Notice of Funds Availability; Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), 39579-39580 [2024-10172]

Download as PDF 39579 Notices Federal Register Vol. 89, No. 91 Thursday, May 9, 2024 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Commodity Credit Corporation [Docket ID FSA–2024–0003] Notice of Funds Availability; Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency, USDA. ACTION: Notification of funding availability. AGENCY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation, is issuing this notice to announce the availability of cost share assistance through OCCSP for fiscal year (FY) 2024. FSA is giving the opportunity for State Agencies to apply for grant agreements to administrator the OCCSP program to establish agreements to provide cost share assistance to eligible producers and handlers and for producers and handlers to apply for OCCSP payment at FSA county office. DATES: Applications for State Agency Agreements: FSA will accept applications from State Agencies to administer OCCSP for FY 2024 between the period of May 13, 2024, and October 31, 2024. Producer and Handler Applications: FSA county offices will accept applications for OCCSP from producers and handlers for FY 2024 until October 31, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Vazquez; telephone: (202) 923– 1585; email: christopher.vazquez@ usda.gov. Individuals who require alternative means for communication should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and text telephone (TTY)) or dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay service (both voice and text telephone users can initiate this call from any telephone). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 May 08, 2024 Jkt 262001 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).1 The purpose of this NOFA is to announce the funding availability and application periods for FY 2024. OCCSP is funded through two authorizations: (1) National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (National OCCSP) funds, and (2) Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) funds. Section 102 of the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118–22) amended the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 6523(d)(1)(C)) to provide $8 million 2 in National OCCSP funding for FY 2024. In addition, approximately $1.5 million in National OCCSP funding remains available from prior years. An additional $1 million 3 in AMA funding is authorized for each FY. (7 U.S.C. 1524). On April 29, 2019, FSA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing general eligibility and administrative provisions for OCCSP for FY 2019 through 2023 (84 FR 17997– 17999). For FY 2024, FSA will administer OCCSP according to the provisions that were applicable for FY 2019 through 2023, providing cost share assistance for 75 percent of an applicant’s eligible expenses, up to $750 per scope, which is the maximum amount allowed by law.4 Cost share 1 USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers the NOP, which was established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501–6524). Information about organic standards, the certification process, and additional resources for organic producers is available at https:// www.farmers.gov/your-business/organic. More information about OCCSP is available at https:// www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/occsp/ index. 2 After sequestration of 5.7 percent, $7,544,000 in National OCCSP funding is available for FY 2024. 3 After sequestration of 5.7 percent, $943,000 in AMA funding is available for FY 2024. 4 On August 10, 2020, FSA announced in the Federal Register that the maximum amount of cost share for FY 2020 through 2023 would be 50 percent of an applicant’s eligible expenses, up to $500 per scope, due to the limited amount of funding available and expected participation rates. (85 FR 48149–48150). For FY 2020 through 2022, FSA also provided cost share for eligible organic and transitional certification and education expenses through the Organic and Transitional PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 assistance is provided on a first come, first served basis, until all available funds are obligated. As in previous years, FSA will accept applications through FSA county offices and also partner with participating State agencies to administer the program through grant agreements. Application Period for State Agencies and How To Submit an Application FSA will accept applications from State Agencies from May 13, 2024, through October 31. 2024. To administer OCCSP for FY 2024, State Agencies must submit an Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 and 424A) electronically via Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov) and enter into a grant agreement with FSA. State Agencies will refer to the Fiscal Year 2024 Full Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement on Grants.gov for additional application requirements. For information on how to use Grants.gov, please access https:// www.grants.gov/applicants. Application Period for Producers and Handlers and How To Submit an Application Producers and handlers may submit applications for eligible costs incurred in FY 2024 (the period of October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024) to their FSA county office until October 31, 2024. The FSA county office locator is available in the ‘‘Find Your Local Service Center’’ section on