Request for Information on a Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, 2699-2700 [2020-00617]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 11 / Thursday, January 16, 2020 / Notices to make oral statements of three minutes or less. Individuals wishing to make an oral statement should request in writing by Monday, January 27, 2020, to be scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who would like to bring related matters to the attention of the committee may file written statements with the committee staff before or after the meeting. Written comments and requests for time for oral comments must be sent to Racheal Koke, PO Box 460, Superior, MT 59872; or by email to racheal.koke@usda.gov. Meeting Accommodations: If you are a person requiring reasonable accommodation, please make requests in advance for sign language interpreting, assistive listening devices, or other reasonable accommodation. For access to the facility or proceedings, please contact the person listed in the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case by case basis. Dated: January 13, 2020. Cikena Reid, USDA, Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2020–00618 Filed 1–15–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Lincoln Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Lincoln Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Libby, Montana. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with Title II of the Act. RAC information can be found at the following website: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/main/pts/ specialprojects/racs. DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday, January 27, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. All RAC meetings are subject to cancellation. For status of the meeting prior to attendance, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Kootenai National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 31374 U.S. Hwy. 2, Libby, Montana 59923. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:49 Jan 15, 2020 Jkt 250001 Written comments may be submitted to the RAC Coordinator, Katie Andreessen. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Andreessen, RAC Coordinator, by phone at 406–283–7781 or via email at marikate.andreessen@usda.gov. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the meeting is to: 1. Vote on a RAC Chair; 2. Discuss, prioritize, and approve project proposals; 3. Discuss and/or approve recreation proposal; and 4. Receive public comment. The meeting is open to the public. The agenda will include time for people to make oral statements, subject to time requirements by RAC facilitator. Anyone who would like to bring related matters to the attention of the committee may file written statements with the committee staff before or after the meeting. Meeting Accommodations: If you are a person requiring reasonable accommodation, please make requests in advance for sign language interpreting, assistive listening devices, or other reasonable accommodation. For access to the facility or proceedings, please contact the person listed in the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case by case basis. Dated: January 13, 2020. Cikena Reid, USDA, Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2020–00650 Filed 1–15–20; 8:45 am] 2699 The United States Department of Agriculture requests input from all interested parties on a Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). The Department Agency is exploring options to expand domestic ethanol and biodiesel availability and is seeking information on opportunities to consider infrastructure projects to facilitate increased sales of higher biofuel blends (E15/B20 or higher.) This effort will build on biofuels infrastructure investments and experience gained through the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP). USDA administered BIP from 2016–2019 through state and private partners to expand the availability of E15 and E85 infrastructure to make available higher ethanol blends at retail gas stations around the country. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 30, 2020. Comments received after the posted deadline will not be considered, regardless of postmark. ADDRESSES: Comments submitted in response to this notice may be submitted online Via the Federal eRulmaking Portal. Go to https:// www.regulations.gov and search for the Docket ID RBS–20–Business–0002. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. All comment received will be posted without change and publicly available on www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Brodziski: telephone (202)690– 4730, email: mark.brodziski@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities that require alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202)720–2600 (voice). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Commodity Credit Corporation Rural Business-Cooperative Service [Docket ID RBS–20–Business-0002] Request for Information on a Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program Rural Business-Cooperative Service and the Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA. ACTION: Notice of request for information (RFI) for a Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Overview This Request for Information (RFI) solicits information on options for fuel ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure, innovation, products, technology, and data derived from all HBIIP processes and/or science that drive economic growth, promote health, and increase public benefit. Through this RFI, USDA seeks input from the public, including but not limited to: (a) Retail fueling stations, convenience stores, hypermarket fueling stations, fleet facilities, and similar entities with capital investments; (b) equipment providers, equipment installers, certification entities and other stakeholder/manufacturers (both upstream and down); (c) fuel distribution centers, including terminals E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1 2700 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 11 / Thursday, January 16, 2020 / Notices and depots; and (d) those performing innovative research, and/or developing enabling platforms and applications in manufacturing, energy production, and agriculture. This RFI is intended to inform notable gaps, vulnerabilities, and areas to promote and protect in the HBIIP that may benefit from Federal government attention. The information can include suggestions on those areas of greatest priority within the HBIIP, as well as past or future Federal government efforts to build, promote, and sustain the sale and use of renewable fuels. