[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50302-50304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19703]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of a Public Meeting on Implementation of Title IX, Energy 
Authorities of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Business and Cooperative Programs, an Agency in the Rural 
Development Mission Area of the United States Department of 
Agriculture, will hold a public meeting September 4, 2008, entitled 
``Expanding Rural Renewable Energy Opportunities--Inviting a Dialogue 
with the Public on the new authorities of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-234) (``the Act'').'' The purpose of 
this event is to gather public comments and suggestions on how to 
implement certain new authorities authorized under Title IX of the Act.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, September 4, 2008. 
Registration will start at 8 a.m.; the program will begin at 8:30 a.m. 
and conclude by 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Jefferson Auditorium, South 
Agriculture Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. Participants should enter the building 
through the 5th wing entrance of the South Building located on 
Independence Avenue between 12th and 14th Street. Valid photo 
identification is required for clearance by building security 
personnel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Robinson, Confidential 
Assistant, Office of the Administrator, USDA, Rural Development, 
Business and Cooperative Programs, Room 5803, South Agriculture 
Building, STOP 3201, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3201, Telephone: (202) 690-4730, E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Specifically, USDA has an interest in 
initiating a dialogue on the following sections of Title IX of the Act:
    Section numbers below refer to sections of the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act that are amended by section 9001 of the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
    Section 9003, Biorefinery Assistance--Provides loan guarantees to 
fund the development, construction,

[[Page 50303]]

and retrofitting of commercial-scale biorefineries and grants to assist 
in paying the cost of the development and construction of 
demonstration-scale biorefineries. The Act provides $75 million in 
fiscal year (FY) 2009 and $245 million for FY 2010 for loan guarantee 
costs for the financing of commercial-scaled biorefineries. In 
addition, the Act authorizes appropriated funding of $150 million for 
each of FY 2009-2012, for both the demonstration and commercial scaled 
biorefineries.
    Section 9004, Repowering Assistance--Provides for payments to be 
made to biorefineries in existence at time of enactment of the Act to 
replace fossil fuels used to produce heat or power to operate the 
biorefineries with renewable biomass. The Act provides $35 million for 
FY 2009, to remain available until expended. In addition, the Act 
authorizes additional appropriated funding in the amount of $15 million 
for each of FY 2009-2012.
    Section 9005, Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels--Provides for 
payments to be made to eligible producers to support and ensure an 
expanding production of advanced biofuels. The Act provides $55 million 
for FY 2009 and 2010, $85 million for FY 2011, and $105 million for FY 
2012. In addition, the Act authorizes appropriated funding in the 
amount of $25 million for each of FY 2009-2012.
    Section 9007, Rural Energy for America Program--Expands and renames 
the program formerly referred to as the Renewable Energy Systems and 
Energy Efficiency Improvements Program. Under the expansion, 
hydroelectric source technologies will be added as eligible; energy 
audits will be included as eligible costs, and loan limits will be 
increased. The Act provides $55 million for FY 2009, $60 million for FY 
2010, and $70 million for FY 2011 and 2012. In addition, the Act 
authorizes additional appropriated funding in the amount $25 million 
for each of FY 2009-2012.
    Section 9009, Rural Energy Self-Sufficiency Initiative--Provides 
financial assistance (grants) for the purpose of enabling eligible 
rural communities to substantially increase the energy self-sufficiency 
of the eligible rural communities. The Act authorizes appropriated 
funding in the amount of $5 million for each of FY 2009-2012.
    Section 9011, Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)--Provides 
support to the establishment and production of crops for conversion to 
bio-energy in project areas and to assist with collection, harvest, 
storage, and transportation of eligible material for use in a biomass 
conversion facility. The BCAP will be implemented by the Farm Service 
Agency with the support of other Federal and local agencies.
    Section 9012, Forest Biomass for Energy--The Forest Service is 
authorized to conduct a competitive research and development program to 
use forest biomass for energy. Forest Service R&D and other federal 
agencies, state and local governments, Indian tribes, land-grant 
colleges and universities, and private entities are eligible to compete 
in the program. Priority research projects include:
     The use of low-value forest biomass for energy from forest 
health and hazardous fuels reduction treatment.
     The integrated production of energy from forest biomass 
into biorefineries or other existing manufacturing.
     The development of new transportation fuels from forest 
biomass.
     The improved growth and yield of trees for renewable 
energy production.
    The Act authorizes appropriation funding in the amount $15 million 
for each of FY 2009 through 2012.
    Section 9013, Community Wood Energy Program--Reducing the Nation's 
dependence on foreign energy sources remains a top Administration 
priority. USDA Secretary Schafer is committed to increasing domestic 
energy production, including the development of farm- and forest-based 
energy sources, strengthening the economy of rural America, and 
reducing our dependence on imported oil. Program provides grants to 
State and local governments to develop community wood energy plans and 
to acquire or upgrade wood energy systems. The act authorizes 
appropriated funding in the amount of $5 million for each of fiscal 
years 2009 through 2012.

