Notice of Funds Availability; Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP), 37990-37994 [2021-15295]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 135 / Monday, July 19, 2021 / Notices
Supporting documents and any
comments we receive on this docket
may be viewed at www.regulations.gov
or in our reading room, which is located
in room 1620 of the USDA South
Building, 14th Street and Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal
reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
holidays. To be sure someone is there to
help you, please call (202) 799–7039
before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information on the National Poultry
Improvement Plan, contact Dr. Elena
Behnke, DVM, Senior Coordinator,
National Poultry Improvement Plan,
Veterinary Services, APHIS, 1506
Klondike Road SW, Suite 101, Conyers,
GA 30094; (770) 922–3496. For more
detailed information on the information
collection, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey,
APHIS’ Paperwork Reduction Act
Coordinator, at (301) 851–2483.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Poultry Improvement
Plan.
OMB Control Number: 0579–0007.
Type of Request: Revision to and
extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: Under the Animal Health
Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.),
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture is authorized, among
other things, to administer the National
Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), the
primary purpose of which is to protect
the health of the U.S. poultry
population. NPIP is a Federal-Stateindustry cooperative program for the
improvement of poultry flocks and
products through disease control
techniques. Participation in all NPIP
programs is voluntary, but flocks,
hatcheries, and dealers of breeding
poultry must first qualify as ‘‘U.S.
Pullorum-Typhoid Clean’’ as a
condition for participation in NPIP
programs. The NPIP regulations are
contained in 9 CFR part 56 and parts
145 through 147.
To administer the NPIP, APHIS
requires a number of activities that
include memoranda of understanding;
flock selecting and testing reports and
commercial waterfowl/game bird egg
producing flock surveillance; reports of
sales of hatching eggs, chicks and poults
(including printing and mailing
computerized printouts for small
shipments); summaries of breeding
flock, table-egg layer flock, meat-type
chicken and turkey slaughter plant
participation; reports of hatcheries,
dealers, and independent flocks, tableegg producers, meat-type chicken and
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turkey slaughter plants participating in
the NPIP; investigations of salmonella
isolations in poultry; flock inspection
and check testing reports; and hatchery
inspection forms. Activities also include
banding or marking of sentinel birds for
identification prior to flock vaccination;
requests for salmonella serotyping;
applications for U.S. Avian influenza
and Newcastle Clean Compartment and
Clean Component Registrations and
requests for removal; component audits;
auditor applications for NPIP AI Clean
Compartment Program; and compliance
statements. Activities further include
descriptions of animal identification
and traceability processes; laboratory
examination for Newcastle disease and
reporting; diagnostic test evaluations;
Newcastle disease biosecurity plans;
indemnity compliance agreements;
appraisal and indemnity claims for
animals or materials destroyed; initial
state response and containment plan;
and recordkeeping.
The information collection
requirements listed above represent
activities currently filed under Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control
number 0579–0007, National Poultry
Improvement Plan, and OMB control
number 0579–0474, National Poultry
Improvement Plan and Auxiliary
Provisions. After OMB approves this
combined information collection
package (0579–0007), APHIS will retire
OMB control number 0579–0474.
We are asking OMB to approve our
use of these information collection
activities, as described, for an additional
3 years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit
comments from the public (as well as
affected agencies) concerning our
information collection. These comments
will help us:
(1) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, through use, as
appropriate, of automated, electronic,
mechanical, and other collection
technologies; e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
Estimate of burden: The public
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 0.475 hours per
response.
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Respondents: State agriculture
officials; flock owners; breeders;
hatchery operators; table-egg, meat-type
chicken, and meat-type turkey
producers; feedlot and slaughter plant
personnel; approved laboratory
personnel; prospective and certified
auditors; visitors; and associated
entities.
Estimated annual number of
respondents: 2,867.
Estimated annual number of
responses per respondent: 82.
Estimated annual number of
responses: 234,630.
Estimated total annual burden on
respondents: 111,339 hours. (Due to
averaging, the total annual burden hours
may not equal the product of the annual
number of responses multiplied by the
reporting burden per response.)
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of
July 2021.
Jack Shere,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–15185 Filed 7–16–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
[Docket ID FSA–2021–0007]
Notice of Funds Availability; Pandemic
Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP)
Farm Service Agency,
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notification of funding
availability.
AGENCY:
The Farm Service Agency
(FSA) is issuing this notice announcing
the availability of funds for the
Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program
(PLIP) to provide assistance to
producers for losses of livestock and
poultry depopulated from March 1,
2020, through December 26, 2020, due
to insufficient processing access as a
result of the COVID–19 pandemic and
for the cost of depopulation and
disposal. FSA is implementing PLIP, as
authorized by the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kimberly Graham, Director; telephone:
(202) 720–6825; email:
Kimberly.Graham@usda.gov. Persons
with disabilities who require alternative
means for communication should
contact the USDA Target Center at (202)
SUMMARY:
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720–2600 (voice) or 844–433–2774 (tollfree nationwide).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Background
FSA is implementing PLIP, as
authorized by CAA (Pub. L. 116–260)
and as directed by the USDA Secretary,
to make payments to producers of
livestock and poultry for losses of
livestock or poultry depopulated before
December 27, 2020, due to insufficient
processing access, based on 80 percent
of the fair market value of that livestock
and poultry, and for the cost of
depopulation (other than costs already
compensated under the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 1).
