Announcement of Disaster Assistance Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels, 46137-46141 [2018-19784]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2018 / Notices
Dated: September 7, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–19827 Filed 9–11–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
September 7, 2018.
The Department of Agriculture has
submitted the following information
collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments are
requested regarding (1) whether the
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of burden including
the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to
respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments regarding this information
collection received by October 12, 2018
will be considered. Written comments
should be addressed to: Desk Officer for
Agriculture, Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), New
Executive Office Building, 725–17th
Street NW, Washington, DC 20502.
Commenters are encouraged to submit
their comments to OMB via email to:
OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or
fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail
Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250–
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may
be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
person are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:41 Sep 11, 2018
Jkt 244001
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Title: Request to Change FEHB
Enrollment or to Receive Plan Brochures
for Spouse Equity/Temporary
Continuation of Coverage Enrollees/
Direct Pay Annuitants (DPRS 2809).
OMB Control Number: 0505–0024.
Summary of Collection: Title 5, U.S.
Code, Chapter 89, sections 8905 and
8905a specifies the opportunities and
conditions under which a retiree,
survivor annuitant, separated employee,
former spouse or former dependent
child of a retiree, employee, or
separated employee is eligible to change
enrollment in the Federal Employees
Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. DPRS–
2809 is completed by the enrollee to
make an open season enrollment
change.
Need and Use of the Information: The
DPRS–2809 is administered by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s National
Finance Center (NFC) for use by
separated employees or former spouses
and former dependent children of active
or separated employees. NFC
determines whether all conditions
permitting change in enrollment are met
and implements the enrollment change.
NFC also informs the FEHB carriers of
the action. If this information were not
collected, NFC could not comply with
the provisions of title 5, U.S. Code,
Chapter 89.
Description of Respondents:
Individuals.
Number of Respondents: 25,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
Other (One time).
Total Burden Hours: 18,750.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018–19820 Filed 9–11–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–KS–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Announcement of Disaster Assistance
Grant Application Deadlines and
Funding Levels
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice of funds availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
As part of the Bipartisan
Budget Act of 2018, Public Law 115–
123, dated February 9, 2018, the Rural
Utilities Service’s Water and
Environmental Programs (WEP)
received $165,475,000 in supplemental
grant funding of which $163,475,000 is
available for repairs to drinking water
systems and sewer and solid waste
disposal systems impacted by
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
46137
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
States impacted include: Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and the
territories of Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands.
Unless otherwise specified in
this Notice, applications will be
accepted on a continual basis until
funds are exhausted.
DATES:
Entities wishing to apply for
assistance, or that are in need of further
information, should contact the USDA
Rural Development State Office in the
State where the project is located. A list
of the USDA Rural Development State
Offices addresses and telephone
numbers is as follows:
ADDRESSES:
Note: Telephone numbers are not toll-free.
Florida/Virgin Islands
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4440
NW 25th Place, P.O. Box 147010,
Gainesville, FL 32614–7010, (352) 338–
3400/TDD (352) 338–3499.
Georgia
USDA Rural Development State Office,
Stephens Federal Building, 355 E Hancock
Avenue, Athens, GA 30601–2768, (706)
546–2162/TDD (706) 546–2034.
South Carolina
USDA Rural Development State Office, Strom
Thurmond Federal Building, 1835
Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC
29201, (803) 765–5163/TDD (803) 765–
5697.
Texas
USDA Rural Development State Office,
Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South
Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742–9700/
TDD (254) 742–9712.
Puerto Rico
USDA Rural Development State Office, IBM
Building, Suite 601, 654 Munos Rivera
Avenue, San Juan, PR 00918–6106, (787)
766–5095/TDD (787) 766–5332.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Main point of contact: Derek Jones,
Community Programs Specialist, Water
and Environmental Programs, Rural
Utilities Service, Rural Development,
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Phone: (202) 720–9640.
Fax: (202) 690–0649.
Email: derek.jones@wdc.usda.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the information
collection requirements associated with
the Program, as covered in this Notice,
have been approved by the Office of
Management Budget (OMB) under OMB
Control Number 0572–0121.
E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM
12SEN1
46138
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2018 / Notices
Overview
Federal Agency Name: Rural Utilities
Service (‘‘RUS,’’ an Agency of USDA in
the Rural Development mission area).
Solicitation Opportunity Title:
Announcement of Disaster Assistance
Grant Application Deadlines and
Funding Levels.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funds
Availability.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: The CFDA
number for this Notice is 10.760.
Dates: Unless otherwise specified in
this Notice, applications will be
accepted on a continual basis until
funds are exhausted.
A. Program Description
This program is designed to provide
supplemental grant funding for repairs
to drinking water systems and sewer
and solid waste disposal systems
impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma,
and Maria in the states of Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and the
territories of Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands.
Details on eligible applicants and
projects may be found in the relevant
regulations listed in Section B,
Eligibility Information below.
The applicable Statutory or
Regulatory authority for this action
includes:
• Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018,
Public Law 115–123, Rural Utilities
Service Rural Water and Waste Disposal
Program Account.
