Notices. Notice of meeting
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/register/2008/02/04/08-487A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: The Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee will meet in Las Vegas, Nevada. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the proposed rule for the management of roadless areas on National Forest System lands in the State of Idaho and to discuss other related roadless area matters. DATES:
The meeting will be held February 20 to February 21, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m each day. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Richard Tam Alumni Center, Fred C. Albrecht Board Room, 4505 South Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada. Written comments concerning this meeting should be addressed to Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, EMC, Jessica Call, 201 14th Street, SW., Mailstop 1104, Washington, DC 20024. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to *jessicacall@fs.fed.us,* or via facsimile to 202-205-1012.
All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at the Forest Service, Sidney R.Yates Building, 201 14th Street, SW., Washington, DC. Visitors wanting to inspect comments received are encouraged to call ahead to 202-205-1056 to facilitate entry. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Call, Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee (RACNAC) Coordinator, at *jessicacall@fs.fed.us* or 202-205-1056.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public and interested parties are invited to attend. In order to facilitate meeting logistics, please provide your name to Jessica Call, RACNAC Coordinator by February 15, 2008. While meeting discussion is limited to Forest Service staff and Committee members, the public will be allowed to offer written and oral comments for the Committee's consideration. Attendees wishing to comment orally will be allotted a specific amount of time to speak. To offer oral comment, please contact the RACNAC Coordinator at 202-205-1056. Dated: January 29, 2008. Gloria Manning, Associate Deputy Chief, NFS. [FR Doc. E8-2015 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service USDA Forest Service Open Space Conservation Strategy AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Availability. SUMMARY: The Forest Service is announcing the availability of the agency's Open Space Conservation Strategy. The Strategy provides a framework to strengthen and focus existing and new Forest Service actions for open space conservation. The goal of the Strategy is to conserve open space by protecting the most ecologically and socially important lands, conserving working lands as sustainable forests and grasslands; expanding and connecting open spaces in cities, suburbs, and towns; and reducing the potential ecological impacts and risks of development. The goal will be achieved through collaboration and partnerships—by working with willing landowners, conservation groups and State and local governments to promote voluntary land conservation. In developing the Strategy, the Forest Service solicited public comments through three **Federal Register** Notices: November 13, 2006 (71 FR 66162); December 14, 2006 (71 FR 75228); and June 22, 2007 (70 FR 34430). A total of over 22,000 comments were received during these comment periods. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Electronic copies of the Open Space Conservation Strategy document are available at *http://www.fs.fed.us/openspace/OS_Strategy_final_web.pdf* and hardcopies are available by contacting James Melonas, USDA Forest Service, Cooperative Forestry by telephone at
(202)205-1389 or by electronic mail at *openspace@fs.fed.us* . For general information about the Open Space Conservation Strategy and the loss of open space, visit the Forest Service's Open Space Web site: *http://www.fs.fed.us/openspace.* Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Dated: January 28, 2008. James E. Hubbard, Deputy Chief, State & Private Forestry. [FR Doc. E8-2010 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Housing Service Notice of Funds Availability
(NOFA)Inviting Applications for the Rural Community Development Initiative
(RCDI)for Fiscal Year 2008 AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of solicitation of applications. SUMMARY: This Notice announces the availability of $6,255,900 of competitive grant funds for the RCDI program through the Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency within the USDA Rural Development mission area herein referred to as the Agency. Applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the Federal grant. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. This Notice lists the information needed to submit an application for these funds. DATES: The deadline for receipt of an application is 4 p.m. local time, May 5, 2008. The application date and time are firm. The Agency will not consider any application received after the deadline. Applicants intending to mail applications must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United States Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile
(FAX)and postage due applications will not be accepted. ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance may download the application requirements delineated in this Notice from the RCDI Web site: *http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm.* Applicants may also request application packages from the Rural Development office in their State. A list of Rural Development offices is included in this Notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Rural Development office for the state the applicant is located in. A list of Rural Development State Office contacts is included in this Notice. Programs Affected This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under Number 10.446. This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials because it is not listed by the Secretary of Agriculture, pursuant to 7 CFR 3015.302, as a covered program. Paperwork Reduction Act The paperwork burden has been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)under OMB Control Number 0575-0180. National Environmental Policy Act This document has been reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1940-G, “Environmental Program.” Rural Development has determined that this NOFA does not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, and an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. Furthermore, individual awards under this NOFA are hereby classified as Categorial Exclusions which do not require any additional documentation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Overview *Federal Agency:* Rural Housing Service. *Funding Opportunity Title:* Rural Community Development Initiative. *Announcement Type:* Initial Announcement. *Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA)Number:* 10.446. Part I—Funding Opportunity Description Congress initially created the RCDI in Fiscal Year
(FY)2000 to develop the capacity and ability of nonprofit organizations, low-income rural communities, or federally recognized tribes to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development in rural areas. Part II—Award Information Congress appropriated $6,255,900 in FY 2008 for the RCDI. Qualified private, nonprofit and public (including tribal) intermediary organizations proposing to carry out financial and technical assistance programs will be eligible to receive the funding. The intermediary will be required to provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the RCDI grant. The respective minimum and maximum grant amount per intermediary is $50,000.00 and $300,000.00. The intermediary must provide a program of financial and technical assistance to a private nonprofit, community-based housing and development organization, a low-income rural community or a federally recognized tribe. Part III—Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants 1. Qualified private, nonprofit including faith-based and community organizations in accordance with 7 CFR part 16, and public (including tribal) intermediary organizations. Definitions that describe eligible organizations and other key terms are listed below. 2. RCDI grantees that have an outstanding grant over 3 years old, as of the application due date in this Notice, will not be eligible to apply for this round of funding. Grant and matching funds must be utilized in a timely manner to ensure that the goals and objectives of the program are met. B. Program Definitions *Agency—* The Rural Housing Service
(RHS)or its successor. *Beneficiary—* Entities or individuals that receive benefits from assistance provided by the recipient. *Capacity—* The ability of a recipient to implement housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects. *Federally recognized tribes—* Tribal entities recognized and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, based on the current notice in the **Federal Register** published by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribally Designated Housing Entities are eligible RCDI recipients. *Financial Assistance—* Funds used by the intermediary to purchase supplies and equipment, not to exceed $10,000 per award, to build the recipient's capacity. *Funds—* The RCDI grant and matching money. *Intermediary—* A qualified private, nonprofit, or public (including tribal) organization that provides financial and technical assistance to multiple recipients. *Low-income rural community—* An authority, district, economic development authority, regional council, or unit of government representing an incorporated city, town, village, county, township, parish, or borough. *Recipient—* Under 7 CFR part 15, § 15.2, Recipient means any State, political subdivision of any State, or instrumentality of any State or political subdivision, any public or private agency, institution, or organization, or other entity, to whom Federal financial assistance is extended, directly or through another recipient, including any successor, assignee, or transferee thereof, but such term does not include any ultimate beneficiary. Not all listed entities are eligible for all programs. Please check with the applicable state office for information regarding eligibility. *Rural and rural area—* Any area other than
(i)a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants; and
(ii)the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such city or town. *Technical assistance—* Skilled help in improving the recipient's abilities in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. C. Cost Sharing or Matching *Matching funds—* Cash or confirmed funding commitments. Matching funds must be at least equal to the grant amount. These funds can only be used for eligible RCDI activities. In-kind contributions such as salaries, donated time and effort, real and nonexpendable personal property and goods and services cannot be used as matching funds. Grant funds and matching funds must be used in equal proportions. This does not mean funds have to be used equally by line item. The request for advance or reimbursement and supporting documentation must show that RCDI fund usage does not exceed the cumulative amount of matching funds used. Grant funds will be disbursed pursuant to relevant provisions of 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, and 3019, as applicable. Verification of matching funds must be submitted with the application. The intermediary is responsible for demonstrating that matching funds are available, and committed to the RCDI proposal. Matching funds may be provided by the intermediary or a third party. Other Federal funds may be used as matching funds if authorized by statute and the purpose of the funds is an eligible RCDI purpose. Matching funds must be used to support the overall purpose of the RCDI program. RCDI funds will be disbursed on an advance or reimbursement basis. Matching funds cannot be expended prior to execution of the RCDI Grant Agreement. No reimbursement will be made for any funds expended prior to execution of the RCDI Grant Agreement unless the grantee is a non-profit or educational entity and has requested and received written Agency approval of the costs prior to the actual expenditure. This exception is applicable for up to 90 days prior to grant closing and only applies to grantees that have received written approval but have not executed the RCDI Grant Agreement. The Agency cannot retroactively approve reimbursement for expenditures prior to execution of the RCDI Grant Agreement. D. Other Program Requirements 1. The recipient and beneficiary, but not the intermediary, must be located in an eligible rural area. The physical location of the recipient's office that will be receiving the financial and technical assistance must be in an eligible rural area. If the recipient is a low-income community, the median household income of the area where the office is located must be at or below 80 percent of the State or national median household income, whichever is higher. The applicable Rural Development State Office can assist in determining the eligibility of an area. A listing of Rural Development State Offices is included in this Notice. 