Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program, 17997-17999 [2019-08624]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Commodity Credit Corporation

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17997-17999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08624]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Organic Certification 
Cost Share Program

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation (CCC), is announcing the availability of funding 
under the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) for eligible 
certified organic producers and handlers. FSA is also announcing the 
opportunity for State Agencies to apply for grant agreements to 
administer the OCCSP program in fiscal year (FY) 2019. State Agencies 
that establish agreements for FY 2019 may be given the opportunity to 
extend their agreements and receive additional funds to administer the 
program in future years. Through this notice, FSA is providing the 
requirements for producers and handlers to apply for OCCSP payments, 
and for State Agencies to establish agreements to receive funds in 
order to provide cost share assistance to eligible producers and 
handlers.

DATES: 
    Applications for State Agency Agreements: FSA will accept 
applications from State Agencies for funds for FY 2019 cost-share 
assistance between the period of April 29, 2019, and May 29, 2019.
    Producer and Handler Applications: FSA county offices will accept 
applications for OCCSP payments from producers and handlers for FY 2019 
until October 31, 2019. For FY 2020 through 2023, FSA will accept 
applications from October 1 of the applicable FY through October 31 of 
the following FY.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tona Huggins, Program Policy Branch 
Chief, (202) 720-7641, [email protected].

Background

    OCCSP provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of 
agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic 
certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). USDA's 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers NOP, which was 
established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6501-6524) and the regulations in 7 CFR part 205. FSA has administered 
OCCSP beginning with FY 2017.
    The purpose of this NOFA is to announce funding availability and 
general eligibility and administrative provisions for FY 2019 through 
2023. FSA is not making substantive changes to OCCSP.
    FSA will accept applications from State Agencies interested in 
overseeing reimbursements to producers and handlers in their States. In 
order for a State agency to receive a new fund allocation for FY 2019, 
it must establish a new agreement with FSA. FY 2019 agreements will 
include provisions that allow FSA to extend the agreements to provide 
additional funds and allow State Agencies to continue to administer 
OCCSP for future years. FSA has not yet determined whether an 
additional application period will be announced for later years for 
State Agencies that choose not to participate in FY 2019; State 
Agencies that would like to administer OCCSP for future years are 
encouraged to establish an agreement for FY 2019 to ensure that they 
will be able to continue to participate.
    All producers and handlers can apply for OCCSP through their local 
FSA offices. In States where State Agencies choose to administer OCCSP, 
a producer or handler may apply to either the State agency or the local 
FSA office; they cannot receive payment from both. Producers and 
handlers are subject to the same eligibility criteria and calculation 
of cost share payments regardless of whether they apply for OCCSP 
through an FSA local office or a participating State agency. FSA will 
coordinate with participating State Agencies to ensure there are no 
duplicate payments. If a duplicate payment is inadvertently made, then 
FSA will inform the participant and require that funds be returned to 
CCC.

Availability of Funds

    Funding for OCCSP is provided through two authorizations: (1) 
National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (National OCCSP) 
funds and (2) Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) funds.
    Section 10105 of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 
Farm Bill, Pub. L. 115-334) amended section 10606(d) of the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 6523(d)), 
authorizing $2 million from CCC to be used for National OCCSP funds for 
each of FYs 2019 and 2020, $4 million for FY 2021, and $8 million for 
each of FYs 2022 and 2023, to remain available until expended. In 
addition, approximately $16.4 million in National funding remains 
available from previous FYs and will be used to fund OCCSP in 2019 and 
later years as needed.
    National OCCSP funds will be used for cost share payments to 
certified operations in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    The USDA organic regulations recognize four separate categories, or 
``scopes,'' that must be individually inspected for organic 
certification: Crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling (that is, 
processing). A single operation may be certified under multiple scopes. 
For example, a certified organic vegetable farm that also has certified 
organic chickens and

[[Page 17998]]

produces certified organic jams would be required to be certified for 
three scopes: Crops, livestock, and handling. State organic program 
fees are also eligible for cost share reimbursement and for OCCSP 
purposes are considered an additional, separate scope. State organic 
program fees may be required by States that have established a State 
organic program according to 7 CFR 205.620 through 205.622, and are in 
addition to the costs of organic certification under the four scopes of 
USDA organic certification. National OCCSP funds can be used to provide 
cost share for all four scopes of USDA organic certification (that is, 
crops, wild crops, livestock, and handling) and the additional scope of 
State organic program fees.
    In addition to the National OCCSP funds, an additional $1 million 
in AMA funding is authorized in 7 U.S.C. 1524 for each FY. AMA funds 
may be used only for cost share payments for organic certification for 
the three scopes of crops, wild crops, and livestock, and are 
specifically targeted to the following 16 States:
     Connecticut,
     Delaware,
     Hawaii,
     Maryland,
     Massachusetts,
     Maine,
     Nevada,
     New Hampshire,
     New Jersey,
     New York,
     Pennsylvania,
     Rhode Island,
     Utah,
     Vermont,
     West Virginia, and
     Wyoming.
    Sequestration will apply to the total amount of funding available 
for OCCSP for FYs 2019 through 2023, if required by law.