The CAA also provides that the
Secretary may take into consideration
whether a producer has been
compensated for the cost of
depopulation under a State program.
This assistance will be available to
producers through PLIP as provided in
this notice. FSA is administering PLIP.
Definitions
The definitions in parts 718 and 1400
of this title apply to PLIP, except as
otherwise provided in this document.
Contract grower means a person or
legal entity who grows or produces
eligible livestock under contract for or
on behalf of another person or entity.
The contract grower’s income is
dependent upon the successful
production of livestock or offspring
from livestock. The contract grower
does not have ownership in the
livestock and is not entitled to a share
from sales proceeds of the livestock.
Depopulation means, consistent with
the American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) 2 definition, the
rapid destruction of a population of
livestock or poultry due to insufficient
processing access during the COVID–19
pandemic with as much consideration
given to the welfare of the animals as
practicable.
Live poultry dealer means a live
poultry dealer as defined in section 2(a)
of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921
(7 U.S.C. 182(10)). Therefore, live
poultry dealer means any person
engaged in the business of obtaining live
poultry by purchase or under a poultry
growing arrangement for the purpose of
either slaughtering it or selling it for
slaughter by another, if poultry is
obtained by such person in commerce,
1 EQIP is administered by USDA’s Natural
Resources Conservation Service according to the
regulations in 7 CFR part 1466.
2 The AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of
Animals is available at: https://www.avma.org/sites/
default/files/resources/AVMA-Guidelines-for-theDepopulation-of-Animals.pdf.
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or if poultry obtained by such person is
sold or shipped in commerce, or if
poultry products from poultry obtained
by such person are sold or shipped in
commerce.
Packer means a packer as defined in
section 201 of the Packers and
Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 191)).
Therefore, packer means any person
engaged in the business:
(a) Of buying livestock in commerce
for purposes of slaughter;
(b) Of manufacturing or preparing
meats or meat food products for sale or
shipment in commerce; or
(c) Of marketing meats, meat food
products, or livestock products in an
unmanufactured form acting as a
wholesale broker, dealer, or distributor
in commerce.
Swine means a domesticated
omnivorous pig, hog, sow, or boar.
Swine for purposes of dividing into
categories for payment calculations are
further delineated by sex and weight, as
determined by FSA.
Eligible Livestock and Poultry
Eligible livestock and poultry include
swine, chickens, and turkeys because
FSA has determined that producers of
these livestock and poultry types
suffered losses and incurred costs for
depopulation due to insufficient
processing access during the COVID–19
pandemic. In addition to the eligible
livestock and poultry types listed in this
notice, the Deputy Administrator for
Farm Programs may announce
additional eligible livestock categories if
FSA later determines that other
livestock were also depopulated due to
insufficient processing access as a result
of the COVID–19 pandemic.
Eligible livestock and poultry must
have been depopulated from March 1,
2020, through December 26, 2020, due
to insufficient processing access as a
result of the COVID–19 pandemic in
order to be eligible for PLIP. The
livestock and poultry must have been
physically located in the United States
or a territory of the United States at the
time of depopulation to be eligible.
Eligible livestock does not include
livestock not born, such as unborn
swine that were depopulated during
pre-farrowing.
Eligible Livestock Owners and Poultry
Owners
Eligible livestock owners and poultry
owners include only persons or legal
entities who, as of the day the eligible
livestock or poultry was depopulated,
had the legal ownership of the livestock
or poultry.
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To be eligible for PLIP, a livestock or
poultry owner must be any of the
following:
(1) Citizen of the United States;
(2) Resident alien, which for purposes
of this subpart means ‘‘lawful alien’’ as
defined in 7 CFR part 1400;
(3) Partnership of citizens or resident
aliens of the United States;
(4) Corporation, limited liability
company, or other organizational
structure organized under State law
solely owned by U.S. citizens or
resident aliens; or
(5) Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization, as defined in section 4(b)
of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304).
Ineligible Livestock Owners and
Poultry Owners
Ineligible livestock owners and
poultry owners include:
(1) Contract growers;
(2) Federal, State and local
governments, including public schools;
(3) Live poultry dealers; and
(4) Packers.
Application Process
FSA will accept the applications from
July 20, 2021, through September 17,
2021. To apply for PLIP, eligible
livestock owners and poultry owners
must submit a complete FSA–620,
Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program
(PLIP) Application, in person, by mail,
email, or facsimile to any FSA county
office.
Applicants must also submit all of the
following items, if not previously filed
with FSA:
• AD–2047, Customer Data
Worksheet for new customers or
existing customers needing to update
their customer profile;
• Form CCC–902, Farm Operating
Plan for an individual or legal entity as
provided in 7 CFR part 1400;
• Form CCC–901, Member
Information for Legal Entities (if
applicable);
• An average adjusted gross income
statement for the 2020 program year for
the person or legal entity, including the
legal entity’s members, partners,
shareholders, heirs, or beneficiaries as
provided in 7 CFR part 1400; form CCC–
941 Average Adjusted Gross Income
(AGI) Certification and Consent to
Disclosure of Tax Information; and
• A highly erodible land conservation
(sometimes referred to as HELC) and
wetland conservation certification as
provided in 7 CFR part 12 (form AD–
1026 Highly Erodible Land
Conservation (HELC) and Wetland
Conservation (WC) Certification for PLIP
applicant and applicable affiliates).