2. The recipients must be private, nonprofit, including faith-based organizations, community-based housing and development organizations, low-income rural communities, or federally recognized tribes based on the RCDI definitions of these groups. 3. Documentation must be submitted to verify recipient eligibility. Acceptable documentation varies depending on the type of recipient. Private nonprofit faith or community-based housing and development organizations must provide a certificate of incorporation and good standing from the Secretary of the State of incorporation, or other similar and valid documentation of nonprofit status. For low-income rural community recipients, the Agency requires evidence that the entity is a public body and census data verifying that the median household income of the community where the office receiving the financial and technical assistance is located at, or below, 80 percent of the State or national median household income, whichever is higher. For Federally recognized tribes, the Agency needs the page listing their name from the current **Federal Register** list of tribal entities recognized and eligible for funding services (see the definition of Federally recognized tribes in this Notice for details on this list). 4. Individuals cannot be recipients. 5. The intermediary must provide matching funds at least equal to the amount of the grant. Verification of matching funds must be submitted with the application. 6. The intermediary must provide a program of financial and technical assistance to the recipient. 7. The intermediary organization must have been legally organized for a minimum of 3 years and have at least 3 years prior experience working with private nonprofit community-based housing and development organizations, low-income rural communities, or tribal organizations in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. 8. Proposals must be structured to utilize the grant funds within 3 years from the date of the award. 9. Each applicant, whether singularly or jointly, may only submit one application for RCDI funds under this NOFA. This restriction does not preclude the applicant from providing matching funds for other applications. 10. Recipients can benefit from more than one RCDI application; however, after grant selections are made, the recipient can only benefit from multiple RCDI grants if the type of financial and technical assistance the recipient will receive is not duplicative. 11. The intermediary and the recipient cannot be the same entity. The recipient can be a related entity to the intermediary, if it meets the definition of a recipient. 12. A nonprofit recipient must provide evidence that it is a valid nonprofit when the intermediary applies for the RCDI grant. Organizations with pending requests for nonprofit designations are not eligible. 13. If the recipient is a low-income rural community, identify the unit of government to which the financial and technical assistance will be provided, e.g., town council or village board. The financial and technical assistance must be provided to the organized unit of government representing that community, not the community at large. 14. Recipients located in a rural area that is also a census designated place
(CDP)are eligible recipients. 15. If a grantee has an outstanding RCDI grant over 3 years old, as of the application due date in this Notice, it is not eligible to apply for this round of funding. 16. The indirect cost category in the project budget should be used only when a grant applicant has a federally negotiated indirect cost rate. If the applicant will charge indirect costs to the grant, a copy of the current rate agreement must be provided with the application. Eligible Fund Uses Fund uses must be consistent with the RCDI purpose. A nonexclusive list of eligible grant uses includes the following: 1. Provide technical assistance to develop recipients' capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development, *i.e.,* the intermediary hires a staff person to provide technical assistance to the recipient or the recipient hires a staff person, under the supervision of the intermediary, to carry out the technical assistance provided by the intermediary. 2. Develop the capacity of recipients to conduct community development programs, *e.g.,* homeownership education or training for business entrepreneurs. 3. Develop the capacity of recipients to conduct development initiatives, *e.g.,* programs that support micro-enterprise and sustainable development. 4. Develop the capacity of recipients to increase their leveraging ability and access to alternative funding sources by providing training and staffing. 5. Develop the capacity of recipients to provide the technical assistance component for essential community facilities projects. 6. Assist recipients in completing pre-development requirements for housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects by providing resources for professional services, *e.g.,* architectural, engineering, or legal. 7. Improve recipient's organizational capacity by providing training and resource material on developing strategic plans, board operations, management, financial systems, and information technology. 8. Purchase computers, software, and printers at the recipient level when directly related to the technical assistance program being undertaken by the intermediary. 9. Provide funds to recipients for training-related travel costs and training expenses related to RCDI. Ineligible Fund Uses 1. Pass-through grants, capacity grants, and any funds provided to the recipient in a lump sum that are not reimbursements. 2. Funding a revolving loan fund (RLF). 3. Construction (in any form). 4. Salaries for positions involved in construction, renovations, rehabilitation, and any oversight of these types of activities. 5. Intermediary preparation of strategic plans for recipients. 6. Funding prostitution, gambling, or any illegal activities. 7. Grants to individuals. 8. Funding a grant where there may be a conflict of interest, or an appearance of a conflict of interest, involving any action by the Agency. 9. Paying obligations incurred before the beginning date without prior Agency approval or after the ending date of the grant agreement. 10. Purchasing real estate. 11. Improvement or renovation of the grantee's, or recipient's office space or for the repair or maintenance of privately owned vehicles. 12. Any other purpose prohibited in 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, and 3019, as applicable. 13. Using funds for recipient's general operating costs. 14. Using grant or matching funds for Individual Development Accounts. 15. Purchasing vehicles. Program Examples The purpose of this initiative is to develop or increase the recipient's capacity through a program of financial and technical assistance to perform in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. Strengthening the recipient's capacity in these areas will benefit the communities they serve. The RCDI structure requires the intermediary (grantee) to provide a program of financial and technical assistance to recipients. The recipients will, in turn, provide programs to their communities (beneficiaries). The following are examples of eligible and ineligible purposes under the RCDI program. (These examples are illustrative and are not meant to limit the activities proposed in the application. Activities that meet the objective of the RCDI program will be considered eligible.) 1. The intermediary must work directly with the recipient, not the ultimate beneficiaries. As an example: The intermediary provides training to the recipient on how to conduct homeownership education classes. The recipient then provides ongoing homeownership education to the residents of the community—the ultimate beneficiaries. This “train the trainer” concept fully meets the intent of this initiative. The intermediary is providing technical assistance that will build the recipient's capacity by enabling them to conduct homeownership education classes for the public. This is an eligible purpose. However, if the intermediary directly provided homeownership education classes to individuals in the recipient's service area, this would not be an eligible purpose because the recipient would be bypassed. 2. If the intermediary is working with a low-income community as the recipient, the intermediary must provide the technical assistance to the entity that represents the low-income community and is identified in the application. Examples of entities representing a low-income community are a village board or a town council. If the intermediary provides technical assistance to the board of directors of the low-income community on how to establish a cooperative, this would be an eligible purpose. However, if the intermediary works directly with individuals from the community to establish the cooperative, this is not an eligible purpose. The recipient's capacity is built by learning skills that will enable them to support sustainable economic development in their communities on an ongoing basis. 3. The intermediary may provide technical assistance to the recipient on how to create and operate a RLF. The intermediary may not monitor or operate the RLF. RCDI funds, including matching funds, cannot be used to fund RLFs. Part IV—Application and Submission Information A. Address To Request Application Package Entities wishing to apply for assistance may download the application documents and requirements delineated in this Notice from the RCDI Web site: *http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm.* Application information for electronic submissions may be found at *http://www.grants.gov.* Applicants may also request paper application packages from the Rural Development office in their state. A list of Rural Development offices is included in this Notice. B. Content and Form of Application Submission If the applicant is ineligible or the application is incomplete, the Agency will inform the applicant in writing of the decision, reasons therefore, and its appeal rights, and no further evaluation of the application will occur. *A complete application for RCDI funds must include the following:* 1. A summary page, double-spaced between items, listing the following: (This information should not be presented in narrative form.) a. Applicant's name, b. Applicant's address, c. Applicant's telephone number, d. Name of applicant's contact person and telephone number, e. Applicant's fax number, f. County where applicant is located, g. Congressional district number where applicant is located, h. Amount of grant request, i. Applicant's Tax Identification Number, j. Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS)number (Applicant Only), k. Number of recipients, l. Equal Opportunity Survey, OMB No. 1890-0014 Exp. 02/28/09 (optional completion by applicant) 1. Source and amount of matching funds. 2. A detailed Table of Contents containing page numbers for each component of the application. 3. A project overview, no longer than five pages, including the following items, which will also be addressed separately and in detail under “Building Capacity” of the “Evaluation Criteria.” a. The type of technical assistance to be provided to the recipients and how it will be implemented. b. How the capacity and ability of the recipients will be improved. c. The overall goals to be accomplished. d. The benchmarks to be used to measure the success of the program. 4. Organizational documents, such as a certificate of incorporation and a current good standing certification from the Secretary of State where the applicant is incorporated and other similar and valid documentation of non-profit status, from the intermediary that confirms it has been legally organized for a minimum of 3 years as the applicant entity. 5. Verification of matching funds, *i.e.,* a copy of a bank statement if matching funds are in cash or a copy of the confirmed funding commitment from the funding source. The verification of matching funds must be submitted with the application. The applicant will be contacted by the Agency prior to grant award to verify that the matching funds continue to be available. The applicant will have 10 working days from the date contacted to submit verification of matching funds. If the applicant is unable to provide the verification within that timeframe, the application will be considered ineligible. The applicant must maintain bank statements on file or other documentation for a period of at least three years after grant closing except that the records shall be retained beyond the three-year period if audit findings have not been resolved. 6. Applicant should verify that they have a DUNS number. Applicants can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-866-705-5711. 7. The following information for each recipient: a. Recipient's entity name, b. Complete address (mailing and physical location, if different), c. County where located, d. Number of Congressional district where recipient is located, and e. Contact person's name and telephone number. 8. Submit evidence that each recipient entity is eligible: a. *Nonprofits* —provide a current valid letter confirming non-profit status from the Secretary of the State of incorporation or the IRS, a current good standing certification from the Secretary of the State of incorporation, or other valid documentation of non-profit status of each recipient. b. *Low-income rural community* —provide evidence the entity is a public body, and a copy of the 2000 census data to verify the population, and evidence that the median household income is at, or below, 80 percent of either the State or national median household income. We will only accept data from *http://www.census.gov.