Rules and Regulations. Final rule

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BILLING CODE 3510-DS-C DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 165 [Docket No. USCG-2007-0061, formerly COTP St. Petersburg 07-226] RIN 1625-AA87 Security Zone; Manbirtee Key, Port of Manatee, FL AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a new security zone in the Manbirtee Key area of Port Manatee, Florida. The purpose of this security zone is to ensure the security of vessels, facilities, and the surrounding area.

Entry into the security zone is prohibited without the permission of the Captain of the Port. DATES: This rule is effective February 21, 2008. ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket number USCG-2007-0061 (formerly COTP St. Petersburg 07-226) and are available for inspection or copying at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Prevention Department, 155 Columbia Drive, Tampa, FL 33606-3598 between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

The rulemaking documents and comment received online are also available at *www.regulations.gov.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Jessica Crandell at the Waterways Management Division, Sector St. Petersburg, FL

(813)228-2191 Ext. 8146. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulatory Information On November 6, 2007, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM)entitled Security Zone; Manbirtee Key, Port of Manatee, FL in the **Federal Register** (72 FR 62613). We received no letters in the mail commenting on the proposed rule and one comment in the *www.regulations.gov* electronic docket. A public meeting was held on November 13, 2007, at 10 a.m. and no comments were made. A copy of the transcript is available through the *http://www.regulations.gov* Web site. Background and Purpose The Maritime Transportation Security Act authorized the establishment of Area Maritime Security Committees

(AMSC)that “advise, consult with, report to, and make recommendations” on matters relating to maritime security in an AMSC's port area. See 46 U.S.C. 70112(a)(2) and 33 CFR 103.205. One topic the Tampa AMSC discussed is the existing security zones that were established following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. These existing security zones, created to address identified security issues, were established September 3, 2003, codified in 33 CFR 165.760 (68 FR 52340, September 3, 2003), and September 1, 2003, codified in § 165.764 (68 FR 47852, August 12, 2003), after a number of temporary security zones. In July 2007, using the newly-developed Maritime Security Risk Analysis tool, the AMSC working group evaluated risk to the maritime transportation system

(MTS)within Tampa Bay, and assessed various risk mitigation options. The results of the risk assessment indicated the need to establish a new security zone in the vicinity of Manbirtee Key, FL. Discussion of Comments The Coast Guard received one question during the comment period: “What infrastructure are you [Coast Guard] protecting?” The purpose of the security zone is to protect pipeline infrastructures within 500 yards of the shore of Manbirtee Key. No changes from the proposed rule were made in response to this comment. Discussion of Rule This final rule creates a security zone in the following area: All waters of Tampa Bay, from surface to bottom, surrounding Manbirtee Key, Tampa Bay, FL extending 500 yards from the island's shoreline, in all directions, with the exception of the Port Manatee Channel. Entry into or remaining on or within this zone would be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector St. Petersburg or his designated representative. Persons desiring to transit the area of the security zone may contact the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or his designee on VHF channel 16 to seek permission to transit the area. If permission is granted, all persons and vessels must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port or his designated representative. Regulatory Evaluation This rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it under that Order. We expect the economic impact of this final rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary. This final rule may have some impact on the public, but these potential impacts will be minimized for the following reasons: There is ample room for vessels to navigate around the security zone, and there are several locations for recreational and commercial fishing vessels to fish throughout the Tampa Bay Region. Properly vetted personnel who comply with additional requirements may gain authorization for entry through a port zone watch program. Also, the Captain of the Port may, on a case-by-case basis allow persons or vessels to enter a security zone. The changes to the regulatory text that incorporate the response to the inquiry received during the comment period do not have any economic impact. The navigational charts of the area already indicate the submerged pipeline. Adding this description to the regulatory text has no impact on commerce. Small Entities Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The term “small entities” comprises small businesses, not-for-profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 50,000. The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. No comments were received during the comment period regarding potential impacts on small entities. Assistance for Small Entities Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small entities in understanding this rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please contact the office listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT , for assistance in understanding this rule. The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard. Collection of Information This rule calls for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). Federalism A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications for federalism. The changes to the regulatory text which address the inquiry made during the comment period do not have an impact on federalism. The navigational charts of the area already indicate the submerged pipeline. Adding this description to the regulatory text has no impact on commerce. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble. Taking of Private Property This rule will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights. Civil Justice Reform This rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden. Protection of Children We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children. Indian Tribal Governments This rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, because it does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes. Energy Effects We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a “significant energy action” under that order because it is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211. Technical Standards The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards. Environment We have analyzed this rule under Commandant Instruction M16475.lD which guides the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

(NEPA)(42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have concluded that there are no factors in this case that would limit the use of a categorical exclusion under section 2.B.2 of the Instruction. Therefore, we believe that this rule should be categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g), of the Instruction, from further environmental documentation. A final “Environmental Analysis Check List” and a final “Categorical Exclusion Determination” are available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES during the comment period. No comments were received regarding the impact to the environment in response to the proposed rule or the preliminary environmental analysis checklist for this security zone. List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165 Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways. Words of Issuance and Regulatory Text For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 165 as follows: PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS 1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows: Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 6.04-1, 6.04-6 and 160.5; Pub. L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. 2. Add § 165.767 to read as follows: § 165.767 Security Zone; Manbirtee Key, Port of Manatee, Florida.

(a)*Regulated area.* The following area is a security zone: All waters, from surface to bottom, surrounding Manbirtee Key, Tampa Bay, FL extending 500 yards from the island's shoreline, in all directions, not to include the Port Manatee Channel.

(b)*Definitions.* As used in this section, *designated representative* means Coast Guard Patrol Commanders including Coast Guard coxswains, petty officers and other officers operating Coast Guard vessels, and Federal, State, and local officers designated by or assisting the Captain of the Port (COTP), in the enforcement of regulated navigation areas, safety zones, and security zones.

(c)*Regulation.*

(1)Entry into or remaining on or within the security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector St. Petersburg or his designee.

(2)Persons desiring to transit the security zone may contact the Captain of the Port Sector St. Petersburg or his designee on VHF channel 16 to seek permission to transit the area. If permission is granted, all persons and vessels must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port or designated representative.

(3)*Enforcement.* Under § 165.33, no person may cause or authorize the operation of a vessel in the security zone contrary to the provisions of this section. Dated: January 10, 2008. J.A. Servidio, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector St. Petersburg. [FR Doc. E8-1013 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-15-P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 76 [MM Docket No. 99-325; FCC 07-33] Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date. SUMMARY: This document announces the effective dates of rules published in the **Federal Register** . The rules relate to Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems, and the notification that those entities must provide the Federal Communications Commission when they commence broadcasting digital signals. DATES: The final rules published on August 15, 2007 (72 FR 45670), amending 47 CFR 73.404(b), 73.404(e), and 73.1201, are effective January 22, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on this proceeding, contact Ann Gallagher, *Ann.Gallagher@fcc.gov,* 202-418-2716, of the Media Bureau, Audio Division, or Brendan Murray, *Brendan.Murray@fcc.gov,*

(202)418-2120, of the Media Bureau, Policy Division. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a Second Report and Order released on May 31, 2007, FCC 07-33, and published in the **Federal Register** on August 15, 2007, 72 FR 45670, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a new rule which contained information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Second Report and Order stated that the rule changes requiring OMB approval would become effective immediately upon announcement in the **Federal Register** of OMB approval. On December 10, 2007, the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)approved the information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 73.404(b), 73.404(e), and 73.1201. This information collection is assigned OMB Control Nos. 3060-0466 and 3060-1034. This publication satisfies the statement that the Commission would publish a document announcing the effective date of the rule changes requiring OMB approval. Federal Communications Commission. Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary. [FR Doc. E8-1008 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P 73 14 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 Proposed Rules DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 10 CFR Part 430 [Docket No. EERE-2007-BT-STD-0016] RIN 1904-AB50 Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products: Public Meeting and Availability of the Framework Document for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of public meeting and availability of the Framework Document. SUMMARY: The Department of Energy

(DOE)is initiating the rulemaking and data collection process to consider establishing amended energy conservation standards for certain fluorescent lamp ballasts and to consider whether energy conservation standards should apply to additional fluorescent lamp ballasts. Accordingly, DOE will hold an informal public meeting to discuss and receive comments on its planned analytical approach and issues it will address in this rulemaking proceeding. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on this rulemaking. To inform stakeholders and to facilitate this process, DOE has prepared a Framework Document which details the analytical approach and identifies several issues on which DOE is particularly interested in receiving comment. A copy of the Framework Document is available at: *http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/fluorescent_lamp_ballasts.html* . In a separate rulemaking proceeding, DOE plans to review and to consider amendments to the test procedures used for determining the performance of fluorescent lamp ballasts. However, DOE is requesting preliminary comments on the fluorescent lamp ballast test procedure in this Framework Document. DATES: The Department will hold a public meeting on February 6, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Washington, DC. Any person requesting to speak at the public meeting should submit such request along with a signed original and an electronic copy of the statement to be given at the public meeting before 4 p.m., January 30, 2008. Written comments on the Framework Document are welcome, especially following the public meeting, and should be submitted by March 7, 2008. ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-245, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please note that foreign nationals participating in the public meeting are subject to advance security screening procedures. If a foreign national wishes to participate in the public meeting, please inform DOE of this fact as soon a possible by contacting Ms. Brenda Edwards at

(202)586-2945 so that the necessary procedures can be completed. Stakeholders may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2007-BT-STD-0016 and/or Regulation Identifier Number

(RIN)1904-AB50, by any of the following methods: • *Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • *E-mail: Ballasts.Rulemaking@ee.doe.gov.* Include EERE-2007-BT-STD-0016 and/or RIN 1904-AB50 in the subject line of the message. • *Mail:* Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, Framework Document for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, EERE-2007-BT-STD-0016 and/or RIN 1904-AB50, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please submit one signed paper original. • *Hand Delivery/Courier:* Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024. Please submit one signed paper original. *Instructions:* All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number or RIN for this rulemaking. *Docket:* For access to the docket to read background documents, a copy of the transcript of the public meeting, or comments received, go to the U.S. Department of Energy, Resource Room of the Building Technologies Program, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024,

(202)586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards first at the above telephone number for additional information regarding visiting the Resource Room. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Linda Graves, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone:

(202)586-8654. E-mail: *Linda.Graves@ee.doe.gov* . Mr. Eric Stas or Ms. Francine Pinto, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone:

(202)586-9507. E-mail: *Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov* or *Francine.Pinto@hq.doe.gov* . For information on how to submit or review public comments and on how to participate in the public meeting, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone

(202)586-2945. E-mail: *Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act

(EPCA)of 1975, Pub. L. 94-163 (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309), established an energy conservation program for major household appliances. Additional amendments to EPCA have given DOE the authority to regulate the energy efficiency of several products, including certain fluorescent lamp ballasts—the products that are the focus of this notice. Amendments to EPCA in the National Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Pub. L. 100-357, established energy conservation standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts. 1 (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(5)) A table of the standards promulgated by NAECA 1988 can be found in Appendix A of the Framework Document. These same amendments also required that DOE:

(1)Conduct two rulemaking cycles to determine whether these standards should be amended; and

(2)for each rulemaking cycle, determine whether the standards in effect for fluorescent lamp ballasts should be amended so that they would be applicable to additional fluorescent lamp ballasts. (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(7)(A)-(B)) 1 Although fluorescent lamp ballasts are typically understood to be a product used in the commercial and industrial sectors, it is the “consumer products” section of the statute which grants authority to DOE to cover and regulate this product. In the United States Code, Title 42 “The Public Health and Welfare,” Chapter 77 “Energy Conservation,” Subchapter III “Improving Energy Efficiency,” there are two parts which cluster together the group of products which DOE regulates. First, there is “Part A—Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other than Automobiles” which includes a range of consumer products, some which may be classified as being used primarily in the residential sector, such as refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers. However, Part A also includes consumer products that might also be used primarily in the commercial sector, such as fluorescent lamps, fluorescent lamp ballasts and urinals. Second, Subchapter III has “Part A-1—Certain Industrial Equipment,” which includes products that are primarily used in the commercial and industrial sectors, such as electric motors and pumps, and packaged terminal air conditioners and heat pumps. On September 19, 2000, DOE published a final rule in the **Federal Register** which completed its first rulemaking cycle to amend energy conservation standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts. 65 FR 56740. A table of the standards codified by DOE in the Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR)can be found in Appendix A of the draft Framework Document under 10 CFR 430.32(m)(3). On August 8, 2005, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005), Pub. L. 109-58, established energy conservation standards for other specified fluorescent lamp ballasts. Specifically, these standards established minimum ballast efficacy requirements for “energy saver” versions of full-wattage ballasts, such as the F34T12 ballast. (EPACT section 135(c)(2); codified at 42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(8)(A)) In a final rule published in the **Federal Register** on October 18, 2005, DOE codified those new fluorescent lamp ballast standards into the CFR at 10 CFR 430.32(m). 70 FR 60407. A table of the standards promulgated by EPACT 2005 can be found in Appendix A of the Framework Document under 42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(8)(A) and at 10 CFR 430.32(m)(5). In summary, fluorescent lamp ballasts that are currently regulated under EPCA, as amended, include fluorescent lamp ballasts that are designed to operate one and two nominally 40 watt

(W)and 34W 4-foot T12 medium bipin lamps (F40T12 and F34T12), two nominally 75W and 60W 8-foot T12 single pin slimline lamps (F96T12 and F96T12/ES), and two nominally 110W and 95W 8-foot T12 recessed double contact high output lamps (F96T12 and F96T12/ES) at nominal input voltages of 120 or 277 volts with an input current frequency of 60 hertz. 10 CFR 430.32(m). Ballasts that are excluded from regulation include:

(1)Ballasts designed for dimming to 50 percent or less of its maximum output;

(2)ballasts designed for use with two F96T12HO lamps at ambient temperatures of −20 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or less and for use in an outdoor sign, or ballasts designed for use with two F96T12HO/ES lamps at ambient temperatures of 20 °F or less and for use in an outdoor sign; 2

(3)ballasts with a power factor of less than 0.90 and designed and labeled for use only in residential building applications; and

(4)replacement ballasts as defined in paragraph (m)(4)(ii). 3 10 CFR 430.32(m)(2), (m)(4), and (m)(7). 2 Note that in 10 CFR 430.32(m)(7), the temperature exemption granted under EPACT 2005 is slightly different than that contained in sections (m)(2) and (m)(4). In subsection (m)(7), ballasts designed for use with two F96T12HO/ES lamps at ambient temperatures “of 20 degrees F or less” and designated for use in an outdoor sign are exempt from the standards in paragraph (m)(5). The other sections require the ballast to be for ambient temperatures of negative 20 degrees F or less. 3 The exclusion provided for replacement ballasts requires that they meet certain criteria in order to be considered a replacement ballast, such as being designed to replace an existing ballast in a previously installed luminaire and being marked “FOR REPLACEMENT USE ONLY.” This exclusion only applies to replacement ballasts manufactured on or before June 30, 2010. After that date, replacement ballasts will no longer be excluded. (10 CFR 430.32(m)(4)(ii)(A)) See Appendix A for the exact language of the exclusion for replacement ballasts. In addition to establishing energy conservation standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, EPCA established test procedures for fluorescent lamp ballasts which incorporate by reference American National Standards Institute

(ANSI)Standard C82.2-1984, “For Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts—Methods of Measurement” (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(5)). DOE notes that the 1984 version of ANSI Standard C82.2 internally references other testing methods for magnetic ballasts (i.e., ANSI Standard C82.1-1977, “For Lamp Ballast—Line Frequency Fluorescent Lamp Ballast”) but it does not reference testing methods for electronic ballasts, which have subsequently been developed (e.g., ANSI C82.11-2002, “For Lamp Ballasts—High Frequency Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts”). Because the lighting market is moving towards electronic ballasts, DOE intends to review and possibly amend its test procedures for fluorescent lamp ballasts in a separate (test procedure) rulemaking so as to include test procedures for electronic ballasts. However, DOE is inviting comment on its review of the fluorescent lamp ballast test procedure in the Framework Document for the energy conservation standard rulemaking. In addition to considering amending the test procedure to include test procedures for electronic ballasts, DOE is directed to amend the fluorescent lamp ballast test procedure by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) (Pub. L. 110-140) signed by the President on December 19, 2007. EISA 2007 directs DOE to amend its test procedure for fluorescent lamp ballasts to incorporate a measure of standby mode and off mode energy use by March 31, 2009 (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(B)(ii)). In addition, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6295(o), DOE is directed to incorporate standby mode and off mode energy use in any amended (or new) standard adopted after July 1, 2010. Because this energy conservation standards rulemaking for fluorescent lamp ballasts will be completed in 2011, the requirement to incorporate standby mode and off mode energy use into the energy conservation standards analysis is applicable. EISA 2007 also contains a definition for “ballast” and “electronic ballast,” as well as standards for metal halide fixtures, but none of these new definitions or requirements changes the analysis DOE intends to conduct in the energy conservation standards rulemaking for fluorescent lamp ballasts. To initiate the second rulemaking cycle to consider amended energy conservation standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, DOE has prepared a Framework Document to explain the issues, analyses, and processes it anticipates using for the development of potential energy efficiency standards for certain fluorescent lamp ballasts. In the Framework Document, DOE also presents its initial approach for determining whether the standards should be made applicable to specific ballast types, when implementing its statutory mandate to consider additional fluorescent lamp ballasts. As noted above, DOE will hold a public meeting on February 6, 2008 in Washington DC, the main focus of which will be to discuss the analyses presented and issues identified in the Framework Document. At the public meeting, the Department will make a number of presentations, invite discussion on the rulemaking process as it applies to certain fluorescent lamp ballasts, and solicit comments, data, and information from participants and other stakeholders. DOE will also invite comment on DOE's preliminary determination regarding the scope of coverage for the fluorescent lamp ballast standard. DOE is considering expanding the scope of coverage to include additional fluorescent lamp ballasts that would be analyzed in the energy conservation standards rulemaking. The Department encourages those who wish to participate in the public meeting to obtain the Framework Document and to be prepared to discuss its contents. A copy of the draft Framework Document is available at: *http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/fluorescent_lamp_ballasts.html* . Public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the issues identified in the Framework Document. The Department is also interested in receiving views concerning other relevant issues that participants believe would affect energy conservation standards for these products, applicable test procedures, or the preliminary determination on the scope of coverage for fluorescent lamp ballasts. Furthermore, the Department welcomes all interested parties, whether or not they participate in the public meeting, to submit in writing by March 7, 2008, comments and information on matters addressed in the Framework Document and on other matters relevant to consideration of standards for fluorescent lamps ballasts. The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, facilitated, conference style. There shall be no discussion of proprietary information, costs or prices, market shares, or other commercial matters regulated by U.S. antitrust laws. A court reporter will record the proceedings of the public meeting, after which a transcript will be made available for purchase from the court reporter. After the public meeting and the close of the comment period on the Framework Document, DOE will begin collecting data, conducting the analyses as discussed in the Framework Document and at the public meeting, and reviewing the comments received. DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of the process for setting energy conservation standards. DOE actively encourages the participation and interaction of the public during the comment period in each stage of the rulemaking process. Beginning with the Framework Document, and during each subsequent public meeting and comment period, interactions with and between members of the public provide a balanced discussion of the issues to assist DOE with the standards rulemaking process. Accordingly, anyone who would like to participate in the public meeting, receive meeting materials, or be added to the DOE mailing list to receive future notices and information regarding this rulemaking on fluorescent lamp ballasts, should contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at

(202)586-2945, or via e-mail at: *Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov* . Issued in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2008. John F. Mizroch, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. [FR Doc. E8-938 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 21 Existence of Proposed Airworthiness Design Standards for Acceptance Under the Primary Category Rule; Cubcrafters, Inc., Model PC18-160 AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Request for comments. SUMMARY: This notice announces the existence of and requests comments on proposed airworthiness design standards for acceptance of the Cubcrafters, Inc., Model PC18-160 airplane under the regulations for designation of applicable regulations for primary category aircraft. DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 21, 2008. ADDRESSES: Send all comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Standards Office, Small Airplane Directorate (ACE-110), Aircraft Certification Service, 901 Locust Street, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Leslie B. Taylor, Aerospace Engineer, Standards Office (ACE-111), Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, FAA; telephone number

(816)329-4134, fax number

(816)329-4090, e-mail at *leslie.b.taylor@faa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Any person may obtain a copy of this information by contacting the person named above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . Comments Invited We invite interested parties to submit comments on the proposed airworthiness standards to the address specified above. Commenters must identify the Model PC18-160 and submit comments to the address specified above. The FAA will consider all communications received on or before the closing date before issuing the final acceptance. The proposed airworthiness design standards and comments received may be inspected at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, Standards Office (ACE-110), 901 Locust Street, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays. Background The “primary” category for aircraft was created specifically for the simple, low performance personal aircraft. Section 21.17(f) provides a means for applicants to propose airworthiness standards for their particular primary category aircraft. The FAA procedure establishing appropriate airworthiness standards includes reviewing and possibly revising the applicant's proposal, publication of the submittal in the **Federal Register** for public review and comment, and addressing the comments. After all necessary revisions, the standards are published as approved FAA airworthiness standards. Accordingly, the applicant, Cubcrafters, Inc., has submitted a request to the FAA to include the following: Airframe and Systems *ASTM F2245-07, “Standard Specification for Design and Performance of a Light Sport Airplane,” modified as follows:* *1.* Federal Aviation Regulations 23 Loads Report and Test Proposal to be reviewed and approved by ACO. Specifically, Section 5 of ASTM F2245-07 is replaced by Federal Aviation Regulations part 23, §§ 23.301 through 23.561 (latest amendments through Amendment 23-55) as applicable to this airplane. *2.* All major structural components will be tested as per the approved Test Proposal (this eliminates “analysis” allowed by ASTM). *3.* Paragraph 4.2.1 of ASTM F2245-07 is replaced by Federal Aviation Regulations part 23, § 23.25(b) except that the empty weight referred to in Federal Aviation Regulations part 23, § 23.25(b)(1) is replaced by the maximum empty weight defined in Paragraph 3.1.2 of ASTM F2245-07. Engine The engine may not have its own type certificate; in such case it will be included in the airplane type certificate using the following as a proposed certification basis: *1. ASTM F2339-06, “Standard Practice for Design and Manufacture of Reciprocating Spark Ignition Engines for Light Sport Aircraft,” modified as follows:* Engine parts and assemblies will be manufactured under the purview of a production certificate held by the applicant. Section 7 of ASTM F2339-06 does not apply. *2.* Optionally, the applicant may elect to use a type certificated engine up to 180 horsepower. Propeller A type certificated propeller will be used. Proposed Airworthiness Standards for Acceptance Under the Primary Category Rule The FAA is requiring use of the part 23 rules in addition to the Light Sport Airplane Consensus Standards. The applicant has agreed to this position; therefore, the certification basis for the Cubcrafters, Inc., Model PC18-160 will be the Primary Category Rule (part 21, § 21.24) with Amendment 23-57 for 14 CFR, part 23, §§ 23.853(a); 23.863; 23.1303(a), (b), and (c); 23.1311(a)(1) through (a)(4), and (b); 23.1321; 23.1322; 23.1329 and 23.1359 and: Airframe and Systems *ASTM F2245-07, “Standard Specification for Design and Performance of a Light Sport Airplane,” modified as follows:* *1.* Federal Aviation Regulations 23 Loads Report and Test Proposal to be reviewed and approved by ACO. Specifically, Section 5 of ASTM F2245-07 is replaced by Federal Aviation Regulations part 23, §§ 23.301 through 23.561 (latest amendments through Amendment 23-55) as applicable to this airplane. *2.* All major structural components will be tested as per the approved Test Proposal (this eliminates “analysis” allowed by ASTM). *3.* Paragraph 4.2.1 of ASTM F2245-07 is replaced by Federal Aviation Regulations part 23, § 23.25(b) except that the empty weight referred to in Federal Aviation Regulations part 23, § 23.25(b)(1) is replaced by the maximum empty weight defined in Paragraph 3.1.2 of ASTM F2245-07. Engine The engine may not have its own type certificate; in such case it will be included in the airplane type certificate using the following as a proposed certification basis: *1. ASTM F2339-06, “Standard Practice for Design and Manufacture of Reciprocating Spark Ignition Engines for Light Sport Aircraft,” modified as follows:* Engine parts and assemblies will be manufactured under the purview of a production certificate held by the applicant. Section 7 of ASTM F2339-06 does not apply. *2.* Optionally, the applicant may elect to use a type certificated engine up to 180 horsepower. Propeller A type certificated propeller will be used. In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations, the PC18-160 must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36; and the FAA must issue a finding of regulatory adequacy pursuant to section 611 of Public Law 92-574, the “Noise Control Act of 1972.” Issued in Kansas City, Missouri on January 11, 2008. John Colomy, Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E8-852 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2008-0048; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-276-AD] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 and A300-600 Series Airplanes AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD)for the products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information