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Applicants must submit all required
eligibility documentation specified
above, as applicable, no later than 60
days from the date an applicant signs
and submits the FSA–620. When the
applicant does not timely submit the
required eligibility documentation, FSA
will not issue a payment. When the
required documentation is not timely
submitted for a member of a legal entity,
FSA will reduce the payment based on
the member’s ownership share of the
legal entity.
If requested by FSA, the applicant
must provide supporting documentation
to substantiate the information on their
application and ownership of the
livestock and poultry claimed on the
application. Examples of supporting
documentation that may be requested
include veterinarian records, feeding
records, inventory records, rendering
receipts, purchase receipts, and other
records determined acceptable by the
relevant FSA county committee. If any
supporting documentation is requested,
the documentation must be submitted to
FSA within 30 days from the request or
the application will be disapproved by
FSA.
Payment
PLIP payments compensate
participants for both the loss of the
eligible livestock or poultry and for the
cost of depopulation and disposal. To
simplify administration of PLIP, FSA
has determined a single payment rate
per head for each of the categories in the
table below. The categories and market
values are consistent with the categories
Eligible livestock or poultry category
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Swine: Boars and sows; 451 lbs. or greater ...............................................................................
Swine: Sows, boars, barrows, and gilts; 251–450 lbs ................................................................
Swine: Sows, boars, barrows, and gilts; 151–250 lbs ................................................................
Swine: Lightweight barrows and gilts; 50–150 lbs ......................................................................
Swine: Suckling nursery pigs; less than 50 lbs ...........................................................................
Chickens: Chicks .........................................................................................................................
Chickens: Super roasters and parts; 7.76 lbs. or greater ...........................................................
Chickens: Roasters; 6.26–7.75 lbs ..............................................................................................
Chickens: Broilers, pullets; 4.26–6.25 lbs ...................................................................................
Chickens: Pullets, Cornish hens; less than 4.26 lbs ...................................................................
Chickens: Layers .........................................................................................................................
Turkeys: Poults ............................................................................................................................
Turkeys: Toms, fryers, and roasters ...........................................................................................
and nationwide prices used to
administer the Livestock Indemnity
Program (LIP), 7 CFR part 1416, subpart
D, for 2020. The estimated cost of
depopulation is based on USDA’s
estimates of the average costs of
common methods used to depopulate
animals.3 The estimated cost of disposal
is based on the costs of common
disposal methods and rates used in
EQIP. The disposal rates are weighted
based on the number of participants
paid under EQIP by disposal method. If
additional categories are determined to
be eligible after publication of this
notice, those categories and payments
rates will be announced by press release
and outreach to stakeholders by the
Deputy Administrator for Farm
Programs.
Market value
per head
(after 80
percent factor)
Depopulation
& disposal
cost per head
(after 80
percent factor)
Depopulation
payment rate
per head
(after 80
percent factor)
$173.25
111.74
87.97
68.38
48.81
0.26
4.17
3.17
2.50
1.70
3.64
1.33
12.85
$85.32
47.13
34.13
20.32
6.50
0.06
1.14
0.87
0.68
0.46
1.30
0.82
2.72
$258.57
158.88
122.10
88.70
55.31
0.32
5.31
4.04
3.18
2.16
4.94
2.15
15.57
PLIP payments will be calculated by
multiplying the number of head of
eligible livestock or poultry by the
depopulation payment rate per head
from the table above, and then
subtracting the amount of any payments
the eligible livestock owner or poultry
owner has received for disposal of the
livestock or poultry under EQIP or a
State program. The payments will also
be reduced by any Coronavirus Food
Assistance Program 1 and 2 (CFAP 1
and 2) payments paid on the same
inventory of swine that were
depopulated.4 FSA will issue payments
to eligible livestock owners and poultry
owners as applications are received.
PLIP is not subject to payment
limitation.
Provisions Requiring Refund to FSA
Miscellaneous Provisions
In the event that any application for
a PLIP payment resulted from erroneous
information reported by the applicant,
the payment will be recalculated, and
the participant must refund any excess
payment to FSA including interest to be
calculated from the date of the
disbursement to the PLIP participant. If,
for whatever reason, FSA determines
that the applicant misrepresented either
the total amount or the producer’s share
of the head of livestock or poultry, the
application will be disapproved and the
participant must refund the full PLIP
payment to FSA with interest from the
date of disbursement. Any required
refunds must be resolved in accordance
with 7 CFR part 3.
A person or legal entity, other than a
joint venture or general partnership, is
ineligible for PLIP payments if the
person’s or legal entity’s average
adjusted gross income (AGI), using the
average of the adjusted gross incomes
for the 2016, 2017, and 2018 tax years,
exceeds $900,000. With respect to joint
ventures and general partnerships, this
AGI provision will be applied to
members of the joint venture and
general partnership. AGI provisions are
applicable to members of a legal entity,
including a general partnership or joint
venture who are at or above the fourth
tier of ownership in the business
structure. The eligible livestock owner’s
payment will be reduced by the portion
of a payment attributed to a member
who exceeds the $900,000 AGI
3 Information on common methods of
depopulation and associated costs is available from
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/
animalhealth/livestock-coordination-center/
livestock-coordination-center.