* The specific instructions to retrieve data from this site are detailed under the “Evaluation Criteria” for “Population” and “Income.” c. *Federally recognized tribes* —provide the page listing their name from the current **Federal Register** list of tribal entities published on November 25, 2005 (70 FR 71194) by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 9. Each of the “Evaluation Criteria” must be addressed specifically and individually by category. Present these criteria in narrative form. Documentation must be limited to three pages per criterion. The “Population” and “Income” criteria for recipient locations can be provided in the form of a list; however, the source of the data must be included on the page(s). 10. A timeline identifying specific activities and proposed dates for completion. 11. A detailed project budget that includes the RCDI grant amount and matching funds for the duration of the grant. This should be a line-item budget, by category. Categories such as salaries, administrative, other, and indirect costs that pertain to the proposed project must be clearly defined. Supporting documentation listing the components of these categories must be included. The budget should be dated: Year 1, year 2, year 3. 12. *Form SF-424,* “Application for Federal Assistance.” (Do not complete Form SF-424A, “Budget Information.” A separate line-item budget should be presented as described in No. 11 of this section.) 13. *Form SF-424B,* “Assurances—Non-Construction Programs.” 14. *Form AD-1047,* “Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters—Primary Covered Transactions.” 15. *Form AD-1048,* “Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion—Lower Tier Covered Transactions. 16. *Form AD-1049,* “Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements.” 17. Certification of Non-Lobbying Activities. 18. *Standard Form LLL,* “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,” if applicable. 19. *Form RD 400-4,* “Assurance Agreement,” for the applicant and each recipient. 20. Identify and report any association or relationship with Rural Development employees. The required forms and certifications can be downloaded from the RCDI Web site at: *http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm.* C. Other Submission Information The original application package must be submitted to the Rural Development State Office where the applicant is located. A listing of Rural Development State Offices is included in this Notice. Applications will not be accepted via facsimile or electronic mail. Applicants may file an electronic application at *http://www.grants.gov.* *Grants.gov* contains full instructions on all required passwords, credentialing, and software. Follow the instructions at *Grants.gov* for registering and submitting an electronic application. If a system problem or technical difficulty occurs with an electronic application, please use the customer support resources available at the *Grants.gov* Web site. Technical difficulties submitting an application through *Grants.gov* will not be a reason to extend the application deadline. If an application is unable to be submitted through *Grants.gov* , a paper application must be received in the appropriate State Office by the deadline noted previously. First time *Grants.gov* users should go to the “Get Started” tab on the *Grants.gov* site and carefully read and follow the steps listed. These steps need to be initiated early in the application process to avoid delays in submitting your application online. Step three, Registering with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), will take some time to complete. Keep that in mind when beginning the application process. In order to register with the CCR, your organization will need a DUNS number. A DUNS number is a unique nine-character identification number provided by the commercial company, Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). To investigate if your organization already has a DUNS number or to obtain a DUNS number, contact Dun & Bradstreet at 1-866-705-5711. Be sure to complete the Marketing Partner ID
(MPID)and Electronic Business Primary Point of Contact fields during the CCR registration process. These are mandatory fields that are required when submitting grant applications through *Grants.gov* . Information about registering with CCR was published in a Notice in the **Federal Register** entitled “HHS Managing Partner *Grants.gov* E-Government Initiative” on January 17, 2006, (71 FR 2549) by the Federal Reserve System. Additional application instructions for submitting an electronic application can be found by selecting this funding opportunity on *Grants.gov* . The deadline for receipt of an application is 4 p.m. local time May 5, 2008. The application deadline date and time are firm and apply to submission of the original application to the Rural Development State Office where the applicant is located. The Agency will not consider any application received after the deadline. A listing of Rural Development State Offices, their addresses, telephone numbers, and person to contact is provided elsewhere in this Notice. Applicants intending to mail applications must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United States Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX), electronic mail or postage due applications will not be accepted. D. Funding Restrictions Meeting expenses. In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 1345, “Expenses of Meetings,” appropriations may not be used for travel, transportation, and subsistence expenses for a meeting. RCDI grant funds cannot be used for these meeting-related expenses. Matching funds may be used to pay for these expenses. RCDI funds may be used to pay for a speaker as part of a program, equipment to facilitate the program, and the actual room that will house the meeting. RCDI funds can be used for travel, transportation, or subsistence expenses for training and technical assistance purposes. Any meeting or training not delineated in the application must be approved by the Agency to verify compliance with 31 U.S.C. 1345. Travel and per diem expenses will be similar to those paid to Agency employees. Rates are based upon location. Rate information can be obtained from the applicable State Office. Grantees and recipients will be restricted to traveling coach class on common carrier airlines. Grantees and recipients may exceed the Government rate for lodging by a maximum of 20 percent. Meals and incidental expenses will be reimbursed at the same rate used by Agency employees. Mileage and gas reimbursement will be the same rate used by Agency employees. The current mileage and gas reimbursement rate is 48.5 cents per mile. Part V—Application Review Information A. Evaluation Criteria *Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria and weights:* 1. *Building Capacity* —Maximum 60 Points. The applicant must demonstrate how they will improve the recipients' capacity, through a program of financial and technical assistance, as it relates to the RCDI purposes. Capacity-building financial and technical assistance should provide new functions to the recipients or expand existing functions that will enable the recipients to undertake projects in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and economic development that will benefit the community. The program of financial and technical assistance provided, its delivery, and the measurability of the program's effectiveness will determine the merit of the application. All applications will be competitively ranked with the applications providing the most improvement in capacity development and measurable activities being ranked the highest. Capacity-building financial and technical assistance may include, but is not limited to: Training to conduct community development programs, *e.g.* , homeownership education, or the establishment of minority business entrepreneurs, cooperatives, or micro-enterprises; organizational development, *e.g.* , assistance to develop or improve board operations, management, and financial systems; instruction on how to develop and implement a strategic plan; instruction on how to access alternative funding sources to increase leveraging opportunities; staffing, *e.g.* , hiring a person at intermediary or recipient level to provide technical assistance to recipients; and purchasing technology equipment at the recipient level, *e.g.* , computers, printers, and software. *a. The narrative response must:* 1. Describe the nature of financial and technical assistance to be provided to the recipients and the activities that will be conducted to deliver the technical assistance; 2. Explain how financial and technical assistance will develop or increase the recipient's capacity. Indicate whether a new function is being developed or if existing functions are being expanded or performed more effectively; 3. Identify which RCDI purpose areas will be addressed with this assistance: Housing, community facilities, or community and economic development; and 4. Describe how the results of the technical assistance will be measured. What benchmarks will be used to measure effectiveness? b. *The maximum 60 points for this criterion will be broken down as follows:* 1. Type of financial and technical assistance and implementation activities. 35 points. 2. An explanation of how financial and technical assistance will develop capacity. 10 points. 3. Identification of the RCDI purpose. 5 points. 4. Measurement of outcomes. 10 points. 2. *Expertise* —Maximum 30 Points. The applicant must demonstrate that it has conducted programs of financial and technical assistance and achieved measurable results in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and economic development in rural areas. Provide the name, contact information, and the type and amount of the financial and technical assistance the applicant organization has provided to the following for the last 5 years: a. Nonprofit organizations in rural areas. b. Low-income communities in rural areas, (also include the type of entity, *e.g.* , city government, town council, or village board). c. Federally recognized tribes or any other culturally diverse organizations. 3. *Population* —Maximum 30 Points. Population is based on the average population from the 2000 census data for the communities in which the recipients are located. Community is defined for scoring purposes as a city, town, village, county, parish, borough, or census-designated place where the recipient's office is physically located. The applicant must submit the census data from the following Web site to verify the population figures used for each recipient. The data can be accessed on the Internet at *http://www.census.gov;* click on “American FactFinder” from the left menu; click on “Fact Sheet” from the left menu; at the right, fill in one or more fields and click “Go”; the name and population data for each recipient location must be listed in this section. The average population of the recipient locations will be used and will be scored as follows: Population Scoring (points) 5,000 or less 30 5,001 to 10,000 20 10,001 to 20,000 10 20,001 to 50,000 5 4. *Income* —Maximum 30 Points. The average of the median household income for the communities where the recipients are physically located will determine the points awarded. Applicants may compare the average recipient median household income to the State median household income or the national median household income, whichever yields the most points. The national median household income to be used is $41,994. The applicant must submit the income data from the following Web site to verify the income for each recipient. The data being used is from the 2000 census. The data can be accessed on the Internet at *http://www.census.gov;* click on “American FactFinder” from the left menu; click on “Fact Sheet” from the left menu; at the right, fill in one or more fields and click “Go”; the name and income data for each recipient location must be listed in this section. Points will be awarded as follows: Average Recipient Median Income Is Less than 60 percent of the state or national median household income. 30 points. Between 60 and 70 percent of the state or national median household income. 20 points. Greater than 70 percent of the state or national median household income. 10 points. 5. *Soundness of Approach* —Maximum 50 Points. The applicant can receive up to 50 points for soundness of approach. The overall proposal will be considered under this criterion. Applicants must list the page numbers in the application that address these factors. a. The ability to provide the proposed financial and technical assistance based on prior accomplishments has been demonstrated. b. The proposed financial and technical assistance program is clearly stated and the applicant has defined how this proposal will be implemented. The plan for implementation is viable. c. Cost effectiveness will be evaluated based on the budget in the application. The proposed grant amount and matching funds should be utilized to maximize capacity building at the recipient level. d. The proposal fits the objectives for which applications were invited. 