Department of Agriculture January 20, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This NOFA announces the acceptance of applications under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year 2012 for financial assistance as follows: grants, guaranteed loans, and combined grants and guaranteed loans for the development and construction of renewable energy systems and for energy efficiency improvement projects; grants for conducting energy audits; grants for conducting renewable energy development assistance; and grants for conducting renewable energy system feasibility studies. The Notice also announces the availability of $25.4 million of Fiscal Year 2012 budget authority to fund these REAP activities, which will support at least $12.5 million in grant program level and up to approximately $48.5 million in guaranteed loan program level.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Oregon State University of Corvallis, Oregon, an exclusive license to the variety of blackberry described in U.S. Plant Patent Application Serial No. 12/660,189, ``Blackberry Plant Named `Onyx','' filed on February 22, 2010 and to the variety of red raspberry described in U.S. Plant Patent Application Serial No. 13/199,578, ``Red Raspberry Plant Named `Vintage','' filed on September 2, 2011.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) will hold meetings for stakeholders focusing on Rural Development's Rural Energy for America Program implemented under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) during the first quarter of calendar year 2012. These meetings will be hosted by Rural Development State Directors. Stakeholders must contact the appropriate Rural Development State Office in order to participate.