4 The portion of the CFAP 1 payment for hogs and
pigs that was funded under the Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Stability Act (CARES Act;
Pub. L. 116–136) was based on inventory sold
between January 15, 2020, and April 15, 2020;
therefore, no reduction is necessary for that portion
of the CFAP 1 payment.
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limitation or is otherwise ineligible for
payment.
Payments will be attributed to
individual persons and members of
entities through the direct attribution
process described in 7 CFR 1400.105.
An applicant that is a legal entity will
be required to provide the names and
taxpayer identification numbers of the
members holding an ownership interest
in the legal entity as described in 7 CFR
1400.107. A reduction in payment will
be applied to the payment entity if the
fourth tier of ownership in the legal
entity is that of a legal entity and not
that of an individual person.
If an individual or legal entity is not
eligible to receive PLIP payments due to
the individual or legal entity failing to
satisfy some other payment eligibility
provision such as AGI or conservation
compliance provisions, the payment
made either directly or indirectly to the
individual or legal entity will be
reduced to zero. The amount of the
reduction for the direct payment to the
applicant will be commensurate with
the direct or indirect ownership interest
of the ineligible individual or ineligible
legal entity.
General requirements that apply to
other FSA-administered commodity
programs also apply to PLIP, including
compliance with the provisions of 7
CFR part 12, ‘‘Highly Erodible Land and
Wetland Conservation,’’ and the
provisions of 7 CFR 718.6, which
address ineligibility for benefits for
offenses involving controlled
substances. Appeal regulations specified
in 7 CFR parts 11 and 780 and equitable
relief and finality provisions specified
in 7 CFR part 718, subpart D, apply to
determinations under PLIP. The
determination of matters of general
applicability that are not in response to,
or result from, an individual set of facts
in an individual participant’s
application for payment are not matters
that can be appealed. Such matters of
general applicability include, but are
not limited to, the determination of
payment rates and eligible livestock and
poultry categories for PLIP.
Participants are required to retain
documentation in support of their
application for 3 years after the date of
approval. Participants receiving PLIP
payments or any other person who
furnishes such information to USDA
must permit authorized representatives
of USDA or the Government
Accountability Office, during regular
business hours, to enter the agricultural
operation and to inspect, examine, and
to allow representatives to make copies
of books, records, or other items for the
purpose of confirming the accuracy of
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the information provided by the
participant.
An applicant may file an application
with an FSA county office after the PLIP
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 PLIP. 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 payment under PLIP will be
made without regard to questions of title
under State law and without regard to
any claim or lien. The regulations
governing offsets in 7 CFR part 3 do not
apply to payments made under this part.
In either applying for or participating
in PLIP, or both, the eligible livestock
owner or poultry owner is subject to
laws against perjury and any penalties
and prosecution resulting therefrom,
with such laws including but not
limited to 18 U.S.C. 1621. If the eligible
livestock owner or poultry owner
willfully makes and represents as true
any verbal or written declaration,
certification, statement, or verification
that the eligible livestock owner or
poultry owner knows or believes not to
be true, in the course of either applying
for or participating in PLIP, or both,
then the eligible livestock owner or
poultry owner is guilty of perjury and,
except as otherwise provided by law,
may be fined, imprisoned for not more
than 5 years, or both, regardless of
whether the eligible livestock owner or
poultry owner makes such verbal or
written declaration, certification,
statement, or verification within or
without the United States.
For the purposes of the effect of a lien
on eligibility for Federal programs (28
U.S.C. 3201(e)), USDA waives the
restriction on receipt of funds under
PLIP but only as to beneficiaries who, as
a condition of the waiver, agree to apply
the PLIP payments to reduce the amount
of the judgment lien.
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In addition to any other Federal laws
that apply to PLIP, the following laws
apply: 15 U.S.C. 714; and 18 U.S.C. 286,
287, 371, and 1001.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Requirements
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), the emergency information
collection request has been submitted to
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). OMB approved the 6-month
emergency PLIP information collection
activity. FSA will make payments to
producers of livestock and poultry for
losses of livestock or poultry
depopulated before December 27, 2020,
due to insufficient processing access,
based on 80 percent of the fair market
value of the livestock and poultry, and
for the cost of depopulation (other than
costs already compensated under the
Environmental Quality Incentives
Program, state funded programs, and
CFAP 1 and 2 payments).
Environmental Review
The environmental impacts 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
regulation for compliance with NEPA (7
CFR part 799).
As previously stated, PLIP is
providing payments to qualified
producers of livestock and poultry for
losses of livestock or poultry
depopulated before December 27, 2020,
due to insufficient processing access
based on 80 percent of the fair market
value of the livestock and poultry, and
for the cost of depopulation. The limited
discretionary aspects of PLIP do not
have the potential to impact the human
environment as they are administrative.
Accordingly, these discretionary aspects
are covered by the FSA Categorical
Exclusions specified in 7 CFR
799.31(b)(6)(iii) that applies to price
support programs and § 799.31(b)(6)(vi)
that applies to safety net programs.
No Extraordinary Circumstances
(§ 799.33) exist. As such, the
implementation of PLIP and the
participation in PLIP do not constitute
major Federal actions 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
action and this document serves as
documentation of the programmatic
environmental compliance decision for
this federal action.