Cost Share Payments

    As required by law (7 U.S.C. 6523(b)), the cost share payments 
cannot exceed 75 percent of eligible costs incurred, up to a maximum of 
$750 per scope for each certified organic operation. FSA will calculate 
75 percent of the allowable costs incurred, not to exceed a maximum of 
$750 per scope.
    Cost share assistance will be provided for allowable costs paid 
during the same FY for which the OCCSP payment is being requested. Cost 
share assistance will be provided on a first come, first served basis, 
until all available funds are obligated for each FY. Applications 
received after all funds are obligated will not be paid. Allowable 
costs for producers and handlers include:
     Application fees;
     Inspection fees, including travel costs and per diem for 
organic inspectors;
     USDA organic certification costs, including fees necessary 
to access international markets with which AMS has equivalency 
agreements or arrangements;
     State Organic Program fees;
     User fees or sale assessments; and
     Postage.
    Unallowable costs include:
     Inspections due to violations of USDA organic regulations 
or violations of State Organic Program requirements;
     Costs related to non-USDA organic certifications;
     Costs related to transitional certification;
     Costs related to any other labeling program;
     Materials, supplies, and equipment;
     Late fees;
     Membership fees; and
     Consultant fees.
    Allowable costs for participating State Agencies include:
     Allowable cost share payments to eligible producers and 
handlers; and
     Indirect costs based a current negotiated indirect cost 
rate agreement, a de minimis indirect cost rate (as applicable), or 
other rate in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Appendix VII.

Eligible Producers and Handlers

    To be eligible for OCCSP payments, a producer or handler must both:
     Possess USDA organic certification at the time of 
application; and
     Have paid fees or expenses related to its initial 
certification or renewal of its certification from a certifying agent.
    Operations with suspended, revoked, or withdrawn certifications at 
the time of application are ineligible for cost share reimbursement. 
OCCSP is open to producers and handlers in the 50 United States, the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American 
Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands.

How To Submit an Application

State Agencies

    State Agencies must have an agreement in place to participate in 
OCCSP. To provide cost share assistance for FY 2019, State Agencies 
must complete an Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 
and 424B) and enter into a grant agreement with FSA. State Agencies 
must submit the Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 
and 424B) electronically via Grants.gov, the Federal grants website, at 
https://www.grants.gov. For information on how to use Grants.Gov, please 
consult https://www.grants.gov/GetRegistered. State Agencies intending 
to utilize subgrantees must refer to the Fiscal Year 2019 Full Notice 
of Funding Opportunity Announcement on Grants.Gov for additional 
application requirements. FSA will accept applications from States for 
funds for FY 2019 cost-share assistance between the period of April 29, 
2019, and May 29, 2019. Upon receipt of complete applications, FSA may 
begin reviewing the applications and may make awards prior to the 
deadline. Pending fund availability, applications received after the 
deadline may be considered. The grant agreement must be signed by an 
official who has authority to apply for Federal assistance.

Producers and Handlers

    Certified operations may apply for OCCSP payments through FSA local 
offices or through a State agency (or authorized subgrantee) if their 
State has established an agreement to administer OCCSP.
    To apply for OCCSP through FSA, an applicant must submit a complete 
application, either in person or by mail, to any FSA county office. A 
complete application includes the following documentation:
     Form CCC-884--Organic Certification Cost Share Program, 
available online at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/occsp or at any FSA county office;
     Proof of USDA organic certification;
     Itemized invoices showing expenses paid to a third-party 
certifying agency for certification services during the FY in which the 
application is submitted; and
     An AD-2047, if not previously provided.
    Applicants may be required to provide additional documentation to 
FSA if necessary to verify eligibility or issue payment.
    FSA is currently accepting applications for eligible costs incurred 
in FY 2019. For costs incurred in FYs 2020 through 2023, the 
application period will begin on October 1 of the respective FY. The 
application periods end on October 31 of the following FY, or when 
there is no more available funding, whichever comes first. For example, 
for costs incurred during FY 2019 (October 1, 2018, through September 
30, 2019), the application period ends the earlier of October 31, 2019, 
or when funding is no longer available.