• 2 CFR parts 200 and 400, uniform
Federal grant awards regulations.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
B. Federal Award Description—Disaster
Assistance Grants
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018,
Public Law 115–123, dated February 9,
2018, enables USDA Rural Development
to provide: WEP $165,475,000 in
supplemental grant funding of which
$163,475,000 is available for repairs to
drinking water systems and sewer and
solid waste disposal systems impacted
by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria
in the states of Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina, Texas, and the territories of
Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Applicant eligibility. An eligible
Applicant must:
(i) Be either a Public Body, a
Nonprofit Corporation, or an Indian
tribe.
(ii) Be eligible to receive a Federal
loan or grant under Federal law.
(iii) Certify in writing, and the Agency
shall determine and document, that (1)
the Applicant is unable to finance the
proposed project from their own
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:41 Sep 11, 2018
Jkt 244001
resources or through commercial credit
at reasonable rates and terms, or as
applicable, (2) the applicant made
repairs by utilizing their own resources
or by obtaining commercial credit and
as a result is experiencing financial
hardship that is impacting its operations
and its customers.
(iv) Have the legal authority necessary
for owning, constructing, operating, and
maintaining the facility or service to be
repaired or replaced and for obtaining
security for the proposed grant. The
Applicant shall be responsible for
operating, maintaining, and managing
the facility, and providing for its
continued availability and use at
reasonable user rates and charges. The
Applicant shall retain this responsibility
even though the facility may be
operated, maintained, or managed by a
third party under contract or
management agreement. Applicants
must submit evidence of legal authority
before grant approval/obligation
(v) Demonstrate that they possess the
technical, managerial, and financial
capability necessary to consistently
comply with pertinent Federal and State
laws and requirements.
(vi) Be current on the repayment of all
debts at the time they are due.
2. Eligible facilities. An eligible
facility must serve a rural area. The term
rural or rural area means a city, town,
or unincorporated area that has a
population of no more than 50,000 in
habitants. Projects funded by the
Agency may be located in non-rural
areas. However, grant funds may be
used to repair only that portion of the
facility serving and benefiting rural
areas, regardless of project location, that
has a population up to 50,000.
3. State nonmetropolitan median
household income (MHI) according to
the American Community Survey (ACS)
five-year data (2006–2010). An income
survey may also be conducted to
determine rural area income if the ACS
sample size is insufficient and/or does
not accurately represent the city or
town’s median household income. If the
MHI of the population being served is
less than the poverty or 80% of State
Non-metro median household grant,
then the project may qualify for up to
100% grant. If MHI is between 80%
SNMHI and 100%, then the project may
qualify for up to 75% grant. If SNMHI
is over 100%, then the project is limited
to 45% grant. If the project does not
qualify for 100% grant, then the system
may supplement the funding from
applicant contribution and/or other
funding sources. Median household
income is according to the American
Community Survey (ACS) five-year data
(2006–2010).
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
4. Eligible grant purposes. Grant funds
may only be used to repair damages to
drinking water systems or sewer and
solid waste disposal systems caused by
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria. If
repairs to a system are not economically
feasible or cost-effective due to the
extent of the damage caused by a
hurricane, WEP will consider
replacement (as opposed to repair) on a
case-by-case basis.
For such repairs and replacements
already made to restore service, grants
may be awarded to reimburse applicants
for expenses incurred by the applicant.
These expenses must have been
incurred within two years from the date
of the covered hurricane.
Reimbursement must be justified by a
clear demonstration of financial
hardship to the system or its customers
due to the use of its own funds or
commercial credit to make such repairs
or replacement. There shall be no
reimbursement for repairs or
replacements made or financed through
the use of other Federal funds such as
Federal Emergency Management
Agency, Environmental Protection
Agency, or other Federal source of
assistance used for repairs or
replacement, or through insurance
proceeds
D. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package. The packages will be
submitted to the USDA Rural
Development State Office in the State
where the project is located as listed in
the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.
Applicants can also apply through RUS’
website for online applications,
RDApply. The RDApply website link is
as follows: https://rdapply.usda.gov.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission. Applicants will be required
to submit the following items to the
processing office, upon notification
from the processing office to proceed
with further development of the full
application. The forms below are
available on the RD website: (https://
forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms/
welcomeAction.do?Home):
i. Form RD 442–7, ‘‘Operating
Budget’’ or similar form.
ii. Form RD 1910–11, ‘‘Application
Certification, Federal Collection Policies
for Consumer or Commercial Debts;’’
iii. Form RD 400–1, ‘‘Equal
Opportunity Agreement;’’
iv. Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance
Agreement;’’
v. Form AD–1047, ‘‘Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension and
other Responsibility Matters;’’
E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM
12SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2018 / Notices
vii. Form AD–1049, ‘‘Certification
regarding Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements (Grants) Alternative I For
Grantees Other Than Individuals;’’
viii. Certifications for Contracts,
Grants, and Loans (Regarding Lobbying);
and
ix. Certification regarding prohibited
tying arrangements. Applicants that
provide electric service must provide
the Agency a certification that they will
not require users of a water or waste
facility financed under this Notice to
accept electric service as a condition of
receiving water assistance.