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Federal Assistance Programs
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The title and number of the Federal
assistance programs, as found in the
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance,
to which this document applies is
10.138—Pandemic Livestock Indemnity
Program.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
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USDA Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Federal civil
rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights
regulations and policies, USDA, its
Agencies, offices, and employees, and
institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
gender identity (including gender
expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family or
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 (for example,
braille, large print, audiotape, American
Sign Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible Agency or USDA TARGET
Center at (202) 720–2600 or 844–433–
2774 (toll-free nationwide).
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.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-aprogram-discrimination-complaint and
at any USDA office or write a letter
addressed to USDA and provide in the
letter all the information requested in
the form. To request a copy of the
complaint form, call (866) 632–9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to
USDA by mail to: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–9410 or email: OAC@
usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.
Zach Ducheneaux,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021–15295 Filed 7–16–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–05–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:23 Jul 16, 2021
Jkt 253001
[Docket No. FSIS–2020–0023]
Response to the Office of Inspector
General’s Recommendations on the
Rulemaking Process for the Proposed
Rule Modernization of Swine Slaughter
Inspection
Food Safety and Inspection
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) is responding
to two recommendations from the
USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG)
regarding the Agency’s rulemaking
process for the proposed rule entitled
Modernization of Swine Slaughter
Inspection, that included the proposal
to establish the New Swine Slaughter
Inspection System (NSIS).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rachel Edelstein, Assistant
Administrator, Office of Policy and
Program Development, telephone: (202)
205–0495.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
FSIS is providing information to
further address two recommendations
from the recent USDA OIG Final
Inspection Report, FSIS Rulemaking
Process for the Proposed Rule:
Modernization of Swine Slaughter
Inspection (Inspection Report 24801–
0001–41, June 23, 2020),1 both
concerning the presentation of data in a
preliminary worker safety analysis that
FSIS conducted when developing the
proposed rule.2 FSIS already responded
to the two recommendations and the
responses were printed in the OIG
report (available at https://
www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/auditreports/24801-0001-41.pdf). OIG did not
fully accept the FSIS responses,
however, and requested further
clarification about the data in a public
document.
In its final report, OIG recommended
(Recommendation #2) that FSIS
1 https://www.usda.gov/oig/audit-reports/fsisrulemaking-process-proposed-rule-modernizationswine-slaughter-inspection.
2 On March 31, 2021, the U.S. District Court for
the District of Minnesota vacated a portion of the
NSIS final rule. The Court found that FSIS violated
the Administrative Procedure Act because it asked
for comments on the impact of line speed increases
on worker safety in the proposed rule but did not
consider these comments in the final rule. The
Court vacated the final rule only insofar as it
eliminated the maximum line speed cap for NSIS
establishments. The other provisions of the final
rule were not affected by the Court’s decision.
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
communicate to the public the correct
scope of data used in the FSIS
preliminary worker safety analysis.
Specifically, OIG found a typographical
error in the sentence in the proposed
rule that states, ‘‘FSIS compared inestablishment injury rates between
HACCP-Based Inspection Models
Project (HIMP) establishments and
traditional establishments from 2002 to
2010’’ (83 FR 4796). OIG pointed out in
its report that for the preliminary
worker safety analysis, FSIS also
examined CY 2011 results for 5 of 24
traditional establishments, which were
outside of its stated scope of CYs 2002
to 2010.
FSIS has acknowledged the
typographical error in discussions with
OIG and noted that it did not affect the
conclusions of the analysis or have any
bearing on its ability to be understood.
Regardless of what time span is used,
from 2002 to 2010 or from 2002 to 2011,
both show that HIMP 3 establishments
had lower mean injury rates than nonHIMP establishments. In addition, this
OIG recommendation was addressed in
the publication of the final rule to
modernize swine inspection (84 FR
52300), where FSIS included a link (84
FR 52305) to its Electronic Freedom of
Information Act Reading Room, which
contains documents that show FSIS’ full
analysis of worker injury data.
OIG also recommended
(Recommendation #3) that FSIS
communicate to the public two
limitations of the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) data
used for FSIS’ analysis. While the
Agency used the best publicly available
data and requested from the public
additional data resources on injuries in
swine establishments, OIG contended
that these two limitations should have
been discussed in the proposed or final
rules. Specifically, OIG stated that (1)
the OSHA data the agency used in its
analysis of the 29 establishments did
not include injury and illness rates for
all establishments for each of the 10
years, and (2) the OSHA data used did
not differentiate whether injuries/
illnesses occurred on the swine
slaughter line or elsewhere within the
establishment.
FSIS is publishing OIG’s two
observations about the data used in the
preliminary worker safety analysis in
response to OIG’s recommendation to
communicate these observations to the
public. Importantly, FSIS did not
develop the preliminary worker safety
3 The HACCP-Based Inspection Models Project, or
HIMP, was a pilot program for modernized poultry
and swine inspection, data from which informed
the New Poultry Inspection System and NSIS
rulemakings.