6. *Technical Assistance for the Development of Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements* —20 Points. The applicant must demonstrate how they will improve the recipients' capacity to carry out activities related to the development of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements for housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. 7. State Director's Points Based on Project Merit—20 Points. An additional 20 points may be awarded by the Rural Development State Director for the state's first priority project. Only one project per state will be awarded these points. Points may be awarded based on the Rural Development State Office's strategic plan. Assignment of points will include a written justification. 8. Proportional Distribution Points—20 Points. This criteria does not have to be addressed by the applicant. After applications have been evaluated and awarded points under the first 7 criteria, the Agency may award 20 points per application to promote an even distribution of grant awards between the ranges of $50,000.00 to $300,000.00. Proportional distribution may also include applicants in states that have not had a nonprofit organization as a recipient in the previous two years. B. Review and Selection Process Rating and ranking. Applications will be rated and ranked on a national basis by a review panel based on the “Evaluation Criteria” contained in this Notice. If there is a tied score after the applications have been rated and ranked, the tie will be resolved by reviewing the scores for “Building Capacity” and the applicant with the highest score in that category will receive a higher ranking. If the scores for “Building Capacity” are the same, the scores will be compared for the next criterion, in sequential order, until one highest score can be determined. Initial screening. The Agency will screen each application to determine eligibility during the period immediately following the application deadline. Listed below are many of the reasons for rejection from previous funding rounds to help the applicant prepare a better application. The following reasons for rejection are not all inclusive; however, they represent the majority of the applications previously rejected. 1. Recipients were not located in eligible rural areas based on the definition in this Notice. 2. Applicants failed to provide evidence of recipient's status, i.e., documentation supporting nonprofit evidence of organization. 3. Applicants failed to provide evidence of committed matching funds. 4. Application did not follow the RCDI structure with an intermediary and recipients. 5. Recipients were not identified in the application. 6. Intermediary did not provide evidence it had been incorporated for at least 3 years as the applicant entity. 7. Applicants failed to address the “Evaluation Criteria.” 8. The purpose of the proposal did not qualify as an eligible RCDI purpose. 9. Inappropriate use of funds ( *e.g.,* construction or renovations). 10. Providing financial and technical assistance directly to individuals. Part VI—Award Administration Information A. General Information Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the awarding official of the Agency shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged meritorious under the procedures set forth in this Notice. B. Award Notice Applicant will be notified of selection by letter. In addition, applicant will be requested to verify that components of the application have not changed. The award is not approved until all information has been verified, and the awarding official of the Agency has signed Form RD 1940-1, “Request for Obligation of Funds.” C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements *Grantees will be required to do the following:* 1. Execute a Rural Community Development Initiative Grant Agreement, which is published at the end of this Notice. 2. *Execute Form RD 1940-1,* “Request for Obligation of Funds.” 3. *Use Form SF 270,* “Request for Advance or Reimbursement,” to request reimbursements. Provide receipts for expenditures, timesheets and any other documentation to support the request for reimbursement. 4. Provide financial status and project performance reports on a quarterly basis starting with the first full quarter after the grant award. 5. Maintain a financial management system that is acceptable to the Agency. 6. Ensure that records are maintained to document all activities and expenditures utilizing RCDI grant funds and matching funds. Receipts for expenditures will be included in this documentation. 7. Provide annual audits or management reports on Form RD 442-2, “Statement of Budget, Income and Equity,” and Form RD 442-3, “Balance Sheet,” depending on the amount of Federal funds expended and the outstanding balance. 8. Collect and maintain data provided by recipients on race, sex, and national origin and ensure recipients collect and maintain the same data on beneficiaries. Race and ethnicity data will be collected in accordance with OMB **Federal Register** notice, “Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity,” (62 FR 58782), October 30, 1997. Sex data will be collected in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These items should not be submitted with the application but should be available upon request by the Agency. 9. Provide a final project performance report. 10. Identify and report any association or relationship with Rural Development employees on a format provided by the Agency. 11. The intermediary and recipient must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Executive Order 12250. 12. The grantee must comply with policies, guidance, and requirements as described in the following applicable OMB Circulars and Code of Federal Regulations: a. OMB Circular A-87 (Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Government); b. OMB Circular A-122 (Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations); c. OMB Circular A-133 (Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations); d. 7 CFR part 3015 (Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations); e. 7 CFR part 3016 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments); f. 7 CFR part 3017 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)); g. 7 CFR part 3019 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-profit Organizations); and h. 7 CFR part 3052 (Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations). D. Reporting Reporting requirements can be found in the Grant Agreement included in this Notice. Part VII—Agency Contact Contact the Rural Development office in the state where the applicant is located. A list of Rural Development offices is included in this Notice. Part VIII—Nondiscrimination Statement The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA)prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at
(202)720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call
(800)795-3272 (voice) or
(202)720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Grant Amount Determination In the event the applicant is awarded a grant that is less than the amount requested, the applicant will be required to modify its application to conform to the reduced amount before execution of the grant agreement. The Agency reserves the right to reduce or withdraw the award if acceptable modifications are not submitted by the awardee within 15 working days from the date the request for modification is made. Any modifications must be within the scope of the original application. Rural Development State Office Contacts Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free. Alabama State Office, Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683,
(334)279-3400, TDD
(334)279-3495, Chris Harmon. Alaska State Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645,
(907)761-7705, TDD
(907)761-8905, Merlaine Kruse. Arizona State Office, 230 North 1st Avenue, Suite 206, Phoenix, AZ 85003,
(602)280-8747, TDD
(602)280-8705, Leonard Gradillas. Arkansas State Office, 700 W. Capitol Ave., Rm. 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225,
(501)301-3250, TDD
(501)301-3200, Jerry Virden. California State Office, 430 G Street, Agency 4169, Davis, CA 95616-4169,
(530)792-5810, TDD
(530)792-5848, Janice Waddell. Colorado State Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room E-100, Lakewood, CO 80215, 720-544-2927, TDD 720-544-2976, Delores Sanchez-Maez. Connecticut, Served by Massachusetts State Office. Delaware and Maryland State Office, 1221 College Park Dr., Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904-8713,
(302)857-3580, TDD
(302)697-4303, James E. Waters. Florida & Virgin Islands State Office, 4440 NW. 25th Place, P.O. Box 147010, Gainesville, FL 32614-7010,
(352)338-3485, TDD
(352)338-3499, Michael Langston. Georgia State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2768,
(706)546-2171, TDD
(706)546-2034, Jerry M. Thomas. Guam, Served by Hawaii State Office. Hawaii, Guam, & Western Pacific Territories State Office, Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720,
(808)933-8310, TDD
(808)933-8321, Ted Matsuo. Idaho State Office, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Suite A1, Boise, ID 83709,
(208)378-5617, TDD
(208)378-5600, Daniel H. Fraser. Illinois State Office, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A, Champaign, IL 61821,
(217)403-6211, TDD
(217)403-6240, Patrick Lydic. Indiana State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278-1996,
(317)290-3100 (ext. 431), TDD
(317)290-3343, Gregg Delp. Iowa State Office, 873 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309,
(515)284-4663, TDD
(515)284-4858, Karla Peiffer. Kansas State Office, 1303 SW. First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040,
(785)271-2730, TDD
(785)271-2767, Gary L. Smith. Kentucky State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503,
(859)224-7336, TDD
(859)224-7300, Vernon Brown. Louisiana State Office, 3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302,
(318)473-7962, TDD
(318)473-7920, Richard Hoffpauir. Maine State Office, 967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4, P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405,
(207)990-9124, TDD
(207)942-7331, Ron Lambert. Maryland, Served by Delaware State Office. Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office, 451 West Street, Suite 2, Amherst, MA 01002-2999,
(413)253-4300, TDD
(413)253-7068, Daniel R. Beaudette. Michigan State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823,
(517)324-5208, TDD
(517)337-6795, Frank J. Tuma. Minnesota State Office, 410 Farm Credit Service Building, 375 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-1853,
(651)602-7800, TDD
(651)602-3799. William Slininger. Mississippi State Office, Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269,
(601)965-4316, TDD
(601)965-5850. Bettye Oliver. Missouri State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203,
(573)876-0976, TDD
(573)876-9480. Clark Thomas. Montana State Office, 900 Technology Blvd., Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59771,
(406)585-2530, TDD
(406)585-2562. John Guthmiller. Nebraska State Office, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508,
(402)437-5559, TDD
(402)437-5551. Denise Brosius-Meeks. Nevada State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703-9910,
(775)887-1222 (ext. 19), TDD
(775)885-0633. Kay Vernatter. New Hampshire Served by Vermont State Office. New Jersey State Office, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th Floor North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054,
(856)787-7750. Kenneth Drewes. New Mexico State Office, 6200 Jefferson St. NE., Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109,
(505)761-4950, TDD
(505)761-4938. Martha Torrez. New York State Office, The Galleries of Syracuse, 441 S. Salina Street, Suite 357, Syracuse, NY 13202-2541,
(315)477-6400, TDD
(315)477-6447. Gail Giannotta. North Carolina State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 27609,
(919)873-2000, TDD
(919)873-2003. Roger Davis. North Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser Ave., P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737,
(701)530-2037, TDD
(701)530-2113. Dale VanEchout. Ohio State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2418,
(614)255-2400, TDD
(614)255-2554. David M. Douglas. Oklahoma State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654,
(405)742-1000, TDD
(405)742-1007. Michael W. Schrammel. Oregon State Office, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 801, Portland, OR 97232,
(503)414-3300, TDD
(503)414-3387. John J. Brugger. Pennsylvania State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996,
(717)237-2299, TDD
(717)237-2261. Gary Rothrock. Puerto Rico State Office, IBM Building—Suite 601, 654 Munos Rivera Avenue, San Juan, PR 00918-6106,
(787)766-5095, TDD
(787)766-5332. Ramon Melendez. Rhode Island Served by Massachusetts State Office. South Carolina State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201,
(803)253-3656, TDD
(803)765-5697. Ken King. South Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350,
(605)352-1100, TDD
(605)352-1147. Doug Roehl. Tennessee State Office, Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203-1084,
(615)783-1300, TDD