3. Dun and Bradstreet Universal
Systems (DUNS) Number and System
for Award Management (SAM). Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) and System for Awards
Management (SAM) Grant applicants
must obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number and register in the System for
Award Management (SAM) prior to
submitting an application pursuant to 2
CFR 25.200(b). In addition, an entity
applicant must maintain registration in
SAM at all times during which it has an
active Federal award or an application
or plan under consideration by the
Agency. Similarly, all recipients of
Federal financial assistance are required
to report information about first-tier
subawards and executive compensation
in accordance to 2 CFR part 170. So long
as an entity applicant does not have an
exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b), the
applicant must have the necessary
processes and systems in place to
comply with the reporting requirements
should the applicant receive funding.
See 2 CFR 170.200(b). An applicant,
unless excepted under 2 CFR 25.110(b),
(c), or (d), is required to:
i. Be registered in SAM before
submitting its application;
ii. Provide a valid DUNS number in
its application; and
iii. Continue to maintain an active
SAM registration with current
information at all times during which it
has an active Federal award or an
application or plan under consideration
by a Federal awarding agency.
The Federal awarding agency may not
make a federal award to an applicant
until the applicant has complied with
all applicable DUNS and SAM
requirements and, if an applicant has
not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the Federal
awarding agency is ready to make a
Federal award, the Federal awarding
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. As
required by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB), all grant
applications must provide a DUNS
number when applying for Federal
grants, on or after October 1, 2003.
Organizations can receive a DUNS
number at no cost by calling the
dedicated toll-free number at 1–866–
705–5711 or via internet at https://
fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Additional
information concerning this
requirement can be obtained on the
Grants.gov website at https://
www.grants.gov. Similarly, applicants
may register for SAM at https://
www.sam.gov or by calling 1–866–606–
8220. The applicant must provide
documentation that they are registered
in SAM and their DUNS number. If the
applicant does not provide
documentation that they are registered
in SAM and their DUNS number, the
application will not be considered for
funding.
You will need the following
information when requesting a DUNS
number:
i. Legal Name of the Applicant;
ii. Headquarters name and address of
the Applicant;
iii. The names under which the
Applicant is doing business as (dba) or
other name by which the organization is
commonly recognized;
iv. Physical address of the Applicant;
v. Mailing address (if separate from
headquarters and/or physical address)
of the Applicant;
vi. Telephone number;
vii. Contact name and title; and
viii. Number of employees at the
physical location.
4. Submission Dates and Times.
Unless otherwise specified in this
Notice, applications will be accepted on
a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.
5. Intergovernmental Review. The
following program is subject to the
provisions of Executive Order 12372
which requires intergovernmental
consultation with State and local
officials, pursuant to 2 CFR part 415,
subpart C, as a covered program.
6. Funding Restrictions. Grant funds
may not be used to finance:
i. Repairs or replacement of facilities
not directly impacted by Hurricanes
Harvey, Irma, or Maria;
ii. Facilities which are not modest in
size, design, and cost;
iii. Grant finder’s fees;
iv. Any portion of the cost of a facility
which does not serve a rural area as
defined in this Notice;
v. That portion of project costs
normally provided by a business or
industrial user, such as wastewater
pretreatment;
vi. Rental for the use of equipment or
machinery owned by the applicant; or
vii. Other purposes not directly
related to operating and maintenance of
the facility being repaired or replaced.
E. Application Review Information
Within 15 days of receiving your
application, RUS will send you a letter
of acknowledgment. Your application
will be reviewed for completeness to
determine if you included all of the
items required. If your application is
incomplete or ineligible, RUS will
return it to you with an explanation.
Applicants may resubmit applications
deemed incomplete or ineligible after
revising them in accordance with RUS
explanation.
1. Criteria. In the event demand for
funding is greater than the amount of
funds available, a priority ranking
scoring system will be used to
determine which projects are funded.
When ranking eligible applications for
consideration for limited funds, Agency
officials will consider the priority items
met by each application and the degree
to which those priorities are met. Points
will be awarded as indicated below.
This is a new grant program. Some
guidelines historically utilized in other
grant programs informed the
development of the point system.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Priorities
Points
i. Population: The proposed project will serve an area with a rural population:
a. Not in excess of 1,500 .............................................................................................................................................................
b. More than 1,500 and not in excess of 3,000 ...........................................................................................................................
c. More than 3,000 and not in excess of 5,000 ...........................................................................................................................
d. Over 5,000 ................................................................................................................................................................................
ii. Income: The median household income of population to be served by the proposed project is:
a. Not in excess of 70 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income ....................................................
b. More than 70 percent and not in excess of 80 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income .........
c. More than 80 percent and not in excess of 90 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income .........