(MCAI)originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: Based on some recent in-service findings for fluid ingress and/or inner skin disbond damage on rudders, AIRBUS decided to introduce some further structural inspections to specific rudder areas. This type of damage could result in reduced structural integrity of the rudder. The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI. DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 21, 2008. ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods: • *Federal eRulemaking Portal:* Go to *http://www.regulations.gov.* Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • *Fax:*

(202)493-2251. • *Mail:* U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. • *Hand Delivery:* U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-40, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at *http://www.regulations.gov* ; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone

(800)647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Stafford, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone

(425)227-1622; fax

(425)227-1149. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments Invited We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2008-0048; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-276-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed AD based on those comments. We will post all comments we receive, without change, to *http://www.regulations.gov,* including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this proposed AD. Discussion On March 24, 2006, we issued AD 2006-07-13, Amendment 39-14540 (71 FR 16030, March 30, 2006), to require one-time inspections of the rudder for discrepancies, and corrective action if necessary. That AD required actions intended to address an unsafe condition on the products listed above. Since we issued AD 2006-07-13, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA Airworthiness Directive 2007-0266, dated October 8, 2007 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states: Based on some recent in-service findings for fluid ingress and/or inner skin disbond damage on rudders, AIRBUS decided to introduce some further structural inspections to specific rudder areas. This type of damage could result in reduced structural integrity of the rudder. For the reasons stated above, this AD requires the accomplishment of a thorough inspection program [a one-time inspection and repetitive inspections for damage of the rudder] by ultrasonic and/or t[h]ermographic methods, compared to the inspections already required by Airworthiness Directive

(AD)2006-0066, issued on 24 March 2006 [which corresponds to FAA AD 2006-07-13] as a precautionary measure, in order to verify the structural integrity of the rudder. The corrective actions include reporting both positive and negative findings to Airbus, doing a temporary repair, and contacting Airbus for repair instructions and doing a permanent repair. The compliance times for doing the repairs range from before further flight to within 4,500 flight cycles after doing the inspection, depending on the inspection type and the configuration of the airplane. The repetitive inspection intervals range from 1,200 flight cycles to 5,000 flight cycles, depending on the inspection type and the configuration of the airplane. You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket. Relevant Service Information Airbus has issued the following service bulletins: • A300-55-6043, Revision 01, dated December 3, 2007 • A300-55-6044, Revision 01, dated December 20, 2007 • A310-55-2044, Revision 01, dated December 3, 2007 • A310-55-2045, Revision 01, dated December 20, 2007 The actions described in this service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI. FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information provided in the MCAI and related service information. We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD. Costs of Compliance Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 123 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 22 work-hours per product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $216,480, or $1,760 per product. Authority for This Rulemaking Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. “Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs,” describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority. We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in “Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements.” Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action. Regulatory Findings We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed regulation: 1. Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866; 2. Is not a “significant rule” under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and 3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety. The Proposed Amendment Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows: PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. § 39.13 [Amended] 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-14540 (71 FR 16030, March 30, 2006) and adding the following new AD: **Airbus:** Docket No. FAA-2008-0048; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-276-AD. Comments Due Date

(a)We must receive comments by February 21, 2008. Affected ADs

(b)The proposed AD supersedes AD 2006-07-13, Amendment 39-14540. Applicability

(c)This AD applies to AIRBUS Model A310 and A300-600 series airplanes, certificated in any category, all certified models, all serial numbers, on which rudder Part Number (P/N) A55471500 series is fitted, except for those airplanes on which AIRBUS modification number 08827 has been incorporated in production. Subject

(d)Air Transport Association

(ATA)of America Code 55: Stabilizers. Reason

(e)The mandatory continuing airworthiness information

(MCAI)states: Based on some recent in-service findings for fluid ingress and/or inner skin disbond damage on rudders, AIRBUS decided to introduce some further structural inspections to specific rudder areas. This type of damage could result in reduced structural integrity of the rudder. For the reasons stated above, this AD requires the accomplishment of a thorough inspection program [a one-time inspection and repetitive inspections for damage of the rudder] by ultrasonic and/or t[h]ermographic methods, compared to the inspections already required by Airworthiness Directive

(f)Unless already done, do the following actions.

(1)Within 500 flight cycles or 6 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform a special detailed one-time inspection in the areas of rudder hoisting points and trailing edge screws, in accordance with the instructions given in Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2045 or A300-55-6044, both Revision 01, both dated December 20, 2007, as applicable.

(i)If no damage is found, within 30 days after the inspection or 30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, report to Airbus using Appendix 1 or 2, as applicable to the airplane configuration, of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2045 or A300-55-6044, both Revision 01, as applicable.

(ii)If any damage is found, within the timescale(s) indicated in Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2045 or A300-55-6044, both Revision 01, as applicable, report to Airbus using Appendix 1 or 2, as applicable to the airplane configuration, of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2045 or A300-55-6044, both Revision 01, as applicable, to get further instructions for repair. Accomplish the repair within the timescale(s) indicated in, and in accordance with the instructions given in paragraph 3.B.(1)(a) or 3.B.(2)(a), as applicable to the airplane configuration, of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2045 or A300-55-6044, both Revision 01, as applicable.

(2)Within 500 flight cycles or 6 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform a special detailed inspection along the rudder Z-profile, in accordance with the instructions given in Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2044 or A300-55-6043, both Revision 01, both dated December 3, 2007, as applicable. For airplanes identified as configuration 01 in the service bulletins, repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,400 flight cycles. For airplanes identified as Configuration 02 in the service bulletins, repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 5,000 flight cycles. For temporary repair along the rudder Z-profile for both airplanes identified as configuration 01 and 02, refer to paragraph 3.C.(1) of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2044 or A300-55-6043, both Revision 01, as applicable.

(i)If no damage is found, within 30 days after the inspection or 30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, report to AIRBUS using Appendix 1 or 2, as applicable to the airplane configuration, of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2044 or A300-55-6043, both Revision 01, as applicable.

(ii)If any damage is found, verify the findings and apply all applicable corrective actions within the timescale(s) indicated in, and in accordance with instructions given in paragraph 3.B.(1)(a) or 3.B.(2)(a), as applicable to the airplane configuration, of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2044 or A300-55-6043, both Revision 01, as applicable. Within 30 days after the inspection or corrective action or 30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, submit a report to Airbus using Appendix 1 or 2, as applicable to the airplane configuration, of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2044 or A300-55-6043, both Revision 01, as applicable. Note 1: For rudder configuration identification, refer to Appendices 3 and 4 of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-55-2044, A310-55-2045, A300-55-6043, and A300-55-6044, as applicable to the airplane model and configuration.

(3)As of 30 days after the effective date of this AD: No person shall install a P/N A55471500 series rudder on any airplane as a replacement, unless it has been inspected and repaired, as applicable, in accordance with the instructions of Airbus Service Bulletins A310-55-2045, Revision 01, dated December 20, 2007, and A310-55-2044, Revision 01, dated December 3, 2007; or Airbus Service Bulletins A300-55-6044, Revision 01, dated December 20, 2007, and A300-55-6043, Revision 01, dated December 3, 2007; as applicable.

(4)Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A300-55-6044 or A310-55-2045, both dated July 23, 2007, are considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.

(5)Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A300-55-6043 or A310-55-2044, both dated July 23, 2007, are considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions specified in paragraph (f)(2) of this AD. FAA AD Differences Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences. Other FAA AD Provisions

(g)The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1)*Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs):* The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Tom Stafford, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone

(425)227-1622; fax

(425)227-1149. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector

(PI)in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.

(2)*Airworthy Product:* For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(3)*Reporting Requirements:* For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056. Related Information

(h)Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness Directive 2007-0266, dated October 8, 2007, and the service bulletins listed in Table 1 of this AD, for related information. Table 1.—Airbus Service Information Airbus Service Bulletin Revision Date A300-55-6043 01 December 3, 2007. A300-55-6044 01 December 20, 2007. A310-55-2044 01 December 3, 2007. A310-55-2045 01 December 20, 2007. Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 15, 2008. Stephen P. Boyd, Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E8-977 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P 73 14 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 Notices DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Funding Opportunity Title: Commodity Partnerships for Risk Management Education (Commodity Partnerships Program) *Announcement Type:* Availability of Funds and Request for Applications for Competitive Cooperative Partnership Agreements. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): 10.457. DATES: Applications are due by 5 p.m. EST March 24, 2008. SUMMARY: The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), operating through the Risk Management Agency (RMA), announces the availability of approximately $3.75 million (subject to availability of funds) for Commodity Partnerships for Risk Management Education (the Commodity Partnerships Program). The purpose of this cooperative partnership agreement program is to deliver training and information in the management of production, marketing, and financial risk to U.S. agricultural producers. The program gives priority to educating producers of crops currently not insured under Federal crop insurance, specialty crops, and underserved commodities, including livestock and forage. A maximum of 50 cooperative partnership agreements will be funded, with no more than five in each of the ten designated RMA Regions. The maximum award for any of the 50 cooperative partnership agreements will be $75,000. Applicants must demonstrate non-financial benefits from a cooperative partnership agreement and must agree to the substantial involvement of RMA in the project. The collections of information in this announcement have been approved by OMB under control number 0563-0067 through January 31, 2009. This Announcement Consists of Eight Sections: Section I—Funding Opportunity Description A. Legislative Authority B. Background C. Definition of Priority Commodities D. Project Goal E. Purpose F. Objectives Section II—Award Information A. Type of Award B. Funding Availability C. Location and Target Audience D. Maximum Award E. Project Period F. Awardee Tasks G. RMA Activities H. Other Tasks Section III—Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants B. Cost Sharing or Matching C. Other—Non-Financial Benefits Section IV—Application and Submission Information A. Contact to Request Application Package B. Content and Form of Application Submission C. Funding Restrictions D. Limitation on Use of Project Funds for Salaries and Benefits E. Indirect Cost Rates F. Other Submission Requirements G. Electronic submissions H. Acknowledgement of Applications Section V—Application Review Process A. Criteria B. Review and Selection Process Section VI—Award Administration Information A. Award Notices B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 1. Requirement to Use Program Logo 2. Requirement to Provide Project Information to an RMA-selected Representative 3. Private Crop Insurance Organizations and Potential Conflict of Interest 4. Access to Panel Review Information 5. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards 6. Audit Requirements 7. Prohibitions and Requirements Regarding Lobbying 8. Applicable OMB Circulars 9. Requirement to Assure Compliance with Federal Civil Rights Laws 10. Requirement to Participate in a Post Award Conference 11. Requirement to Submit Educational Materials to the National AgRisk Education Library 12. Requirement to Submit Proposed Results to the National AgRisk Education Library 13. Requirement to Submit a Project Plan of Operation in the Event of a Human Pandemic Outbreak C. Reporting Requirements Section VII—Agency Contact Section VIII—Other Information A. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)B. Required Registration with the Central Contract Registry for Submission of Proposals C. Related Programs I. Funding Opportunity Description A. Legislative Authority The Commodity Partnerships Program is authorized under section 522(d)(3)(F) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act

(Act)(7 U.S.C. 1522(d)(3)(F). B. Background RMA promotes and regulates sound risk management solutions to improve the economic stability of American agriculture. On behalf of FCIC, RMA does this by offering Federal crop insurance products through a network of private-sector partners, overseeing the creation of new risk management products, seeking enhancements in existing products, ensuring the integrity of crop insurance programs, offering outreach programs aimed at equal access and participation of underserved communities, and providing risk management education and information. One of RMA's strategic goals is to ensure that its customers are well informed as to the risk management solutions available. This educational goal is supported by section 522(d)(3)(F) of the Act, which authorizes FCIC funding for risk management training and informational efforts for agricultural producers through the formation of partnerships with public and private organizations. With respect to such partnerships, priority is to be given to reaching producers of Priority Commodities, as defined below. C. Definition of Priority Commodities For purposes of this program, Priority Commodities are defined as: • *Agricultural commodities covered by (7 U.S.C. 7333)* . Commodities in this group are commercial crops that are not covered by catastrophic risk protection crop insurance, are used for food or fiber (except livestock), and specifically include, but are not limited to, floricultural, ornamental nursery, Christmas trees, turf grass sod, aquaculture (including ornamental fish), and industrial crops. • *Specialty crops* . Commodities in this group may or may not be covered under a Federal crop insurance plan and include, but are not limited to, fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, syrups, honey, roots, herbs, and highly specialized varieties of traditional crops. • *Underserved commodities* . This group includes:

(a)Commodities, including livestock and forage, that are covered by a Federal crop insurance plan but for which participation in an area is below the national average; and

(LRP)Lamb Insurance Tools (MT, ND, SD, WY). 4. General Agricultural Risk Management Topics. Davis, CA Region: (AZ, CA, HI, NV, and UT) 1. Actual Revenue History Insurance Tools for Cherries (CA, UT). 2. AGR

(CA)and AGR-Lite Insurance Tools (AZ, HI, NV, UT). 3. LRP Insurance Tools (AZ, CA, NV, UT). 4. General Agricultural Risk Management Topics. Jackson, MS Region: (AR, KY, LA, MS, and TN) 1. Record Keeping Requirements for AGR-Lite Insurance Tools (TN). 2. LRP Insurance Tools, PRF Rainfall Index and the PRF Vegetation Index Insurance Tools (AR, KY, LA, MS, and TN). 3. Nursery Price Endorsement Crop Insurance Tool (AR, KY, LA, MS, and TN). 4. General Agricultural Risk Management Topics. Oklahoma City, OK Region: (NM, OK, and TX) 1. Risks of Growing and Insuring Bioethanol crops (OK, TX). 2. Risks of Growing, Marketing, and Insuring Canola (OK). 3. LRP Lamb Insurance Tools (NM, OK, and TX). 4. General Agricultural Risk Management Topics. Raleigh, NC Region: (CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NY, NJ, PA, RI, VA, VT, and WV) 1. *Virginia* —Apple, AGR-Lite, LRP for Feeder Cattle, Fed Cattle, Lamb, and Swine Insurance Tools. 2. *North Carolina* —AGR-Lite, and LRP for Feeder Cattle, Fed Cattle, Lamb, and Swine Insurance Tools. 3. *AGR-Lite Insurance Tools* —(CT, DE, MA, ME, MD, NC, NH, NY, NJ, PA, RI, VA, VT, and WV). 4. General Agricultural Risk Management Topics. Spokane, WA Region: (AK, ID, OR, and WA) 1. AGR-Lite (AGR where applicable) Insurance Tools (Western WA and/or in Western OR). 2. LRP Insurance Tools for Feeder Cattle, Fed Cattle, and Swine (ID, OR, WA) and Lamb (ID, OR). 3. Potato Insurance Tools for Pacific Northwest Potato Growers. 4. General Agricultural Risk Management Topics. Springfield, IL Region: (IL, IN, MI, and OH) 1. AGR Insurance Tools (MI). 2. Forage Production Insurance Tools (IL and MI) and Forage Seeding Index Insurance Tools (MI). 3. Wheat Insurance Tools (IL, IN, MI, OH). 4. General Agricultural Risk Management Topics. St. Paul, MN Region: (IA, MN, and WI) 1. Insuring Non-traditional Crops Using Written Agreements and AGR-Lite Insurance Tools (IA, MN and WI). 2. Forage Production Insurance Tools (IA, MN, and WI). 3. Record Keeping for Apples and Grapes Insurance Tools (IA, MN, and WI). 4. General Agricultural Risk Management Topics. Topeka, KS Region: (CO, KS, MO, and NE) 1. AGR-Lite Insurance Tools (CO, KS). 2. PRF Rainfall Index and PRF Vegetation Index Insurance Tools (CO). 3. Documentation Requirements for Irrigation Availability (CO, KS, NE). 4. General Agricultural Risk Management Topics. Valdosta, GA Region: (AL, FL, GA, SC, and Puerto Rico) 1. PRF Rainfall Index (AL, SC) and PRF Vegetation Index Insurance Tools (SC). 2. AGR-Lite Insurance Tools (AL, FL, GA and SC). 3. Citrus and Florida Fruit Tree Insurance Tools (FL). 4. General Agricultural Risk Management Topics. II. Award Information A. Type of Award Cooperative Partnership Agreements, which require the substantial involvement of RMA. B. Funding Availability Approximately $3,750,000 (subject to availability of funds) is available in fiscal year 2008 to fund up to 50 cooperative partnership agreements. The maximum award will be $75,000. It is anticipated that a maximum of five agreements will be funded for each designated RMA Region. Applicants should apply for funding under that RMA Region where the educational activities will be directed. In the event that all funds available for this program are not obligated after the maximum number of agreements are awarded or if additional funds become available, these funds may, at the discretion of the Manager of FCIC, be used to award additional applications that score highly by the technical review panel or allocated pro-rata to awardees for use in broadening the size or scope of awarded projects if agreed to by the awardee. In the event that the Manager of FCIC determines that available RMA resources cannot support the administrative and substantial involvement requirements of all agreements recommended for funding, the Manager may elect to fund fewer agreements than the available funding might otherwise allow. It is expected that the awards will be made approximately 120 days after the application deadline. All awards will be made and agreements finalized no later than September 30, 2008. C. Location and Target Audience RMA Regional Offices and the States serviced within each Region are listed below. Staff from the respective RMA Regional Offices will provide substantial involvement for projects conducted within their Region. Billings, MT Regional Office: (MT, ND, SD, and WY). Davis, CA Regional Office: (AZ, CA, HI, NV, and UT). Jackson, MS Regional Office: (AR, KY, LA, MS, and TN). Oklahoma City, OK Regional Office: (NM, OK, and TX). Raleigh, NC Regional Office: (CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, and WV). Spokane, WA Regional Office: (AK, ID, OR, and WA). Springfield, IL Regional Office: (IL, IN, MI, and OH). St. Paul, MN Regional Office: (IA, MN, and WI). Topeka, KS Regional Office: (CO, KS, MO, and NE). Valdosta, GA Regional Office: (AL, FL, GA, SC, and Puerto Rico). Applicants must clearly designate the RMA Region where educational activities will be conducted, and must clearly identify the primary topic listed in section I

(F)that the project will address in their application narrative (Form RME-1) and in block 15 of the SF-424 form. Priority will be given to producers of Priority Commodities. Applicants proposing to conduct educational activities in more than one RMA Region must submit a separate application for each RMA Region. Single applications proposing to conduct educational activities in more than one RMA Region will be rejected. D. Maximum Award Any application that requests Federal funding of more than $75,000 will be rejected. RMA also reserves the right to fund successful applications at an amount less than requested if it is judged that the application can be implemented at a lower funding level. E. Project Period Projects will be funded for a period of up to one year from the project starting date. F. Awardee Tasks In conducting activities to achieve the purpose and goal of this program in a designated RMA Region, the awardee will be responsible for performing the following tasks: • Develop and conduct a promotional program. This program will include activities using media, newsletters, publications, or other appropriate informational dissemination techniques that are designed to:

(a)Raise awareness for risk management;

(b)inform producers of the availability of risk management tools; and

(c)inform producers and agribusiness leaders in the designated RMA Region of training and informational opportunities. • Deliver risk management training and informational opportunities to agricultural producers and agribusiness professionals in the designated RMA Region. This will include organizing and delivering educational activities using instructional materials that have been assembled to meet the local needs of agricultural producers. Activities should be directed primarily to agricultural producers, but may include those agribusiness professionals that have frequent opportunities to advise producers on risk management tools and decisions. • Document all educational activities conducted under the partnership agreement and the results of such activities, including criteria and indicators used to evaluate the success of the program. The awardee may also be required to provide information to an RMA-selected contractor to evaluate all educational activities and advise RMA as to the effectiveness of activities. G. RMA Activities FCIC, working through RMA, will be substantially involved during the performance of the funded project through RMA's ten Regional Offices. Potential types of substantial involvement may include, but are not limited to the following activities. • Collaborate with the awardee in assembling, reviewing, and approving risk management materials for producers in the designated RMA Region. • Collaborate with the awardee in reviewing and approving a promotional program for raising awareness for risk management and for informing producers of training and informational opportunities in the RMA Region. • Collaborate with the awardee on the delivery of education to producers and agribusiness leaders in the RMA Region. This will include:

(a)Reviewing and approving in advance all producer and agribusiness leader educational activities;

(b)advising the project leader on technical issues related to crop insurance education and information; and

(c)assisting the project leader in informing crop insurance professionals about educational activity plans and scheduled meetings. • Conduct an evaluation of the performance of the awardee in meeting the deliverables of the project. • Assist in the selection of subcontractors and project staff. Applications that do not contain substantial involvement by RMA will be rejected. H. Other Tasks In addition to the specific, required tasks listed above, the applicant may propose additional tasks that would contribute directly to the purpose of this program. For any proposed additional task, the applicant must identify the objective of the task, the specific subtasks required to meet the objective, specific time lines for performing the subtasks, and the specific responsibilities of partners. The applicant must also identify specific ways in which RMA would have substantial involvement in the proposed project task. III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture, universities, non-profit agricultural organizations, and other public or private organizations with the capacity to lead a local program of risk management education for farmers and ranchers in an RMA Region. Individuals are not eligible applicants. Although an applicant may be eligible to compete for an award based on its status as an eligible entity, other factors may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal assistance under this program governed by Federal law and regulations (e.g., debarment and suspension; a determination of non-performance on a prior contract, cooperative agreement, grant or partnership; a determination of a violation of applicable ethical standards; a determination of being considered “high risk”). Applications from ineligible or excluded persons will be rejected in their entirety. B. Cost Sharing or Matching Although RMA prefers cost sharing by the applicant, this program has neither a cost sharing nor a matching requirement. C. Other—Non-Financial Benefits To be eligible, applicants must also be able to demonstrate that they will receive a non-financial benefit as a result of a partnership agreement. Non-financial benefits must accrue to the applicant and must include more than the ability to provide employment income to the applicant or for the applicant's employees or the community. The applicant must demonstrate that performance under the partnership agreement will further the specific mission of the applicant (such as providing research or activities necessary for graduate or other students to complete their educational program). Applicants that do not demonstrate a non-financial benefit will be rejected. IV. Application and Submission Information A. Contact to Request Application Package Program application materials for the Commodity Partnerships Program under this announcement may be downloaded from *http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements* . Applicants may also request application materials from: Lon Burke, USDA-RMA-RME, phone:

(202)720-5265, fax:

(202)690-3605, e-mail: *RMA.Risk-Ed@rma.usda.gov* . B. Content and Form of Application Submission A complete and valid application package must be submitted in one package at the time of initial submission, which must include the following: 1. An original and two copies of the completed and signed application. 2. An electronic copy (Microsoft Word format preferred) of the narrative portion (Forms RME-1 and RME-2) of the application package on a compact disc. 3. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424, “Application for Federal Assistance.” 4. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424-A, “Budget Information—Non-construction Programs.” Federal funding requested (the total of direct and indirect costs) must not exceed $75,000. 5. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424-B, “Assurances, Non-constructive Programs.” 6. Risk Management Education Project Narrative (Form RME-1). Complete all required parts of Form RME-1: *Part I* —Title Page. *Part II* —A written narrative of no more than 10 single-sided pages which will provide reviewers with sufficient information to effectively evaluate the merits of the application according to the evaluation criteria listed in this notice. Although a Statement of Work, which is the third evaluation criterion, is to be completed in detail in RME Form-2, applicants may wish to highlight certain unique features of the Statement of Work in Part II for the benefit of the evaluation panel. If your narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first 10 pages will be reviewed. • No smaller than 12 point font size. • Use an easily readable font face (e.g., Arial, Geneva, Helvetica, Times Roman). • 8.5 by 11 inch paper. • One-inch margins on each page. • Printed on only one side of paper. • Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not bound or stapled in any other way. *Part III* —A Budget Narrative, describing how the categorical costs listed on SF 424-A are derived. The budget narrative should provide enough detail for reviewers to easily understand how costs were determined and how they relate to the goals and objectives of the project. *Part IV* —Provide a “Statement of Non-financial Benefits.” (Refer to section III, Eligibility Information, C. Other—Non-financial Benefits, above). 7. “Statement of Work,” Form RME-2, which identifies tasks and subtasks in detail, expected completion dates and deliverables, and RMA's substantial involvement role for the proposed project. 8. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.” 9. A completed and signed AD-1047, “Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters—Primary Covered Transactions.” 10. A completed and signed AD-1049, “Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace.” Applications that do not include items 1-7 above will be considered incomplete, will not receive further consideration, and will be rejected. C. Funding Restrictions Cooperative partnership agreement funds may not be used to: a. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or facility including a processing facility; b. Purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment; c. Repair or maintain privately owned vehicles; d. Pay for the preparation of the cooperative partnership agreement application; e. Fund political activities; f. Purchase alcohol, food, beverage, or entertainment; g. Lend money to support farming or agricultural business operation or expansion; h. Pay costs incurred prior to receiving a partnership agreement; i. Fund any activities prohibited in 7 CFR Parts 3015 and 3019, as applicable. D. Limitation on Use of Project Funds for Salaries and Benefits Total costs for salary and benefits allowed for projects under this announcement will be limited to not more than 70 percent reimbursement of the funds awarded under the cooperative partnership agreement as indicated in section III. Eligibility Information, C. Other—Non-financial Benefits. One goal of the Commodity Partnerships program is to maximize the use of the limited funding available for risk management education for producers of Priority Commodities. In order to accomplish this goal, RMA needs to ensure that the maximum amount of funds practicable is used for directly providing the educational opportunities. Limiting the amount of funding for salaries and benefits will allow the limited amount of funding to reach the maximum number of farmers and ranchers. E. Indirect Cost Rates a. Indirect costs allowed for projects submitted under this announcement will be limited to ten

(10)percent of the total direct cost of the cooperative partnership agreement. Therefore, when preparing budgets, applicants should limit their requests for recovery of indirect costs to the lesser of their institution's official negotiated indirect cost rate or 10 percent of the total direct costs. b. RMA will withhold all indirect cost rate funds for an award to an applicant requesting indirect costs if the applicant has not negotiated an indirect cost rate with its cognizant Federal agency. c. If an applicant is in the process of negotiating an indirect cost rate with its cognizant Federal agency, RMA will withhold all indirect cost rate funds from that applicant until the indirect cost rate has been established. d. If an applicant's indirect cost rate has expired or will expire prior to award announcements, a clear statement on renegotiation efforts must be included in the application. e. It is incumbent on all applicants to have a current indirect cost rate or begin negotiations to establish an indirect cost rate prior to the submission deadline. Because it may take several months to obtain an indirect cost rate, applicants needing an indirect cost rate are encouraged to start work on establishing these rates well in advance of submitting an application. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)is responsible for assigning cognizant Federal agencies. f. Applicants may be asked to provide a copy of their indirect cost rate negotiated with their cognizant agency. g. RMA reserves the right to negotiate final budgets with successful applicants. F. Other Submission Requirements *Mailed submissions:* Applications submitted through express, overnight mail or another delivery service will be considered as meeting the announced deadline if they are received in the mailroom at the address stated below for express, overnight mail or another delivery service on or before the deadline. Applicants are cautioned that express, overnight mail or other delivery services do not always deliver as agreed. Applicants should take this into account because failure of such delivery services will not extend the deadline. Mailed applications will be considered as meeting the announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline in the mailroom at the address stated below for mailed applications. Applicants are responsible for mailing applications well in advance, to ensure that applications are received on or before the deadline time and date. Applicants using the U.S. Postal Service

(USPS)should allow for the extra time for delivery due to the additional security measures that mail delivered to government offices in the Washington DC area requires. USPS mail sent to Washington DC headquarters is sanitized offsite, which may result in delays, loss, and physical damage to enclosures. Address when using private delivery services or when hand delivering: Attention: Risk Management Education Program, USDA/RMA/RME, Room 6625, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250. Address when using U.S. Postal Services: Attention: Risk Management Education Program, USDA/RMA/RME/Stop 0808, Room 6625, South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0808. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that RMA receives a complete application package by the closing date and time. Regardless of the delivery method you choose, please do so sufficiently in advance of the due date to ensure your application package is received on or before the deadline. It is your responsibility to meet the due date and time. E-mailed and faxed applications will not be accepted. Late application packages will not receive further consideration and will be rejected. G. Electronic Submissions Applications transmitted electronically via Grants.gov will be accepted prior to the application date or time deadline. The application package can be accessed via Grants.gov, go to *http://www.grants.gov* , click on “Find Grant Opportunities,” click on “Search Grant Opportunities,” and enter the CFDA number (located at the beginning of this RFA) to search by CFDA number. From the search results, select the item that correlates to the title of this RFA. If you do not have electronic access to the RFA or have trouble downloading material and you would like a hardcopy, you may contact Lon Burke, USDA-RMA-RME, phone:

(202)720-5265, fax:

(202)690-3605, e-mail: *RMA.Risk-Ed@rma.usda.gov* . If assistance is needed to access the application package via Grants.gov (e.g., downloading or navigating PureEdge forms, using PureEdge with a Macintosh computer, using Adobe), refer to resources available on the Grants.gov Web site first ( *http://www.grants.gov/* ). Grants.gov assistance is also available as follows: • Grants.gov customer support. Toll Free: 1-800-518-4726. Business Hours: M-F 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. E-mail: *support@grants.gov* . Applicants who submit their applications via the Grants.gov Web site are not required to submit any hard copy documents to RMA. When using Grants.gov to apply, RMA strongly recommends that you submit the online application at least two weeks prior to the application due date in case there are problems with the Grants.gov Web site and you want to submit your application via a mail delivery service. H. Acknowledgement of Applications Receipt of applications will be acknowledged by e-mail, whenever possible. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to provide e-mail addresses in their applications. If an e-mail address is not indicated on an application, receipt will be acknowledged by letter. There will be no notification of incomplete, unqualified or unfunded applications until the awards have been made. When received by RMA, applications will be assigned an identification number. This number will be communicated to applicants in the acknowledgement of receipt of applications. An application's identification number should be referenced in all correspondence regarding the application. If the applicant does not receive an acknowledgement within 15 days of the submission deadline, the applicant should notify RMA's point of contact indicated in section VII, Agency Contact. V. Application Review Information A. Criteria Applications submitted under the Commodity Partnerships Program will be evaluated within each RMA Region according to the following criteria: *Project Impacts* —maximum 30 points. The applicant must demonstrate that the project benefits to farmers and ranchers warrant the funding requested. Applicants will be scored according to the extent they can:

(a)Identify the specific actions producers will likely be able to take as a result of the educational activities described in the Statement of Work;

(b)identify the specific measures for evaluating results that will be employed in the project;

(c)reasonably estimate the total number of producers reached through the various methods and educational activities described in the Statement of Work; and

(d)justify such estimates with clear specifics. Reviewers' scoring will be based on the scope and reasonableness of the applicant's clear descriptions of specific expected actions participants will accomplish, and well-designed methods for measuring the project's results and effectiveness. Applicants using direct contact methods with producers will be scored higher. *Statement of Work* —maximum 15 points. The applicant must produce a clear and specific Statement of Work for the project. For each of the tasks contained in the Description of Agreement Award (refer to section II Award Information), the applicant must identify and describe specific subtasks, responsible entities, expected completion dates, RMA substantial involvement, and deliverables that will further the purpose of this program. Applicants will be scored higher to the extent that the Statement of Work is specific, measurable, reasonable, has specific deadlines for the completion of subtasks, relates directly to the required activities and the program purpose described in this announcement, which is to provide producers with training and informational opportunities so that the producers will be better able to use financial management, crop insurance, marketing contracts, and other existing and emerging risk management tools. Applicants are required to submit this Statement of Work on Form RME-2. *Partnering* —maximum 15 points. The applicant must demonstrate experience and capacity to partner with and gain the support of grower organizations, agribusiness professionals, and agricultural leaders to carry out a local program of education and information in a designated RMA Region. The applicant is required to establish a written partnering plan that includes how each partner will aid in carrying out the project goal and purpose stated in this announcement and letters of commitment stating that the partner has agreed to do this work. The applicant must ensure this plan includes a list of all partners working on the project, their titles, and how they will be contributing to the deliverables listed in the agreement. This partnering plan will not count toward the maximum length of the application narrative (Form RME-1). Applicants will receive higher scores to the extent that they can document and demonstrate in the written partnering plan:

(a)That partnership commitments are in place for the express purpose of delivering the program in this announcement;

(b)that a broad group of farmers and ranchers will be reached within the RMA Region;

(c)that partners are contributing to the project and involved in recruiting producers to attend the training;

(d)that a substantial effort has been made to partner with organizations that can meet the needs of producers; and

(e)statements from each partner regarding the number of producers that partner is committed to recruit for the project that would support the estimates specified under the Project Impacts criterion. *Project Management* —maximum 15 points. The applicant must demonstrate an ability to implement sound and effective project management practices. Higher scores will be awarded to applicants that can demonstrate organizational skills, leadership, and experience in delivering services or programs that assist agricultural producers in the respective RMA Region. The project manager must demonstrate that he/she has the capability to accomplish the project goal and purpose stated in this announcement by

(a)having a previous working relationship with the farm community in the designated RMA Region of the application, including being able to recruit approximately the number of producers to be reached in the application and/or

(b)having established the capacity to partner with and gain the support of grower organizations, agribusiness professionals, and agribusiness leaders locally to aid in carrying out a program of education and information, including being able to recruit approximately the number of producers to be reached in this application. Applicants that will employ, or have access to, personnel who have experience in directing local educational programs that benefit agricultural producers in the respective RMA Region will receive higher rankings. *Budget Appropriateness and Efficiency* —maximum 15 points. Applicants must provide a detailed budget summary that clearly explains and justifies costs associated with the project. Applicants will receive higher scores to the extent that they can demonstrate a fair and reasonable use of funds appropriate for the project and a budget that contains the estimated cost of reaching each individual producer. The applicant must provide information factors such as: • The allowability and necessity for individual cost categories; • The reasonableness of amounts estimated for necessary costs; • The basis used for allocating indirect or overhead costs; • The appropriateness of allocating particular overhead costs to the proposed project as direct costs; and • The percent of time devoted to the project for all key project personnel identified in the application. Salaries of project personnel should be requested in proportion to the percent of time that they would devote to the project—Note: cannot exceed 70% of the total project budget. Applicants must list all current public or private support to which personnel identified in the application have committed portions of their time, whether or not salary support for persons involved is included in the budget. An application that duplicates or overlaps substantially with an application already reviewed and funded (or to be funded) by another organization or agency will not be funded under this program. The projects proposed for funding should be included in the pending section. Only items or services that are necessary for the successful completion of the project will be funded as permitted under the Act. *Priority Commodity* —maximum 10 points. The applicant can submit projects that are not related to Priority Commodities. However, priority is given to projects relating to Priority Commodities and the degree in which such projects relate to the Priority Commodities. Projects that relate solely to Priority Commodities will be eligible for the most points. *Past Performance* —maximum 10 points. If the applicant has been an awardee of other Federal or other government grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts, the applicant must provide information relating to their past performance in reporting on outputs and outcomes under past or current federal assistance agreements. The applicant must also detail that they have consistently complied with financial and program reporting and auditing requirements. RMA reserves the right to add up to 10 points to applications due to past performance. Applicants with very good past performance will receive a score from 6-10 points. Applicants with acceptable past performance will receive a score from 1-5 points. Applicants with unacceptable past performance will receive a score of minus 5 points for this evaluation factor. Applicants without relevant past performance information will receive a neutral score of the mean number of points of all applicants with past performance. These past performance points will be applied only to applications that the review panel scored above the minimum score. Applications receiving less than the minimum score required to be eligible for potential funding will not receive past performance points. Under this cooperative partnership agreement, RMA will subjectively rate the awardee on project performance as indicated in section II, G. *Projected Audience Description* —maximum 5 points. The applicant must clearly identify and describe the targeted audience for the project. Applicants will receive higher scores to the extent that they can reasonably and clearly describe their target audience and why the audience would choose to participate in the project. The applicant must describe why the proposed audience wants the information the project will deliver. B. Review and Selection Process Applications will be evaluated using a two-part process. First, each application will be screened by RMA personnel to ensure that it meets the requirements in this announcement. Applications that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or are incomplete will not receive further consideration during the next process. Applications that meet announcement requirements will be sorted into the RMA Region in which the applicant proposes to conduct the project and then sorted by project objective listed in section I (F). These applications will be presented to a review panel for consideration. Second, the review panel will meet to consider and discuss the merits of each application. The panel will consist of not less than three independent reviewers. Reviewers will be drawn from USDA, other Federal agencies, and others representing public and private organizations, as needed. After considering the merits of all applications within an RMA Region, panel members will score each application according to the criteria and point values listed above. The panel will then rank each application against others within the RMA Region by educational objective listed in Section I ( *F* ) according to the scores received. Those applications will be listed in initial rank order by special emphasis topic (topic) within each RMA Region. The highest-ranking application for each topic will be funded in the order of priority (the highest-ranking application in topic 1 will be funded first, the highest-ranking application in topic 2 will be funded second, etc.) in each RMA Region. The highest ranking of all remaining applications regardless of topic will be the fifth project funded. In the event that there are no applications that warrant funding in topics 1-3, those funds may become available to other projects. A lottery will be used to resolve any instances of a tie score that might have a bearing on funding recommendations. If such a lottery is required, the names of all tied applicants will be entered into a drawing. The first tied applicant drawn will have priority over other tied applicants for funding consideration. The review panel will report the results of the evaluation to the Manager of FCIC. The panel's report will include the recommended applicants to receive partnership agreements for each RMA Region. Funding will not be provided for an application receiving a score less than 60. Funding will not be provided for an application that is highly similar to a higher-scoring application in the same RMA Region. Highly similar is one that proposes to reach the same producers likely to be reached by another applicant that scored higher by the panel and the same general educational material is proposed to be delivered. An organization, or group of organizations in partnership, may apply for funding under other FCIC or RMA programs, in addition to the program described in this announcement. However, if the Manager of FCIC determines that an application recommended for funding is sufficiently similar to a project that has been funded or has been recommended to be funded under another RMA or FCIC program, then the Manager may elect to not fund that application in whole or in part. The Manager of FCIC will make the final determination on those applications that will be awarded funding. VI. Award Administration Information A. Award Notices Following approval by the awarding official of RMA of the applications to be selected for funding, project leaders whose applications have been selected for funding will be notified. Within the limit of funds available for such a purpose, the awarding official of RMA shall enter into cooperative partnership agreements with those selected applicants. The agreements provide the amount of Federal funds for use in the project period, the terms and conditions of the award, and the time period for the project. The effective date of the agreement shall be on the date the agreement is executed by both parties and it shall remain in effect for up to one year or through September 30, 2009, whichever is later. After a cooperative partnership agreement has been signed, RMA will extend to awardees, in writing, the authority to draw down funds for the purpose of conducting the activities listed in the agreement. All funds provided to the awardee by FCIC must be expended solely for the purpose for which the funds are obligated in accordance with the approved agreement and budget, the regulations, the terms and conditions of the award, and the applicability of Federal cost principles. No commitment of Federal assistance beyond the project period is made or implied for any award resulting from this notice. Notification of denial of funding will be sent to applicants after final funding decisions have been made and the awardees announced publicly. Reasons for denial of funding can include, but are not limited to, incomplete applications, applications with evaluation scores that are lower than other applications in an RMA Region, or applications that propose to deliver education to groups of producers in an RMA Region that are largely similar to groups reached in a higher ranked application. B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 1. Requirement To Use Program Logo Awardees will be required to use a program logo and design provided by RMA for all instructional and promotional materials. 2. Requirement To Provide Project Information to an RMA-Selected Representative Awardees will be required to assist RMA in evaluating the effectiveness of its educational programs by providing documentation of educational activities and related information to any representative selected by RMA for program evaluation purposes. 3. Private Crop Insurance Organizations and Potential Conflicts of Interest Private organizations that are involved in the sale of Federal crop insurance, or that have financial ties to such organizations, are eligible to apply for funding under this announcement. However, such entities will not be allowed to receive funding to conduct activities that would otherwise be required under a Standard Reinsurance Agreement or any other agreement in effect between FCIC and the entity. Also, such entities will not be allowed to receive funding to conduct activities that could be perceived by producers as promoting one company's services or products over another's. If applying for funding, such organizations are encouraged to be sensitive to potential conflicts of interest and to describe in their application the specific actions they will take to avoid actual and perceived conflicts of interest. 4. Access to Panel Review Information Upon written request from the applicant, scores from the evaluation panel, not including the identity of reviewers, will be sent to the applicant after the review and awards process has been completed. 5. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards The names of applicants, the names of individuals identified in the applications, the content of applications, and the panel evaluations of applications will all be kept confidential, except to those involved in the review process, to the extent permitted by law. In addition, the identities of review panel members will remain confidential throughout the entire review process and will not be released to applicants. At the end of the fiscal year, names of panel members will be made available. However, panelists will not be identified with the review of any particular application. When an application results in a partnership agreement, that agreement becomes a part of the official record of RMA transactions, available to the public upon specific request. Information that the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be of a confidential, privileged, or proprietary nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by law. Therefore, any information that the applicant wishes to be considered confidential, privileged, or proprietary should be clearly marked within an application, including the basis for such designation. The original copy of an application that does not result in an award will be retained by RMA for a period of one year. Other copies will be destroyed. Copies of applications not receiving awards will be released only with the express written consent of the applicant or to the extent required by law. An application may be withdrawn at any time prior to award. 6. Audit Requirements Awardees are subject to audit. 7. Prohibitions and Requirements With Regard to Lobbying Section 1352 of Public Law 101-121, enacted on October 23, 1989, imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and certification related to lobbying on awardees of Federal contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and loans. It provides exemptions for Indian Tribes and tribal organizations. Current and prospective awardees and any subcontractors, are prohibited from using Federal funds, other than profits from a Federal contract, for lobbying Congress or any Federal agency in connection with the award of a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or loan. In addition, for each award action in excess of $100,000 ($150,000 for loans) the law requires awardees and any subcontractors:

(1)To certify that they have neither used nor will use any appropriated funds for payment of lobbyists;

(2)to disclose the name, address, payment details, and purpose of any agreements with lobbyists whom awardees of their subcontractors will pay with profits or other non-appropriated funds on or after December 22, 1989; and

(3)to file quarterly up-dates about the use of lobbyists if material changes occur in their use. The law establishes civil penalties for non-compliance. A copy of the certification and disclosure forms must be submitted with the application and are available at the address and telephone number listed in section VII. Agency Contact. 8. Applicable OMB Circulars All cooperative partnership agreements funded as a result of this notice will be subject to the requirements contained in all applicable OMB circulars. 9. Requirement To Assure Compliance With Federal Civil Rights Laws Project leaders of all cooperative partnership agreements funded as a result of this notice are required to know and abide by Federal civil rights laws and to assure USDA and RMA that the awardee is in compliance with and will continue to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d *et seq.* ), 7 CFR Part 15, and USDA regulations promulgated thereunder, 7 CFR 1901.202. RMA requires that awardees submit an Assurance Agreement (Civil Rights), assuring RMA of this compliance prior to the beginning of the project period. 10. Requirement To Participate in a Post Award Conference RMA requires that project leaders attend a post award conference to become fully aware of agreement requirements and for delineating the roles of RMA personnel and the procedures that will be followed in administering the agreement and will afford an opportunity for the orderly transition of agreement duties and obligations if different personnel are to assume post-award responsibility. In their applications, applicants should budget for possible travel costs associated with attending this conference. 11. Requirement To Submit Educational Materials to the National AgRisk Education Library RMA requires that project leaders upload digital copies of all risk management educational materials developed because of the project to the National AgRisk Education Library ( *http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/* ) for posting. RMA will be clearly identified as having provided funding for the materials. 12. Requirement To Submit Proposed Results to the National AgRisk Education Library RMA requires that project leaders submit results of the project to the National AgRisk Education Library ( *http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/* ) for posting. 13. Requirement To Submit a Project Plan of Operation in the Event of a Human Pandemic Outbreak RMA requires that project leaders submit a project plan of operation in case of a human pandemic event. The plan should address the concept of continuing operations as they relate to the project. This should include the roles, responsibilities, and contact information for the project team and individuals serving as back-ups in case of a pandemic outbreak. C. Reporting Requirements Awardees will be required to submit quarterly progress reports, quarterly financial reports (OMB Standard Form 269), and quarterly Activity Logs (Form RMA-300) throughout the project period, as well as a final program and financial report not later than 90 days after the end of the project period. Awardees will be required to submit prior to the award: • A completed and signed Assurance Agreement (Civil Rights). • A completed and signed Faith-Based Survey on EEO. VII. Agency Contact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applicants and other interested parties are encouraged to contact: Lon Burke, USDA-RMA-RME, phone: 202-720-5265, fax: 202-690-3605, e-mail: *RMA.Risk-Ed@rma.usda.gov.* You may also obtain information regarding this announcement from the RMA Web site at: *http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements.* VIII. Other Information A. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track of over 70 million businesses worldwide. The Office of Management and Budget published a notice of final policy issuance in the **Federal Register** June 27, 2003 (68 FR 38402), that requires a DUNS number in every application (i.e., hard copy and electronic) for a grant or cooperative agreement on or after October 1, 2003. Therefore, potential applicants should verify that they have a DUNS number or take the steps needed to obtain one. For information about how to obtain a DUNS number, go to *http://www.grants.gov.* Please note that the registration may take up to 14 business days to complete. B. Required Registration With the Central Contract Registry for Submission of Proposals The Central Contract Registry

(CCR)is a database that serves as the primary Government repository for contractor information required for the conduct of business with the Government. This database will also be used as a central location for maintaining organizational information for organizations seeking and receiving grants from the Government. Such organizations must register in the CCR prior to the submission of applications. A DUNS number is needed for CCR registration. For information about how to register in the CCR, visit “Get Started” at the Web site, *http://www.grants.gov.* Allow a minimum of 5 business days to complete the CCR registration. C. Related Programs Funding availability for this program may be announced at approximately the same time as funding availability for similar but separate programs—CFDA No. 10.455 (Community Outreach and Assistance Partnerships), CFDA No. 10.456 (Risk Management Research Partnerships), CFDA No. 10.458 (Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States), and CFDA No. 10.459 (Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program). These programs have some similarities, but also key differences. The differences stem from important features of each program's authorizing legislation and different RMA objectives. Prospective applicants should carefully examine and compare the notices for each program. Signed in Washington, DC, on January 15, 2008. Eldon Gould, Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. [FR Doc. E8-943 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-08-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Funding Opportunity Title: Commodity Partnerships for Small Agricultural Risk Management Education Sessions (Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program) *Announcement Type:* Announcement of Availability of Funds and Request for Application for Competitive Cooperative Partnership Agreements. *Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA):* 10.459. DATES: Applications are due 5 p.m. EST March 24, 2008. SUMMARY: The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), operating through the Risk Management Agency (RMA), announces the availability of approximately $500,000 (subject to availability of funds) for Commodity Partnerships for Small Agricultural Risk Management Education Sessions (the Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program). The purpose of this cooperative partnership agreement program is to deliver training and information in the management of production, marketing, and financial risk to U.S. agricultural producers. The program gives priority to educating producers of crops currently not insured under Federal crop insurance, specialty crops, and underserved commodities, including livestock and forage. A maximum of 50 cooperative partnership agreements will be funded, with no more than five in each of the ten designated RMA Regions. The maximum award for any cooperative partnership agreement will be $10,000. Awardees must demonstrate non-financial benefits from a cooperative partnership agreement and must agree to the substantial involvement of RMA in the project. Funding availability for this program may be announced at approximately the same time as funding availability for similar but separate programs—CFDA No. 10.455 (Community Outreach and Assistance Partnerships), CFDA No. 10.456 (Risk Management Research Partnerships), CFDA No. 10.457 (Commodity Partnerships for Risk Management Education), and CFDA No. 10.458 (Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States). Prospective applicants should carefully examine and compare the notices for each program. The collections of information in this announcement have been approved by OMB under control number 0563-0067 through January 31, 2009. This Announcement Consists of Eight Sections Section I—Funding Opportunity Description A. Legislative Authority B. Background C. Definition of Priority Commodities D. Project Goal E. Purpose Section II—Award Information A. Type of Award B. Funding Availability C. Location and Target Audience D. Maximum Award E. Project Period F. Description of Agreement Awardee Tasks G. RMA Activities H. Other Tasks Section III—Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants B. Cost Sharing or Matching C. Other—Non-Financial Benefits Section IV—Application and Submission Information A. Contact to Request Application Package B. Content and Form of Application Submission C. Funding Restrictions D. Limitation on Use of Project Funds for Salaries and Benefits E. Indirect Cost Rates F. Other Submission Requirements G. Electronic submissions H. Acknowledgement of Applications Section V—Application Review Process A. Criteria B. Review and Selection Process Section VI—Award Administration Information A. Award Notices B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 1. Requirement To Use Program Logo 2. Requirement To Provide Project Information to an RMA-selected Representative 3. Private Crop Insurance Organizations and Potential Conflict of Interest 4. Access to Panel Review Information 5. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards 6. Audit Requirements 7. Prohibitions and Requirements Regarding Lobbying 8. Applicable OMB Circulars 9. Requirement To Assure Compliance With Federal Civil Rights Laws 10. Requirement To Participate in a Post Award Teleconference 11. Requirement To Submit Educational Materials to the National AgRisk Education Library 12. Requirement To Submit Proposed Results to the National AgRisk Education Library 13. Requirement To Submit a Project Plan of Operation in the Event of a Human Pandemic Outbreak C. Reporting Requirements Section VII—Agency Contact Section VIII—Other Information A. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)B. Required Registration With the Central Contract Registry for Submission of Proposals C. Related Programs Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description A. Legislative Authority The Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program is authorized under section 522(d)(3)(F) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act