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform USDA as well as private sector and other stakeholders with interest in and expertise relating to such a promotion. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Instructions Response to this RFI is voluntary. Each individual or institution is requested to submit only one response as directed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Submission must not exceed 10 pages in 12 point or larger font, with a page number provided on each page. Responses should include the name of the person(s) or organization(s) filing the comment. Comments containing references, studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely published should include copies or electronic links of the referenced materials. Comments containing profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate language or content will not be considered. Comments submitted in response to this notice are subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Responses to this RFI may also be posted, without change, on a Federal website. Therefore, we request that no business proprietary information, copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be submitted in response to this RFI. In accordance with FAR 15– 202(3), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Additionally, the U.S. Government will not pay for response preparation or for the use of any information contained in the response. To inform the Federal government’s decision-making and establish the Nation’s guiding principles in the promotion of the HBIIP, USDA now seeks public input on how U.S. Government action might support appropriately the expansion of a nationwide effort. To that end, responders are specifically requested to answer one or more of the following questions in their submissions. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:49 Jan 15, 2020 Jkt 250001 Consortia responses are also encouraged. 1. What type of assistance/incentive would encourage the increased sales/ use of fuel ethanol and/or biodiesel in a way that is most cost-effective to the government? a. Should a potential biofuels infrastructure program incentivize the lowest cost per incremental gallon of ethanol or biodiesel use/sales at the retail/fueling station level or terminal/ depot/wholesale level or both retail/ fueling station and terminal/depot/ wholesale levels? b. What types of equipment and infrastructure should be eligible under the program? 2. Should program funding provided to participants include: (a) Direct costshare toward purchase of equipment, retrofitting, and enhancements; (b) higher blend biofuel sales or marketing incentives; (c) both; or (d) other? 3. Should the program include minimum standards for equipment, such as equipment certified to dispense biofuel blends containing 25 percent ethanol (certified for use with E15) and/ or B20-compatable or higher biofuel blend dispensers? 4. From your perspective, what types of efforts have proven to be effective in increasing higher biofuel blends sales? a. What are the most appropriate higher biofuel blend levels (for both ethanol and biodiesel) that the program should be incentivizing? b. Should there be a minimum requirement on the number or percentage of dispensers converted to higher biofuel blends at a retail site or fueling station? c. Should there be a requirement for certain dispenser configurations such as shared hoses (as practicable and allowed by law, for higher biofuel blends to share a pump hose with existing fuels)? d. Should there be a requirement for signage (as allowed by law) and marketing? e. Should USDA insist on consistent terminology and branding and naming of E15 and/or B20 or other higher biofuel blends? 5. From your perspective, if costsharing is required, what minimum level of cost-share (owner contribution) should be required of recipients of funding? What would you consider to be the most cost-effective level of costshare? 6. What steps should a potential biofuels program take to ensure equitable program participation by small- to mid-sized station owners? (That is, owners of less than 10 to less than 20 sites/stations. We are especially PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 interested to hear from small- to midsized station owners on this question.) 7. From your perspective, how much post-award reporting is reasonable for recipients of funding? e.g. quarterly or annual reporting of higher blend fuel sales by the participant? 8. What other barriers exist that limit expansion of availability of biofuels to consumers? What specific actions could USDA take to guide a transformation and/or expansion of a nationwide biofuels-infrastructure program, in both the short- and long-term? 9. To what extent should infrastructure investments made today be required to accommodate fuels anticipated to be in the marketplace of tomorrow? 10. Please provide feedback on the effectiveness of the 2015–2019 Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) program. Robert Stephenson, Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. Bette B. Brand, Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service. [FR Doc. 2020–00617 Filed 1–15–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of Industry and Security Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee; Notice of Partially Closed Meeting The Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC) will meet on January 29, 2020, 9:00 a.m., in the Herbert C. Hoover Building, Room 3884, 14th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues NW, Washington, DC. The Committee advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration on technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to information systems equipment and technology. Wednesday, January 29 Open Session 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Working Group Reports 3. Old Business 4. NIST AI Standardization Program 5. Industry presentation: AI Chips 6. New Business Closed Session 7. Discussion of matters determined to be exempt from the provisions E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1