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:41 Sep 11, 2018
Jkt 244001
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
46139
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM
12SEN1
30
20
15
0
30
20
10
46140
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2018 / Notices
Priorities
Points
d. More than 90 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan Median household income
iii. Health Priorities:
a. Needed to alleviate an emergency situation, correct unanticipated diminution in quantity or deterioration in quality of a
water supply, or to meet Safe Drinking Water Act requirements which pertain to a water system.
b. Required to correct inadequacies of a wastewater disposal system, or to meet health standards which pertain to a
wastewater disposal system. ....................................................................................................................................................
c. Required to meet administrative orders issued to Correct local, State or Federal solid waste violations ..............................
iv Other Priorities:
a. Applicant is a public body or Indian Tribe ...............................................................................................................................
b. Amount of other than RUS funds committed to the project:
A. 50% or more .....................................................................................................................................................................
B. 20% to 49% ......................................................................................................................................................................
C. 5%–19% ...........................................................................................................................................................................
D. Less than 5% ....................................................................................................................................................................
c. The utility has not been able to secure the funds needed for repairs from its own resources or from commercial credit ....
d. The proposed project will serve an area that has an unreliable quality or supply of drinking water ......................................
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
The RUS Administrator may assign
up to 15 additional points that will be
considered in the total points. These
points will be added to address items
such as geographic distribution of
funds, the highest priority projects
within the jurisdiction, and emergency
conditions caused by the hurricanes.
The Administrator may delegate the
authority to assign these points to
National Office staff.
2. Review and Selection Process. All
applications will be processed and
scored in the State Office and then
reviewed for funding priority at the
National Office. RUS will rank all
qualifying applications by their final
score. Applications will be selected for
funding, based on the highest scores.
Each applicant will be notified in
writing of the score its application
receives and whether it was approved
for funding.
F. Federal Award Administration
Information
1. Federal Review Notices. RUS
generally notifies by mail those
applicants whose projects were
approved for funding. However, the
receipt of an approval letter does not
serve to authorize the applicant to
commence performance under the grant.
RUS follows the approval letter with a
grant agreement containing terms and
conditions for the grant. Applicants
selected for funding will complete and
return grant agreement, which outlines
the terms and conditions of the grant
award and other forms as required.
2. Administrative and National
Policy. The items listed in Section A of
this notice, and Departmental and other
regulations including 2 CFR parts 180,
182, 200, 400, 421 and any successor
regulations implementing the
appropriate administrative and national
policy requirements of this grant
program, which include but are not
limited to:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:41 Sep 11, 2018
Jkt 244001
i. SF–270, ‘‘Request for Advance or
Reimbursement,’’ will be completed by
the Non-Federal Entity and submitted to
either the State or National office no
more frequently than monthly.
ii. Upon receipt of a properly
completed SF–270, the funds will be
requested through the field office
terminal system. Ordinarily, payment
will be made within 30 days after
receipt of a proper request for
reimbursement.
iii. Non-Federal Entities may use
women- and minority-owned banks (a
bank which is owned at least 50 percent
by women or minority group members)
for the deposit and disbursement of
funds.
3. Reporting.
i. Any change in the scope of the
project or any other significant change
in the project must be reported to and
approved by the approval official by
written amendment to the grant
agreement. Any change not approved
may be cause for termination of the
grant.
ii. Non-Federal Entities shall
constantly monitor performance to
ensure that time schedules are being
met, projected work by time periods is
being accomplished, and other
performance objectives are being
achieved. The Non-Federal Entity will
provide project reports to the Agency as
follows:
iii. SF–425, ‘‘Financial Status Report
(short form),’’ and a project performance
activity report will be required of all
Non-Federal Entities on a quarterly
basis, due 30 days after the end of each
quarter.
iv. A final project performance report
will be required with the last SF–425
due 90 days after the end of the last
quarter in which the project is
completed.
v. Financial reporting. The NonFederal Entity will provide an audit
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
0
25
25
15
5
15
10
5
0
15
10
report or financial statements to the
Agency as follows:
vi. Non-Federal Entities expending
$750,000 or more Federal funds per
fiscal year will submit an audit
conducted in accordance with 2 CFR
part 200. The audit will be submitted
within nine months after the NonFederal Entity’s fiscal year. Additional
audits may be required if the project
period covers more than one fiscal year.
vii. Non-Federal Entities expending
less than $750,000 will provide annual
financial statements covering the grant
period, consisting of the organization’s
statement of income and expense and
balance sheet signed by an appropriate
official of the organization. Financial
statements will be submitted within 90
days after the Non-Federal Entity’s fiscal
year.
G. Federal Awarding Contacts
Main point of contact: Derek Jones,
Community Programs Specialist, Water
and Environmental Programs, Rural
Utilities Service, Rural Development,
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Phone: (202) 720–9640.
Fax: (202) 690–0649.
Email: derek.jones@wdc.usda.gov.
H. Other Information
1. Civil Rights. Programs referenced in
this Notice are subject to applicable
Civil Rights Laws. These laws include
the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Title
VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title
VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as
amended in 1988, and Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
2. Non-Discrimination 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,
E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM
12SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2018 / Notices
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 and
provide in the letter all of the
information requested in the form. To
request a copy of a 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 at: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.