E:\FR\FM\19JYN1.SGM
19JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 135 (Monday, July 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37990-37994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15295]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
[Docket ID FSA-2021-0007]
Notice of Funds Availability; Pandemic Livestock Indemnity
Program (PLIP)
AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notification of funding availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is issuing this notice
announcing the availability of funds for the Pandemic Livestock
Indemnity Program (PLIP) to provide assistance to producers for losses
of livestock and poultry depopulated from March 1, 2020, through
December 26, 2020, due to insufficient processing access as a result of
the COVID-19 pandemic and for the cost of depopulation and disposal.
FSA is implementing PLIP, as authorized by the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Graham, Director; telephone:
(202) 720-6825; email: [email protected]. Persons with
disabilities who require alternative means for communication should
contact the USDA Target Center at (202)
[[Page 37991]]
720-2600 (voice) or 844-433-2774 (toll-free nationwide).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
FSA is implementing PLIP, as authorized by CAA (Pub. L. 116-260)
and as directed by the USDA Secretary, to make payments to producers of
livestock and poultry for losses of livestock or poultry depopulated
before December 27, 2020, due to insufficient processing access, based
on 80 percent of the fair market value of that livestock and poultry,
and for the cost of depopulation (other than costs already compensated
under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) \1\). The CAA
also provides that the Secretary may take into consideration whether a
producer has been compensated for the cost of depopulation under a
State program. This assistance will be available to producers through
PLIP as provided in this notice. FSA is administering PLIP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ EQIP is administered by USDA's Natural Resources
Conservation Service according to the regulations in 7 CFR part
1466.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Definitions
The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title apply to PLIP,
except as otherwise provided in this document.
Contract grower means a person or legal entity who grows or
produces eligible livestock under contract for or on behalf of another
person or entity. The contract grower's income is dependent upon the
successful production of livestock or offspring from livestock. The
contract grower does not have ownership in the livestock and is not
entitled to a share from sales proceeds of the livestock.
Depopulation means, consistent with the American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) \2\ definition, the rapid destruction of a
population of livestock or poultry due to insufficient processing
access during the COVID-19 pandemic with as much consideration given to
the welfare of the animals as practicable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals is
available at: https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/resources/AVMA-Guidelines-for-the-Depopulation-of-Animals.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Live poultry dealer means a live poultry dealer as defined in
section 2(a) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C.
182(10)). Therefore, live poultry dealer means any person engaged in
the business of obtaining live poultry by purchase or under a poultry
growing arrangement for the purpose of either slaughtering it or
selling it for slaughter by another, if poultry is obtained by such
person in commerce, or if poultry obtained by such person is sold or
shipped in commerce, or if poultry products from poultry obtained by
such person are sold or shipped in commerce.
Packer means a packer as defined in section 201 of the Packers and
Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 191)). Therefore, packer means any
person engaged in the business:
(a) Of buying livestock in commerce for purposes of slaughter;
(b) Of manufacturing or preparing meats or meat food products for
sale or shipment in commerce; or
(c) Of marketing meats, meat food products, or livestock products
in an unmanufactured form acting as a wholesale broker, dealer, or
distributor in commerce.
Swine means a domesticated omnivorous pig, hog, sow, or boar. Swine
for purposes of dividing into categories for payment calculations are
further delineated by sex and weight, as determined by FSA.
Eligible Livestock and Poultry
Eligible livestock and poultry include swine, chickens, and turkeys
because FSA has determined that producers of these livestock and
poultry types suffered losses and incurred costs for depopulation due
to insufficient processing access during the COVID-19 pandemic. In
addition to the eligible livestock and poultry types listed in this
notice, the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs may announce
additional eligible livestock categories if FSA later determines that
other livestock were also depopulated due to insufficient processing
access as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible livestock and poultry must have been depopulated from
March 1, 2020, through December 26, 2020, due to insufficient
processing access as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to be
eligible for PLIP. The livestock and poultry must have been physically
located in the United States or a territory of the United States at the
time of depopulation to be eligible. Eligible livestock does not
include livestock not born, such as unborn swine that were depopulated
during pre-farrowing.
Eligible Livestock Owners and Poultry Owners
Eligible livestock owners and poultry owners include only persons
or legal entities who, as of the day the eligible livestock or poultry
was depopulated, had the legal ownership of the livestock or poultry.
To be eligible for PLIP, a livestock or poultry owner must be any
of the following:
(1) Citizen of the United States;
(2) Resident alien, which for purposes of this subpart means
``lawful alien'' as defined in 7 CFR part 1400;
(3) Partnership of citizens or resident aliens of the United
States;
(4) Corporation, limited liability company, or other organizational
structure organized under State law solely owned by U.S. citizens or
resident aliens; or
(5) Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined in section 4(b)
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304).
Ineligible Livestock Owners and Poultry Owners
Ineligible livestock owners and poultry owners include:
(1) Contract growers;
(2) Federal, State and local governments, including public schools;
(3) Live poultry dealers; and
(4) Packers.
Application Process
FSA will accept the applications from July 20, 2021, through
September 17, 2021. To apply for PLIP, eligible livestock owners and
poultry owners must submit a complete FSA-620, Pandemic Livestock
Indemnity Program (PLIP) Application, in person, by mail, email, or
facsimile to any FSA county office.