(615)783-1397. Keith Head. Texas State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501,
(254)742-9700, TDD
(254)742-9712. Francesco Valentin. Utah State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, P.O. Box 11350, Salt Lake City, UT 84138,
(801)524-4326, TDD
(801)524-3309. Bonnie Carrig. Vermont State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602,
(802)828-6030, TDD
(802)223-6365. Rhonda Shippee. Virgin Islands Served by Florida State Office. Virginia State Office, Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229,
(804)287-1550, TDD
(804)287-1753. Carrie Schmidt. Washington State Office, 1835 Black Lake Boulevard, SW., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98501-5715,
(360)740-7738. Gayle Hoskison. Western Pacific Territories Served by Hawaii State Office. West Virginia State Office, Federal Building, 75 High Street, Room 320, Morgantown, WV 26505-7500,
(304)284-4860, TDD
(304)284-4836. Dianne Crysler. Wisconsin State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481,
(715)345-7614, TDD
(715)345-7610, Mark Brodziski. Wyoming State Office, Federal Building, Room 1005, 100 East B Street, P.O. Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602-5006,
(307)261-6300, TDD
(307)261-6333, Alana Cannon. Dated: January 25, 2008. Russell T. Davis, Administrator, Rural Housing Service. United States Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service Rural Community Development Initiative Grant Agreement *This grant agreement* (Agreement), effective the date the Agency official signs the document, is a contract for receipt of grant funds under the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI). *Between* __________ a private or public or tribal organization, (Grantee or Intermediary) and the United States of America acting through the Rural Housing Service, Department of Agriculture, (Agency or Grantor), for the benefit of recipients listed in Grantee's application for the grant. *Witnesseth:* The principal amount of the grant is $____ (Grant Funds). Matching funds, in an amount equal to the grant funds, will be provided by Grantee. The Grantee and Grantor will execute Form RD 1940-1, “Request for Obligation of Funds.” *Whereas,* Grantee will provide a program of financial and technical assistance to develop the capacity and ability of nonprofit organizations, low-income rural communities, or federally recognized tribes to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development in rural areas; According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0575-0180. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. *Now, therefore,* in consideration of the grant; *Grantee agrees that Grantee will:* A. Provide a program of financial and technical assistance in accordance with the proposal outlined in the application, (see Attachment A), the terms of which are incorporated with this Agreement and must be adhered to. Any changes to the approved program of financial and technical assistance must be approved in writing by the Grantor; B. Use Grant Funds only for the purposes and activities specified in the application package approved by the Agency including the approved budget. Any uses not provided for in the approved budget must be approved in writing by the Agency in advance; C. Charge expenses for travel and per diem that will not exceed the rates paid Agency employees for similar expenses. Grantees and recipients will be restricted to traveling coach class on common carrier airlines. Lodging rates may exceed the Government rate by a maximum of 20 percent. Meals and incidental expenses will be reimbursed at the same rate used by Agency employees, which is based upon location. Mileage and gas will be reimbursed at the existing Government rate. Rates can be obtained from the applicable State Office; D. Charge meeting expenses in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 1345. Grant funds may not be used for travel, transportation, and subsistence expenses for a meeting. Matching funds may be used to pay these expenses. Any meeting or training not delineated in the application must be approved by the Agency to verify compliance with 31 U.S.C. 1345; E. Request for advances or reimbursement for grant activities. If payment is to be made by advance, the Grantee shall request advance payment, but not more frequently than once every 30 days, of grant funds by using Standard Form 270, “Request for Advance or Reimbursement.” Receipts, invoices, hourly wage rate, personnel payroll records, or other documentation must be provided by intermediary upon request from the Agency. This information must be maintained in the intermediary's files. If payment is to be made by reimbursement, the Grantee shall request reimbursement of grant funds, but not more frequently than once every 30 days, by using Standard Form 270, “Request for Advance or Reimbursement.” Receipts, invoices, hourly wage rate, personnel payroll records, or other documentation, as determined by the Agency, must be provided by the intermediary upon request to justify the amount. This information must be maintained in the intermediary's files. All requests for advances or reimbursements must include matching fund usage. Matching funds must be at least equal to the grant amount requested. F. Provide periodic reports as required by the Grantor. A financial status report and a project performance report will be required on a quarterly basis (due 30 working days after each calendar quarter). The financial status report must show how grant funds and matching funds have been used to date. A final report may serve as the last quarterly report. Grantees shall constantly monitor performance to ensure that time schedules are being met and projected goals by time periods are being accomplished. The project performance reports shall include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Describe the activities that the funds reflected in the financial status report were used for; 2. A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives for that period; 3. Reasons why established objectives were not met, if applicable; 4. Problems, delays, or adverse conditions which will affect attainment of overall program objectives, prevent meeting time schedules or objectives, or preclude the attainment of particular objectives during established time periods. This disclosure shall be accomplished by a statement of the action taken or planned to resolve the situation; 5. Objectives and timetables established for the next reporting period; 6. A summary of the race, sex, and national origin of the recipients and a summary from the recipients of the race, sex, and national origin of the beneficiaries; and 7. The final report will also address the following: a. What have been the most challenging or unexpected aspects of this program? b. What advice would you give to other organizations planning a similar program? Please include strengths and limitations of the program. If you had the opportunity, what would you have done differently? c. Are there any post-grant plans for this project? If yes, how will they be financed? G. Consider potential recipients without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability; H. Ensure that any services or training offered by the recipient, as a result of the financial and technical assistance received, must be made available to all persons in the recipient's service area without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability, genetic information (not all protected bases apply to all programs) at reasonable rates, including assessments, taxes, or fees. Programs and activities must be delivered from accessible locations. The recipient must ensure that, where there are non-English speaking populations, materials are provided in the language that is spoken; I. Ensure recipients are required to place nondiscrimination statements in advertisements, notices, pamphlets and brochures making the public aware of their services. The Grantee and recipient are required to provide widespread outreach and public notification in promoting any type of training or services that are available through grant funds; J. The Grantee must collect and maintain data on recipients by race, sex, and national origin. The grantee must ensure that their recipients also collect and maintain data on beneficiaries by race, sex, and national origin as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and must be provided to the Agency for compliance review purposes. USDA Rural Development will complete a pre-award and a post award compliance review. The pre-award will be before grant approval or disbursement of funds. A post award review will be conducted 90 days after the project is in full operation and before all grant funds have been disbursed; K. Upon any default under its representations or agreements contained in this instrument, Grantee, at the option and demand of Grantor, will immediately repay to Grantor any legally permitted damages together with any legally permitted interest from the date of the default. At Grantor's election, any default by the Grantee will constitute termination of the grant thereby causing cancellation of Federal assistance under the grant. The provisions of this Agreement may be enforced by Grantor, without regard to prior waivers of this Agreement, by proceedings in law or equity, in either Federal or State courts as may be deemed necessary by Grantor to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and the laws and regulations under which this grant is made; L. Provide Financial Management Systems that will include: 1. Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each grant. Financial reporting will be on an accrual basis; 2. Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for grant-supported activities. Those records shall contain information pertaining to grant awards and authorizations, obligations, unobligated balances, assets, liabilities, outlays, and income related to Grant Funds and matching funds; 3. Effective control over and accountability for all funds, property, and other assets. Grantees shall adequately safeguard all such assets and shall ensure that they are used solely for authorized purposes; 4. Accounting records supported by source documentation; and 5. Grantee tracking of fund usage and records that show matching funds and grant funds are used in equal proportions. The grantee will provide verifiable documentation regarding matching fund usage, i.e., bank statements or copies of funding obligations from the matching source. M. Retain financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to the grant for a period of at least three years after grant closing except that the records shall be retained beyond the 3-year period if audit findings have not been resolved. Microfilm or photocopies or similar methods may be substituted in lieu of original records. The Grantor and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall have access to any books, documents, papers, and records of the Grantee's which are pertinent to the specific grant program for the purpose of making audits, examinations, excerpts, and transcripts; N. Provide an A-133 audit report if $500,000 or more of Federal funds are expended in a 1-year period. If Federal funds expended during a 1-year period are less than $500,000 and there is an outstanding loan balance of $500,000 or more, an audit in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards is required. If Federal funds expended during a 1-year period are less than $500,000 including any outstanding loan balance in which the Federal government imposes continuing compliance requirements, a management report may be submitted on Forms RD 442-2, “Statement of Budget, Income and Equity,” and 442-3, “Balance Sheet”; O. Not encumber, transfer, or dispose of the equipment or any part thereof, acquired wholly or in part with Grantor funds without the written consent of the Grantor; and P. Not duplicate other program activities for which monies have been received, are committed, or are applied to from other sources (public or private). *Grantor agrees that:* A. It will make available to Grantee for the purpose of this Agreement funds in an amount not to exceed the Grant Funds. The funds will be disbursed to Grantee on a pro rata basis with the Grantee's matching funds; and B. At its sole discretion and at any time may give any consent, deferment, subordination, release, satisfaction, or termination of any or all of Grantee's grant obligations, with or without valuable consideration, upon such terms and conditions as Grantor may determine to be: 1. Advisable to further the purpose of the grant or to protect Grantor's financial interest therein; and 2. Consistent with both the statutory purposes of the grant and the limitations of the statutory authority under which it is made. *Both Parties Agree:* A. Extensions of this grant agreement may be approved by the Agency, in writing, provided in the Agency's sole discretion the extension is justified and there is a likelihood that the grantee can accomplish the goals set out and approved in the application package during the extension period; B. The Grantor must approve any changes in recipient or recipient composition; C. The Grantor has agreed to give the Grantee the Grant Funds, subject to the terms and conditions established by the Grantor: *Provided,* *however,* That any Grant Funds actually disbursed and not needed for grant purposes be returned immediately to the Grantor. This agreement shall terminate 3 years from this date unless extended or unless terminated beforehand due to default on the part of the Grantee or for convenience of the Grantor and Grantee. The Grantor may terminate the grant in whole, or in part, at any time before the date of completion, whenever it is determined that the Grantee has failed to comply with the conditions of this Agreement or the applicable regulations; Termination for convenience will occur when both the Grantee and Grantor agree that the continuation of the program will not produce beneficial results commensurate with the further expenditure of funds. D. As a condition of the Agreement, the Grantee certifies that it is in compliance with, and will comply in the course of the Agreement with, all applicable laws, regulations, Executive Orders, and other generally applicable requirements, which are incorporated into this agreement by reference, and such other statutory provisions as are specifically contained herein. E. The Grantee will ensure that the recipients comply with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Executive Order 12250. Each recipient must sign Form RD 400-4, “Assurance Agreement”; F. The provisions of 7 CFR part 3015, “Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations,” part 3016, “Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments,” or part 3019, “Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations,” and the fiscal year 2008 “Notice of Funds Availability