Dated: September 6, 2018.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–19784 Filed 9–11–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
[Order No. 2059]
Reorganization and Expansion of
Foreign-Trade Zone 135 Under
Alternative Site Framework; Palm
Beach, Florida
Pursuant to its authority under the ForeignTrade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u), the ForeignTrade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the
following Order:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:41 Sep 11, 2018
Jkt 244001
Whereas, the Foreign-Trade Zones
(FTZ) Act provides for ‘‘. . . the
establishment . . . of foreign-trade
zones in ports of entry of the United
States, to expedite and encourage
foreign commerce, and for other
purposes,’’ and authorizes the ForeignTrade Zones Board to grant to qualified
corporations the privilege of
establishing foreign-trade zones in or
adjacent to U.S. Customs and Border
Protection ports of entry;
Whereas, the Board adopted the
alternative site framework (ASF) (15
CFR 400.2(c)) as an option for the
establishment or reorganization of
zones;
Whereas, the Port of Palm Beach
District, grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone
135, submitted an application to the
Board (FTZ Docket B–12–2018,
docketed February 9, 2018) for authority
to reorganize and expand under the ASF
with a service area of Palm Beach
County, Martin County and St. Lucie
County (with the exception of Sites 1
through 4 of FTZ 218, which are located
in St. Lucie County), in and adjacent to
the West Palm Beach Customs and
Border Protection port of entry, and FTZ
135’s existing Sites 1, 4, 5, 6 and 8
would be categorized as magnet sites
and Sites 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 would
be categorized as usage-driven sites;
Whereas, notice inviting public
comment was given in the Federal
Register (83 FR 7451–7452, February 21,
2018) and the application has been
processed pursuant to the FTZ Act and
the Board’s regulations; and,
Whereas, the Board adopts the
findings and recommendations of the
examiner’s report, and finds that the
requirements of the FTZ Act and the
Board’s regulations are satisfied;
Now, therefore, the Board hereby
orders:
The application to reorganize and
expand FTZ 135 under the ASF is
approved, subject to the FTZ Act and
the Board’s regulations, including
Section 400.13, to the Board’s standard
2,000-acre activation limit for the zone,
to an ASF sunset provision for magnet
sites that would terminate authority for
Sites 4, 5, 6 and 8 if not activated within
five years from the month of approval,
and to an ASF sunset provision for
usage-driven sites that would terminate
authority for Sites 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11 and
12 if no foreign-status merchandise is
admitted for a bona fide customs
purpose within three years from the
month of approval.
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
46141
Dated: September 6, 2018.
Gary Taverman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping
and Countervailing Duty Operations,
performing the non-exclusive functions and
duties of the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement and Compliance, Alternate
Chairman, Foreign-Trade Zones Board.
[FR Doc. 2018–19851 Filed 9–11–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Order No. 2058]
Approval of Subzone Status; Driftwood
LNG, LLC, Sulphur, Louisiana
Pursuant to its authority under the ForeignTrade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u), the ForeignTrade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the
following Order:
Whereas, the Foreign-Trade Zones
(FTZ) Act provides for ‘‘. . . the
establishment. . . of foreign-trade zones
in ports of entry of the United States, to
expedite and encourage foreign
commerce, and for other purposes,’’ and
authorizes the Foreign-Trade Zones
Board to grant to qualified corporations
the privilege of establishing foreigntrade zones in or adjacent to U.S.
Customs and Border Protection ports of
entry;
Whereas, the Board’s regulations (15
CFR part 400) provide for the
establishment of subzones for specific
uses;
Whereas, the Lake Charles Harbor &
Terminal District, grantee of ForeignTrade Zone 87, has made application to
the Board for the establishment of a
subzone at the facility of Driftwood
LNG, LLC, located in Sulphur,
Louisiana (FTZ Docket B–31–2018,
docketed May 17, 2018);
Whereas, notice inviting public
comment has been given in the Federal
Register (83 FR 23633, May 22, 2018)
and the application has been processed
pursuant to the FTZ Act and the Board’s
regulations; and,
Whereas, the Board adopts the
findings and recommendations of the
examiner’s memorandum, and finds that
the requirements of the FTZ Act and the
Board’s regulations are satisfied;
Now, therefore, the Board hereby
approves subzone status at the facility of
Driftwood LNG, LLC, located in
Sulphur, Louisiana (Subzone 87G), as
described in the application and
Federal Register notice, subject to the
FTZ Act and the Board’s regulations,
including Section 400.13.
E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM
12SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46137-46141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19784]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Announcement of Disaster Assistance Grant Application Deadlines
and Funding Levels
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of funds availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: As part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Public Law 115-
123, dated February 9, 2018, the Rural Utilities Service's Water and
Environmental Programs (WEP) received $165,475,000 in supplemental
grant funding of which $163,475,000 is available for repairs to
drinking water systems and sewer and solid waste disposal systems
impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. States impacted
include: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and the territories
of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.
DATES: Unless otherwise specified in this Notice, applications will be
accepted on a continual basis until funds are exhausted.
ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance, or that are in
need of further information, should contact the USDA Rural Development
State Office in the State where the project is located. A list of the
USDA Rural Development State Offices addresses and telephone numbers is
as follows:
Note: Telephone numbers are not toll-free.