(Act)(7 U.S.C. 1522(d)(3)(F). B. Background RMA promotes and regulates sound risk management solutions to improve the economic stability of American agriculture. On behalf of FCIC, RMA does this by offering Federal crop insurance products through a network of private-sector partners, overseeing the creation of new risk management products, seeking enhancements in existing products, ensuring the integrity of crop insurance programs, offering outreach programs aimed at equal access and participation of underserved communities, and providing risk management education and information. One of RMA's strategic goals is to ensure that its customers are well informed as to the risk management solutions available. This educational goal is supported by section 522(d)(3)(F) of the Act, which authorizes FCIC funding for risk management training and informational efforts for agricultural producers through the formation of partnerships with public and private organizations. With respect to such partnerships, priority is to be given to reaching producers of Priority Commodities, as defined below. C. Definition of Priority Commodities For purposes of this program, Priority Commodities are defined as: • *Agricultural commodities covered by (7 U.S.C. 7333).* Commodities in this group are commercial crops that are not covered by catastrophic risk protection crop insurance, are used for food or fiber (except livestock), and specifically include, but are not limited to, floricultural, ornamental nursery, Christmas trees, turf grass sod, aquaculture (including ornamental fish), and industrial crops. • *Specialty crops* . Commodities in this group may or may not be covered under a Federal crop insurance plan and include, but are not limited to, fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, syrups, honey, roots, herbs, and highly specialized varieties of traditional crops. • *Underserved commodities* . This group includes:

(a)Commodities, including livestock and forage, that are covered by a Federal crop insurance plan but for which participation in an area is below the national average; and

(b)commodities, including livestock and forage, with inadequate crop insurance coverage. A project is considered as giving priority to Priority Commodities if the majority (75%) of the educational activities of the project are directed to producers of any of the three classes of commodities listed above or any combination of the three classes. D. Project Goal The goal of this program is to ensure that “ * * * producers will be better able to use financial management, crop insurance, marketing contracts, and other existing and emerging risk management tools”. E. Purpose The purpose of the Commodity Partnership Small Session Program is to provide U.S. farmers and ranchers with training and informational opportunities to be able to understand: • The kinds of risks addressed by existing and emerging risk management tools; • The features and appropriate use of existing and emerging risk management tools; and • How to make sound risk management decisions. II. Award Information A. Type of Award Cooperative Partnership Agreements, which require the substantial involvement of RMA. B. Funding Availability Approximately $500,000 (subject to availability of funds) is available in fiscal year 2008 to fund up to 50 cooperative partnership agreements. The maximum award for any agreement will be $10,000. It is anticipated that a maximum of five agreements will be funded in each of the ten designated RMA Regions. In the event that all funds available for this program are not obligated after the maximum number of agreements are awarded or if additional funds become available, these funds may, at the discretion of the Manager of FCIC, be used to award additional applications that score highly by the technical review panel or allocated pro-rata to awardees for use in broadening the size or scope of awarded projects if agreed to by the awardee. In the event that the Manager of FCIC determines that available RMA resources cannot support the administrative and substantial involvement requirements of all agreements recommended for funding, the Manager may elect to fund fewer agreements than the available funding might otherwise allow. It is expected that the awards will be made approximately 120 days after the application deadline. All awards will be made and agreements finalized no later than September 30, 2008. C. Location and Target Audience RMA Regional Offices and the States serviced within each Region are listed below. Staff from the respective RMA Regional Offices will provide substantial involvement for projects conducted within the Region. Billings, MT Regional Office: (MT, ND, SD, and WY) Davis, CA Regional Office: (AZ, CA, HI, NV, and UT) Jackson, MS Regional Office: (AR, KY, LA, MS, and TN) Oklahoma City, OK Regional Office: (NM, OK, and TX) Raleigh, NC Regional Office: (CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, and WV) Spokane, WA Regional Office: (AK, ID, OR, and WA) Springfield, IL Regional Office: (IL, IN, MI, and OH) St. Paul, MN Regional Office: (IA, MN, and WI) Topeka, KS Regional Office: (CO, KS, MO, and NE) Valdosta, GA Regional Office: (AL, FL, GA, SC, and Puerto Rico) Applicants must clearly designate the RMA Region where educational activities will be conducted in their application narrative (Form RME-1) and in block 15 of the SF-424 form. Applications without this designation will be rejected. Priority will be given to producers of Priority Commodities. Applicants proposing to conduct educational activities in more than one RMA Region must submit a separate application for each RMA Region. Single applications proposing to conduct educational activities in more than one RMA Region will be rejected. D. Maximum Award Any application that requests Federal funding of more than $10,000 for a project will be rejected. RMA also reserves the right to fund successful applications at an amount less than requested if it is judged that the application can be implemented at a lower funding level. E. Project Period Projects will be funded for a period of up to one year from the project starting date. F. Description of Agreement Award: Awardee Tasks In conducting activities to achieve the purpose and goal of this program in a designated RMA Region, the awardee will be responsible for performing the following tasks: • Develop and conduct a promotional program. This program will include activities using media, newsletters, publications, or other appropriate informational dissemination techniques that are designed to:

(a)Raise awareness for risk management;

(b)inform producers of the availability of risk management tools; and

(c)inform producers and agribusiness leaders in the designated RMA Region of training and informational opportunities. • Deliver risk management training and informational opportunities to agricultural producers and agribusiness professionals in the designated RMA Region. This will include organizing and delivering educational activities using the instructional materials that have been assembled to meet the local needs of agricultural producers. Activities should be directed primarily to agricultural producers, but may include those agribusiness professionals that have frequent opportunities to advise producers on risk management tools and decisions. • Document all educational activities conducted under the cooperative partnership agreement and the results of such activities, including criteria and indicators used to evaluate the success of the program. The awardee will also be required to provide information to an RMA-selected contractor to evaluate all educational activities and advise RMA as to the effectiveness of activities. G. RMA Activities FCIC, working through RMA, will be substantially involved during the performance of the funded project through RMA's ten Regional Offices. Potential types of substantial involvement may include, but are not limited to the following activities. • Collaborate with the awardee in assembling, reviewing, and approving risk management materials for producers in the designated RMA Region. • Collaborate with the awardee in reviewing and approving a promotional program for raising awareness for risk management and for informing producers of training and informational opportunities in the RMA Region. • Collaborate with the awardee on the delivery of education to producers and agribusiness leaders in the RMA Region. This will include:

(a)Reviewing and approving in advance all producer and agribusiness leader educational activities;

(b)advising the project leader on technical issues related to crop insurance education and information; and

(c)assisting the project leader in informing crop insurance professionals about educational activity plans and scheduled meetings. • Conduct an evaluation of the performance of the awardee in meeting the deliverables of the project. • Assist in the selection of subcontractors and project staff. Applications that do not contain substantial involvement by RMA will be rejected. H. Other Tasks In addition to the specific, required tasks listed above, the applicant may propose additional tasks that would contribute directly to the purpose of this program. For any proposed additional task, the applicant must identify the objective of the task, the specific subtasks required to meet the objective, specific time lines for performing the subtasks, and the specific responsibilities of partners. The applicant must also identify specific ways in which RMA would have substantial involvement in the proposed project task. III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture, universities, non-profit agricultural organizations, and other public or private organizations with the capacity to lead a local program of risk management education for farmers and ranchers in an RMA Region. Individuals are not eligible applicants. Although an applicant may be eligible to compete for an award based on its status as an eligible entity, other factors may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal assistance under this program governed by Federal law and regulations (e.g. debarment and suspension; a determination of non-performance on a prior contract, cooperative agreement, grant or cooperative partnership; a determination of a violation of applicable ethical standards; a determination of being considered “high risk”). Applications from ineligible or excluded persons will be rejected in their entirety. B. Cost Sharing or Matching Although RMA prefers cost sharing by the applicant, this program has neither a cost sharing nor a matching requirement. C. Other—Non-Financial Benefits To be eligible, applicants must also be able to demonstrate that they will receive a non-financial benefit as a result of a cooperative partnership agreement. Non-financial benefits must accrue to the applicant and must include more than the ability to provide employment income to the applicant or for the applicant's employees or the community. The applicant must demonstrate that performance under the cooperative partnership agreement will further the specific mission of the applicant (such as providing research or activities necessary for graduate or other students to complete their educational program). Applications that do not demonstrate a non-financial benefit will be rejected. IV. Application and Submission Information A. Contact To Request Application Package Program application materials for the Commodity Partnerships Program under this announcement may be downloaded from *http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements* . Applicants may also request application materials from: Lon Burke, USDA-RMA-RME, *phone:*

(202)720-5265, fax:

(202)690-3605, *e-mail:* RMA. *Risk-Ed@rma.usda.gov.* B. Content and Form of Application Submission A complete and valid application package must be submitted in one package at the time of initial submission, which must include the following: 1. An original and two copies of the completed and signed application. 2. An electronic copy (Microsoft Word format preferred) of the narrative portion (Forms RME-1 and RME-2) of the application package on a compact disc. 3. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424, “Application for Federal Assistance.” 4. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424-A, “Budget Information—Non-construction Programs.” Federal funding requested (the total of direct and indirect costs) must not exceed $10,000. 5. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424-B, “Assurances, Non-constructive Programs.” 6. Risk Management Education Project Narrative (Form RME-1). Complete all required parts of Form RME-1: Part I—Title Page. Part II—A written narrative of no more than 5 single-sided pages which will provide reviewers with sufficient information to effectively evaluate the merits of the application according to the evaluation criteria listed in this notice. Although a Statement of Work, which is an evaluation criterion, is to be completed in detail in RME Form-2, applicants may wish to highlight certain unique features of the Statement of Work in Part II for the benefit of the evaluation panel. If your narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed. • No smaller than 12 point font size. • Use an easily readable font face (e.g., Arial, Geneva, Helvetica, Times Roman). • 8.5 by 11 inch paper. • One-inch margins on each page. • Printed on only one side of paper. • Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not bound or stapled in any other way Part III—A Budget Narrative, describing how the categorical costs listed on SF 424-A are derived. The budget narrative should provide enough detail for reviewers to easily understand how costs were determined and how they relate to the goals and objectives of the project. Part IV—Provide a “Statement of Non-financial Benefits.” (Refer to Section III, Eligibility Information, C. Other—Non-financial Benefits, above.) 7. “Statement of Work,” Form RME-2, which identifies tasks and subtasks in detail, expected completion dates and deliverables, and RMA's substantial involvement role for the proposed project. 8. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.” 9. A completed and signed AD-1047, “Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters—Primary Covered Transactions.” 10. A completed and signed AD-1049, “Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace.” Applications that do not include items 1-7 above will be considered incomplete, will not receive further consideration, and will be rejected. C. Funding Restrictions Cooperative partnership agreement funds may not be used to: a. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or facility including a processing facility; b. Purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment; c. Repair or maintain privately owned vehicles; d. Pay for the preparation of the cooperative partnership agreement application; e. Fund political activities; f. Purchase alcohol, food, beverage or entertainment; g. Lend money to support farming or agricultural business operation or expansion; h. Pay costs incurred prior to receiving a partnership agreement; i. Fund any activities prohibited in 7 CFR Parts 3015 and 3019, as applicable. D. Limitation on Use of Project Funds for Salaries and Benefits Total costs for salary and benefits allowed for projects under this announcement will be limited to not more than 70 percent reimbursement of the funds awarded under the cooperative partnership agreement as indicated in Section III. Eligibility Information, C. Other—Non-financial Benefits. One goal of the Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program is to maximize the use of the limited funding available for risk management education for producers of Priority Commodities. In order to accomplish this goal, RMA needs to ensure that the maximum amount of funds practicable is used for directly providing the educational opportunities. Limiting the amount of funding for salaries and benefits will allow the limited amount of funding to reach the maximum number of farmers and ranchers. E. Indirect Cost Rates a. Indirect costs allowed for projects submitted under this announcement will be limited to ten

(USPS)should allow for the extra time for delivery due to the additional security measures that mail delivered to government offices in the Washington, DC area requires. USPS mail sent to Washington, DC headquarters is sanitized offsite, which may result in delays, loss, and physical damage to enclosures. Address when using private delivery services or when hand delivering: *Attention:* Risk Management Education Program, USDA/RMA/RME, Room 6625, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250. Address when using U.S. Postal Services: *Attention:* Risk Management Education Program, USDA/RMA/RME/Stop 0808, Room 6625, South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0808. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that RMA receives a complete application package by the closing date and time. Regardless of the delivery method you choose, please do so sufficiently in advance of the due date to ensure your application package is received on or before the deadline. It is your responsibility to meet the due date and time. Emailed and faxed applications will not be accepted. Late application packages will not receive further consideration and will be rejected. G. Electronic Submissions Applications transmitted electronically via Grants.gov will be accepted prior to the application date or time deadline. The application package can be accessed via *Grants.gov* , go to *http://www.grants.gov* , click on “Find Grant Opportunities”, click on “Search Grant Opportunities,” and enter the CFDA number (beginning of the RFA) to search by CFDA number. From the search results, select the item that correlates to the title of this RFA. If you do not have electronic access to the RFA or have trouble downloading material and you would like a hardcopy, you may contact Lon Burke, USDA-RMA-RME, *phone:*

(202)720-5265, *fax:*

(202)690-3605, *e-mail: RMA.Risk-Ed@rma.usda.gov.* If assistance is needed to access the application package via Grants.gov (e.g., downloading or navigating PureEdge forms, using PureEdge with a Macintosh computer using Adobe), refer to resources available on the Grants.gov Web site first ( *http://www.grants.gov/* ). Grants.gov assistance is also available as follows: • Grants.gov customer support *Toll Free:* 1-800-518-4726. *Business Hours:* M-F, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. *E-mail: support@grants.gov.* Applicants who submit their applications via the Grants.gov Web site are not required to submit any hard copy documents to RMA. When using Grants.gov to apply, RMA strongly recommends that you submit the online application at least two weeks prior to the application due date in case there are problems with the Grants.gov Web site and you want to submit your application via a mail delivery service. H. Acknowledgement of Applications Receipt of applications will be acknowledged by e-mail, whenever possible. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to provide e-mail addresses in their applications. If an e-mail address is not indicated on an application, receipt will be acknowledged by letter. There will be no notification of incomplete, unqualified or unfunded applications until after the awards have been made. When received by RMA, applications will be assigned an identification number. This number will be communicated to applicants in the acknowledgement of receipt of applications. An application's identification number should be referenced in all correspondence regarding the application. If the applicant does not receive an acknowledgement within 15 days of the submission deadline, the applicant should notify RMA's point of contact indicated in Section VII, Agency Contact. V. Application Review Information A. Criteria Applications submitted under the Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program will be evaluated within each RMA Region according to the following criteria: Project Impacts—maximum 20 points. The applicant must demonstrate that the project benefits to farmers and ranchers warrant the funding requested. Applicants will be scored according to the extent they can:

(a)Identify the specific actions producers will likely be able to take as a result of the educational activities described in the Statement of Work;

(b)identify the specific measures for evaluating results that will be employed in the project;

(c)reasonably estimate the total number of producers reached through the various methods and educational activities described in the Statement of Work; and

(d)justify such estimates with clear specifics. Reviewers' scoring will be based on the scope and reasonableness of the applicant's clear descriptions of specific expected actions participants will accomplish, and well-designed methods for measuring the project's results and effectiveness. Applicants using direct contact methods with producers will be scored higher. Statement of Work—maximum 15 points. The applicant must produce a clear and specific Statement of Work for the project. For each of the tasks contained in the Description of Agreement Award (refer to Section II Award Information), the applicant must identify and describe specific subtasks, responsible entities, expected completion dates, RMA substantial involvement, and deliverables that will further the purpose of this program. Applicants will be scored higher to the extent that the Statement of Work is specific, measurable, reasonable, has specific deadlines for the completion of subtasks, relates directly to the required activities and the program purpose described in this announcement, which is to provide producers with training and informational opportunities so that the producers will be better able to use financial management, crop insurance, marketing contracts, and other existing and emerging risk management tools. Applicants are required to submit this Statement of Work on Form RME-2. Project Management—maximum 15 points. The applicant must demonstrate an ability to implement sound and effective project management practices. Higher scores will be awarded to applicants that can demonstrate organizational skills, leadership, and experience in delivering services or programs that assist agricultural producers in the respective RMA Region. The project manager must demonstrate that he/she has the capability to accomplish the project goal and purpose stated in this announcement by

(b)having established the capacity to partner with and gain the support of grower organizations, agribusiness professionals, and agribusiness leaders locally to aid in carrying out a program of education and information, including being able to recruit approximately the number of producers to be reached in this application. Applicants that will employ, or have access to, personnel who have experience in directing local educational programs that benefit agricultural producers in the respective RMA Region will receive higher rankings. Budget Appropriateness and Efficiency—maximum 15 points. Applicants must provide a detailed budget summary that clearly explains and justifies costs associated with the project. Applicants will receive higher scores to the extent that they can demonstrate a fair and reasonable use of funds appropriate for the project and a budget that contains the estimated cost of reaching each individual producer. The applicant must provide information factors such as: • The allowability and necessity for individual cost categories; • The reasonableness of amounts estimated for necessary costs; • The basis used for allocating indirect or overhead costs; • The appropriateness of allocating particular overhead costs to the proposed project as direct costs; and • The percent of time devoted to the project for all key project personnel identified in the application. Salaries of project personnel should be requested in proportion to the percent of time that they would devote to the project— *Note:* cannot exceed 70% of the total project budget. Applicants must list all current public or private support to which personnel identified in the application have committed portions of their time, whether or not salary support for persons involved is included in the budget. An application that duplicates or overlaps substantially with an application already reviewed and funded (or to be funded) by another organization or agency will not be funded under this program. The projects proposed for funding should be included in the pending section. Only items or services that are necessary for the successful completion of the project will be funded as permitted under the Act. Priority Commodity—maximum 10 points. The applicant can submit projects that are not related to Priority Commodities. However, priority will be given to projects relating to Priority Commodities and the degree to which such projects relate to the Priority Commodities. Projects that relate solely to Priority Commodities will be eligible for the most points. Past Performance—maximum 10 points. If the applicant has been an awardee of other Federal or other government grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts, the applicant must provide information relating to their past performance in reporting on outputs and outcomes under past or current federal assistance agreements. The applicant must also detail that they have consistently complied with financial and program reporting and auditing requirements. RMA reserves the right to add up to 10 points and subtract 5 points to applications due to past performance. Applicants with very good past performance will receive a score from 6-10 points. Applicants with acceptable past performance will receive a score from 1-5 points. Applicants with unacceptable past performance will receive a score of minus 5 points for this evaluation factor. Applicants without relevant past performance information will receive a neutral score of the mean number of points of all applicants with past performance. These past performance points will be applied only to applications that the review panel scored above the minimum score. Applications receiving less than the minimum score required to be eligible for potential funding will not receive past performance points. Under this cooperative partnership agreement, RMA will subjectively rate the awardee on project performance as indicated in Section II, G. Projected Audience Description—maximum 5 points. The applicant must clearly identify and describe the targeted audience for the project. Applicants will receive higher scores to the extent that they can reasonably and clearly describe their target audience and why the audience would choose to participate in the project. The applicant must describe why the proposed audience wants the information the project will deliver. B. Review and Selection Process Applications will be evaluated using a two-part process. First, each application will be screened by RMA personnel to ensure that it meets the requirements in this announcement. Applications that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or that are incomplete will not receive further consideration during the next process. Applications that meet announcement requirements will be sorted into the RMA Region in which the applicant proposes to conduct the project and will be presented to a review panel for consideration. Second, the review panel will meet to consider and discuss the merits of each application. The panel will consist of not less than three independent reviewers. Reviewers will be drawn from USDA, other Federal agencies, and others representing public and private organizations, as needed. After considering the merits of all applications within an RMA Region, panel members will score each application according to the criteria and point values listed above. The panel will then rank each application against others within the RMA Region according to the scores received. A lottery will be used to resolve any instances of a tie score that might have a bearing on funding recommendations. If such a lottery is required, the names of all tied applicants will be entered into a drawing. The first tied applicant drawn will have priority over other tied applicants for funding consideration. The review panel will report the results of the evaluation to the Manager of FCIC. The panel's report will include the recommended applicants to receive cooperative partnership agreements for each RMA Region. Funding will not be provided for an application receiving a score less than 45. Funding will not be provided for an application that is highly similar to a higher-scoring application in the same RMA Region. Highly similar is one that proposes to reach the same producers likely to be reached by another applicant that scored higher by the panel and the same general educational material is proposed to be delivered. An organization, or group of organizations in partnership, may apply for funding under other FCIC or RMA programs, in addition to the program described in this announcement. However, if the Manager of FCIC determines that an application recommended for funding is sufficiently similar to a project that has been funded or has been recommended to be funded under another RMA or FCIC program, then the Manager may elect to not fund that application in whole or in part. The Manager of FCIC will make the final determination on those applications that will be awarded funding. VI. Award Administration Information A. Award Notices Following approval by the awarding official of RMA of the applications to be selected for funding, project leaders whose applications have been selected for funding will be notified. Within the limit of funds available for such a purpose, the awarding official of RMA shall enter into cooperative partnership agreements with those selected applicants. The agreements provide the amount of Federal funds for use in the project period, the terms, and conditions of the award, and the time period for the project. The effective date of the agreement shall be on the date the agreement is executed by both parties and it shall remain in effect for up to one year or through September 30, 2009, whichever is later. After a partnership agreement has been signed, RMA will extend to awardees, in writing, the authority to draw down funds for the purpose of conducting the activities listed in the agreement. All funds provided to the applicant by FCIC must be expended solely for the purpose for which the funds are obligated in accordance with the approved agreement and budget, the regulations, the terms and conditions of the award, and the applicability of Federal cost principles. No commitment of Federal assistance beyond the project period is made or implied for any award resulting from this notice. Notification of denial of funding will be sent to applicants after final funding decisions have been made and the awardees announced publicly. Reasons for denial of funding can include, but are not limited to, incomplete applications, applications with evaluation scores that are lower than other applications in an RMA Region, or applications that are highly similar to a higher-scoring application in the same RMA Region. Highly similar is an application that proposes to reach the same producers likely to be reached by another applicant that scored higher by the panel and the same general educational material is proposed to be delivered. B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 1. Requirement To Use Program Logo Applicants awarded cooperative partnership agreements will be required to use a program logo and design provided by RMA for all instructional and promotional materials. 2. Requirement To Provide Project Information to an RMA-Selected Representative Applicants awarded cooperative partnership agreements may be required to assist RMA in evaluating the effectiveness of its educational programs by providing documentation of educational activities and related information to any representative selected by RMA for program evaluation purposes. 3. Private Crop Insurance Organizations and Potential Conflicts of Interest Private organizations that are involved in the sale of Federal crop insurance, or that have financial ties to such organizations, are eligible to apply for funding under this announcement. However, such entities will not be allowed to receive funding to conduct activities that would otherwise be required under a Standard Reinsurance Agreement or any other agreement in effect between FCIC and the entity. Also, such entities will not be allowed to receive funding to conduct activities that could be perceived by producers as promoting one company's services or products over another's. If applying for funding, such organizations are encouraged to be sensitive to potential conflicts of interest and to describe in their application the specific actions they will take to avoid actual and perceived conflicts of interest. 4. Access to Panel Review Information Upon written request from the applicant, scores from the evaluation panel, not including the identity of reviewers, will be sent to the applicant after the review and awards process has been completed. 5. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards The names of applicants, the names of individuals identified in the applications, the content of applications, and the panel evaluations of applications will all be kept confidential, except to those involved in the review process, to the extent permitted by law. In addition, the identities of review panel members will remain confidential throughout the entire review process and will not be released to applicants. At the end of the fiscal year, names of panel members will be made available. However, panelists will not be identified with the review of any particular application. When an application results in a partnership agreement, that agreement becomes a part of the official record of RMA transactions, available to the public upon specific request. Information that the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be of a confidential, privileged, or proprietary nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by law. Therefore, any information that the applicant wishes to be considered confidential, privileged, or proprietary should be clearly marked within an application, including the basis for such designation. The original copy of an application that does not result in an award will be retained by RMA for a period of one year. Other copies will be destroyed. Copies of applications not receiving awards will be released only with the express written consent of the applicant or to the extent required by law. An application may be withdrawn at any time prior to award. 6. Audit Requirements Applicants awarded cooperative partnership agreements are subject to audit. 7. Prohibitions and Requirements With Regard to Lobbying Section 1352 of Public Law 101-121, enacted on October 23, 1989, imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and certification related to lobbying on awardees of Federal contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and loans. It provides exemptions for Indian Tribes and tribal organizations. Current and prospective awardees, and any subcontractors, are prohibited from using Federal funds, other than profits from a Federal contract, for lobbying Congress or any Federal agency in connection with the award of a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or loan. In addition, for each award action in excess of $100,000 ($150,000 for loans) the law requires awardees and any subcontractors:

(1)To certify that they have neither used nor will use any appropriated funds for payment of lobbyists;

(3)to file quarterly up-dates about the use of lobbyists if material changes occur in their use. The law establishes civil penalties for non-compliance. A copy of the certification and disclosure forms must be submitted with the application, are available at the address, and telephone number listed in Section VII. Agency Contact. 8. Applicable OMB Circulars All partnership agreements funded as a result of this notice will be subject to the requirements contained in all applicable OMB circulars. 9. Requirement To Assure Compliance With Federal Civil Rights Laws Awardees of all cooperative partnership agreements funded as a result of this notice are required to know and abide by Federal civil rights laws and to assure USDA and RMA that the awardee is in compliance with and will continue to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d *et seq.* ), 7 CFR Part 15, and USDA regulations promulgated thereunder, 7 CFR 1901.202. RMA requires awardees to submit an Assurance Agreement (Civil Rights), assuring RMA of this compliance prior to the beginning of the project period. 10. Requirement To Participate in a Post Award Teleconference RMA requires that project leaders participate in a post award teleconference to become fully aware of agreement requirements and for delineating the roles of RMA personnel and the procedures that will be followed in administering the agreement and will afford an opportunity for the orderly transition of agreement duties and obligations if different personnel are to assume post-award responsibility. 11. Requirement To Submit Educational Materials to the National AgRisk Education Library RMA requires that project leaders upload digital copies of all risk management educational materials developed because of the project to the National AgRisk Education Library ( *http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/* ) for posting. RMA will be clearly identified as having provided funding for the materials. 12. Requirement To Submit Proposed Results to the National AgRisk Education Library RMA requires that project leaders submit results of the project to the National AgRisk Education Library ( *http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/* ) for posting. 13. Requirement To Submit a Project Plan of Operation in the Event of a Human Pandemic Outbreak RMA requires that project leaders submit a project plan of operation in case of a human pandemic event. The plan should address the concept of continuing operations as they relate to the project. This should include the roles, responsibilities, and contact information for the project team and individuals serving as back-ups in case of a pandemic outbreak. C. Reporting Requirements Awardees will be required to submit quarterly progress reports, quarterly financial reports (OMB Standard Form 269), and quarterly Activity Logs (Form RMA-300) throughout the project period, as well as a final program and financial report not later than 90 days after the end of the project period. Awardees will be required to submit prior to the award: • A completed and signed Assurance Agreement (Civil Rights). • A completed and signed Faith-Based Survey on EEO. VII. Agency Contact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applicants and other interested parties are encouraged to contact: Lon Burke, USDA-RMA-RME, *phone:* 202-720-5265, *fax:* 202-690-3605, *e-mail: RMA.Risk-Ed@rma.usda.gov* . You may also obtain information regarding this announcement from the RMA Web site at: *http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements.* VIII. Other Information A. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track of over 70 million businesses worldwide. The Office of Management and Budget published a notice of final policy issuance in the **Federal Register** June 27, 2003 (68 FR 38402) that requires a DUNS number in every application (i.e., hard copy and electronic) for a grant or cooperative agreement on or after October 1, 2003. Therefore, potential applicants should verify that they have a DUNS number or take the steps needed to obtain one. For information about how to obtain a DUNS number, go to *http://www.grants.gov* . Please note that the registration may take up to 14 business days to complete. B. Required Registration With the Central Contract Registry for Submission of Proposals The Central Contract Registry

(RFA)Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program: Initial Announcement. *CFDA Number:* 10.455. DATES: Applications are due by 5 p.m. EST March 24, 2008. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered for funding. All awards will be made and partnership agreements completed by September 30, 2008. *Overview:* In accordance with section 522(d) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act), the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), operating through the Risk Management Agency (RMA), announces the availability of approximately $5 million in fiscal year 2008 (subject to availability of funds) for collaborative outreach and assistance programs for limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally under-served farmers and ranchers, who produce Priority Commodities as defined in Part I.C. Awards under this program will be made on a competitive basis for projects of up to one year. Recipients of awards must demonstrate non-financial benefits from a partnership agreement and must agree to the substantial involvement of RMA in the project. This announcement lists the information needed to submit an application under this program. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Wiggins, National Outreach Program Manager, Telephone

(202)690-2686, Facsimile

(202)690-1518, E-mail: *david.wiggins@rma.usda.gov* . Application materials can be downloaded from the RMA Web site at *http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/* ; or from the Government grants Web site at *http://www.grants.gov* . Click on “Find Grant Opportunities,” then select “Basic Search,” type in “RMA” in the Keyword Search field and select “Search,” select “Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program” under the Opportunity Title column to access the application package for this announcement. The collection of this information has been approved under OMB control number 0563-0066 through November 30, 2010. This announcement consists of seven parts. Part I—General Information A. Legislative Authority and Background B. Purpose C. Definition of Priority Commodities D. Program Description Part II—Award Information A. Available Funding B. Types of Applications Part III—Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants B. Project Period C. Non-Financial Benefits D. Cost Sharing or Matching E. Funding Restrictions Part IV—Application and Submission Information A. Address To Submit an Application Package B. Content and Form of Application Part V—Application Review Process A. General B. Evaluation Criteria and Weights Part VI—Award Administration A. Notification of Award B. Access to Panel Review Information C. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards D. Reporting Requirements E. Administration F. Prohibitions and Requirements With Regard to Lobbying G. Applicable OMB Circulars H. Confidentiality I. Civil Rights Training Part VII—Additional Information A. Requirement To Use Program Logo B. Requirement To Provide Project Information to an RMA Representative C. Private Crop Insurance Organizations and Potential Conflict of Interest D. Dun and Bradstreet (D&B Data Universal Numbering System) E. Required Registration for Grants.gov Part I—General Information A. Legislative Authority and Background This program is authorized under section 522(d)(3)(F) of the Act which authorizes FCIC funding for risk management training and informational efforts for agricultural producers through the formation of partnerships with public and private organizations. RMA promotes and regulates sound risk management solutions to improve the economic stability of American agriculture. One of RMA's four strategic goals is to ensure that its customers and potential customers are well informed of the risk management solutions available. On behalf of FCIC, RMA does this by offering Federal crop insurance products through a network of private-sector partners, overseeing the creation of new risk management products, seeking enhancements in existing products, ensuring the integrity of crop insurance programs, providing risk management education and information and offering outreach programs aimed at equal access and participation of underserved communities. A priority must be given to reaching producers of Priority Commodities as defined in section C of this part. B. Purpose The purpose of this program is to fund projects that provide limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and other traditionally underserved producers of Priority Commodities with training, informational opportunities and assistance necessary to understand:

(1)The kind of risks addressed by existing and emerging risk management tools;

(2)The features and appropriate use of existing and emerging risk management tools; and

(3)How to make sound risk management decisions. Each partnership agreement awarded through this program will provide the applicant with funds, guidance, and the substantial involvement of RMA to deliver outreach and assistance programs to producers in a specific geographical area. C. Definition of Priority Commodities For purposes of this program, Priority Commodities are defined as: • *Agricultural commodities covered by* (7 U.S.C. 7333). Commodities in this group are commercial crops that are not covered by catastrophic risk protection crop insurance, are used for food or fiber (except livestock), and specifically include, but are not limited to, floricultural, ornamental nursery, Christmas trees, turf grass sod, aquaculture (including ornamental fish), and industrial crops. • *Specialty crops.* Commodities in this group may or may not be covered under a Federal crop insurance plan and include, but are not limited to, fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, syrups, honey, roots, herbs, and highly specialized varieties of traditional crops. • *Underserved commodities.* This group includes:

(a)Commodities, including livestock, that are covered by a Federal crop insurance plan but for which participation in an area is below the national average; and

(b)commodities, including livestock, with inadequate crop insurance coverage produced by limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and other traditionally underserved producers. A project is considered as giving priority to Priority Commodities if the majority of the educational outreach and assistance activities are directed to limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally under-served producers of one or more of the three classes of commodities listed above or any combination of the three classes. D. Program Description This program will support a wide range of innovative outreach and assistance activities in farm management, financial management, marketing contracts, crop insurance and other existing and emerging risk management tools, RMA will be substantially involved in the activities listed under paragraph 2. The applicant must identify specific ways in which RMA could have substantial involvement in the proposed outreach activity. In addition to the specific, required activities listed under paragraph 1, the applicant may suggest other activities that would contribute directly to the purpose of this program. For any additional activity suggested, the applicant should identify the objective of the activity, the specific tasks required to meet the objective, specific time lines for performing the tasks, and specific responsibilities of the partners. 1. In conducting activities to achieve the purpose and goal of this program, award recipients will be required to perform the following activities: • Develop and finalize a risk management outreach delivery plan that will contain the tasks needed to accomplish the purpose of this program, including a description of the manner in which various tasks for the project will be completed, the dates by which each task will be completed, and the partners that will have responsibility for each task. Task milestones must be listed to ensure that progress can be measured at various stages throughout the life of the project. The plan must also provide for the substantial involvement of RMA in the project. Note: All partnership agreements resulting from this announcement will include delivery plans in a table format. All applicants are strongly encouraged to refer to the table in the application package, when preparing a delivery plan and to use this format as part of the project description. • Assemble risk management instructional materials appropriate for producers of Priority Commodities to be used in delivering education and information. This will include:

(a)Gathering existing instructional materials that meet the local needs of producers of Priority Commodities;

(b)identifying gaps in existing instructional materials; and

(c)developing new materials or modifying existing instructional materials to fill existing gaps. • Develop and conduct a promotional program and dissemination activities to publicize the project accomplishments. This program will include activities using the media, newsletters, publications, or other informational dissemination techniques that are designed to:

(a)Raise awareness for risk management;

(b)inform producers of the availability of risk management tools;

(c)inform producers of the training and informational opportunities being offered; and

(d)communicate the project's accomplishments (products, results and impacts, etc.) to the broadest audiences. Minority media and publications should also be used to achieve the broadest promotion of outreach opportunities for limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers possible. • Deliver risk management training and informational opportunities to limited resource and socially disadvantaged agricultural producers and agribusiness professionals of Priority Commodities. This will include organizing and delivering educational activities using the instructional materials identified earlier. Activities should be directed primarily to agricultural producers, but may include those agribusiness professionals that have frequent opportunities to advise farmers on risk management. • Document all outreach activities conducted under the partnership agreement and the results of such activities, including criteria and indicators used to evaluate the success of the program. The recipient will also be required to provide information to an RMA-selected contractor to evaluate all outreach activities and advise RMA as to the effectiveness of activities. 2. RMA will be responsible for the following activities: • Review and approve in advance the recipient's project delivery plan. • Collaborate with the recipient in assembling risk management materials for producers. This will include:

(a)Reviewing and approving in advance all educational materials for technical accuracy;

(b)serving on curriculum development workgroups;

(c)providing curriculum developers with fact sheets and other risk management publications prepared by RMA;

(d)advising the applicant on the materials available over the internet through the AgRisk Education Library;

(e)advising the applicant on technical issues related to crop insurance instructional materials; and

(f)advising the applicant on the use of the standardized design and layout formats to be used on program materials. • Collaborate with the recipient on a promotional program for raising awareness of risk management and for informing producers of training and informational opportunities. This will include:

(a)Reviewing and approving in advance all promotional plans, materials, and programs;

(b)serving on workgroups that plan promotional programs;

(c)advising the applicant on technical issues relating to the presentation of crop insurance products in promotional materials; and

(d)participating, as appropriate, in media programs designed to raise general awareness or provide farmers with risk management education. • Collaborate with the recipient on outreach activities to agricultural producers and agribusiness leaders. This will include:

(a)Reviewing and approving in advance all producer and agribusiness educational delivery plans;

(b)advising the applicant on technical issues related to the delivery of crop insurance education and information; and

(c)assisting the applicant in informing crop insurance professionals about educational plans and scheduled meetings. • Reviewing and approving recipient's documentation of risk management education and outreach activities. Part II—Award Information A. Available Funding The amount of funds available in FY 2008 for support of this program is approximately $5 million dollars (subject to availability of funds). There is no commitment by USDA/RMA to fund any particular project or to make a specific number of awards. No maximum or minimum funding levels have been established for individual projects or geographic locations. Applicants awarded a partnership agreement for an amount that is less than the amount requested may be required to modify their application to conform to the reduced amount before execution of the partnership agreement. It is expected that awards will be made approximately 120 days after the application deadline. B. Types of Applications Applicants must specify whether the application is a new, renewal, or resubmitted application. 1. *New Application* —This is an application that has not been previously submitted to the RMA Outreach Program. All new applications will be reviewed competitively using the selection process and evaluation criteria described in this RFA. 2. *Renewal Application* —This is an application that requests additional funding for a project beyond the period that was approved in an original or amended award. Applications for renewed funding must contain the same information as required for new applications, and additionally must contain a Progress Report. Renewal applications must be received by the relevant due dates, will be evaluated in competition with other pending applications, and will be reviewed according to the same evaluation criteria as new applications. 3. *Resubmitted Application* —This is an application previously submitted to the RMA Outreach office, but was not funded. Resubmitted applications must be received by the relevant due dates, and will be evaluated in competition with other pending applications and will be reviewed according to the same evaluation criteria as new applications. Part III—Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants Educational institutions, community based organizations, associations of farmers and ranchers, state departments of agriculture, and other non-profit organizations with demonstrated capabilities in developing and implementing risk management and other marketing options for priority commodities are eligible to apply. Individuals are not eligible applicants. Applicants are encouraged to form partnerships with other entities that complement, enhance, and/or increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed project. Although an applicant may be eligible to compete for an award based on its status as an eligible entity, other factors may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal assistance under this program (e.g. debarment and suspension; a determination of non-performance on a prior contract, cooperative agreement, grant or partnership; a determination of a violation of applicable ethical standards). Applications from ineligible or excluded persons will be rejected in their entirety. B. Project Period Each project will be funded for a period of up to one year from the project starting date for the activities described in this announcement. C. Non-Financial Benefits To be eligible, applicants must also demonstrate that they will receive a non-financial benefit as a result of a partnership agreement. Non-financial benefits must accrue to the applicant and must include more than the ability to provide employment income to the applicant or for the applicant's employees or the community. The applicant must demonstrate that performance under the partnership agreement will further the specific mission of the applicant (such as providing research or activities necessary for graduate or other students to complete their educational program). Applications that do not demonstrate a non-financial benefit will be rejected. D. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing, matching, in-kind contribution, or cost participation is not required. E. Funding Restrictions Indirect costs for projects submitted in response to this solicitation are limited to 10 percent of the total direct costs of the agreement. Partnership agreement funds may not be used to: 1. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or facility including a processing facility; 2. To purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment; 3. Repair or maintain privately owned vehicles; 4. Pay for the preparation of the partnership application; 5. Fund political activities; 6. Pay costs incurred prior to receiving this partnership agreement; 7. Fund any activities prohibited in 7 CFR parts 3015 and 3019, as applicable. Part IV—Application and Submission Information A. Address To Submit an Application Package The address for submissions is USDA/ RMA, Community Outreach, and Assistance Partnership Program, c/o William Buchanan, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6709, Stop 0805, Washington, DC 20250-0805. All applications must be submitted by the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered and will be returned to the applicant. Applications will be considered as meeting the announced deadline if they are received in the mailroom at the following address on or before the deadline. Applicants are cautioned that express, overnight mail or other delivery services do not always deliver as agreed. Applicants using the U.S. Postal Service should allow for the extra time for delivery due to the additional security measures that mail delivered to government offices in the Washington DC area now requires. Failure of the selected delivery services will not extend the deadline. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit completed and signed application packages using overnight mail or delivery service to ensure timely receipt. B. Content and Form of Application 1. *General* —Use the following guidelines to prepare an application. Each application must contain the following elements in the order indicated. Proper preparation of applications will assist reviewers in evaluating the merits of each application in a systematic, consistent fashion.

(a)Prepare the application on only one side of the page using standard size (8 1/2 ″ x 11″) white paper, one-inch margins, typed or word processed using no type smaller than 12 point font, and single or double spaced. Use an easily readable font face (e.g., Geneva, Helvetica, Times Roman).

(b)Number each page of the application sequentially, starting with the Project Description, including the budget pages, required forms, and any appendices.

(c)Staple the application in the upper left-hand corner. Do not bind. An original and two copies of the completed and signed application (3 total) and one electronic copy (Microsoft Word format preferred) on compact disc or diskette must be submitted in one package. Only hard copies of OMB Standard Forms should be submitted. Do not include the standard forms on the diskette.

(d)Include original illustrations (photographs, color prints, etc.) in all copies of the application to prevent loss of meaning through poor quality reproduction. 2. *Application for Federal Assistance, OMB Standard Form 424* —Please complete this form in its entirety. The original copy of the application must contain a pen-and-ink signature of the authorized organizational representative (AOR), individual with the authority to commit the organization's time and other relevant resources to the project. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (block 10) is “10-455—Community Outreach and Assistance.” 3. *Table of Contents* —Each application must contain a detailed Table of Contents immediately following OMB SF 424. 4. *Project Summary* —(Limited to one page, placed after the Table of Contents) The summary should be a self-contained, specific description of the activity to be undertaken and should focus on: Overall project goal(s) and supporting objectives; plans to accomplish project goals; and relevance of the project to the goals of the community outreach and assistance program. 5. *Progress Report* —(Limited to three pages, placed immediately after the Project Summary) Renewal applications of an existing project supported under the same program should include a clearly identified summary progress report describing the results to date. The progress report should contain a comparison of actual accomplishments with the goals established for the project. 6. *A Project Description* —(Limited to twenty-five single-sided pages) that describes the outreach project in detail, including the program delivery plan and a Statement of Work. The description should provide reviewers with sufficient information to effectively evaluate the merits of the application under the criteria contained in Part V. The description should include the circumstances giving rise to the proposed activity; a clear, concise statement of the objectives; the steps necessary to implement the program to attain the objectives; an evaluation plan for the activities; a program delivery plan, and statement of work that describes how the activities will be implemented and managed by the applicant. The statement of work in table format should identify each objective and the key tasks to achieve the objective, the entity responsible for the task, the completion date, the task location, and RMA's role. Applicants are strongly encouraged to refer to the sample table in the application package, when preparing a delivery plan and to use this table format in that portion of the application narrative that addresses the delivery plan. 7. *Budget, OMB Standard Form 424-A,* “Budget Information, Non-Construction Program”—Indirect costs allowed for projects submitted under this announcement will be limited to 10 percent of the total direct cost of the partnership or cooperative agreement. Applicants should include reasonable travel costs associated with attending at least two RMA designated two-day events, which will include a Project Directors' meeting and civil rights training. 8. *Budget Narrative* —A detailed narrative in support of the budget should show all funding sources and itemized costs for each line item contained on the SF-424A. All budget categories must be individually listed (with costs) in the same order as the budget and justified on a separate sheet of paper and placed immediately behind the SF-424A. There must be a detailed breakdown of all costs, including indirect costs. Include budget notes on each budget line item detailing how each line item was derived. Also provide a brief narrative description of any costs that may require explanation (i.e., why a specific cost may be higher than market costs). Only items or services that are necessary for the successful completion of the project will be funded as permitted under the Act, the applicable Federal Cost principles, and are not prohibited under any other Federal statute. Salaries of project personnel should be requested in proportion to the effort that they would devote to the project. 9. *Key Personnel* —The roles and responsibilities of each PD and/or collaborator should be clearly described; and the vitae of the PD and each co-PD, senior associate and other professional personnel. 10. *Collaborative Arrangements (including Letters of Support)* —If it will be necessary to enter into formal consulting or collaborative arrangements, such arrangements should be fully explained and justified. If the consultants or collaborators are known at the time of application, a vitae or resume should be provided. Evidence (e.g., letter of support) should be included if the collaborators involved have agreed to render these services. Additional information on consultants and collaborators are required in the budget portion of the application. 11. *Current and Pending Support* —All applications must list all current public or private support to which personnel identified in the application have committed portions of their time, whether or not salary support for persons involved is included in the budget. An application that duplicates or overlaps substantially with an application already reviewed and funded (or to be funded) by another organization or agency will not be funded under this program. The projects proposed for funding should be included in the pending section. 12. *Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, OMB Standard Form LLL* —All applications must contain a signed copy of this form (See Part VI (F)). Applicants who are not engaging in lobbying activities should write “Not Applicable” and sign the form. 13. *A completed and Signed “Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters* (Primary Covered Transactions), AD 1047.” 14. A completed and Signed “Certifications Regarding Drug-Free Workplace, AD-1049.” 15. *Appendices* are allowed if they are directly germane to the proposed project. C. Acknowledgment of Applications Applications submitted by facsimile or through other electronic media (except grants.gov), regardless of the date or time of submission or the time of receipt, will not be considered and will be returned to the applicant. Receipt of applications will be acknowledged by e-mail, whenever possible. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to provide an e-mail address in the application. If an e-mail address is not indicated on an application, receipt will be acknowledged in writing. There will be no notification of incomplete, unqualified, or unfunded applications until the awards have been made. RMA will assign an identification number to the application when received. This number will be provided to applicants when the receipt of application is acknowledged. Applicants should reference the assigned identification number in all correspondence regarding the application. If receipt of application is not acknowledged by RMA within 15 days of the submission deadline, the applicant should contact David Wiggins at

(202)690-2686 or electronically at *david.wiggins@rma.usda.gov.* Part V—Application Review Process A. General Each application will be evaluated using a two-part process. First, each application will be screened by RMA personnel to ensure that it meets the requirements in this announcement. Applications that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or are incomplete will not receive further consideration. Second, a review panel will consider the merits of all applications that meet the requirements in the announcement. A panel of not less than three independent reviewers will evaluate each application. Reviewers will be drawn from USDA, other Federal agencies, and others representing public and private organizations, as needed. The project description and any appendices submitted by applicant will be used by the review panel to evaluate the merits of the project being proposed for funding. The panel will examine and score applications based on each of the four criteria contained in paragraph B of this part “Evaluation Criteria and Weights”. The panel will be looking for the specific elements listed with each criterion when evaluating the applications and scoring them. For each application, panel members will assign a point value up to the maximum for each criterion. After all reviewers have evaluated and scored each of the applications, the scores for the entire panel will be averaged to determine an application's final score. After assigning points for each criterion, applications will be listed in initial rank order and presented, along with funding level recommendations, to the Manager of FCIC, who will make the final decision on awarding of a partnership agreement. Applications will then be funded in final rank order until all available funds have been expended. Applicants must score 50 points or more to be considered for funding. If there are unused remaining funds, RMA may conduct another round of competition through the announcement of another RFA. An organization, or group of organizations in partnership, may apply for funding under other FCIC or RMA programs, in addition to the programs described in this announcement. However, if the Manager of FCIC determines that an application recommended for funding under this announcement is sufficiently similar to a project that has been funded or has been recommended to be funded under another FCIC or RMA education or outreach program, then the Manager may elect to not fund that application in whole or in part. B. Evaluation Criteria and Weights 1. Project Benefits—Maximum 40 Points The applicant must demonstrate that the project benefits to limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally underserved producers warrant the funding requested. Applicants will be scored according to the extent they can:

(a)Reasonably estimate the number of producers reached through the project;

(b)justify the estimates with clear specifics related to the delivery plan;

(c)identify the actions producers will likely be able to take as a result of the project; and

(d)identify specific measures for evaluating the success of the project. Reviewers' scoring will be based on the scope and reasonableness of the applicants' estimate of the number of producers reached through the project, clear descriptions of specific expected project benefits for producers, and well-constructed plans for measuring the project's effectiveness. 2. Project Management—Maximum 20 Points The applicant must demonstrate an ability to implement sound and effective project management practices. Higher scores will be awarded to applicants that can demonstrate organizational skills, leadership, and experience in delivering services or programs using the appropriate language service that assist limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally underserved producers. If the applicant has been a recipient of other Federal or other government grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts, the applicant must also detail that they have consistently complied with financial and program reporting and auditing requirements. Applicants that will employ, or have access to personnel who have experience in directing agricultural programs or providing education programs that benefit producers will receive higher rankings. Higher scores will be awarded to applicants with no more than two on-going projects funded by RMA under this program in previous years. 3. Collaborative Partnering—Maximum 20 Points The applicant must demonstrate experience and capacity to partner with and gain the support of other agencies, grower organizations, agribusiness professionals, and agricultural leaders to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the program. Applicants will receive higher scores to the extent that they can document and demonstrate:

(a)That partnership commitments are in place for the express purpose of delivering the program in this announcement;

(b)that the project will incorporate training on the benefits and implementation of the Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite (AGR-LITE) insurance coverage plan;

(c)that the project promotes energy alternatives for small farmers and ranchers;

(d)that a broad and diverse group of farmers and ranchers will be reached; and

(e)that a substantial effort has been made to partner with organizations that can meet the needs of producers that are small, have limited resources, are minorities, or are beginning farmers and ranchers. 4. Delivery Plan—Maximum 20 Points The applicant must demonstrate that its program delivery plan is clear and specific. For each of the applicant's responsibilities contained in the description of the program, the applicant must demonstrate that it can identify specific tasks and provide reasonable time lines that further the purpose of this program. Applicants will obtain a higher score to the extent that the tasks of the project are specific, measurable, and reasonable, have specific periods for completion, relate directly to the required activities, the program objectives described in this announcement, and use the appropriate language service. 5. Diversity and Dissemination—Maximum 25 Points Management reserves the right to award applications up to 25 additional points to promote the broadest geographic diversity and emphasize the dissemination measures to broadly communicate project accomplishments. Part VI—Award Administration A. Notification of Award Following approval by the RMA awarding official, project leaders whose applications have been selected for funding will be notified. Within the limit of funds available for such a purpose, the awarding official of RMA shall enter into partnership agreements with applicants whose applications are judged to be most meritorious under the procedures set forth in this announcement. The agreements provide the amount of Federal funds for use in the project period, the terms and conditions of the award and the time period for the project. The effective date of the agreement is the date the agreement is executed by both parties. RMA will extend to award recipients, in writing, the authority to draw down funds for conducting the activities listed in the agreement. All funds provided to the applicant by FCIC must be expended solely for the purpose for which the funds are obligated in accordance with the approved agreement and budget, the regulations, the terms and conditions of the award, and the applicability of Federal cost principles. No commitment of Federal assistance beyond the project period is made or implied for any award resulting from this notice. Applicants that are not funded will be notified within 120 days after the submission deadline. B. Access to Panel Review Information Upon written request from the applicant, your score from the evaluation panel, not including the identity of reviewers, will be sent to the applicant after the review and awards process has been completed. C. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards When an application results in a partnership agreement, it becomes a part of the official record of RMA transactions, available to the public upon specific request. Information that the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be of a confidential, privileged, or proprietary nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by law. Therefore, any information that the applicant wishes to be considered confidential, privileged, or proprietary should be clearly marked within an application, including the basis for such designation. The original copy of a proposal that does not result in an award will be retained by RMA for a period of one year. Other copies will be destroyed. Copies of proposals not receiving awards will be released only with the express written consent of the applicant or to the extent required by law. A proposal may be withdrawn at any time prior to award. D. Reporting Requirements Applicants awarded partnership agreements will be required to submit quarterly progress and financial reports (OMB Standard Form 269) throughout the project period, as well as a final program and financial report no later than 90 days after the end of the project period. E. Administration All partnership agreements are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 3015. F. Prohibitions and Requirements With Regard to Lobbying All partnership agreements are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 3018. A copy of the certification and disclosure forms must be submitted with the application. G. Applicable OMB Circulars All partnership and cooperative agreements funded as a result of this notice will be subject to the requirements contained in all applicable OMB circulars. H. Confidentiality The names of applicants, the names of individuals identified in the applications, the content of applications, and the panel evaluations of applications will be kept confidential, except to those involved in the review process, to the extent permitted by law. In addition, the identities of review panel members will remain confidential throughout the entire review process and will not be released to applicants. At the end of the fiscal year, names of panel members will be made available. However, panelists will not be identified with the review of any particular application. I. Civil Rights Training All recipients of federally assisted programs are required to comply with Federal civil rights laws and regulations. USDA/RMA policies and procedures require recipients of federally assisted programs to attend mandatory civil rights training sponsored by RMA, to become fully aware of civil rights requirements and responsibilities. Applicants should include in their budgets reasonable travel costs associated with attending at least two two-day RMA designated events that include a Project Directors meeting and required civil rights training. Part VII—Additional Information A. Requirement To Use Program Logo Applicants awarded partnership agreements will be required to use a program logo and design provided by RMA for all instructional and promotional materials. B. Requirement To Provide Project Information to an RMA Representative Applicants awarded partnership agreements will be required to assist RMA in evaluating the effectiveness of its outreach program by providing documentation of outreach activities and related information to any contractor selected by RMA for program evaluation purposes. This requirement also includes providing demographic data on program participants. C. Private Crop Insurance Organizations and Potential Conflicts of Interest Private organizations that are involved in the sale of Federal crop insurance, or that have financial ties to such organizations, are eligible to apply for funding under this announcement. However, such entities will not be allowed to receive funding to conduct activities that would otherwise be required under a Standard Reinsurance Agreement or any other agreement in effect between FCIC and the entity. Such entities will also not be allowed to receive funding to conduct activities that could be perceived by producers as promoting one company's services or products over another's. If applying for funding, such organizations are encouraged to be sensitive to potential conflicts of interest and to describe in their application the specific actions they will take to avoid actual and perceived conflicts of interest. D. DUNS Number A Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track of businesses worldwide. A **Federal Register** notice of final policy issuance (68 FR 38402) requires a DUNS number in every application (i.e., hard copy and electronic) for a grant or cooperative agreement. Therefore, potential applicants should verify that they have a DUNS number or take steps needed to obtain one. For information about how to obtain a DUNS number, go to *http://www.grants.gov.* Please note that the registration may take up to 14 business days to complete. E. Required Registration for Grants.gov The Central Contract Registry

(CCR)is a database that serves as the primary Government repository for contractor information required for the conduct of business with the Government. This database will also be used as a central location for maintaining organizational information for organizations seeking and receiving grants from the Government. Such organizations must register in the CCR prior to the submission of applications via grants.gov (a DUNS number is needed for CCR registration). For information about how to register in the CCR, visit *http://www.grants.gov.* Allow a minimum of 5 days to complete the CCR registration. Signed in Washington, DC on January 11, 2008. Eldon Gould, Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. [FR Doc. E8-941 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-08-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Funding Opportunity Title: Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States (Targeted States Program) *Announcement Type:* Announcement of Availability of Funds and Request for Application for Competitive Cooperative Agreements. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): 10.458 DATES: Applications are due by 5 p.m. EST, March 24, 2008. SUMMARY: The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), operating through the Risk Management Agency (RMA), announces the availability of approximately $4.5 million (subject to availability of funds) to fund cooperative agreements under the Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States program (the Targeted States Program). The purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to deliver crop insurance education and information to U.S. agricultural producers in certain States that have been designated as historically underserved with respect to crop insurance. The States, collectively referred to as Targeted States, are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. A maximum of 15 cooperative agreements will be funded, one in each of the 15 Targeted States. Awardees of awards must agree to the substantial involvement of RMA in the project. Funding availability for this program may be announced at approximately the same time as funding availability for similar but separate programs—CFDA No. 10.455 (Community Outreach and Assistance Partnerships), CFDA No. 10.456 (Risk Management Research Partnerships) CFDA No. 10.457 (Commodity Partnerships for Risk Management Education), and CFDA No. 10.459 (Commodity Partnerships for Small Agricultural Risk Management Education Sessions). Prospective applicants should carefully examine and compare the notices for each program. The collections of information in this announcement have been approved by OMB under control number 0563-0067 through January 31, 2009. This Announcement Consists of Eight Sections: Section I—Funding Opportunity Description A. Legislative Authority B. Background C. Project Goal D. Purpose Section II—Award Information A. Type of Award B. Funding Availability C. Location and Target Audience D. Maximum Award E. Project Period F. Description of Agreement Award-Awardee Tasks G. RMA Activities H. Other Tasks Section III—Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants B. Cost Sharing or Matching Section IV—Application and Submission Information A. Contact To Request Application Package B. Content and Form of Application Submission C. Funding Restrictions D. Limitation on Use of Project Funds for Salaries and Benefits E. Indirect Cost Rates F. Other Submission Requirements G. Electronic Submissions H. Acknowledgement of Applications Section V—Application Review Information A. Criteria B. Review and Selection Process Section VI—Award Administration Information A. Award Notices B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 1. Requirement To Use Program Logo 2. Requirement To Provide Project Information to an RMA-Selected Representative 3. Private Crop Insurance Organizations and Potential Conflict of Interest 4. Access to Panel Review Information 5. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards 6. Audit Requirements 7. Prohibitions and Requirements Regarding Lobbying 8. Applicable OMB Circulars 9. Requirement To Assure Compliance With Federal Civil Rights Laws 10. Requirement To Participate in a Post Award Conference 11. Requirement To Submit Educational Materials to the National AgRisk Education Library 12. Requirement To Submit Proposed Results to the National AgRisk Education Library 13. Requirement To Submit a Project Plan of Operation in the Event of a Human Pandemic Outbreak C. Reporting Requirements Section VII—Agency Contact Section VIII—Other Information A. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)B. Required Registration with the Central Contract Registry for Submission of Proposals C. Related Programs Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description A. Legislative Authority The Targeted States Program is authorized under section 524(a)(2) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act). B. Background RMA promotes and regulates sound risk management solutions to improve the economic stability of American agriculture. On behalf of FCIC, RMA does this by offering Federal crop insurance products through a network of private-sector partners, overseeing the creation of new risk management products, seeking enhancements in existing products, ensuring the integrity of crop insurance programs, offering outreach programs aimed at equal access and participation of underserved communities, and providing risk management education and information. One of RMA's strategic goals is to ensure that its customers are well informed as to the risk management solutions available. This educational goal is supported by section 524(a)(2) of the Act. This section authorizes funding for the establishment of crop insurance education and information programs in States that have historically been underserved by the Federal crop insurance program. In accordance with the Act, the fifteen States designated as “underserved” are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming (collectively referred to as “Targeted States”). C. Project Goal The goal of the Targeted States Program is to ensure that farmers and ranchers in the Targeted States are sufficiently informed so as to take full advantage of existing and emerging crop insurance products. D. Purpose The purpose of the Targeted States Program is to provide farmers and ranchers in Targeted States with education and information to be able to understand: • The kinds of risk addressed by crop insurance; • The features of existing and emerging crop insurance products; • The use of crop insurance in the management of risk; • How the use of crop insurance can affect other risk management decisions, such as the use of marketing and financial tools; • How to make informed decisions on crop insurance prior to the sales closing date deadline; and • Record keeping requirements for crop insurance. In addition, for 2008, the FCIC Board of Directors and the FCIC Manager are seeking projects that also include the Special Emphasis Topics listed below which highlight the educational priorities within each of the twelve Northeast Targeted States: *Massachusetts* —Aquaculture (Clams), AGR, AGR-Lite and Nursery Crop Insurance Tools. *West Virginia* —Livestock and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP), Nursery, and AGR-Lite Crop Insurance Tools. *Pennsylvania* —AGR, AGR-Lite, Nursery and Pasture Rangeland and Forage Rainfall Index and Pasture Rangeland and Forage Vegetation Index Crop Insurance Tools. *New York* —AGR, AGR-Lite, Nursery and Pasture Rangeland and Forage Vegetation Index Crop Insurance Tools. *Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont* —AGR, AGR-Lite and Nursery Crop Insurance Tools. II. Award Information A. Type of Award Cooperative Agreements, which require the substantial involvement of RMA. B. Funding Availability Approximately $4,500,000 (subject to availability of funds) is available in fiscal year 2008 to fund up to 15 cooperative agreements, a maximum of one agreement for each of the Targeted States. The maximum funding amount anticipated for each Targeted State's agreement is as follows. Applicants should apply for funding for that Targeted State where the applicant intends on delivering educational activities. Connecticut $225,000 Delaware 261,000 Maine 225,000 Maryland 370,000 Massachusetts 209,000 Nevada 208,000 New Hampshire 173,000 New Jersey 272,000 New York 617,000 Pennsylvania 754,000 Rhode Island 157,000 Utah 301,000 Vermont 226,000 West Virginia 209,000 Wyoming 293,000 Total 4,500,000 Funding amounts were determined by first allocating an equal amount of $150,000 to each Targeted State. Remaining funds were allocated on a pro rata basis according to each Targeted State's share of 2000 agricultural cash receipts relative to the total for all Targeted States. Both allocations were totaled for each Targeted State and rounded to the nearest $1,000. In the event that additional funds become available under this program or in the event that no application for a given Targeted State is recommended for funding by the evaluation panel, these additional funds may, at the discretion of the Manager of FCIC, be allocated pro-rata to State awardees for use in broadening the size or scope of awarded projects within the Targeted State if agreed to by the awardee. In the event that the Manager of FCIC determines that available RMA resources cannot support the administrative and substantial involvement requirements of all agreements recommended for funding, the Manager may elect to fund fewer agreements than the available funding might otherwise allow. It is expected that the awards will be made approximately 120 days after the application deadline. All awards will be made and agreements finalized no later than September 30, 2008. C. Location and Target Audience Targeted States serviced by RMA Regional Offices are listed below. Staff from the respective RMA Regional Offices will provide substantial involvement for Targeted States projects conducted within the respective Regions. Billings, MT Regional Office: (WY). Davis, CA Regional Office: (NV and UT). Raleigh, NC Regional Office: (CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, and WV). Applicants must clearly designate the Targeted State where crop insurance educational activities for the project will be delivered in their application narrative (Form RME-1) and in block 15 of the SF-424 form. Applications without this designation will be rejected. Applicants may apply to deliver education to producers in more than one Targeted State, but a separate application must be submitted for each Targeted State. Single applications proposing to conduct educational activities in more than one Targeted State will be rejected. D. Maximum Award Any application that requests Federal funding of more than the amount listed above for a project in a given Targeted State will be rejected. E. Project Period Projects will be funded for a period of up to one year from the project starting date. F. Description of Agreement Award Awardee Tasks In conducting activities to achieve the purpose and goal of this program in a designated Targeted State, the awardee will be responsible for performing the following tasks: • Develop and conduct a promotional program. This program will include activities using media, newsletters, publications, or other appropriate informational dissemination techniques that are designed to:

(a)Raise awareness for crop insurance;

(b)inform producers of the availability of crop insurance;

(c)inform producers of the crop insurance sales closing dates prior to the deadline; and

(d)inform producers and agribusiness leaders in the designated Targeted State of training and informational opportunities. • Deliver crop insurance training and informational opportunities to agricultural producers and agribusiness professionals in the designated Targeted State in a timely manner prior to crop insurance sales closing dates in order for producers to make informed decisions prior to the crop insurance sales closing dates deadline. This will include organizing and delivering educational activities using instructional materials that have been assembled to meet the local needs of agricultural producers. Activities should be directed primarily to agricultural producers, but may include those agribusiness professionals that have frequent opportunities to advise producers on crop insurance tools and decisions. • Document all educational activities conducted under the cooperative agreement and the results of such activities, including criteria and indicators used to evaluate the success of the program. The awardee may also be required to provide information to an RMA-selected contractor to evaluate all educational activities and advise RMA as to the effectiveness of activities. G. RMA Activities FCIC, working through RMA, will be substantially involved during the performance of the funded project through three of RMA's ten Regional Offices. Potential types of substantial involvement may include, but are not limited to the following activities. • Collaborate with the awardee in assembling, reviewing, and approving risk management materials for producers in the designated RMA Region. • Collaborate with the awardee in reviewing and approving a promotional program for raising awareness for risk management and for informing producers of training and informational opportunities in the RMA Region. • Collaborate with the awardee on the delivery of education to producers and agribusiness leaders in the RMA Region. This will include:

(a)Reviewing and approving in advance all producer and agribusiness leader educational activities;

(b)advising the project leader on technical issues related to crop insurance education and information; and

(c)assisting the project leader in informing crop insurance professionals about educational activity plans and scheduled meetings. • Conduct an evaluation of the performance of the awardee in meeting the deliverables of the project. • Assist in the selection of subcontractors and project staff. Applications that do not contain substantial involvement by RMA will be rejected. H. Other Tasks In addition to the specific, required tasks listed above, the applicant may propose additional tasks that would contribute directly to the purpose of this program. For any proposed additional task, the applicant must identify the objective of the task, the specific subtasks required to meet the objective, specific time lines for performing the subtasks, and the specific responsibilities of partners. The applicant must also identify specific ways in which RMA would have substantial involvement in the proposed project task. III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture, universities, non-profit agricultural organizations, and other public or private organizations with the capacity to lead a local program of crop insurance education for farmers and ranchers within a Targeted State. Individuals are eligible applicants. Although an applicant may be eligible to compete for an award based on its status as an eligible entity, other factors may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal assistance under this program governed by Federal law and regulations (e.g. debarment and suspension; a determination of non-performance on a prior contract, cooperative agreement, grant or partnership; a determination of a violation of applicable ethical standards; a determination of being considered “high risk”). Applications from ineligible or excluded persons will be rejected in their entirety. B. Cost Sharing or Matching Although RMA prefers cost sharing by the applicant, this program has neither a cost sharing nor a matching requirement. IV. Application and Submission Information A. Contact To Request Application Package Program application materials for the Targeted States Program under this announcement may be downloaded from *http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements* . Applicants may also request application materials from: Lon Burke, USDA-RMA-RME, phone:

(202)720-5265, fax:

(202)690-3605, e-mail: *RMA.Risk-Ed@rma.usda.gov* . B. Content and Form of Application Submission A complete and valid application package must be submitted in one package at the time of initial submission, which must include the following: 1. An original and two copies of the completed and signed application. 2. An electronic copy (Microsoft Word format preferred) of the narrative portion (Forms RME-1 and RME-2) of the application package on a compact disc. 3. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424, “Application for Federal Assistance.” 4. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424-A, “Budget Information—Non-construction Programs.” Federal funding requested (the total of direct and indirect costs) must not exceed the maximum level for the respective Targeted State, as specified in section II, Award Information. 5. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424-B, “Assurances, Non-constructive Programs.” 6. Risk Management Education Project Narrative (Form RME-1). Complete all required parts of Form RME-1: *Part I* —Title Page. *Part II* —A written narrative of no more than 10 single-sided pages which will provide reviewers with sufficient information to effectively evaluate the merits of the application according to the evaluation criteria listed in this notice. Although a Statement of Work, which is an evaluation criterion, is to be completed in detail in RME Form-2, applicants may wish to highlight certain unique features of the Statement of Work in Part II for the benefit of the evaluation panel. If your narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first 10 pages will be reviewed. • No smaller than 12-point font size. • Use an easily readable font face (e.g., Arial, Geneva, Helvetica, Times Roman). • 8.5 by 11 inch paper. • One-inch margins on each page. • Printed on only one side of paper. • Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not bound or stapled in any other way. *Part III* —A Budget Narrative, describing how the categorical costs listed on SF 424-A are derived. The budget narrative should provide enough detail for reviewers to easily understand how costs were determined and how they relate to the goals and objectives of the project. *Part IV* —(Not required for Targeted States Program). 7. “Statement of Work,” Form RME-2, which identifies tasks and subtasks in detail, expected completion dates and deliverables, and RMA's substantial involvement role for the proposed project. 8. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.” 9. A completed and signed AD-1047, “Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters—Primary Covered Transactions.” 10. A completed and signed AD-1049, “Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace.” Applications that do not include items 1-7 above will be considered incomplete and will not receive further consideration and will be rejected. C. Funding Restrictions Cooperative agreement funds may not be used to: a. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or facility including a processing facility; b. Purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment; c. Repair or maintain privately owned vehicles; d. Pay for the preparation of the cooperative agreement application; e. Fund political activities; f. Purchase alcohol, food, beverage, or entertainment; g. Lend money to support farming or agricultural business operation or expansion; h. Pay costs incurred prior to receiving a partnership agreement; i. Fund any activities prohibited in 7 CFR parts 3015 and 3019, as applicable. D. Limitation on Use of Project Funds for Salaries and Benefits Total costs for salary and benefits allowed for projects under this announcement will be limited to not more than 70 percent reimbursement of the funds awarded under the cooperative agreement. One goal of the Targeted States Program is to maximize the use of the limited funding available for crop insurance education for Targeted States. In order to accomplish this goal, RMA needs to ensure that the maximum amount of funds practicable is used for directly providing the educational opportunities. Limiting the amount of funding for salaries and benefits will allow the limited amount of funding to reach the maximum number of farmers and ranchers. E. Indirect Cost Rates a. Indirect costs allowed for projects submitted under this announcement will be limited to ten

(10)percent of the total direct cost of the cooperative agreement. Therefore, when preparing budgets, applicants should limit their requests for recovery of indirect costs to the lesser of their institution's official negotiated indirect cost rate or 10 percent of the total direct costs. b. RMA will withhold all indirect cost rate funds for an award to an applicant requesting indirect costs if the applicant has not negotiated an indirect cost rate with its cognizant Federal agency. c. If an applicant is in the process of negotiating an indirect cost rate with its cognizant Federal agency, RMA will withhold all indirect cost rate funds from that applicant until the indirect cost rate has been established. d. If an applicant's indirect cost rate has expired or will expire prior to award announcements, a clear statement on renegotiation efforts must be included in the application. e. It is incumbent on all applicants to have a current indirect cost rate or begin negotiations to establish an indirect cost rate prior to the submission deadline. Because it may take several months to obtain an indirect cost rate, applicants needing an indirect cost rate are encouraged to start work on establishing these rates well in advance of submitting an application. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget

(USPS)should allow for the extra time for delivery due to the additional security measures that mail delivered to government offices in the Washington DC area requires. USPS mail sent to Washington DC headquarters is sanitized offsite, which may result in delays, loss, and physical damage to enclosures. Address when using private delivery services or when hand delivering: Attention: Risk Management Education Program, USDA/RMA/RME, Room 6625, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250. Address when using U.S. Postal Services: Attention: Risk Management Education Program, USDA/RMA/RME/Stop 0808, Room 6625, South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0808. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that RMA receives a complete application package by the closing date and time. Regardless of the delivery method you choose, please do so sufficiently in advance of the due date to ensure your application package is received on or before the deadline. It is your responsibility to meet the due date and time. Emailed and faxed applications will not be accepted. Late application packages will not receive further consideration and will be rejected. G. Electronic Submissions Applications transmitted electronically via *Grants.gov* will be accepted prior to the application date or time deadline. The application package can be accessed via *Grants.gov* , go to *http://www.grants.gov* , click on “Find Grant Opportunities,” click on “Search Grant Opportunities,” and enter the CFDA number (beginning of the RFA) to search by CFDA number. From the search results, select the item that correlates to the title of this RFA. If you do not have electronic access to the RFA or have trouble downloading material and you would like a hardcopy, you may contact Lon Burke, USDA-RMA-RME, phone:

(202)720-5265, fax:

(202)690-3605, e-mail: *RMA.Risk-Ed@rma.usda.gov* . If assistance is needed to access the application package via *Grants.gov* (e.g., downloading or navigating PureEdge forms, using PureEdge with a Macintosh computer, using Adobe), refer to resources available on the Web site first ( *http://www.grants.gov/* ). *Grants.gov* assistance is also available as follows: • *Grants.gov* customer support. Toll Free: 1-800-518-4726. Business Hours: M-F 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. E.mail: *support@grants.gov* . Applicants who submit their applications via the *Grants.gov* Web site are not required to submit any hard copy documents to RMA. When using *Grants.gov* to apply, RMA strongly recommends that you submit the online application at least two weeks prior to the application due date in case there are problems with the *Grants.gov* Web site and you want to submit your application via a mail delivery service. H. Acknowledgement of Applications Receipt of applications will be acknowledged by e-mail, whenever possible. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to provide e-mail addresses in their applications. If an e-mail address is not indicated on an application, receipt will be acknowledged by letter. There will be no notification of incomplete, unqualified or unfunded applications until the awards have been made. When received by RMA, applications will be assigned an identification number. This number will be communicated to applicants in the acknowledgement of receipt of applications. An application's identification number should be referenced in all correspondence regarding the application. If the applicant does not receive an acknowledgement within 15 days of the submission deadline, the applicant should notify RMA's point of contact indicated in section VII, Agency Contact. V. Application Review Information A. Criteria Applications submitted under the Targeted States program will be evaluated within each Targeted State according to the following criteria: *Project Impacts* —Maximum 30 Points. The applicant must demonstrate that the project benefits to farmers and ranchers warrant the funding requested. Applicants will be scored according to the extent they can:

(a)Identify the specific actions producers will likely be able to take as a result of the educational activities described in the Statement of Work;

(b)identify the specific measures for evaluating results that will be employed in the project;

(c)reasonably estimate the total number of producers reached through the various methods and educational activities described in the Statement of Work; and

(d)justify such estimates with clear specifics. Reviewers' scoring will be based on the scope and reasonableness of the applicant's clear descriptions of specific expected actions participants will accomplish, and well-designed methods for measuring the project's results and effectiveness. Applicants using direct contact methods with producers will be scored higher. *Statement of Work* —Maximum 25 Points. The applicant must produce a clear and specific Statement of Work for the project. For each of the tasks contained in the Description of Agreement Award (refer to section II Award Information), the applicant must identify and describe specific subtasks, responsible entities, expected completion dates, RMA substantial involvement, and deliverables that will further the purpose of this program. Applicants will obtain a higher score to the extent that the Statement of Work is specific, measurable, reasonable, has specific deadlines for the completion of subtasks, relates directly to the required activities and the program purpose described in this announcement. Applicants are required to submit this Statement of Work on Form RME-2. *Partnering* —Maximum 15 Points. The applicant must demonstrate experience and capacity to partner with and gain the support of grower organizations, agribusiness professionals, and agricultural leaders to carry out a local program of education and information in a designated Targeted State. The applicant is required to establish a written partnering plan that includes how each partner will aid in carrying out the project goal and purpose stated in this announcement and letters of commitment stating that the partner has agreed to do this work. The applicant must ensure this plan includes a list of all partners working on the project, their titles, and how they will be contributing to the deliverables listed in the agreement. The partnering plan will not count towards the maximum length of the application narrative (Form RME-1). Applicants will receive higher scores to the extent that they can document and demonstrate in the written partnering plan:

(a)That partnership commitments are in place for the express purpose of delivering the program in this announcement;

(b)that a broad group of farmers and ranchers will be reached within the Targeted State;

(c)that partners are contributing to the project and involved in recruiting producers to attend the training;

(d)that a substantial effort has been made to partner with organizations that can meet the needs of producers; and

(e)statements from each partner regarding the number of producers that partner is committed to recruit for the project that would support the estimates specified under the Project Impacts criterion. *Project Management* —Maximum 15 Points. The applicant must demonstrate an ability to implement sound and effective project management practices. Higher scores will be awarded to applicants that can demonstrate organizational skills, leadership, and experience in delivering services or programs that assist agricultural producers in the respective Targeted State. The project manager must demonstrate that he/she has the capability to accomplish the project goal and purpose stated in this announcement by

(a)having a previous working relationship with the farm community in the designated Targeted State of the application, including being able to recruit approximately the number of producers to be reached in the application and/or

(b)having established the capacity to partner with and gain the support of grower organizations, agribusiness professionals, and agribusiness leaders locally to aid in carrying out a program of education and information, including being able to recruit approximately the number of producers to be reached in this application. Applicants that will employ, or have access to, personnel who have experience in directing local educational programs that benefit agricultural producers in the respective Targeted State will receive higher rankings. *Budget Appropriateness and Efficiency* —Maximum 15 Points. Applicants must provide a detailed budget summary that clearly explains and justifies costs associated with the project. Applicants will receive higher scores to the extent that they can demonstrate a fair and reasonable use of funds appropriate for the project and a budget that contains the estimated cost of reaching each individual producer. The applicant must provide information factors such as: • The allowability and necessity for individual cost categories; • The reasonableness of amounts estimated for necessary costs; • The basis used for allocating indirect or overhead costs; • The appropriateness of allocating particular overhead costs to the proposed project as direct costs; and • The percent of time devoted to the project for all key project personnel identified in the application. Salaries of project personnel should be requested in proportion to the percent of time that they would devote to the project—Note: cannot exceed 70% of the total project budget. Applicants must list all current public or private support to which personnel identified in the application have committed portions of their time, whether or not salary support for persons involved is included in the budget. Only items or services that are necessary for the successful completion of the project will be funded as permitted under the Act. An application that duplicates or overlaps substantially with an application already reviewed and funded (or to be funded) by another organization or agency will not be funded under this program. The projects proposed for funding should be included in the pending section. *Past Performance* —maximum 10 points. If the applicant has been an awardee of other Federal or other government grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts, the applicant must provide information relating to their past performance in reporting on outputs and outcomes under past or current federal assistance agreements. The applicant must also detail that they have consistently complied with financial and program reporting and auditing requirements. RMA reserves the right to add up to 10 points and subtract 5 points to applications due to past performance. Applicants with very good past performance will receive a score from 6-10 points. Applicants with acceptable past performance will receive a score from 1-5 points. Applicants with unacceptable past performance will receive a score of minus 5 points for this evaluation factor. Applicants without relevant past performance information will receive a neutral score of the mean number of points of all applicants with past performance. These past performance points will be applied only to applications that the review panel scored above the minimum score. Applications receiving less than the minimum score required to be eligible for potential funding will not receive past performance points. Under this cooperative partnership agreement, RMA will subjectively rate the awardee on project performance as indicated in Section II, G. *Projected Audience Description* —maximum 5 points. The applicant must clearly identify and describe the targeted audience for the project. Applicants will receive higher scores to the extent that they can reasonably and clearly describe their target audience and why the audience would choose to participate in the project. The applicant must describe why the proposed audience wants the information the project will deliver. B. Review and Selection Process Applications will be evaluated using a two-part process. First, each application will be screened by RMA personnel to ensure that it meets the requirements in this announcement. Applications that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or are incomplete will not receive further consideration during the next process. Applications that meet announcement requirements will be sorted into the Targeted State in which the applicant proposes to conduct the project and will be presented to a review panel for consideration. Second, the review panel will meet to consider and discuss the merits of each application. The panel will consist of not less than three independent reviewers. Reviewers will be drawn from USDA, other Federal agencies, and others representing public and private organizations, as needed. After considering the merits of all applications within a Targeted State, panel members will score each application according to the criteria and point values listed above. The panel will then rank each application against others within the Targeted State according to the scores received. A lottery will be used to resolve any instances of a tie score that might have a bearing on funding recommendations. If such a lottery is required, the names of all tied applicants will be entered into a drawing. The first tied applicant drawn will have priority over other tied applicants for funding consideration. The review panel will report the results of the evaluation to the Manager of FCIC. The panel's report will include the recommended applicants to receive cooperative agreements for each Targeted State. Funding will not be provided for an application receiving a score less than 60. An organization, or group of organizations in partnership, may apply for funding under other FCIC or RMA programs, in addition to the program described in this announcement. However, if the Manager of FCIC determines that an application recommended for funding is sufficiently similar to a project that has been funded or has been recommended to be funded under another RMA or FCIC program, then the Manager may elect to not fund that application in whole or in part. The Manager of FCIC will make the final determination on those applications that will be awarded funding. VI. Award Administration Information A. Award Notices Following approval by the awarding official of RMA of the applications to be selected for funding, project leaders whose applications have been selected for funding will be notified. Within the limit of funds available for such a purpose, the awarding official of RMA shall enter into cooperative agreements with those awardees. The agreements provide the amount of Federal funds for use in the project period, the terms and conditions of the award, and the time period for the project. The effective date of the agreement shall be on the date the agreement is executed by both parties and it shall remain in effect for up to one year or through September 30, 2009, whichever is later. After a cooperative agreement has been signed, RMA will extend to awardees, in writing, the authority to draw down funds for the purpose of conducting the activities listed in the agreement. All funds provided to the awardee by FCIC must be expended solely for the purpose for which the funds are obligated in accordance with the approved agreement and budget, the regulations, the terms and conditions of the award, and the applicability of Federal cost principles. No commitment of Federal assistance beyond the project period is made or implied for any award resulting from this notice. Notification of denial of funding will be sent to applicants after final funding decisions have been made and awardees announced publicly. Reasons for denial of funding can include, but are not limited to, incomplete applications, applications with evaluation scores below 60, or applications with evaluation scores that are lower than those of other applications in a Targeted State. B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 1. Requirement to Use Program Logo Awardees of cooperative agreements will be required to use a program logo and design provided by RMA for all instructional and promotional materials. 2. Requirement to Provide Project Information to an RMA-Selected Representative Awardees of cooperative agreements may be required to assist RMA in evaluating the effectiveness of its educational programs by providing documentation of educational activities and related information to any representative selected by RMA for program evaluation purposes. 3. Private Crop Insurance Organizations and Potential Conflicts of Interest Private organizations that are involved in the sale of Federal crop insurance, or that have financial ties to such organizations, are eligible to apply for funding under this announcement. However, such entities will not be allowed to receive funding to conduct activities that would otherwise be required under a Standard Reinsurance Agreement or any other agreement in effect between FCIC and the entity. Also, such entities will not be allowed to receive funding to conduct activities that could be perceived by producers as promoting one company's services or products over another's. If applying for funding, such organizations are encouraged to be sensitive to potential conflicts of interest and to describe in their application the specific actions they will take to avoid actual and perceived conflicts of interest. 4. Access to Panel Review Information Upon written request from the applicant, scores from the evaluation panel, not including the identity of reviewers, will be sent to the applicant after the review and awards process has been completed. 5. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards The names of applicants, the names of individuals identified in the applications, the content of applications, and the panel evaluations of applications will all be kept confidential, except to those involved in the review process, to the extent permitted by law. In addition, the identities of review panel members will remain confidential throughout the entire review process and will not be released to applicants. At the end of the fiscal year, names of panel members will be made available. However, panelists will not be identified with the review of any particular application. When an application results in a cooperative agreement, that agreement becomes a part of the official record of RMA transactions, available to the public upon specific request. Information that the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be of a confidential, privileged, or proprietary nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by law. Therefore, any information that the applicant wishes to be considered confidential, privileged, or proprietary should be clearly marked within an application, including the basis for such designation. The original copy of an application that does not result in an award will be retained by RMA for a period of one year. Other copies will be destroyed. Copies of applications not receiving awards will be released only with the express written consent of the applicant or to the extent required by law. An application may be withdrawn at any time prior to award. 6. Audit Requirements Awardees of cooperative agreements are subject to audit. 7. Prohibitions and Requirements With Regard to Lobbying Section 1352 of Public Law 101-121, enacted on October 23, 1989, imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and certification related to lobbying on awardees of Federal contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and loans. It provides exemptions for Indian Tribes and tribal organizations. Current and prospective awardees, and any subcontractors, are prohibited from using Federal funds, other than profits from a Federal contract, for lobbying Congress or any Federal agency in connection with the award of a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or loan. In addition, for each award action in excess of $100,000 ($150,000 for loans) the law requires awardees and any subcontractors:

(1)To certify that they have neither used nor will use any appropriated funds for payment of lobbyists;

(3)to file quarterly up-dates about the use of lobbyists if material changes occur in their use. The law establishes civil penalties for non-compliance. A copy of the certification and disclosure forms must be submitted with the application and are available at the address and telephone number listed in section VII. Agency Contact. 8. Applicable OMB Circulars All cooperative agreements funded as a result of this notice will be subject to the requirements contained in all applicable OMB circulars. 9. Requirement To Assure Compliance With Federal Civil Rights Laws Project leaders of all cooperative agreements funded as a result of this notice are required to know and abide by Federal civil rights laws and to assure USDA and RMA that the awardee is in compliance with and will continue to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d *et. seq.* ), 7 CFR part 15, and USDA regulations promulgated thereunder, 7 CFR 1901.202. RMA requires that awardees submit an Assurance Agreement (Civil Rights), assuring RMA of this compliance prior to the beginning of the project period. 10. Requirement To Participate in a Post Award Conference RMA requires that project leaders attend a post award conference to become fully aware of cooperative agreement requirements and for delineating the roles of RMA personnel and the procedures that will be followed in administering the agreement and will afford an opportunity for the orderly transition of agreement duties and obligations if different personnel are to assume post-award responsibility. In their applications, applicants should budget for possible travel costs associated with attending this conference. 11. Requirement To Submit Educational Materials to the National AgRisk Education Library RMA requires that project leaders upload digital copies of all risk management educational materials developed because of the project to the National AgRisk Education Library ( *http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/* ) for posting. RMA will be clearly identified as having provided funding for the materials. 12. Requirement To Submit Proposed Results to the National AgRisk Education Library RMA requires that project leaders submit results of the project to the National AgRisk Education Library ( *http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/* ) for posting. 13. Requirement To Submit a Project Plan of Operation in the Event of a Human Pandemic Outbreak RMA requires that project leaders submit a project plan of operation in case of a human pandemic event. The plan should address the concept of continuing operations as they relate to the project. This should include the roles, responsibilities, and contact information for the project team and individuals serving as back-ups in case of a pandemic outbreak. C. Reporting Requirements Awardees will be required to submit quarterly progress reports, quarterly financial reports (OMB Standard Form 269), and quarterly Activity Logs (Form RMA-300) throughout the project period, as well as a final program and financial report not later than 90 days after the end of the project period. Awardees will be required to submit prior to the award: • A completed and signed Assurance Agreement (Civil Rights). • A completed and signed Faith-Based Survey on EEO. VII. Agency Contact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applicants and other interested parties are encouraged to contact: Lon Burke, USDA-RMA-RME, phone: 202-720-5265, fax: 202-690-3605, e-mail: *RMA.Risk-Ed@rma.usda.gov.* You may also obtain information regarding this announcement from the RMA Web site at: *http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/.* VIII. Other Information A. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track of over 70 million businesses worldwide. The Office of Management and Budget published a notice of final policy issuance in the **Federal Register** June 27, 2003 (68 FR 38402) that requires a DUNS number in every application (i.e., hard copy and electronic) for a grant or cooperative agreement on or after October 1, 2003. Therefore, potential applicants should verify that they have a DUNS number or take the steps needed to obtain one. For information about how to obtain a DUNS number, go to *http://www.grants.gov.* Please note that the registration may take up to 14 business days to complete. B. Required Registration with the Central Contract Registry for Submission of Proposals The Central Contract Registry

(EIS)for reducing fuels, improving forest stand conditions, salvaging present and future bark beetle mortality, and creating fuel breaks around the Diamond Lake and Lemolo Lake Wildland Urban Interface

(WUI)areas, and along evacuation routes that lead to and from these areas. Fuel loadings have increased due to fire exclusion and an ongoing bark beetle outbreak in both lodgepole and mixed conifer stands throughout the area. This EIS will be prepared under the authority of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA). The project proposes variable density commercial thinning on about 3,146 acres of lodgepole pine, leaving between 20-50 trees per acre (TPA), interspersed with 10% of the area with no treatment; commercial thinning from below on about 2,244 acres of mixed conifer stands, leaving 50-200 TPA; overstory removal on 59 acres of lodgepole pine stands, leaving about 20 TPA; non-commercial treatment of fuels using pre-commercial thinning, mastication, whip felling, chipping, piling and burning on about 2,013 acres; treating all activity-created fuels by underburning, crushing, machine piling, masticating, handpile burning, and/or yarding tops attached; using 25 miles of existing unclassified roads to access thinning/treatment areas, then decommissioning about 5 miles that are not used for trails or as the old highway; building 15 miles of new temporary spur roads for access, then decommissioning them after use; road reconstruction and maintenance throughout the planning area; and use of existing rock pits; all acreages and miles are approximate and are refined during sale layout. The project includes amending the 1990 Umpqua National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP). The planning area is located approximately 75 miles east of Roseburg, Oregon. The project is expected to be implemented starting in Fiscal Year 2009. The agency gives notice of the full environmental analysis and decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so that interested and affected people may become aware of how they can participate in the process and contribute to the final decision. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by February 5, 2008. The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be available in April or May of 2008 and the final environmental impact statement is expected to be available in June or July of 2008. ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this proposal to Clifford J. Dils, Forest Supervisor, Umpqua National Forest, 2900 NW. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97470; you may also submit comments electronically to *comments-pacificnorthwest-umpqua@fs.fed.us.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposal, contact Barbara Fontaine, D-Bug Project Manager, phone 541-957-3422, e-mail *bfontaine@fs.fed.us,* Umpqua National Forest, 2900 NW. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97470; or Debbie Anderson, D-Bug Interdisciplinary Team Leader, phone 541-957-3466, e-mail *danderson01@fs.fed.us,* Umpqua National Forest, 2900 NW. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97470. The proposal is also listed on the Forest's Web site at *http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua/projects/projectdocs/d-bug-ts/index.shtml* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area being analyzed in the D-Bug Hazard Reduction Timber Sale Project encompasses almost 40,000 acres, and is bounded by Lemolo Lake to the North, Crater Lake National Park to the South, the Oregon Cascades Recreation Area and the Mt. Thielsen Wilderness to the East, and the Mt. Bailey Inventoried Roadless Area to the West. The planning area includes all or portions of T26S, R5E, Sections 10, 11, 13-15, 23-26, 34-36; T26S, R6E, Sections 16-21, 28-33; T27S, R5E, Sections 1-5, 25, 36; T27S, R6E, Sections 5-8, 17, 20, 29-32; T28S, R5.5E, Sections 4, 9, 16, 18-21, 28-30, 33-35; T28S, R6E, Sections 1, 12, 13, 22-26, 35; and T29S, R5.5E, Sections 2-4. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of the D-Bug Hazard Reduction Timber Sale Project is to lessen the severity and reduce the impacts of both an on-going mountain pine beetle outbreak and existing and anticipated fuel accumulations by the timely commercial harvest and non-commercial treatments of high risk stands in strategic locations. The need for action is focused on four elements: *Element 1:* The need for modifying pine beetle habitat conditions in stands containing lodgepole pine to reduce potential infestation by mountain pine beetles. *Element 2:* The need to reduce existing and predicted fuel loads in areas identified as high fire hazard within the Diamond and Lemolo Lake wildland-urban interface areas

(WUIs)and the evacuation routes from these at risk communities. *Element 3:* The need for removing existing dead and eminently dying pine in areas already infested where human use is high in order to protect the recreating public from hazard trees. *Element 4:* The need for increasing stand vigor in densely-stocked mixed conifer stands containing older, large ponderosa pine, western white pine, Shasta red fir, and Pacific silver fir in order to improve stand resiliency during future wildfires. Proposed Action The proposed action was developed to address the elements of the purpose and need. It would implement recommendations of the Douglas County Community Wildfire Protection Plans for Lemolo and Diamond Lakes to treat hazardous fuels in the WUIs and install fuelbreaks along evacuation routes such as Highways 138, 230, and roads leading away from both the WUIs. Additional fuelbreaks are also included in the proposed action to help slow down a wildfire between the Mt. Thielsen Wilderness and the Lemolo Lake area. In stands containing pine, timely thinning in advance of beetle outbreaks would increase the vigor of the remaining trees as well as the likelihood that they would survive an outbreak when it arrives, thus lessening the fuel accumulation that naturally follows behind pine beetle outbreaks. In stands already infested by mountain pine beetles and located near high use recreation areas, the dead trees would be salvaged to lower safety hazards and fuel accumulations. Finally, reducing stand density will approximate more natural stand conditions potentially allowing older fire-tolerant trees more of a chance to survive future fires. Specifically the Proposed Action includes the following activities: • Variable density commercial thinning of 3,146 acres in lodgepole pine stands leaving 20-50 trees per acre

(TPA)interspersed with 10% of the area with no treatment, and commercial thinning of 2,244 acres in mixed conifer stands (leaving 50-200 TPA). The thinnings would use ground-based and skyline logging systems in both the matrix and riparian reserve land allocations to generate about 44 million board feet of timber. These commercial thinnings include 620 acres within outer edges of the Mt. Bailey and Thirsty Creek Appendage Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA's), and 318 acres along the edge of the Oregon Cascades Recreation Area (OCRA). The lodgepole variable density thinning would not generate any individual openings greater than 40 acres in size. • Overstory removal (leaving about 20 overstory TPA) in two lodgepole pine stands on 59 acres. These overstory removals would not generate any openings greater than 40 acres. • Non-commercial removal of fuels on about 2,013 acres by pre-commercial thinning, mastication, whip felling, chipping, and piling and burning of slash. This includes treatment on about 344 acres of stands along the edges of the Mt. Bailey and Thirsty Creek Appendage IRA and 15 acres in the OCRA. • Treating activity-created fuels (slash) on all acres commercially thinned by underburning (195 acres), crushing (976 acres), machine piling (1,223 acres), masticating (1,146 acres), handpile burning (107); yarding tops attached (3,333 acres), or using a combination of the above (663 acres). • Using about 25 miles of existing spur roads to access thinning areas then decommissioning about 5 miles after use (about 20 miles of these existing roads are now designated as winter use trails, are the remnants of the old North Umpqua Highway, or are used for other access needs and would not be obliterated after use). • Building a total of about 15.5 miles of new temporary spur roads to provide access for logging machinery and for accessing stands for non-commercial treatments, then obliterating them after use. • Reconstructing portions of 9 sections of existing system roads (work would occur along 3.3 miles of road) including: Road re-alignment; intersection improvement; road widening; placing or replacing surface rock; reshaping road beds; and hazard tree felling. • Maintaining about 66 miles of existing roads (approximately 9 miles are currently closed) including: Grading and shaping of existing road surfaces; dust abatement; blading road beds and ditches; hazard tree felling; cleaning/maintaining ditches as needed; opening and re-closing existing closed roads; removing debris from the roadway; and cutting of intruding vegetation along roadsides. • Utilizing the existing Boundary and Lemolo Dam rock pits (including drilling, blasting, rock crushing and rock hauling), along with several rock disposal sites as the rock source for the road work. Forest Plan Amendments The 1990 Umpqua National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan

(LRMP)would be amended in the following areas: 1. The LRMP assigned Visual Quality Objectives of Retention and Partial Retention along Highway 138 and Highway 230, and areas surrounding Diamond Lake and Lemolo Lakes. The LRMP would be amended to modify these objectives in the short term in order to meet the purpose and need. 2. The LRMP does not permit timber harvest in Management Areas 1, except in the event of catastrophic damage; there are about 60 acres of commercial treatment planned in MA 1 in order to lower the effects of the on-going mountain pine beetle outbreak and reduce fuels in the vicinity of the Wildland Urban Interface Area. The LRMP would be amended to allow timber harvest to help reduce the fire risk to the area. 3. The LRMP places a size limitation on timber harvest openings (units) that can be created within Management Area 2, the Diamond Lake Recreation Composite. In order to allow for removal of beetle killed trees and to allow for the lodgepole pine to be removed, the LRMP would be amended to allow for timber harvest units greater than 1/2 -acre in size. 4. The LRMP excluded most of the lodgepole pine ecosystem from the timber harvest base because of poor site conditions and low growing capacity. A recent analysis (Blackburn 2007) of stand conditions shows that these sites are growing at a rate that exceeds plan expectations; however, in order to harvest timber for this project, the 1990 LRMP would be amended to allow for timber harvest in the lodgepole pine ecosystem. 5. The LRMP excludes timber harvest around unique habitats for a distance of 150 feet. The LRMP would be amended to allow for fuel reduction treatments adjacent to some unique habitats in order to reduce existing and predicted fuel loads. Possible Alternatives The alternatives to be considered include the No Action Alternative, the Proposed Action, and another alternative that may be developed if scoping identifies any issues with the proposed action. Lead and Cooperating Agencies The USDA Forest Service, Umpqua National Forest is the lead agency. Douglas County has been granted cooperating agency status. Responsible Official Clifford J. Dils, Forest Supervisor of the Umpqua National Forest, is the responsible official for this project. The address for the Umpqua National Forest is 2900 NW Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97470. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Forest Supervisor of the Umpqua National Forest will decide whether to implement the action as proposed, whether to take no action at this time, or whether to implement any alternatives that are proposed. The Forest Supervisor will also decide whether to amend the 1990 Umpqua National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, if an action alternative is chosen. Scoping Process Scoping begins with the publication of this Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS. The project has also been listed in the quarterly schedule of proposed actions

(SOPA)since October of 2007. A scoping packet, detailing the proposed action, along with maps of the proposal, was mailed to over 350 interested publics on January 10, 2008. The scoping effort is intended to identify issues, which may lead to the development of alternatives to the proposed action. Preliminary Issues At this time, no preliminary issues have been identified. Comment Requested This notice of intent initiates the scoping proces which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. In order to help the Forest Service identify any issues related to the proposal, comments are requested by February 5, 2008. Issues that are raised with the proposal may lead to alternative ways to meet the purpose and need of the project. Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent Environmental Review A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the **Federal Register** . The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and contentions. *Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp* . v. *NRDC* , 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may be waived or dismissed by the courts. *City of Angoon* v. *Hodel,* 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and *Wisconsin Heritages, Inc* . v. *Harris* , 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final environmental impact statement. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal and will be available for public inspection. (Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21) Dated: January 15, 2008. Clifford J. Dils, Forest Supervisor. . [FR Doc. E8-982 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service East Texas Electric Cooperative: Notice of Availability of an EnvironmentalAssessment AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability of an Environmental Assessment for public review. SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA)Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development, is issuing an Environmental Assessment

(EA)related to possible financial assistance to East Texas Electric Cooperative

(ETEC)of Nacogdoches, Texas, for the proposed construction of approximately 168 MW simple cycle combustion turbine generation station in Hardin County, Texas. ETEC is requesting USDA Rural Development to provide financial assistance for the proposed project. DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received on or before February 16, 2008. ADDRESSES: To send questions and comments or for further information, contact: Dennis Rankin, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development Utilities Programs, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone

(202)720-1953, or e-mail: *dennis.rankin@wdc.usda.gov* . The EA will be available for public review at the USDA Rural Development, Utilities Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1571: at the USDA Rural Development's Web site— *http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm* ; at ETEC's Web site— *http://www.etec.coop/projects.html* ; and the Kountze Public Library, 800 South Redwood Avenue, Kountze, TX 77625. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ETEC is constructing the Hardin County Peaking Facility (HCPF), a 168 MW simple cycle combustion turbine generation station, in Hardin County, Texas. The proposal is located approximately 6 miles southeast of Kountze and one-half mile west of U.S. Highway 69/287, and will be adjacent to an existing Entergy electrical substation. Construction on the proposal is expected to commence in June 2008 with an expected completion date of May 2009. The generation facility will be constructed, owned, operated, and maintained by ETEC. The generation units at the HCPF will consist of two

(2)natural gas fired combustion turbines that have a net output of 84 MW each. The proposal will require the construction of a 1,200 foot 230 kV transmission line to interconnect with Entergy's existing Cypress substation. The output of the HCPF will be used to meet ETEC's power and energy requirements in east Texas, along with providing added reliability and stability to the region's power and transmission system. Alternatives considered by USDA Rural Development and ETEC included:

(a)No action;

(b)alternate generation alternatives, and

(c)other electrical alternatives. An Environmental Report

(ER)that described the proposal in detail and discusses its anticipated environmental impacts has been prepared by ETEC. The USDA Rural Development has accepted the ER as its EA for the proposal. The EA is available for public review at the addresses provided above in this Notice. Written comments received by the due date will be considered in the environmental impact determination. Should USDA Rural Development determine, based on the EA of the proposal, that the impacts of the construction and operation of the proposal would not have a significant environmental impact, it will prepare a Finding of No Significant Impact. Public notification of a Finding of No Significant Impact will be published in the **Federal Register** and in newspapers with circulation in the project area. Any final action by USDA Rural Development related to the proposal will be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations and completion of the environmental review procedures as prescribed by USDA Rural Development Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR 1794). Dated: January 14, 2008. Mark S. Plank, Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/Utilities Programs. [FR Doc. E8-955 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service East Texas Electric Cooperative: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability of an Environmental Assessment for public review. SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA)Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development, is issuing an Environmental Assessment

(EA)related to possible financial assistance to East Texas Electric Cooperative

(ETEC)of Nacogdoches, Texas, for the proposed construction of approximately 168 MW simple cycle combustion turbine generation station in San Jacinto County, Texas. ETEC is requesting USDA Rural Development to provide financial assistance for the proposed project. DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received on or before February 16, 2008. ADDRESSES: To send questions and comments or for further information, contact: Dennis Rankin, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development Utilities Programs, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone

(202)720-1953, or e-mail: *dennis.rankin@wdc.usda.gov.* The EA will be available for public review at the USDA Rural Development, Utilities Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1571: at the USDA Rural Development's Web site— *http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm;* at ETEC's Web site— *http://www.etec.coop/projects.html;* and the Shepherd Public Library, 30 North Liberty Street, Shepherd, TX 77371. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ETEC proposes to construct the San Jacinto County Peaking Facility (SJCPF), a 168 MW simple cycle combustion turbine generation station, in San Jacinto County, Texas. The proposal is located approximately 5 miles south of Shepherd and 2 miles east of U.S. Highway 59. Construction on the proposal is expected to commence in June 2008 with an expected completion date of May 2009. The generation facility will be constructed, owned, operated, and maintained by ETEC. The generation units at the SJCPF will consist of two

(2)natural gas fired combustion turbines that have a net output of 84 MW each. The proposal will require the construction of less than 500 feet of transmission line to interconnect with Entergy's existing 138 kV Jacinto-Poco transmission line that crosses the property where the SJCPF will be located. The output of the SJCPF will be used to meet ETEC's power and energy requirements in east Texas, along with providing added reliability and stability to the region's power and transmission system. Alternatives considered by USDA Rural Development and ETEC included:

(a)No action;

(b)alternate generation alternatives, and

(c)other electrical alternatives. An Environmental Report

(ER)that describes the proposal in detail and discusses its anticipated environmental impacts has been prepared by ETEC. The USDA Rural Development has accepted the ER as its EA for the proposal. The EA is available for public review at the addresses provided above in this Notice. Written comments received by the due date will be considered in the environmental impact determination. Should USDA Rural Development determine, based on the EA of the proposal, that the impacts of the construction and operation of the project would not have a significant environmental impact, it will prepare a Finding of No Significant Impact. Public notification of a Finding of No Significant Impact will be published in the **Federal Register** and in newspapers with circulation in the project area. Any final action by USDA Rural Development related to the proposal will be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations and completion of the environmental review procedures as prescribed by USDA Rural Development Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794). Dated: January 14, 2008. Mark S. Plank, Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/Utilities Programs. [FR Doc. E8-958 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Brazos Electric Power Cooperative Inc.: Notice of Intent To Hold a Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment. SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an Agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA)Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development, intends to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment

(EA)related to possible financial assistance to Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (Brazos) of Waco, Texas, for the proposed construction of approximately 600 MW gas-fired unit at the existing Jack County Generating Facility. Brazos is requesting USDA Rural Development to provide financial assistance for the proposal. DATES: USDA Rural Development will hold a scoping meeting in an open house format in order to provide information and solicit comments for the preparation of an EA. The meeting will be held on January 31, 2008, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Twin Lakes Community Center, 420 Highway 59, Jacksboro, Texas. All written questions and comments must be received by March 3, 2008. ADDRESSES: To send comments or for further information, contact: Dennis Rankin, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development Utilities Programs, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, or e-mail: *dennis.rankin@wdc.usda.gov* . An Alternative Evaluation/Site Selection Study is available for public review at USDA Rural Development offices at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1571 and at the following Web site *http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Brazos is proposing to construct an additional 500 MW gas-fired combustion turbine at its Jack County Generation Station. The site is located northeast of State Highway 199 and FM 1156 in Jack County and southeast of the intersection of Shepard Road/Henderson Ranch Rd. and FM 1156. Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposal. Representatives from USDA Rural Development and Brazos will be available at the scoping meeting to discuss USDA Rural Development's environmental review process, describe the project, the purpose and need for the proposal, discuss the scope of environmental issues to be considered, answer questions, and accept oral and written comments. Written comments received by the due date will be incorporated into the EA Brazos and will be submitted to USDA Rural Development for review. USDA Rural Development will use the EA to determine the significance of the impacts of the project and may adopt it as its environmental assessment of the project. USDA Rural Development's environmental assessment of the proposal would be available for review and comment for 30 days. Should USDA Rural Development determine that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not necessary, it will prepare a Finding of No Significant Impact. Public notification of a Finding of No Significant Impact would be published in the **Federal Register** and in newspapers with circulation in the project area. Any final action by USDA Rural Development related to the proposed proposal will be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations and completion of the environmental review procedures as prescribed by USDA Rural Development Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794). Dated: January 14, 2008. Mark S. Plank, Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/Utilities Programs. [FR Doc. E8-957 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). *Agency:* National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). *Title:* Emergency Beacon Registrations. *Form Number(s):* None. *OMB Approval Number:* 0648-0295. *Type of Request:* Regular submission. *Burden Hours:* 7,500. *Number of Respondents:* 30,000. *Average Hours per Response:* 15 minutes. *Needs and Uses:* An international system exists to use satellites to detect and locate ships, aircraft, or individuals in distress if they are equipped with an emergency radio beacon. The persons purchasing such a beacon must register it with NOAA. The data provided in the registration can assist in identifying who is in trouble and suppressing the consequences of false alarms. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households, not-for-profit institutions; business or other for-profit organizations; State, Local or Tribal Government. *Frequency:* On occasion and biannually. *Respondent's Obligation:* Required to obtain or retain benefits. *OMB Desk Officer:* David Rostker,

(202)395-3897. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer,

(202)482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at *dHynek@doc.gov* ). Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Fax number

(202)395-7285, or *David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov* . Dated: January 15, 2008. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E8-921 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Office of the Secretary Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Toolkit Website Survey AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 24, 2008. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at *dHynek@doc.gov* ). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Jennifer Sullivan, phone: 202-482-6808, *jsullivan1@doc.gov* , fax: 202-482-4636. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The U.S. Department of Commerce is conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives toolkit Web site ( *http://www.commerce.gov/OS/CFBCI* ) and, specifically the “Additional Resources” link. The toolkit assists users with finding U.S. Census Bureau data for grant writing and community needs assessment. The U.S. Census Bureau is the leading source of quality data about our nation's people and economy. The findings from the study will be used to assist in making informed decisions about users' expectations and needed improvements to the site. II. Method of Collection Electronically—the survey will be available after viewing: *http://www.commerce.gov/OS/CFBCI* , clicking the “Additional Resources” link, and using the toolkit. III. Data *OMB Control Number:* None. *Form Number(s):* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 400. *Estimated Time per Response:* 5 minutes. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 33. *Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $0. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(CPS)Basic Demographic Items AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before March 24, 2008. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at *dHynek@doc.gov* ). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Dennis E. Clark, U.S. Census Bureau, 7H0003J, Washington, DC 20233-8400 at

(301)763-5488 (or via the Internet at *Dennis.E.Clark@census.gov* ). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The U.S. Census Bureau plans to request clearance from the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for the collection of basic demographic information on the Current Population Survey

(CPS)beginning in July 2008. The current clearance expires June 30, 2008. The CPS has been the source of official government statistics on employment and unemployment for over 50 years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS)and the Census Bureau jointly sponsor the basic monthly survey. The Census Bureau also prepares and conducts all the field work. At OMB's request, the Census Bureau and the BLS divide the clearance request in order to reflect the joint sponsorship and funding of the CPS program. The justification that follows is in support of the demographic data. The demographic information collected in the CPS provides a unique set of data on selected characteristics for the civilian noninstitutional population. Some of the demographic information collected are age, marital status, gender, Armed Forces status, education, race, origin, and family income. These data are used in conjunction with other data, particularly the monthly labor force data, as well as periodic supplement data. The data is also used independently for internal analytic research and for evaluation of other surveys. And, in addition, as a control to produce accurate estimates of other personal characteristics. II. Method of Collection The CPS basic demographic information is collected from individual households by both personal visits and telephone interviews each month. All interviews are conducted using computer-assisted interviewing. III. Data *OMB Control Number:* 0607-0049. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 57,000 per month. *Estimated Time per Response:* 1.58 minutes. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 18,012. *Estimated Total Annual Cost:* $0. *Respondent's Obligation:* Voluntary. *Legal Authority:* Title 13, U.S.C., Section 182, and Title 29, U.S.C., Sections 1-9. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(202)482-5131 (this is not a toll-free number), or by E-mail at *oetca@ita.doc.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title III of the Export Trading Company Act of 1982 (15 U.S.C. 4001-21) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to issue Export Trade Certificates of Review. The regulations implementing Title III are found at 15 CFR part 325 (2006). Export Trading Company Affairs (“ETCA”) is issuing this notice pursuant to 15 CFR section 325.6(b), which requires the U.S. Department of Commerce to publish a summary of the certification in the **Federal Register** . Under Section 305(a) of the Act and 15 CFR 325.11(a), any person aggrieved by the Secretary's determination may, within 30 days of the date of this notice, bring an action in any appropriate district court of the United States to set aside the determination on the ground that the determination is erroneous. Description of Certified Conduct: Export Trade 1. Products All products. 2. Services All services. 3. Technology Rights Technology rights, including, but not limited to, patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets that relate to Products and Services. 4. Export Trade Facilitation Services (as They Relate to the Export of Products, Services, and Technology Rights) Export Trade Facilitation Services, including, but not limited to, professional services in the areas of government relations and assistance with state and federal programs; foreign trade and business protocol; consulting; market research and analysis; collection of information on trade opportunities; marketing; negotiations; joint ventures; shipping; export management; export licensing; advertising; documentation and services related to compliance with customs requirements; insurance and financing; trade show exhibitions; organizational development; management and labor strategies; transfer of technology; transportation services; and facilitating the formation of shippers' associations. Export Markets The Export Markets include all parts of the world except the United States (the fifty states of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands). Export Trade Activities and Methods of Operation 1. With respect to the sales of Products and Services, licensing of Technology Rights and provisions of Export Trade Facilitation Services, HIUSA, subject to the terms and conditions listed below, may: a. Provide and/or arrange for the provisions of Export Trade Facilitation Services; b. Engage in promotional and marketing activities and collect information on trade opportunities in the Export Markets and distribute such information to clients; c. Enter into exclusive and/or non-exclusive licensing and/or sales agreements with Suppliers for the export of Products, Services, and/or Technology Rights to Export Markets; d. Enter into exclusive and/or non-exclusive agreements with distributors and/or sales representatives in Export Markets; e. Allocate export sales or divide Export Markets among Suppliers for the sale and/or licensing of Products, Services, and/or Technology Rights; f. Allocate export orders among Suppliers; g. Establish the price of Products, Services, and/or Technology Rights for sales and/or licensing in Export Markets; h. Negotiate, enter into, and/or manage licensing agreements for the export of Technology Rights; and i. Enter into contracts for shipping. 2. HIUSA may exchange information on a one-to-one basis with individual Suppliers regarding that Supplier's inventories and near-term production schedules for the purpose of determining the availability of Products for export and coordinating export with distributors. Terms and Conditions of Certificate 1. In engaging in Export Trade Activities and Methods of Operations, HIUSA will not intentionally disclose, directly or indirectly, to any Supplier any information about any other Supplier's costs, production, capacity, inventories, domestic prices, domestic sales, or U.S. business plans, strategies, or methods that is not already generally available to the trade or public. 2. HIUSA will comply with requests made by the Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce or the Attorney General for information or documents relevant to conduct under the Certificate. The Secretary of Commerce will request such information or documents when either the Attorney General or the Secretary of Commerce believes that the information or documents are required to determine that the Export Trade, Export Trade Activities and Methods of Operation of a person protected by this Certificate of Review continue to comply with the standard of Section 303(a) of the Act. Definition “Supplier” means a person who produces, provides, or sells Products, Services, and/or Technology Rights. Protection Provided by Certificate This Certificate protects HIUSA and its directors, officers, and employees acting on its behalf, from private treble damage actions and government criminal and civil suits under U.S. federal and state antitrust laws for the export conduct specified in the Certificate and carried out during its effective period in compliance with its terms and conditions. Effective Period of Certificate This Certificate continues in effect from the effective date indicated below until it is relinquished, modified, or revoked as provided in the Act and the Regulations. Other Conduct Nothing in this Certificate prohibits HIUSA from engaging in conduct not specified in this Certificate, but such conduct is subject to the normal application of the antitrust laws. Disclaimer The issuance of this Certificate of Review to HIUSA by the Secretary of Commerce with the concurrence of the Attorney General under the provisions of the Act does not constitute, explicitly or implicitly, an endorsement or opinion of the Secretary of Commerce or the Attorney General concerning either

(a)the viability or quality of the business plans of HIUSA or

(b)the legality of such business plans of HIUSA under the laws of the United States (other than as provided in the Act) or under the laws of any foreign country. The application of this Certificate to conduct in Export Trade where the United States Government is the buyer or where the United States Government bears more than half the cost of the transaction is subject to the limitations set forth in Section V.(D.) of the “Guidelines for the Issuance of Export Trade Certificates of Review (Second Edition),” 50 FR 1786 (January 11, 1985). A copy of the certificate will be kept in the International Trade Administration's Freedom of Information Records Inspection Facility, Room 4100, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Dated: January 14, 2008. Jeffrey Anspacher, Director, Export Trading Company Affairs. [FR Doc. E8-910 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Cooperative Game Fish Tagging Report AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 24, 2008. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at *dHynek@doc.gov* ). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Eric Orbesen,

(305)361-4253 or *Eric.Orbesen@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Cooperative Tagging Center, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), NOAA attempts to determine the migration patterns and other biological information of billfish, tunas, and swordfish. Fishermen volunteer to tag and release their catch. The fish tagging report is provided to the angler with the tags, and he/she fills out the card with the information when a fish is tagged. Besides the tag number, the card request name, address, date, and club affiliation (if applicable). The card is then mailed back to NMFS where the data is stored. II. Method of Collection Information is submitted by mail. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0648-0247. *Form Number:* NOAA form 88-162. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 12,000. *Estimated Time per Response:* 2 minutes. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 360. *Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $0. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(727)824-5350 or *jason.rueter@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract Any person seeking to obtain certification for bycatch reduction devices

(BRD)to be used on shrimp vessels in the Gulf of Mexico or South Atlantic must apply for authorization to conduct tests and submit the test results. Persons seeking certification to be observers for such tests in the Gulf of Mexico must file an application and provide three references. The information is needed for NOAA to determine if the equipment meets the standards that would allow its use in commercial fisheries. II. Method of Collection Paper applications and telephone calls are required from participants, and methods of submittal include mailing and facsimile transmission of paper forms. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0648-0345. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households; business or other for-profit organizations. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 32. *Estimated Time per Response:* Pre-certification and certification applications, 2 hours and 20 minutes; pre-certification data collection, 3 hours; vessel information form, trip report/cover sheet and duplication/mailing of independent BRD tests, 30 minutes; gear specification form, station sheet and station sheet tuning forms, Turtle Excluder Device/BRD specification form, length frequency form, condition and fate form, 20 minutes; species characterization form and program receipt form, 5 hours; sea turtle form, 15 minutes; final reports, 4 hours; testing, 4 hours; observer certifications and observer references, 1 hour. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 6,899. *Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $306,495 in capital and recordkeeping/reporting costs. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(727)824-5350 or *jason.rueter@noaa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The participants in Federally-regulated fisheries in the Southeast Region of the U.S. must mark their fishing gear with the official identification number or some other form of identification and color code. Harvesters of aquaculture live rock must mark or tag the material deposited. This identification is necessary to aid fishery enforcement activities and for purposes of gear identification concerning damage, loss, and civil proceedings. II. Method of Collection No information is collected. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0648-0359. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households; and business or other for-profits organizations. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 1,000. *Estimated Time per Response:* 7 minutes for traps; 10 seconds for live rock; and 20 minutes for mackerel gillnets. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 2,192. *Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $17,000 in capital and recordkeeping/reporting costs. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(727)824-5350 or *jason.rueter@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The participants in federally-regulated fisheries in the Southeast Region of the U.S. must mark their fishing vessels with the official identification number or some other form of identification. The vessel's identification number is displayed on its deckhouse or hull, and its weatherdeck. This identification is necessary to aid fishery enforcement activities and for purposes of gear identification concerning damage, loss, and civil proceedings. II. Method of Collection No information is collected. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0648-0358. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households; business or other for-profits organizations. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 9,774. *Estimated Time per Response:* 45 minutes. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 7,431. *Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $297,000 in capital and recordkeeping/reporting costs. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(301)713-2322 or *sarah.howlett@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The National Marine Fisheries Service's

(NMFS)Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program will conduct program evaluations of the six NMFS regional stranding networks: Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Northwest, Alaska, and Pacific Islands Regions. A survey will be used to gather data from a cross-section of stranding network participants in each region. The data will be collected regarding performance, organizational structure, objectives, and needs of the program. The information will be used to prioritize and discuss issues of concern and assist with future program management and planning. II. Method of Collection The survey will be conducted through a combination of telephone interviews, paper format (mailed), and electronic format via e-mail or online. III. Data *OMB Number:* None. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Not-for-profit institutions; business or other for-profits organizations; State, Local, or Tribal Government; Federal Government. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 294. *Estimated Time per Response:* 1 hour. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 294. *Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $22. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: January 15, 2008. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E8-920 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Extension of Application Period for Vacancies on the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council AGENCY: National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice and request for applications. SUMMARY: The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) is still seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council): Chumash Community member and alternate, and Tourism alternate. Applicants are chosen based upon: Their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying, community and professional affiliations, views regarding the protection and management of marine resources, and the length of residence in the communities located near the Sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve in a volunteer capacity for 2-year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter. DATES: The application period has been extended and applications are now due by February 10, 2008. ADDRESSES: Application kits may be obtained from Dani Lipski, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, 113 Harbor Way, Suite 150, Santa Barbara, CA 93109-2315. Completed applications should be sent to the same address. Application materials are also available at: *http://www.channelislands.noaa.gov/sac/news.html.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Murray, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, 113 Harbor Way, Suite 150, Santa Barbara, CA 93109-2315, 805-966-7107 extension 464, *michael.murray@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CINMS Advisory Council was originally established in December 1998 and has a broad representation consisting of 21 members, including ten government agency representatives and eleven members from the general public. The Council functions in an advisory capacity to the Sanctuary Superintendent. The Council works in concert with the Sanctuary Superintendent by keeping him or her informed about issues of concern throughout the Sanctuary, offering recommendations on specific issues, and aiding the Superintendent in achieving the goals of the National Marine Sanctuary Program. Specifically, the Council's objectives are to provide advice on:

(1)Protecting natural and cultural resources and identifying and evaluating emergent or critical issues involving Sanctuary use or resources;

(2)Identifying and realizing the Sanctuary's research objectives;

(3)Identifying and realizing educational opportunities to increase the public knowledge and stewardship of the Sanctuary environment; and

(4)Assisting to develop an informed constituency to increase awareness and understanding of the purpose and value of the Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary Program. Authority: 16 U.S.C. Sections 1431, *et seq.* (Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program) Dated: January 14, 2008. Daniel J. Basta, Director, National Marine Sanctuary Program, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 08-201 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am]

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