(NOFA)Inviting Applications for the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)” are incorporated herein and made a part hereof by reference; *In witness whereof,* Grantee has this day authorized and caused this Agreement to be executed by Attest By (Grantee) (Title) Date UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RURAL HOUSING SERVICE By (Grantor)
(Name)(Title) Date ATTACHMENT A [Application proposal submitted by grantee.] [FR Doc. E8-2025 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Housing Service Request for Proposals: The National Emergency or Disaster Grants To Assist Low-Income Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers *Announcement Type:* Initial Notice of Funds Available
(NOFA)inviting proposals from qualified applicants. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): 10.405 SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service
(RHS)announces the availability of funds and the timeframe to submit applications for grants to provide emergency services to areas where the Secretary of Agriculture determines that a local, state, or national emergency or disaster has caused low-income migrant or seasonal farmworkers to lose income, be unable to work, or to stay at home or return home in anticipation of work shortages. For purposes of this NOFA, emergency services include any service that can be provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93-288), as amended (Stafford Act), that also meets the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 5177a. For instance the Stafford Act and 41 U.S.C. 5177a would permit the following services: • Activities to support state and local emergency assistance; • Coordination of disaster relief provided by federal and non-federal organizations; • Technical and advisory assistance to state and local governments; • Emergency assistance through federal agencies; • Debris removal through grants to state and local governments; • Grants to individuals and households for temporary housing and uninsured personal needs; and • Distribution of medicine, food and consumables. Additionally, for this NOFA, the types of services could include, but are not limited to, assistance in meeting rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, child care, transportation, school supplies, food, repair or rehabilitation of farmworker housing, facilities related to farmworker housing such as an infirmary for emergency care of a child care facility, and the rehabilitation of existing farmworker housing units. Please go to *http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/disasters* to determine if your area has been identified by the Secretary of Agriculture as a national emergency or disaster area or contact your local Rural Development office. DATES: The deadline for receipt of all applications in response to this NOFA is 5 p.m., Eastern Time, on April 4, 2008. The application closing deadline is firm as to date and hour. The Agency will not consider any application that is received after the closing deadline. Applicants intending to mail applications must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the closing deadline. Acceptance by a post office or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX), and postage due applications will not be accepted. ADDRESSES: Applications should be submitted to USDA Rural Housing Service; Attention: Henry Searcy, Jr., Senior Loan Specialist, Multi-Family Housing Processing Division STOP 0781 (Room 1263-S), or Bonnie Edwards-Jackson, Senior Loan Specialist, Multi-Family Housing Processing Division, STOP 0781 (Room 1239-S), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0781. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henry Searcy by telephone at
(202)720-1753 or Bonnie Edwards-Jackson at
(202)690-0759 or via e-mail at *Henry.Searcy@wdc.usda.gov* or *Bonnie.Edwards@wdc.usda.gov.* (Please note the phone numbers are not toll-free numbers.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Paperwork Reduction Act The reporting requirements contained in this notice have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control Number 0575-0045. Overview Public Law 110-28 appropriated $16,000,000 to provide emergency grants to assist low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers to carryout section 2281 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 5177a). Section 2281 of the above act allows the Secretary of Agriculture to provide emergency grants to assist low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Program Administration I. Funding Opportunities Description This NOFA requests applications for the purpose of providing emergency services to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Eligibility for grants for emergency services is limited to public agencies or private organizations with tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 United States Code that have experience in providing emergency services to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers. These funds are to be administered in areas where the Secretary of Agriculture determines that a local, state, or national emergency or disaster has occurred. This NOFA will fund service providers to administer all services permitted under the Stafford Act and 42 U.S.C. 5177a. These services could include, but are not limited to, providing assistance in meeting rent or mortgage payments, paying utility bills, child care, transportation, school supplies or food; repair or rehabilitation of farmworker housing or facilities related to farmworker housing such as an infirmary for emergency care or a child care facility. The term “low-income migrant or seasonal farmworker” means an individual
(1)who has, during any consecutive 12 month period within the preceding 24 month period, performed farm work for wages,
(2)who has received not less than one-half of such individual's total income, or been employed at least one-half of total work time in farm work,
(3)whose annual family income within the 12 month period referred to in paragraph
(1)does not exceed the higher of the poverty level or 70 percent of the lower living standard income level,
(4)is a person lawfully admitted for permanent residence. The “lower living standard income level” referred to in paragraph
(3)is defined under section 101(24) of the Workforce Investment Act (Pub. L. 105-220). This act is administered by the Department of Labor. Tables designating the “lower living standard income level” are published in the **Federal Register** by Health and Human Services. The most recent publication can be found in the **Federal Register** on June 24, 2007 at 72 FR 15. II. Award Information The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act 2007 Public Law 110-28, made available $16,000,000 to provide emergency services to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers where the Secretary of Agriculture determines that a local, state, or national emergency or disaster has caused low-income migrant or seasonal farmworkers to lose income, be unable to work, or to stay at home or return home in anticipation of work shortages. III. Eligibility Information The applicant must:
(1)Be eligible to receive a grant for the above assistance the applicant must be a broad-based nonprofit organization (which may include faith-based organizations), a nonprofit organization of farmworkers, a community organization, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or an agency or political subdivision of a State or local government, or a public agency (such as a housing authority).
(2)Be unable to provide the necessary services from its own resources.
(3)Possess the legal and actual capacity, ability, and experience to incur and carry out the undertakings and obligations incurred.
(4)Legally obligate itself not to divert income to any other business, enterprise, or purpose.
(5)Have experience in providing emergency services to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
(6)Be either a public agency or private organization with tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 United States Code.
(7)Not be debarred or suspended. IV. Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Requirements
(1)In accordance with the Fair Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Executive Order 12898, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, neither the Grantor nor the Agency will discriminate against any employee, proposed intermediary or proposed ultimate recipient on the basis of sex, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (provided the proposed intermediary or proposed ultimate recipient has the capacity to contract), because all or part of the proposed intermediary's or proposed ultimate recipient's income is derived from public assistance of any kind, or because the proposed intermediary or proposed ultimate recipient has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, with respect to any aspect of a credit transaction anytime Agency loan funds are involved.
(2)The policies and regulations contained in 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E apply to this program.
(3)The Rural Housing Service Administrator will assure that equal opportunity and nondiscrimination requirements are met in accordance with the Fair Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Executive Order 12898, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
(4)All housing must meet the accessibility requirements found at 7 CFR 3560.60(d). V. Application and Submission Information The application process will be the submission of an application. In the event that a proposal is selected for further processing and the applicant declines, the next highest ranked unfunded application may be selected. At the time of final grant approval, the Agency and grant recipients shall enter into an Agency approved grant agreement. Application Requirements The application must contain the following: Experience of applicant providing emergency services. Greater than 10 years experience providing emergency services (15 points). Between 6 years and 10 years experience providing emergency services (10 points). Less than 5 years
(1)A summary page listing the following items. This information should be double-spaced between items and not be in narrative form.
(a)Applicant's name.
(b)Applicant's Taxpayer Identification Number.
(c)Applicant's address.
(d)Applicant's telephone number.
(e)Name of applicant's contact person, telephone number, and address.
(f)Amount of grant requested.
(g)The applicant's Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS)number. As required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), all non-individual grant applicants must provide a DUNS number when applying for Federal grants, on or after October 1, 2003. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1-866-705-5711. Additional information concerning this requirement is provided in a policy directive issued by OMB and published in the **Federal Register** on June 27, 2003 (68 FR 38402-38405).
(2)A narrative describing the applicant's ability to meet the eligibility requirements stated in this NOFA.
(3)A detailed Statement of Work.
(4)A current, dated, financial statement signed by a certified public accountant showing the applicant's assets and liabilities with information on the repayment schedule and status of all debts.
(5)An organizational plan that includes a staffing chart complete with employee names, job titles, salaries, hours, timelines, and duties to achieve the objective of the grant program.
(6)A detailed budget plan projecting the applicant's monthly and annual income and expenses the grantee will incur. Costs will be limited to those that are allowed under 7 CFR part 3015, and 7 CFR part 3016 or 3019 as applicable.
