[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39746-39747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16757]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


National Stakeholder Forum--Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and 
Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an Agency within 
USDA Rural Development, is holding a forum to introduce the new 
``Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing 
Assistance Program'' (Section 9003 Program), formerly the Biorefinery 
Assistance Program (BAP), as found in the new regulation and the Notice 
of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA). Major changes to the Section 
9003 Program include the addition of renewable chemicals and biobased 
product manufacturing to the program area and a two-phase application 
process to streamline the application process and limit the expense to 
applicants.
    Speakers from the Agency will discuss the changes to the 9003 
Program in order to educate applicants on changes to program 
eligibility and the new application process. The National Stakeholder 
Forum can be attended via webinar or in person.

DATES: 
    National Stakeholder Forum: The National Stakeholder Forum will be 
held on Thursday, July 16, 2015, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time.
    Registration: It is requested that you register by 12 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time July 14, 2015, to attend the forum in person. See the 
Instructions for Attending the Meeting section of this notice for 
additional information. If you wish to participate via webinar, you 
must register for the webinar at http://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/789/9401 prior to or during the webinar.

ADDRESSES: The National Stakeholder Forum will take place in Room 107-A 
of the Whitten Building on 1400 Jefferson Drive SW., located between 
12th and 14th streets SW., in Washington DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Hubbell, Rural Business-
Cooperative Service, Room 6865, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: (202) 690-2516. Email: 
[email protected]. 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).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9003 of the 2008 Farm Bill 
authorized the Agency to provide loan guarantees for the construction 
of advanced biofuel biorefineries under the Biorefinery Assistance 
Program (often referred to as the Section 9003 Program). The 2014 Farm 
Bill modified the provisions associated with the Section 9003 Program. 
In response to the 2014 Farm Bill, the Agency published a new interim 
rule for the program, now entitled the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, 
and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program. This interim 
final rule was published in the Federal Register on June 24, 2015 
(https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/06/24/2015-14989/biorefinery-renewable-chemical-and-biobased-product-manufacturing-assistance-program).
    In order to familiarize the public with the new Section 9003 
Program rule, representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) are conducting this National Stakeholder Forum. Discussion 
points will include the expansion of the program to include renewable 
chemicals and biobased product manufacturing and the new two-phase 
application process. Participants will be afforded the opportunity to 
ask questions on the material in the presentation through the webinar 
software or in person.
    Date: July 16, 2015.
    Time: 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
    Location information: USDA Whitten Building, 1400 Jefferson Drive 
SW., Room 107-A, Washington, DC 20250.

Instructions for Attending the Meeting

    Space for attendance at the meeting is limited. Due to USDA 
headquarters security and space requirements, all persons wishing to 
attend the forum in person must send an email to 
[email protected] by 12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time July 14, 
2015, to register the names of those planning to attend. Registrations 
will be accepted until maximum room capacity is reached. Seating will 
be available on a first come, first serve basis.
    To register, provide the following information:

 First and Last Names
 Organization
 Title
 Email
 City, State

    Upon arrival at the USDA Whitten Building, registered persons must

[[Page 39747]]

provide valid photo identification in order to enter the building; 
visitors need to enter the Whitten Building on the mall side. Please 
allow extra time to get through security.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, 
national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital 
status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, 
genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because of all or 
part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance 
program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
    If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of 
discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint 
Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-
9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of 
the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint 
form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at 
[email protected].
    Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech 
disabilities and you wish to file a program complaint please contact 
USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-
6136 (in Spanish).
    Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, 
please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or 
by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program 
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please 
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Dated: July 2, 2015.
Samuel Rikkers,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-16757 Filed 7-9-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XX-P