Florida/Virgin Islands
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4440 NW 25th Place, P.O. Box
147010, Gainesville, FL 32614-7010, (352) 338-3400/TDD (352) 338-
3499.
Georgia
USDA Rural Development State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 355
E Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2768, (706) 546-2162/TDD (706)
546-2034.
South Carolina
USDA Rural Development State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal
Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803)
765-5163/TDD (803) 765-5697.
Texas
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102,
101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9700/TDD (254) 742-9712.
Puerto Rico
USDA Rural Development State Office, IBM Building, Suite 601, 654
Munos Rivera Avenue, San Juan, PR 00918-6106, (787) 766-5095/TDD
(787) 766-5332.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Main point of contact: Derek Jones, Community Programs Specialist,
Water and Environmental Programs, Rural Utilities Service, Rural
Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Phone: (202) 720-9640.
Fax: (202) 690-0649.
Email: [email protected]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
information collection requirements associated with the Program, as
covered in this Notice, have been approved by the Office of Management
Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0572-0121.
[[Page 46138]]
Overview
Federal Agency Name: Rural Utilities Service (``RUS,'' an Agency of
USDA in the Rural Development mission area).
Solicitation Opportunity Title: Announcement of Disaster Assistance
Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funds Availability.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: The CFDA
number for this Notice is 10.760.
Dates: Unless otherwise specified in this Notice, applications will
be accepted on a continual basis until funds are exhausted.
A. Program Description
This program is designed to provide supplemental grant funding for
repairs to drinking water systems and sewer and solid waste disposal
systems impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in the states of
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and the territories of Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands.
Details on eligible applicants and projects may be found in the
relevant regulations listed in Section B, Eligibility Information
below.
The applicable Statutory or Regulatory authority for this action
includes:
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Public Law 115-123, Rural
Utilities Service Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account.
2 CFR parts 200 and 400, uniform Federal grant awards
regulations.
B. Federal Award Description--Disaster Assistance Grants
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Public Law 115-123, dated
February 9, 2018, enables USDA Rural Development to provide: WEP
$165,475,000 in supplemental grant funding of which $163,475,000 is
available for repairs to drinking water systems and sewer and solid
waste disposal systems impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria
in the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and the
territories of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Applicant eligibility. An eligible Applicant must:
(i) Be either a Public Body, a Nonprofit Corporation, or an Indian
tribe.
(ii) Be eligible to receive a Federal loan or grant under Federal
law.
(iii) Certify in writing, and the Agency shall determine and
document, that (1) the Applicant is unable to finance the proposed
project from their own resources or through commercial credit at
reasonable rates and terms, or as applicable, (2) the applicant made
repairs by utilizing their own resources or by obtaining commercial
credit and as a result is experiencing financial hardship that is
impacting its operations and its customers.
(iv) Have the legal authority necessary for owning, constructing,
operating, and maintaining the facility or service to be repaired or
replaced and for obtaining security for the proposed grant. The
Applicant shall be responsible for operating, maintaining, and managing
the facility, and providing for its continued availability and use at
reasonable user rates and charges. The Applicant shall retain this
responsibility even though the facility may be operated, maintained, or
managed by a third party under contract or management agreement.
Applicants must submit evidence of legal authority before grant
approval/obligation
(v) Demonstrate that they possess the technical, managerial, and
financial capability necessary to consistently comply with pertinent
Federal and State laws and requirements.
(vi) Be current on the repayment of all debts at the time they are
due.
2. Eligible facilities. An eligible facility must serve a rural
area. The term rural or rural area means a city, town, or
unincorporated area that has a population of no more than 50,000 in
habitants. Projects funded by the Agency may be located in non-rural
areas. However, grant funds may be used to repair only that portion of
the facility serving and benefiting rural areas, regardless of project
location, that has a population up to 50,000.
3. State nonmetropolitan median household income (MHI) according to
the American Community Survey (ACS) five-year data (2006-2010). An
income survey may also be conducted to determine rural area income if
the ACS sample size is insufficient and/or does not accurately
represent the city or town's median household income. If the MHI of the
population being served is less than the poverty or 80% of State Non-
metro median household grant, then the project may qualify for up to
100% grant. If MHI is between 80% SNMHI and 100%, then the project may
qualify for up to 75% grant. If SNMHI is over 100%, then the project is
limited to 45% grant. If the project does not qualify for 100% grant,
then the system may supplement the funding from applicant contribution
and/or other funding sources. Median household income is according to
the American Community Survey (ACS) five-year data (2006-2010).
4. Eligible grant purposes. Grant funds may only be used to repair
damages to drinking water systems or sewer and solid waste disposal
systems caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria. If repairs to a
system are not economically feasible or cost-effective due to the
extent of the damage caused by a hurricane, WEP will consider
replacement (as opposed to repair) on a case-by-case basis.