Instructions for Participation

    Although registration is encouraged, walk-ins will be accommodated 
to the extent that space permits. Registered participants will be given 
priority for making presentations prior to walk-ins. Anyone interested 
in the Act programs that support renewable energy development and 
energy efficiency improvements is encouraged to attend the public 
meeting. Presentations will be limited to no more than 10 minutes in 
duration. To register and request time for an oral statement, contact 
Robin Robinson, Office of the Administrator, USDA, Rural Development, 
Business and Cooperative Programs, Room 5803 South Agriculture 
Building, STOP 3201, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3201; Telephone: 202-690-4730, E-mail: 
[email protected]. Comments by e-mail should be in an ASCII 
file. Written comments should clearly identify which of the above 
referenced sections the comments are addressing. Anyone may attend 
without preregistering.
    Anyone intending in making an electronic presentation must provide 
such presentation via e-mail to Robin Robinson no later than Friday, 
August 29th and bring a copy of the presentation with them on a 
portable electronic media to the meeting. You will be notified if USDA 
does not have the equipment available to permit you to make the 
presentation. Due to technical problems that can arise, you are advised 
to have a backup plan for making the presentation.
    Depending on the level of interest expressed by the registered 
participants, certain blocks of time will be allotted for oral 
presentations by referenced sections mentioned in this notice.
    In addition, the Department will allow written comments to be 
provided on the referenced Sections of Title IX of the Act up to 15 
days following the date of the public meeting. These written comments 
should be submitted to Robin Robinson, Room 5803 SouthAgriculture 
Building, STOP 3201, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3201.
    Copies of the presentations and any additional written comments 
that are received within the 15 days following the public meeting will 
be available for review at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_2KD?navid=FARMBILL2008.
    Participants who require a sign language interpreter or other 
special accommodations should contact Robin Robinson as directed above.
    The oral and written information obtained from interested parties 
will be considered in implementing provisions of Sections 9003, 9004, 
9005, 9007, 9009, 9011, 9012, and 9013. In order to assure that the Act 
is implemented to meet constituent needs, USDA, Rural Development is 
sponsoring a listening forum and soliciting written comments to 
encourage public comment in conjunction with Farm Service Agency and 
Forest Service participation in gathering input and comments and in 
making recommendations on program implementation. All comments are 
welcome, and no attempt will be made to establish a consensus.

Non-Discrimination Statement

    ``The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits 
discrimination in all its program and activities on the basis of race, 
color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex,

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marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual 
orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or 
because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any 
public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all 
programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, 
etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and 
TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, 
Office of Adjudication andCompliance, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 
720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and 
lender.''

    Dated: August 15, 2008.
Thomas C. Dorr,
Under Secretary,Rural Development.
 [FR Doc. E8-19703 Filed 8-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P