[[Page 17999]]

    Participating State Agencies will establish their own application 
process and deadlines for producers and handlers, as specified in their 
grant agreements, and eligible operations must submit an application 
package according to the instructions provided by the State agency. 
State Agencies should refer to the Full Notice of Funding Opportunity 
Announcement on Grants.gov for additional details on process and 
deadline requirements. A list of participating State Agencies will be 
available at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/occsp after 
their agreements with FSA to administer OCCSP are finalized.

Definitions

    For this NOFA, the following definitions apply.
    ``State agency'' means the agency, commission, or department 
responsible for agriculture under its jurisdiction in each of the 50 
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands.
    ``USDA organic certification'' means a determination made by a 
certifying agent that a production or handling operation is in 
compliance with Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501-
6522) and the regulations in 7 CFR part 205, which is documented by a 
certificate of organic operation.
    The following definitions from the regulations of 7 CFR 205.2 also 
apply to this NOFA: ``certified operation,'' ``certifying agent,'' 
``crop,'' ``handler,'' ``inspection,'' ``inspector,'' ``labeling,'' 
``livestock,'' ``organic,'' ``organic production,'' ``processing,'' 
``producer,'' ``State certifying agent,'' ``State organic program,'' 
and ``wild crop.''

Other Provisions

    Producers and handlers who file an application with FSA have the 
right to an administrative review of any FSA adverse decision with 
respect to the application under the appeals procedures in 7 CFR parts 
780 and 11. FSA program requirements and determinations that are not in 
response to, or result from, an individual disputable set of facts in 
an individual participant's application for assistance are not matters 
that can be appealed.
    A producer or handler may file an application with an FSA county 
office after the OCCSP application deadline, and in such case the 
application will be considered a request to waive the deadline. The 
Deputy Administrator has the discretion and authority to consider the 
case and waive or modify application deadlines and other requirements 
or program provisions not specified in law, in cases where the Deputy 
Administrator determines it is equitable to do so and where the Deputy 
Administrator finds that the lateness or failure to meet such other 
requirements or program provisions do not adversely affect the 
operation of OCCSP. Although applicants have a right to a decision on 
whether they filed applications by the deadline or not, applicants have 
no right to a decision in response to a request to waive or modify 
deadlines or program provisions. The Deputy Administrator's refusal to 
exercise discretion to consider the request will not be considered an 
adverse decision and is, by itself, not appealable.
    Any producer or handler who applies to a State agency is subject to 
review rights afforded by the State agency.
    Participating State Agencies that are dissatisfied with any FSA 
decision relative to a State agency agreement may seek redress in 
accordance with 2 CFR 200.341.
    The regulations governing offsets and withholdings in 7 CFR part 
1403 apply to OCCSP payments. Any participant entitled to an OCCSP 
payment may assign such payment(s) in accordance with the regulations 
in 7 CFR part 1404.
    Awards to State Agencies will be subject to 2 CFR part 200, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards.

Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements

    The information collection request for OCCSP is approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act. The OMB control number for the approval is 0560-0289.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The title and number of the Federal assistance program in the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance to which this NOFA applies is 
10.171, Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP).

Environmental Review

    The environmental impacts of this NOFA have been considered in a 
manner consistent with the provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the regulations of the Council 
on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the FSA 
regulations for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR part 799). The purpose of 
OCCSP is to provide cost share assistance to producers and handlers of 
agricultural products in obtaining organic certification. This NOFA 
merely announces funding availability and general eligibility and 
administrative provisions for FY 2019 through 2023. FSA is not making 
substantive changes to OCCSP. As such, the Categorical Exclusions found 
at 7 CFR part 799.31 apply, specifically 7 CFR 799.31(b)(6)(iii) (that 
is, financial assistance to supplement income). No Extraordinary 
Circumstances (7 CFR 799.33) exist. As such, FSA has determined that 
this NOFA does not constitute a major Federal action that would 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment, individually 
or cumulatively. Therefore, FSA will not prepare an environmental 
assessment or environmental impact statement for this administrative 
action and this NOFA serves as documentation of the programmatic 
environmental compliance decision.

Richard Fordyce,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
Robert Stephenson,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2019-08624 Filed 4-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P