For such repairs and replacements already made to restore service,
grants may be awarded to reimburse applicants for expenses incurred by
the applicant. These expenses must have been incurred within two years
from the date of the covered hurricane. Reimbursement must be justified
by a clear demonstration of financial hardship to the system or its
customers due to the use of its own funds or commercial credit to make
such repairs or replacement. There shall be no reimbursement for
repairs or replacements made or financed through the use of other
Federal funds such as Federal Emergency Management Agency,
Environmental Protection Agency, or other Federal source of assistance
used for repairs or replacement, or through insurance proceeds
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package. The packages will be
submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office in the State where
the project is located as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this
Notice. Applicants can also apply through RUS' website for online
applications, RDApply. The RDApply website link is as follows: https://rdapply.usda.gov.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission. Applicants will be
required to submit the following items to the processing office, upon
notification from the processing office to proceed with further
development of the full application. The forms below are available on
the RD website: (https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms/welcomeAction.do?Home):
i. Form RD 442-7, ``Operating Budget'' or similar form.
ii. Form RD 1910-11, ``Application Certification, Federal
Collection Policies for Consumer or Commercial Debts;''
iii. Form RD 400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement;''
iv. Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement;''
v. Form AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension
and other Responsibility Matters;''
[[Page 46139]]
vii. Form AD-1049, ``Certification regarding Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements (Grants) Alternative I For Grantees Other Than
Individuals;''
viii. Certifications for Contracts, Grants, and Loans (Regarding
Lobbying); and
ix. Certification regarding prohibited tying arrangements.
Applicants that provide electric service must provide the Agency a
certification that they will not require users of a water or waste
facility financed under this Notice to accept electric service as a
condition of receiving water assistance.
3. Dun and Bradstreet Universal Systems (DUNS) Number and System
for Award Management (SAM). Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) and System for Awards Management (SAM) Grant applicants
must obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number and register in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to
submitting an application pursuant to 2 CFR 25.200(b). In addition, an
entity applicant must maintain registration in SAM at all times during
which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under
consideration by the Agency. Similarly, all recipients of Federal
financial assistance are required to report information about first-
tier subawards and executive compensation in accordance to 2 CFR part
170. So long as an entity applicant does not have an exception under 2
CFR 170.110(b), the applicant must have the necessary processes and
systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements should the
applicant receive funding. See 2 CFR 170.200(b). An applicant, unless
excepted under 2 CFR 25.110(b), (c), or (d), is required to:
i. Be registered in SAM before submitting its application;
ii. Provide a valid DUNS number in its application; and
iii. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current
information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or
an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding
agency.
The Federal awarding agency may not make a federal award to an
applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and
SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a
Federal award, the Federal awarding 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. As required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),
all grant applications must provide a DUNS number when applying for
Federal grants, on or after October 1, 2003. Organizations can receive
a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free number at
1-866-705-5711 or via internet at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
Additional information concerning this requirement can be obtained on
the Grants.gov website at https://www.grants.gov. Similarly, applicants
may register for SAM at https://www.sam.gov or by calling 1-866-606-
8220. The applicant must provide documentation that they are registered
in SAM and their DUNS number. If the applicant does not provide
documentation that they are registered in SAM and their DUNS number,
the application will not be considered for funding.
You will need the following information when requesting a DUNS
number:
i. Legal Name of the Applicant;
ii. Headquarters name and address of the Applicant;
iii. The names under which the Applicant is doing business as (dba)
or other name by which the organization is commonly recognized;
iv. Physical address of the Applicant;
v. Mailing address (if separate from headquarters and/or physical
address) of the Applicant;
vi. Telephone number;
vii. Contact name and title; and
viii. Number of employees at the physical location.
4. Submission Dates and Times. Unless otherwise specified in this
Notice, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds
are exhausted.
5. Intergovernmental Review. The following program is subject to
the provisions of Executive Order 12372 which requires
intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials, pursuant
to 2 CFR part 415, subpart C, as a covered program.
6. Funding Restrictions. Grant funds may not be used to finance:
i. Repairs or replacement of facilities not directly impacted by
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria;
ii. Facilities which are not modest in size, design, and cost;
iii. Grant finder's fees;
iv. Any portion of the cost of a facility which does not serve a
rural area as defined in this Notice;
v. That portion of project costs normally provided by a business or
industrial user, such as wastewater pretreatment;
vi. Rental for the use of equipment or machinery owned by the
applicant; or
vii. Other purposes not directly related to operating and
maintenance of the facility being repaired or replaced.
E. Application Review Information
Within 15 days of receiving your application, RUS will send you a
letter of acknowledgment. Your application will be reviewed for
completeness to determine if you included all of the items required. If
your application is incomplete or ineligible, RUS will return it to you
with an explanation. Applicants may resubmit applications deemed
incomplete or ineligible after revising them in accordance with RUS
explanation.
1. Criteria. In the event demand for funding is greater than the
amount of funds available, a priority ranking scoring system will be
used to determine which projects are funded. When ranking eligible
applications for consideration for limited funds, Agency officials will
consider the priority items met by each application and the degree to
which those priorities are met. Points will be awarded as indicated
below. This is a new grant program. Some guidelines historically
utilized in other grant programs informed the development of the point
system.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorities Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
i. Population: The proposed project will serve an area
with a rural population:
a. Not in excess of 1,500........................... 30
b. More than 1,500 and not in excess of 3,000....... 20
c. More than 3,000 and not in excess of 5,000....... 15
d. Over 5,000....................................... 0
ii. Income: The median household income of population to
be served by the proposed project is:
a. Not in excess of 70 percent of the statewide 30
nonmetropolitan median household income............
b. More than 70 percent and not in excess of 80 20
percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan median
household income...................................
c. More than 80 percent and not in excess of 90 10
percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan median
household income...................................