(7)A narrative describing the applicant's knowledge, demonstrated ability and practical experience in delivering direct emergency assistance to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers. In addition, to ensure the funds are equitably distributed, and that there is no duplication of efforts, applicants must clearly identify the geographic area that they intend to serve and provide documentation that they have the experience and ability to service those areas. VI. Application Review Information All applications will be evaluated by a grant committee. The grant committee will make recommendations to the Agency Administrator concerning eligibility determinations and the selection of applications based on the selection criteria contained in this NOFA and the availability of funds. The Administrator will inform applicants of the status of their application within 30 days of the closing date of the NOFA. Applications for grants to provide emergency services to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers will be evaluated by the types of assistance to be provided. Because the types of assistance may differ depending on the geographic area the committee will recommend to the Administrator three Technical Assistance
(TA)providers. Each TA provider would be responsible for a region (western, central and eastern region). Selection Criteria Applications to provide emergency services to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers will be scored on the following basis:
(1)The number of low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers to be assisted by the proposal. Greater than 100 farmworkers—not counting non-farmworker family members (25 points). Between 50 and 100 farmworkers—not counting non-farmworker family members (15 points). Less than 50 farmworkers but more than 25—not counting non-farmworker family members (5 points).
(2)Economic and social benefits to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families from the services to be provided. Providing rental and mortgage assistance (10 points). Providing other authorized services (10 points). VII. Appeal Process All adverse determinations regarding applicant eligibility and the awarding of points as part of the selection process are appealable. Instructions on the appeal process will be provided at the time an applicant is notified of the adverse action. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call
(800)795-3272 (voice) or
(202)720-6382 (TDD). Dated: January 24, 2008. Russell T. Davis, Administrator, Rural Housing Service. [FR Doc. E8-1951 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Housing Service Notice for Request for Proposals for Guaranteed Loans Under the Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) for Fiscal Year 2008 AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This is a request for proposals for guaranteed loans under the section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) pursuant to 7 CFR 3565.4 for Fiscal Year
(FY)2008 subject to the availability of funding. FY 2008 funding for the section 538 program is $129,090,000. Applicants will submit proposals in the form of “RESPONSES.” The commitment of program dollars will be made to applicants of selected responses that have fulfilled the necessary requirements for obligation. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant's risk. The following paragraphs outline the timeframes, eligibility requirements, lender responsibilities, and the overall response and application processes. The GRRHP operates under 7 CFR part 3565. The GRRHP Origination and Servicing Handbook (HB-1-3565) is available to provide lenders and the general public with guidance on program administration. HB-1-3565, which contains a copy of 7 CFR part 3565 in Appendix 1, can be found at the Agency's Instructions Web site address *http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/hblist.html#hbw6* . Eligible lenders are invited to submit responses for the new construction of affordable rural rental housing, the acquisition with rehabilitation of affordable rural rental housing, the revitalization, repair, and transfer (as stipulated in 7 CFR 3560.406) of existing direct section 515 housing (transfer costs are subject to Agency approval and must be an eligible use of loan proceeds as listed in 7 CFR 3565.205), and properties involved in the Agency's multi-family preservation and revitalization program (MPR). Equity payments, as stipulated in 7 CFR 3560.406, in connection with the transfer of existing direct section 515 housing, are an eligible use of loan proceeds. In order to be considered, direct section 515 housing and MPR projects must need repairs and undergo revitalization of a minimum of $6,500 per unit. The Agency will review responses submitted by eligible lenders, on the lender's letterhead, and signed by both the prospective borrower and lender. Although a complete application is not required in response to this Notice of request for proposals, eligible lenders may submit a complete application concurrently with the response. However, submitting a complete application will not have an effect on the respondent's score. DATES: As long as funds remain available, eligible responses to this notice will be accepted and eligible requests will be obligated per this guidance until September 26, 2008, 12 P.M. Eastern Time. Complete applications that are received by the Agency prior to April 25, 2008 will be given priority ranking and scoring. A notice will be placed in the **Federal Register** if all FY 2008 funds are committed prior to September 26, 2008. Selected responses that develop into complete applications and meet all Federal environmental requirements will receive commitments to the extent an appropriation act provides funding for GRRHP for FY 2008 until all funds are expended. The Agency will select the responses that meet eligibility criteria and invite lenders to submit complete applications to the Agency. Those responses that are selected that subsequently submit complete applications that meet all program requirements and are received prior to or on April 25, 2008, but score less than 25 points, or score 25 points or more, but have a development cost ratio equal to or greater than 70 percent, may be selected for obligation after April 25, 2008, with the highest scoring responses receiving priority subject to availability of funds. After April 25, 2008, responses that develop into complete applications that meet all program requirements will be selected for further processing regardless of score, subject to the availability of funding. The USDA Rural Development will prioritize the obligation requests received after April 25, 2008, using the highest score and the procedures outlined as follows. Once a complete application is received and approved by the State Office, an obligation request for 2008 funds will be submitted [via fax] by the State Office to the National Office. Obligation requests submitted to the National Office will be accumulated, but not obligated, throughout the week until the weekly obligation request submission deadline of midnight Eastern Time every Thursday. To the extent that funds remain available, the National Office will obligate the requests accumulated through the weekly request submission deadline of the previous week by the following Tuesday (i.e., requests received from Friday, May 16, 2008, to Thursday, May 22, 2008, will be obligated by Tuesday, May 27, 2008). However, requests received prior to April 25, 2008, that are not eligible for obligation until after April 25, 2008, will be obligated no earlier than Tuesday, April 29, 2008. Funds will be allocated in scoring order, with the highest scoring requests being obligated first, until all funds are exhausted. In the event of a tie, priority will be given to the request for the project that: 1st—has the highest percentage of leveraging (lowest Loan to Cost); 2nd—is in the smaller rural community. Eligible responses to this Notice received before the September 26, 2008, deadline, or before FY 2008 funds are exhausted (whichever occurs first) will be processed to the point of a complete application, and if approved, will be scored in the 2009 funding cycle provided there are no significant program changes. Eligible lenders mailing a response or application must provide sufficient time to permit delivery to the *Submission Address* on or before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by a U.S. Post Office or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Postage due responses and applications will not be accepted. *Submission Address:* Eligible lenders will send responses to the contact person in the State Office where the project will be located. The lender will also send a copy of its response (copies of “Lender Certification” letter and “Project Specific Data” sheets only; do not include any application supporting documentation, i.e., market studies, plans/specs, etc.) to: C.B. Alonso, Senior Loan Specialist, USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program, Multi-Family Housing Processing Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Agriculture Building, Room 1271, STOP 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0781. USDA Rural Development State Offices, their addresses, telephone numbers, and person to contact follows: [this information may also be found at *http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html* ] Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free. Alabama State Office Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683,
(334)279-3455, TDD
(334)279-3495, Vann L. McCloud Alaska State Office 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645,
(907)761-7740, TDD
(907)761-8905, Deborah Davis Arizona State Office Phoenix Courthouse and Federal Building, 230 North First Ave., Suite 206, Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706,
(602)280-8768, TDD
(602)280-8706, Carol Torres Arkansas State Office 700 W. Capitol Ave., Room 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225,
(501)301-3250, TDD
(501)301-3279, Gregory Kemper California State Office 430 G Street, #4169, Davis, CA 95616-4169,
(530)792-5830, TDD
(530)792-5848, Stephen Nnodim Colorado State Office 655 Parfet Street, Room E100, Lakewood, CO 80215,
(720)544-2923, TDD
(800)659-2656, Mary Summerfield Connecticut Served by Massachusetts State Office Delaware and Maryland State Office 1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904,
(302)857-3600, TDD
(302)857-3585, Patricia M. Baker Florida & Virgin Islands State Office 4440 N.W. 25th Place, Gainesville, FL 32606-6563,
(352)338-3465, TDD
(352)338-3499, Elizabeth M. Whitaker Georgia State Office Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2768,
(706)546-2164, TDD
(706)546-2034, Wayne Rogers Hawaii State Office (Services all Hawaii, American Samoa Guam, and Western Pacific), Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720,
(808)933-8305, TDD
(808)541-2600, Don Étés Idaho State Office Suite A1, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Boise, ID 83709,
(208)378-5630, TDD
(208)378-5644, Roni Atkins Illinois State Office 2118 West Park Court, Suite A, Champaign, IL 61821-2986,
(217)403-6222, TDD
(217)403-6240, Barry L. Ramsey Indiana State Office 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278,
(317)290-3100 (ext. 423), TDD
(317)290-3343, Stephen Dye Iowa State Office 210 Walnut Street, Room 873, Des Moines, IA 50309,
(515)284-4666, TDD
(515)284-4858, Julie Sleeper Kansas State Office 1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040,
(785)271-2718, TDD
(785)271-2767, Tim Rogers Kentucky State Office 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503,
(859)224-7325, TDD
(859)224-7422, Paul Higgins Louisiana State Office 3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302,
(318)473-7962, TDD
(318)473-7655, Yvonne R. Emerson Maine State Office 967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4, P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405,
(207)990-9110, TDD
(207)942-7331, Dale D. Holmes Maryland Served by Delaware State Office Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002,
(413)253-4333, TDD
(413)253-4590, Donald Colburn or Paul Geoffroy Michigan State Office 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823,