https:// www.farmers.gov. Participating State Agencies will establish their own application process and deadlines, as specified in their grant agreements, and producers and handlers must submit an application package according to the instructions provided by the State Agency. A list of participating State Agencies will be available at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ programs-and-services/occsp after their agreements with FSA are finalized. Education and Certification Program (OTECP) in response to economic challenges due to the COVID– 19 pandemic that made obtaining and renewing USDA organic certification financially challenging for many operations. On May 10, 2023, FSA announced that OCCSP funding was available for FY 2023 to increase the amount of cost share to 75 percent of eligible costs, up to $750 per scope. (See https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/ 05/10/usda-announces-new-steps-enhance-organicmarkets-and-support.) E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM 09MYN1 39580 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 91 / Thursday, May 9, 2024 / Notices Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements There are no changes to the information collection request for OCCSP that has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The OMB control number for the approval is 0560–0289. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 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). 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 program deadlines for the 2024 program year. 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. 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. Individuals 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 the USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and text telephone (TTY)) or dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (both voice and text telephone users can initiate this call from any telephone). 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: (1) mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410; (2) fax: (202) 690–7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator, Farm Service Agency and Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. 2024–10172 Filed 5–8–24; 8:45 am] Federal Assistance Programs The title and number of the Federal assistance program, as found in the Assistance Listings, to which this document applies are 10.171, Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). BILLING CODE 3410–E2–P 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 Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Section 514 Off-Farm Labor Housing Loans and Section 516 OffFarm Labor Housing Grants for New Construction for Fiscal Year 2024; Correction VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 May 08, 2024 Jkt 262001 correcting a notice of solicitation of applications (NOSA) that published in the Federal Register on April 19, 2024, entitled, ‘‘Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Section 514 Off-Farm Labor Housing Loans and Section 516 Off-Farm Labor Housing Grants for New Construction for Fiscal Year 2024.’’ The notice described the methods used to distribute funds, the pre-application and final application process, and submission requirements. The purpose of this document is to correct the inadvertent errors to the commitment letter requirements published in the Federal Register on April 19, 2024. DATES: May 9, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Bell, Branch Director, Processing and Report Review Branch, Production and Preservation Division, Multifamily Housing Programs, Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture, via email: MFHprocessing1@usda.gov or telephone: (202) 205–9217. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Correction In the Federal Register of April 19, 2024, in FR Doc. 2024–08155 (89 FR 28717), on page 28725, in the first column in the first paragraph (ii), correct the paragraph to read: ii. All applications that propose the use of any leveraged funds should submit commitment letters with their application, if available. If the applicant is unable to secure third-party firm commitment letters within the twelvemonth time frame, as specified in the award commitment, the application will be deemed incomplete, the award letter will be considered null and void, and the applicant will be notified in writing that the application will be rejected. Joaquin Altoro, Administrator, Rural Housing Service. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE [FR Doc. 2024–10173 Filed 5–8–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P Rural Housing Service [Docket No.: RHS–24–MFH–0010] COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Rural Housing Service, USDA. Notice of solicitation of applications (NOSA); correction. AGENCY: ACTION: The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Notice of Public Meeting of the Hawai1i Advisory Committee U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. ACTION: Notice of webinar public forum. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that the Hawai1i Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM 09MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 91 (Thursday, May 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39579-39580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10172]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 91 / Thursday, May 9, 2024 / 
Notices