Applicants must also submit all of the following items, if not
previously filed with FSA:
AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet for new customers or
existing customers needing to update their customer profile;
Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or
legal entity as provided in 7 CFR part 1400;
Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if
applicable);
An average adjusted gross income statement for the 2020
program year for the person or legal entity, including the legal
entity's members, partners, shareholders, heirs, or beneficiaries as
provided in 7 CFR part 1400; form CCC-941 Average Adjusted Gross Income
(AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information; and
A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to
as HELC) and wetland conservation certification as provided in 7 CFR
part 12 (form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and
Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification for PLIP applicant and
applicable affiliates).
[[Page 37992]]
Applicants must submit all required eligibility documentation
specified above, as applicable, no later than 60 days from the date an
applicant signs and submits the FSA-620. When the applicant does not
timely submit the required eligibility documentation, FSA will not
issue a payment. When the required documentation is not timely
submitted for a member of a legal entity, FSA will reduce the payment
based on the member's ownership share of the legal entity.
If requested by FSA, the applicant must provide supporting
documentation to substantiate the information on their application and
ownership of the livestock and poultry claimed on the application.
Examples of supporting documentation that may be requested include
veterinarian records, feeding records, inventory records, rendering
receipts, purchase receipts, and other records determined acceptable by
the relevant FSA county committee. If any supporting documentation is
requested, the documentation must be submitted to FSA within 30 days
from the request or the application will be disapproved by FSA.
Payment
PLIP payments compensate participants for both the loss of the
eligible livestock or poultry and for the cost of depopulation and
disposal. To simplify administration of PLIP, FSA has determined a
single payment rate per head for each of the categories in the table
below. The categories and market values are consistent with the
categories and nationwide prices used to administer the Livestock
Indemnity Program (LIP), 7 CFR part 1416, subpart D, for 2020. The
estimated cost of depopulation is based on USDA's estimates of the
average costs of common methods used to depopulate animals.\3\ The
estimated cost of disposal is based on the costs of common disposal
methods and rates used in EQIP. The disposal rates are weighted based
on the number of participants paid under EQIP by disposal method. If
additional categories are determined to be eligible after publication
of this notice, those categories and payments rates will be announced
by press release and outreach to stakeholders by the Deputy
Administrator for Farm Programs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Information on common methods of depopulation and associated
costs is available from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/livestock-coordination-center/livestock-coordination-center.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depopulation & Depopulation
Market value disposal cost payment rate
per head per head per head
Eligible livestock or poultry category (after 80 (after 80 (after 80
percent percent percent
factor) factor) factor)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swine: Boars and sows; 451 lbs. or greater...................... $173.25 $85.32 $258.57
Swine: Sows, boars, barrows, and gilts; 251-450 lbs............. 111.74 47.13 158.88
Swine: Sows, boars, barrows, and gilts; 151-250 lbs............. 87.97 34.13 122.10
Swine: Lightweight barrows and gilts; 50-150 lbs................ 68.38 20.32 88.70
Swine: Suckling nursery pigs; less than 50 lbs.................. 48.81 6.50 55.31
Chickens: Chicks................................................ 0.26 0.06 0.32
Chickens: Super roasters and parts; 7.76 lbs. or greater........ 4.17 1.14 5.31
Chickens: Roasters; 6.26-7.75 lbs............................... 3.17 0.87 4.04
Chickens: Broilers, pullets; 4.26-6.25 lbs...................... 2.50 0.68 3.18
Chickens: Pullets, Cornish hens; less than 4.26 lbs............. 1.70 0.46 2.16
Chickens: Layers................................................ 3.64 1.30 4.94
Turkeys: Poults................................................. 1.33 0.82 2.15
Turkeys: Toms, fryers, and roasters............................. 12.85 2.72 15.57
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLIP payments will be calculated by multiplying the number of head
of eligible livestock or poultry by the depopulation payment rate per
head from the table above, and then subtracting the amount of any
payments the eligible livestock owner or poultry owner has received for
disposal of the livestock or poultry under EQIP or a State program. The
payments will also be reduced by any Coronavirus Food Assistance
Program 1 and 2 (CFAP 1 and 2) payments paid on the same inventory of
swine that were depopulated.\4\ FSA will issue payments to eligible
livestock owners and poultry owners as applications are received. PLIP
is not subject to payment limitation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The portion of the CFAP 1 payment for hogs and pigs that was
funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability Act
(CARES Act; Pub. L. 116-136) was based on inventory sold between
January 15, 2020, and April 15, 2020; therefore, no reduction is
necessary for that portion of the CFAP 1 payment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Provisions Requiring Refund to FSA
In the event that any application for a PLIP payment resulted from
erroneous information reported by the applicant, the payment will be
recalculated, and the participant must refund any excess payment to FSA
including interest to be calculated from the date of the disbursement
to the PLIP participant. If, for whatever reason, FSA determines that
the applicant misrepresented either the total amount or the producer's
share of the head of livestock or poultry, the application will be
disapproved and the participant must refund the full PLIP payment to
FSA with interest from the date of disbursement. Any required refunds
must be resolved in accordance with 7 CFR part 3.
Miscellaneous Provisions
A person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general
partnership, is ineligible for PLIP payments if the person's or legal
entity's average adjusted gross income (AGI), using the average of the
adjusted gross incomes for the 2016, 2017, and 2018 tax years, exceeds
$900,000. With respect to joint ventures and general partnerships, this
AGI provision will be applied to members of the joint venture and
general partnership. AGI provisions are applicable to members of a
legal entity, including a general partnership or joint venture who are
at or above the fourth tier of ownership in the business structure. The
eligible livestock owner's payment will be reduced by the portion of a
payment attributed to a member who exceeds the $900,000 AGI
[[Page 37993]]
limitation or is otherwise ineligible for payment.
