligible biorefineries to encourage the use of renewable biomass as a 

replacement fuel source for fossil fuels used to provide process heat 

or power in the operation of these eligible biorefineries. This Notice 

is for a one-time application window for remaining FY 2009 funds.



Paperwork Reduction Act



    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), the paperwork 

burden associated with this Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) has 

been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB 

Control Number 0570-0058.

    The PRA burden associated with the original FY 2009 Notice was 

approved by OMB under emergency conditions, with an opportunity to 

comment on the burden associated with the program, and was intended to 

be a one-time approval. Since the emergency approval of the original FY 

2009 Notice for this program, the Agency has resubmitted the PRA 

package to OMB and received regular approval. Applications and 

accompanying materials required under this Notice will be covered under 

the regular PRA package.

    Since the publication of the FY 2009 Notice, the Agency has not 

received a sufficient number of qualified applications to allocate all 

of the FY 2009 authorized funds. Therefore, the Agency is opening a new 

application window to accept additional applications for the remaining 

FY 2009 funds for this program.

    Biorefineries seeking funding under this program have to submit 

applications that include specified information, certifications, and 

agreements. Forms specific to the Repowering Assistance Program 

approved under OMB Control Number 0570-0058 are: (1) Form RD 9004-1, 

``Repowering Assistance Program Application,'' and (2) Form RD 9004-2, 

``Repowering Assistance Program Agreement.'' All of the forms, 

information, certifications, and agreements required to apply for this 

program under this Notice have been authorized under the emergency 

request and approved under OMB Control Number 0570-0058.



Nondiscrimination Statement



    USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on 

the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where 

applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, 

religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, 

reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived 

from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means 

for communication of program information (Braille, large print, 

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 

(voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, 

Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 

720-6382 (TDD). ``USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and 

lender.''



    Dated: March 8, 2010.

Judith A. Canales,

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

[FR Doc. 2010-5378 Filed 3-11-10; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P