[[Page 39579]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

[Docket ID FSA-2024-0003]


Notice of Funds Availability; Organic Certification Cost Share 
Program (OCCSP)

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

ACTION: Notification of funding availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation, is issuing this notice to announce the availability 
of cost share assistance through OCCSP for fiscal year (FY) 2024. FSA 
is giving the opportunity for State Agencies to apply for grant 
agreements to administrator the OCCSP program to establish agreements 
to provide cost share assistance to eligible producers and handlers and 
for producers and handlers to apply for OCCSP payment at FSA county 
office.

DATES: Applications for State Agency Agreements: FSA will accept 
applications from State Agencies to administer OCCSP for FY 2024 
between the period of May 13, 2024, and October 31, 2024.
    Producer and Handler Applications: FSA county offices will accept 
applications for OCCSP from producers and handlers for FY 2024 until 
October 31, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Vazquez; telephone: (202) 923-
1585; email: [email protected]. Individuals who require 
alternative means for communication should contact the USDA Target 
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone (TTY)) or dial 711 
for Telecommunications Relay service (both voice and text telephone 
users can initiate this call from any telephone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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).\1\ The purpose 
of this NOFA is to announce the funding availability and application 
periods for FY 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers the 
NOP, which was established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501-6524). Information about organic standards, the 
certification process, and additional resources for organic 
producers is available at https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/organic. More information about OCCSP is available at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/occsp/index.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OCCSP is funded through two authorizations: (1) National Organic 
Certification Cost Share Program (National OCCSP) funds, and (2) 
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) funds. Section 102 of the 
Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. 
L. 118-22) amended the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 6523(d)(1)(C)) to provide $8 million \2\ in National OCCSP 
funding for FY 2024. In addition, approximately $1.5 million in 
National OCCSP funding remains available from prior years. An 
additional $1 million \3\ in AMA funding is authorized for each FY. (7 
U.S.C. 1524).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ After sequestration of 5.7 percent, $7,544,000 in National 
OCCSP funding is available for FY 2024.
    \3\ After sequestration of 5.7 percent, $943,000 in AMA funding 
is available for FY 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On April 29, 2019, FSA published a notice in the Federal Register 
announcing general eligibility and administrative provisions for OCCSP 
for FY 2019 through 2023 (84 FR 17997-17999). For FY 2024, FSA will 
administer OCCSP according to the provisions that were applicable for 
FY 2019 through 2023, providing cost share assistance for 75 percent of 
an applicant's eligible expenses, up to $750 per scope, which is the 
maximum amount allowed by law.\4\ Cost share assistance is provided on 
a first come, first served basis, until all available funds are 
obligated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ On August 10, 2020, FSA announced in the Federal Register 
that the maximum amount of cost share for FY 2020 through 2023 would 
be 50 percent of an applicant's eligible expenses, up to $500 per 
scope, due to the limited amount of funding available and expected 
participation rates. (85 FR 48149-48150). For FY 2020 through 2022, 
FSA also provided cost share for eligible organic and transitional 
certification and education expenses through the Organic and 
Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) in response 
to economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic that made 
obtaining and renewing USDA organic certification financially 
challenging for many operations. On May 10, 2023, FSA announced that 
OCCSP funding was available for FY 2023 to increase the amount of 
cost share to 75 percent of eligible costs, up to $750 per scope. 
(See https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/05/10/usda-announces-new-steps-enhance-organic-markets-and-support.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As in previous years, FSA will accept applications through FSA 
county offices and also partner with participating State agencies to 
administer the program through grant agreements.

Application Period for State Agencies and How To Submit an Application

    FSA will accept applications from State Agencies from May 13, 2024, 
through October 31. 2024. To administer OCCSP for FY 2024, State 
Agencies must submit an Application for Federal Assistance (Standard 
Form 424 and 424A) electronically via Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov) and enter into a grant agreement with FSA. State 
Agencies will refer to the Fiscal Year 2024 Full Notice of Funding 
Opportunity Announcement on Grants.gov for additional application 
requirements. For information on how to use Grants.gov, please access 
https://www.grants.gov/applicants.

Application Period for Producers and Handlers and How To Submit an 
Application

    Producers and handlers may submit applications for eligible costs 
incurred in FY 2024 (the period of October 1, 2023, through September 
30, 2024) to their FSA county office until October 31, 2024. The FSA 
county office locator is available in the ``Find Your Local Service 
Center'' section on https://www.farmers.gov.
    Participating State Agencies will establish their own application 
process and deadlines, as specified in their grant agreements, and 
producers and handlers must submit an application package according to 
the instructions provided by the State Agency. A list of participating 
State Agencies will be available at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/occsp after their agreements with FSA are finalized.

[[Page 39580]]

Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements

    There are no changes to the information collection request for 
OCCSP that has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The OMB control number for the 
approval is 0560-0289.

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). 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 program deadlines for the 2024 program year. 
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.

Federal Assistance Programs

    The title and number of the Federal assistance program, as found in 
the Assistance Listings, to which this document applies are 10.171, 
Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP).

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.
    Individuals 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 
the USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone 
(TTY)) or dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (both voice and 
text telephone users can initiate this call from any telephone). 
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: (1) mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) 
email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Zach Ducheneaux,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency and Executive Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2024-10172 Filed 5-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-E2-P
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