Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2017; Correction, 85924-85926 [2016-28737]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85924-85926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28737]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Rural Energy for 
America Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2017; Correction

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; correction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (the Agency) published 
a notice in the Federal Register of October 18, 2016, announcing the 
acceptance of applications for funds available under the Rural Energy 
for America Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. The 2014 Farm 
Bill provides funding for the program for FY 2017. This notice provides 
corrections to: Section III. Eligibility Information, subsection D. 
Cost Sharing or Matching, paragraph (2) to indicate that applicants 
that have been previously been awarded energy audit or renewable energy 
development assistance grants and have not expended 50 percent of those 
funds are considered a ``risk'' pursuant to 2 CFR 200.205; Section V. 
Application Review Information, subsection (B) Review and Selection 
Process, paragraphs (1)(a) through (d), and paragraph (3)

[[Page 85925]]

application window closing dates of May 1, 2017 are being modified to 
March 31, 2017; Section V. Application Review Information, subsection 
C. State Director and Administrator Points, paragraph (1)(b)is 
replacing ``will'' with ``may'' to indicate that the awarding of State 
Director and Administrator points is at the discretion of the State 
Director or Administrator and to remove the last sentence of 
subparagraph (b) because the Agency will use information provided in 
the application verses a certification; and Section VIII. Other 
Information, subsection B. Nondiscrimination Statement is being 
updated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this Notice, 
please contact Maureen Hessel, Business Loan and Grant Analyst, USDA 
Rural Development, Energy Division, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 
3225, Room 6870, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 401-0142. 
Email: maureen.hessel@wdc.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice makes certain corrections to the 
original Notice published on October 18, 2016 at 81 Federal Register 
71689. Unfortunately, the October 18, 2016 Notice did not reflect all 
of the changes made in clearance. This Notice captures the omitted 
changes. In FR Doc. 2016-25163 of October 18, 2016 (81 FR 71689), make 
the following corrections:

Summary of Changes

    1. In the first column on page 71691, Section III. Eligibility 
Information, Subsection D. Cost Sharing or Matching, paragraph (2), the 
last sentence which continues into the second column is replaced with 
the following text:
    An applicant who has received one or more grants under this program 
must have a satisfactory history of performance which, as it relates to 
the expenditure of grant funds, the Agency interprets as the 
expenditure of 50 percent or more of the previously awarded grants by 
January 31, 2017. Those who cannot meet this requirement will be 
determined to be a ``risk'' pursuant to 2 CFR 200.205 and may be denied 
a subsequent grant or have special conditions imposed.
    2. In the first column on page 71694, under Section V. Application 
Review Information, subsection B. Review and Selection Process, 
subparagraph (1)(a) is being revised to read as follows:
    (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 October 31, 2016, or March 
31, 2017, 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, 2016, 
and approximately 50 percent of the funds for those complete 
applications the Agency receives by March 31, 2017. All unused State 
allocated funds for grants of $20,000 or less will be pooled to the 
National Office.
    3. In the first column on page 71694, under Section V. Application 
Review Information, subsection B. Review and Selection Process, 
subparagraph (1)(b) the first sentence is being revised to read as 
follows:
    Eligible applications received by March 31, 2017, 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.
    4. In the first column on page 71694, under Section V. Application 
Review Information, subsection B. Review and Selection Process, 
subparagraph (1)(c) the first sentence is revised to read as follows:
    Eligible applications for renewable energy system and energy 
efficiency improvements, regardless of the amount of the funding 
request, received by March 31, 2017, can compete for unrestricted grant 
funds.
    5. In the first column on page 71694, under Section V. Application 
Review Information, subsection B. Review and Selection Process, 
subparagraph (1)(d) is being revised to read as follows:
    (d) National unrestricted grant funds for all eligible renewable 
energy system and energy efficiency improvements grant applications 
received by March 31, 2017, 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.
    6. In the second column on page 71694, under Section V. Application 
Review Information, subsection B. Review and Selection Process, 
paragraph (3), the last sentence is revised to read as follows:
    All unfunded eligible applications for combined grant and 
guaranteed loan applications that are received by March 31, 2017, and 
that are not funded by 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.
    7. In the third column on page 71694, under Section V. Application 
Review Information, subsection C. State Director and Administrator 
Points, is revised to read as follows:
    The State Director and the Administrator may take into 
consideration paragraphs V.C.(1) and (2) below in the awarding of 
points for eligible renewable energy systems and energy efficiency 
improvement grant applications submitted in Federal FY 2017:
    8. In the third column on page 71694, under Section V. Application 
Review Information, subsection C. State Director and Administrator 
Points, subparagraph (1)(b) is revised to read as follows:
    Owned by a member of a socially-disadvantaged 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.
    9. In the first column on page 71696, under Section VIII. Other 
Information, subsection B. Nondiscrimination Statement is revised to 
read as follows:
    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights 
regulations and policies, 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 https://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or 
write a letter addressed to USDA providing all of the information 
requested in the form. To request a copy

[[Page 85926]]

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: November 18, 2016.
Samuel H. Rikkers,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-28737 Filed 11-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P