Payments will be attributed to individual persons and members of
entities through the direct attribution process described in 7 CFR
1400.105. An applicant that is a legal entity will be required to
provide the names and taxpayer identification numbers of the members
holding an ownership interest in the legal entity as described in 7 CFR
1400.107. A reduction in payment will be applied to the payment entity
if the fourth tier of ownership in the legal entity is that of a legal
entity and not that of an individual person.
If an individual or legal entity is not eligible to receive PLIP
payments due to the individual or legal entity failing to satisfy some
other payment eligibility provision such as AGI or conservation
compliance provisions, the payment made either directly or indirectly
to the individual or legal entity will be reduced to zero. The amount
of the reduction for the direct payment to the applicant will be
commensurate with the direct or indirect ownership interest of the
ineligible individual or ineligible legal entity.
General requirements that apply to other FSA-administered commodity
programs also apply to PLIP, including compliance with the provisions
of 7 CFR part 12, ``Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation,''
and the provisions of 7 CFR 718.6, which address ineligibility for
benefits for offenses involving controlled substances. Appeal
regulations specified in 7 CFR parts 11 and 780 and equitable relief
and finality provisions specified in 7 CFR part 718, subpart D, apply
to determinations under PLIP. The determination of matters of general
applicability that are not in response to, or result from, an
individual set of facts in an individual participant's application for
payment are not matters that can be appealed. Such matters of general
applicability include, but are not limited to, the determination of
payment rates and eligible livestock and poultry categories for PLIP.
Participants are required to retain documentation in support of
their application for 3 years after the date of approval. Participants
receiving PLIP payments or any other person who furnishes such
information to USDA must permit authorized representatives of USDA or
the Government Accountability Office, during regular business hours, to
enter the agricultural operation and to inspect, examine, and to allow
representatives to make copies of books, records, or other items for
the purpose of confirming the accuracy of the information provided by
the participant.
An applicant may file an application with an FSA county office
after the PLIP 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 PLIP. 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 payment under PLIP will be made without regard to questions of
title under State law and without regard to any claim or lien. The
regulations governing offsets in 7 CFR part 3 do not apply to payments
made under this part.
In either applying for or participating in PLIP, or both, the
eligible livestock owner or poultry owner is subject to laws against
perjury and any penalties and prosecution resulting therefrom, with
such laws including but not limited to 18 U.S.C. 1621. If the eligible
livestock owner or poultry owner willfully makes and represents as true
any verbal or written declaration, certification, statement, or
verification that the eligible livestock owner or poultry owner knows
or believes not to be true, in the course of either applying for or
participating in PLIP, or both, then the eligible livestock owner or
poultry owner is guilty of perjury and, except as otherwise provided by
law, may be fined, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both,
regardless of whether the eligible livestock owner or poultry owner
makes such verbal or written declaration, certification, statement, or
verification within or without the United States.
For the purposes of the effect of a lien on eligibility for Federal
programs (28 U.S.C. 3201(e)), USDA waives the restriction on receipt of
funds under PLIP but only as to beneficiaries who, as a condition of
the waiver, agree to apply the PLIP payments to reduce the amount of
the judgment lien.
In addition to any other Federal laws that apply to PLIP, the
following laws apply: 15 U.S.C. 714; and 18 U.S.C. 286, 287, 371, and
1001.
Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), the emergency information collection request has been
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB approved
the 6-month emergency PLIP information collection activity. FSA will
make payments to producers of livestock and poultry for losses of
livestock or poultry depopulated before December 27, 2020, due to
insufficient processing access, based on 80 percent of the fair market
value of the livestock and poultry, and for the cost of depopulation
(other than costs already compensated under the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program, state funded programs, and CFAP 1 and 2 payments).
Environmental Review
The environmental impacts 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 regulation
for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR part 799).
As previously stated, PLIP is providing payments to qualified
producers of livestock and poultry for losses of livestock or poultry
depopulated before December 27, 2020, due to insufficient processing
access based on 80 percent of the fair market value of the livestock
and poultry, and for the cost of depopulation. The limited
discretionary aspects of PLIP do not have the potential to impact the
human environment as they are administrative. Accordingly, these
discretionary aspects are covered by the FSA Categorical Exclusions
specified in 7 CFR 799.31(b)(6)(iii) that applies to price support
programs and Sec. 799.31(b)(6)(vi) that applies to safety net
programs.
No Extraordinary Circumstances (Sec. 799.33) exist. As such, the
implementation of PLIP and the participation in PLIP do not constitute
major Federal actions 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 action and this document serves as documentation of
the programmatic environmental compliance decision for this federal
action.
[[Page 37994]]
Federal Assistance Programs
The title and number of the Federal assistance programs, as found
in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, to which this document
applies is 10.138--Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program.
USDA Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital
status, family or 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 (for example, braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible Agency or USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 or 844-433-
2774 (toll-free nationwide). 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.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form
or letter to USDA by mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Zach Ducheneaux,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021-15295 Filed 7-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P