[[Page 46140]]
d. More than 90 percent of the statewide 0
nonmetropolitan Median household income
iii. Health Priorities:
a. Needed to alleviate an emergency situation, 25
correct unanticipated diminution in quantity or
deterioration in quality of a water supply, or to
meet Safe Drinking Water Act requirements which
pertain to a water system.
b. Required to correct inadequacies of a wastewater 25
disposal system, or to meet health standards which
pertain to a wastewater disposal system............
c. Required to meet administrative orders issued to 15
Correct local, State or Federal solid waste
violations.........................................
iv Other Priorities:
a. Applicant is a public body or Indian Tribe....... 5
b. Amount of other than RUS funds committed to the
project:
A. 50% or more.................................. 15
B. 20% to 49%................................... 10
C. 5%-19%....................................... 5
D. Less than 5%................................. 0
c. The utility has not been able to secure the funds 15
needed for repairs from its own resources or from
commercial credit..................................
d. The proposed project will serve an area that has 10
an unreliable quality or supply of drinking water..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The RUS Administrator may assign up to 15 additional points that
will be considered in the total points. These points will be added to
address items such as geographic distribution of funds, the highest
priority projects within the jurisdiction, and emergency conditions
caused by the hurricanes. The Administrator may delegate the authority
to assign these points to National Office staff.
2. Review and Selection Process. All applications will be processed
and scored in the State Office and then reviewed for funding priority
at the National Office. RUS will rank all qualifying applications by
their final score. Applications will be selected for funding, based on
the highest scores. Each applicant will be notified in writing of the
score its application receives and whether it was approved for funding.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Review Notices. RUS generally notifies by mail those
applicants whose projects were approved for funding. However, the
receipt of an approval letter does not serve to authorize the applicant
to commence performance under the grant. RUS follows the approval
letter with a grant agreement containing terms and conditions for the
grant. Applicants selected for funding will complete and return grant
agreement, which outlines the terms and conditions of the grant award
and other forms as required.
2. Administrative and National Policy. The items listed in Section
A of this notice, and Departmental and other regulations including 2
CFR parts 180, 182, 200, 400, 421 and any successor regulations
implementing the appropriate administrative and national policy
requirements of this grant program, which include but are not limited
to:
i. SF-270, ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement,'' will be
completed by the Non-Federal Entity and submitted to either the State
or National office no more frequently than monthly.
ii. Upon receipt of a properly completed SF-270, the funds will be
requested through the field office terminal system. Ordinarily, payment
will be made within 30 days after receipt of a proper request for
reimbursement.
iii. Non-Federal Entities may use women- and minority-owned banks
(a bank which is owned at least 50 percent by women or minority group
members) for the deposit and disbursement of funds.
3. Reporting.
i. Any change in the scope of the project or any other significant
change in the project must be reported to and approved by the approval
official by written amendment to the grant agreement. Any change not
approved may be cause for termination of the grant.
ii. Non-Federal Entities shall constantly monitor performance to
ensure that time schedules are being met, projected work by time
periods is being accomplished, and other performance objectives are
being achieved. The Non-Federal Entity will provide project reports to
the Agency as follows:
iii. SF-425, ``Financial Status Report (short form),'' and a
project performance activity report will be required of all Non-Federal
Entities on a quarterly basis, due 30 days after the end of each
quarter.
iv. A final project performance report will be required with the
last SF-425 due 90 days after the end of the last quarter in which the
project is completed.
v. Financial reporting. The Non-Federal Entity will provide an
audit report or financial statements to the Agency as follows:
vi. Non-Federal Entities expending $750,000 or more Federal funds
per fiscal year will submit an audit conducted in accordance with 2 CFR
part 200. The audit will be submitted within nine months after the Non-
Federal Entity's fiscal year. Additional audits may be required if the
project period covers more than one fiscal year.
vii. Non-Federal Entities expending less than $750,000 will provide
annual financial statements covering the grant period, consisting of
the organization's statement of income and expense and balance sheet
signed by an appropriate official of the organization. Financial
statements will be submitted within 90 days after the Non-Federal
Entity's fiscal year.
G. Federal Awarding Contacts
Main point of contact: Derek Jones, Community Programs Specialist,
Water and Environmental Programs, Rural Utilities Service, Rural
Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Phone: (202) 720-9640.
Fax: (202) 690-0649.
Email: [email protected].
H. Other Information
1. Civil Rights. Programs referenced in this Notice are subject to
applicable Civil Rights Laws. These laws include the Equal Credit
Opportunity Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VIII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended in 1988, and Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
2. Non-Discrimination 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,
[[Page 46141]]
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 and provide in the letter all of
the information requested in the form. To request a copy of a 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 at: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Dated: September 6, 2018.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-19784 Filed 9-11-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P