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[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2699-2700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00617]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket ID RBS-20-Business-0002]


Request for Information on a Higher Blends Infrastructure 
Incentive Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service and the Commodity Credit 
Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of request for information (RFI) for a Higher Blends 
Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).

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

SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture requests input 
from all interested parties on a Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive 
Program (HBIIP). The Department Agency is exploring options to expand 
domestic ethanol and biodiesel availability and is seeking information 
on opportunities to consider infrastructure projects to facilitate 
increased sales of higher biofuel blends (E15/B20 or higher.) This 
effort will build on biofuels infrastructure investments and experience 
gained through the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP). USDA 
administered BIP from 2016-2019 through state and private partners to 
expand the availability of E15 and E85 infrastructure to make available 
higher ethanol blends at retail gas stations around the country.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 30, 2020. Comments received after 
the posted deadline will not be considered, regardless of postmark.

ADDRESSES: Comments submitted in response to this notice may be 
submitted online Via the Federal eRulmaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for the Docket ID RBS-20-Business-0002. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    All comment received will be posted without change and publicly 
available on www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Brodziski: telephone (202)690-
4730, email: [email protected]. Persons with disabilities that 
require alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202)720-2600 
(voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview

    This Request for Information (RFI) solicits information on options 
for fuel ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure, innovation, products, 
technology, and data derived from all HBIIP processes and/or science 
that drive economic growth, promote health, and increase public 
benefit. Through this RFI, USDA seeks input from the public, including 
but not limited to: (a) Retail fueling stations, convenience stores, 
hypermarket fueling stations, fleet facilities, and similar entities 
with capital investments; (b) equipment providers, equipment 
installers, certification entities and other stakeholder/manufacturers 
(both upstream and down); (c) fuel distribution centers, including 
terminals

[[Page 2700]]

and depots; and (d) those performing innovative research, and/or 
developing enabling platforms and applications in manufacturing, energy 
production, and agriculture.
    This RFI is intended to inform notable gaps, vulnerabilities, and 
areas to promote and protect in the HBIIP that may benefit from Federal 
government attention. The information can include suggestions on those 
areas of greatest priority within the HBIIP, as well as past or future 
Federal government efforts to build, promote, and sustain the sale and 
use of renewable fuels. The public input provided in response to this 
RFI will inform USDA as well as private sector and other stakeholders 
with interest in and expertise relating to such a promotion.

Instructions

    Response to this RFI is voluntary. Each individual or institution 
is requested to submit only one response as directed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice. Submission must not exceed 10 pages in 12 point 
or larger font, with a page number provided on each page. Responses 
should include the name of the person(s) or organization(s) filing the 
comment. Comments containing references, studies, research, and other 
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies or 
electronic links of the referenced materials. Comments containing 
profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate language or 
content will not be considered. Comments submitted in response to this 
notice are subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Responses to 
this RFI may also be posted, without change, on a Federal website.
    Therefore, we request that no business proprietary information, 
copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be 
submitted in response to this RFI. In accordance with FAR 15-202(3), 
responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the 
Government to form a binding contract. Additionally, the U.S. 
Government will not pay for response preparation or for the use of any 
information contained in the response.
    To inform the Federal government's decision-making and establish 
the Nation's guiding principles in the promotion of the HBIIP, USDA now 
seeks public input on how U.S. Government action might support 
appropriately the expansion of a nationwide effort. To that end, 
responders are specifically requested to answer one or more of the 
following questions in their submissions. Consortia responses are also 
encouraged.
    1. What type of assistance/incentive would encourage the increased 
sales/use of fuel ethanol and/or biodiesel in a way that is most cost-
effective to the government?
    a. Should a potential biofuels infrastructure program incentivize 
the lowest cost per incremental gallon of ethanol or biodiesel use/
sales at the retail/fueling station level or terminal/depot/wholesale 
level or both retail/fueling station and terminal/depot/wholesale 
levels?
    b. What types of equipment and infrastructure should be eligible 
under the program?
    2. Should program funding provided to participants include: (a) 
Direct cost-share toward purchase of equipment, retrofitting, and 
enhancements; (b) higher blend biofuel sales or marketing incentives; 
(c) both; or (d) other?
    3. Should the program include minimum standards for equipment, such 
as equipment certified to dispense biofuel blends containing 25 percent 
ethanol (certified for use with E15) and/or B20-compatable or higher 
biofuel blend dispensers?
    4. From your perspective, what types of efforts have proven to be 
effective in increasing higher biofuel blends sales?
    a. What are the most appropriate higher biofuel blend levels (for 
both ethanol and biodiesel) that the program should be incentivizing?
    b. Should there be a minimum requirement on the number or 
percentage of dispensers converted to higher biofuel blends at a retail 
site or fueling station?
    c. Should there be a requirement for certain dispenser 
configurations such as shared hoses (as practicable and allowed by law, 
for higher biofuel blends to share a pump hose with existing fuels)?
    d. Should there be a requirement for signage (as allowed by law) 
and marketing?
    e. Should USDA insist on consistent terminology and branding and 
naming of E15 and/or B20 or other higher biofuel blends?
    5. From your perspective, if cost-sharing is required, what minimum 
level of cost-share (owner contribution) should be required of 
recipients of funding? What would you consider to be the most cost-
effective level of cost-share?
    6. What steps should a potential biofuels program take to ensure 
equitable program participation by small- to mid-sized station owners? 
(That is, owners of less than 10 to less than 20 sites/stations. We are 
especially interested to hear from small- to midsized station owners on 
this question.)
    7. From your perspective, how much post-award reporting is 
reasonable for recipients of funding? e.g. quarterly or annual 
reporting of higher blend fuel sales by the participant?
    8. What other barriers exist that limit expansion of availability 
of biofuels to consumers? What specific actions could USDA take to 
guide a transformation and/or expansion of a nationwide biofuels-
infrastructure program, in both the short- and long-term?
    9. To what extent should infrastructure investments made today be 
required to accommodate fuels anticipated to be in the marketplace of 
tomorrow?
    10. Please provide feedback on the effectiveness of the 2015-2019 
Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) program.

Robert Stephenson,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
Bette B. Brand,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-00617 Filed 1-15-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P

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