(517)324-5192, TDD
(517)337-6795, Ghulam R. Sumbal Minnesota State Office 375 Jackson Street Building, Suite 410, St. Paul, MN 55101-1853,
(651)602-7804, TDD
(651)602-7830, Tom Osborne Mississippi State Office Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269,
(601)965-4326, TDD
(601)965-5850, Darnella Smith-Murray Missouri State Office 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203,
(573)876-0990, TDD
(573)876-9480, Anita J. Dunning Montana State Office 900 Technology Blvd. Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59715,
(406)585-2565, TDD
(406)585-2562, Deborah Chorlton Nebraska State Office Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall N, Lincoln, NE 68508,
(402)437-5594, TDD
(402)437-5093, Byron L. Fischer Nevada State Office 1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703-9910,
(775)887-1222 (ext. 25), TDD
(775)885-0633, William Brewer New Hampshire State Office Concord Center, Suite 218, Box 317, 10 Ferry Street, Concord, NH 03301-5004,
(603)223-6046, TDD
(603)229-0536, Robert McCarthy New Jersey State Office 5th Floor North Suite 500, 8000 Midlantic Dr., Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054,
(856)787-7740, TDD
(856)787-7730, George Hyatt, Jr. New Mexico State Office 6200 Jefferson St., NE, Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109,
(505)761-4944, TDD
(505)761-4938, Art Garcia New York State Office The Galleries of Syracuse, 441 S. Salina Street, Suite 357 5th Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202,
(315)477-6419, TDD
(315)477-6447, George N. Von Pless North Carolina State Office 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 27609,
(919)873-2063, TDD
(919)873-2003, William Hobbs North Dakota State Office Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser, PO Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502,
(701)530-2049, TDD
(701)530-2113, Donald L. Warren Ohio State Office Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2477,
(614)255-2418, TDD
(614)255-2554, Melodie Taylor-Ward Oklahoma State Office 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654,
(405)742-1070, TDD
(405)742-1007, Tommy Earls Oregon State Office 101 SW Main, Suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204-3222,
(503)414-3353, TDD
(503)414-3387, Rod Hansen Pennsylvania State Office One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996,
(717)237-2281, TDD
(717)237-2261, Frank Wetherhold Puerto Rico State Office 654 Munoz Rivera Avenue, IBM Plaza, Suite 601, Hato Rey, PR 00918,
(787)766-5095 (ext. 249), TDD
(787)766-5332, Pedro Gomez or Lourdes Colon Rhode Island Served by Massachusetts State Office, South Carolina State Office Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201,
(803)253-3432, TDD
(803)765-5697, Larry D. Floyd South Dakota State Office Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth Street, SW, Huron, SD 57350,
(605)352-1132, TDD
(605)352-1147, Roger Hazuka or Pam Reilly Tennessee State Office Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203-1084,
(615)783-1375, TDD
(615)783-1397, Don Harris Texas State Office Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501,
(254)742-9758, TDD
(254)742-9712, Leon Carey or Michael Canales Utah State Office Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 S. State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0350,
(801)524-4325, TDD
(801)524-3309, David E. Brown Vermont State Office City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602,
(802)828-6026, TDD
(802)223-6365, Heidi Setien Virgin Islands Served by Florida State Office Virginia State Office Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229,
(804)287-1596, TDD
(804)287-1753, CJ Michels Washington State Office 1835 Black Lake Blvd., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512,
(360)704-7730, TDD
(360)704-7760, Robert Lund Western Pacific Territories Served by Hawaii State Office West Virginia State Office Federal Building, 75 High Street, Room 320, Morgantown, WV 26505-7500,
(304)284-4872, TDD
(304)284-4836, Dianne Crysler Wisconsin State Office 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481,
(715)345-7615 (ext. 151), TDD
(715)345-7614, Peter Kohnen Wyoming State Office PO Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602,
(307)233-6715, TDD
(307)233-6733, Alan Brooks FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: C.B. Alonso, Senior Loan Specialist, USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program, Multi-Family Housing Processing Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Agriculture Building, Room 1271, STOP 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0781. E-mail: *cb.alonso@wdc.usda.gov.* Telephone:
(202)720-1624. This number is not toll-free. Hearing or speech-impaired persons may access that number by calling the Federal Information Relay Service toll-free at
(800)877-8339. *Eligiblity of Prior Year Selected Notice of Funding Availability Responses:* FY 2007 NOFA response selections that did not develop into complete applications within the time constraints stipulated by the corresponding State Office have been cancelled. A new response for the project may be submitted subject to the conditions of this Notice. FY 2007 NOFA responses that were selected by the Agency, and a complete application (including all Federal environmental documents required by 7 CFR part 1940, subpart G, a Form RD 3565-1, and the $2,500 application fee) was submitted by the lender within 90 days from the date of notification of response selection (unless an extension was granted by the State office), will be eligible for FY 2008 program dollars and will compete for available FY 2008 funds without having to complete a FY 2008 response. General Program Information *Program Purpose:* The purpose of the GRRHP is to increase the supply of affordable rural rental housing, through the use of loan guarantees that encourage partnerships between the Agency, private lenders, and public agencies. *Responses Must be Submitted by:* The Agency will only accept responses from GRRHP eligible or approved lenders as described in 7 CFR 3565.102 and 3565.103 respectively. *Qualifying Properties:* Qualifying properties include new construction for multi-family housing units, the acquisition of existing structures with a minimum per unit rehabilitation expenditure requirement in accordance with 7 CFR 3565.252, the revitalization, repair and transfer (as stipulated in 7 CFR 3560.406) of existing direct section 515 housing (transfer costs are subject to Agency approval and must be an eligible use of loan proceeds as listed in 7 CFR 3565.205) and properties involved in the Agency's MPR program. Equity payment, as stipulated 7 CFR 3560.406, in the transfer of existing direct section 515 housing, is an eligible use of loan proceeds. In order to be considered, direct section 515 housing projects and MPR properties must need repairs and undergo revitalization of a minimum of $6,500 per unit. *Eligible Financing Sources:* Any form of Federal, state, and conventional sources of financing can be used in conjunction with the loan guarantee, including Home Investment Partnership Program
(HOME)grant funds, tax exempt bonds, and low income housing tax credits. *Maximum Guarantee:* The Agency can guarantee the “permanent” loan. The Agency can only guarantee construction advances for the construction of the property if a guarantee for the permanent loan is requested for the same property. The Agency cannot, however, guarantee only the “construction” advances for the construction of a property. The maximum guarantee for a permanent loan will be 90 percent of the unpaid principal and interest up to default and accrued interest 90 calendar days from the date the liquidation plan is approved by the Agency, as defined in 7 CFR 3565.452. Penalties incurred as a result of default are not covered by the guarantee. The Agency may provide a lesser guarantee based upon its evaluation of the credit quality of the loan. The Agency liability under any guarantee will decrease or increase, in proportion to any decrease or increase in the amount of the unpaid portion of the loan, up to the maximum amount specified in the Loan Note Guarantee. The maximum guarantee of construction advances will not at any time exceed the lesser of 90 percent of the amount of principal and interest up to default advanced for eligible uses of loan proceeds or 90 percent of the original principal amount and interest up to default of the loan. Penalties incurred as a result of default are not covered by the guarantee. The Agency may provide a lesser guarantee based upon its evaluation of the credit quality of the loan. *Reimbursement of Losses:* Any losses will be split on a pro-rata basis between the lender and the Agency from the first dollar lost. *Interest Rate:* The Agency will accept the best rate negotiated between the lender and prospective borrower. The lender is not required to provide the interest rate in the response. When applying for interest credit, the lender must provide the basis points over the Long Term Monthly Applicable Federal Rate that it will use to calculate the loan note's interest rate. The interest rate must be fixed over the term of the loan. In case the Agency also guarantees construction advances, the interest rate must be fixed (i.e., the same during construction as it is for permanent financing) for the entire term of the loan. *Interest Credit:* For at least 20 percent of the loans made during each fiscal year, the Agency will provide assistance in the form of interest credit, to the extent necessary to reduce the agreed-upon rate of interest to the Long Term Monthly AFR as such term is used in section 42(I)(2)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 7805, Section 1.42-1T. The interest credit will be paid in accordance with HB-1-3565 4.10 D. If 20 percent of the loans have not received interest credit by April 25, 2008, then the Agency will award interest credit to those loans that initially requested interest credit and have the highest interest credit priority score until at least 20 percent of the loans have received interest credit. Requests for interest credit must be made in the response. Lenders are not permitted to make requests for interest credit after the selection process has taken place. When interest credit assistance is requested, lenders must state in the response the maximum basis points above the Long Term Monthly AFR that will be used to calculate the interest rate. Priority points will be awarded to only those responses submitting proposed interest rates equal to or less than 250 basis points above the Long Term Monthly AFR. Any response submitted that exceeds 250 basis points above the Long Term Monthly AFR will receive a deduction of 20 points from its Priority Score (refer to “Scoring the Priority Criteria for Selection of Projects” section of this Notice). A total of 30 points will be deducted from the Priority Score of any response submitted that is 300 basis points or more above the Long Term Monthly AFR. Due to limited funding, and in order to distribute interest credit assistance as broadly as possible and minimize program costs, the Agency will limit the interest credit to $1.5 million per loan. For example, if an eligible request were made for interest credit on a loan of $2.5 million, up to $1.5 million of the loan would receive interest credit. Interest credit is only available for the permanent loan (not construction loans). Lenders with projects that are viable with or without interest credit are encouraged to submit a response reflecting financial and market feasibility under both funding options. Responses requesting consideration under both options will not affect interest credit selection. Due to limited interest credit funds and the responsibility of USDA Rural Development to target and give priority to rural areas most in need, responses requesting interest credit must score a minimum of 55 points under the criteria established in this Notice. *Surcharges for Guarantee of Construction Advances:* There is no surcharge for the guarantee of construction advances for FY 2008. *Program Fees for FY 2008:* As a condition of receiving a loan guarantee, the Agency will charge the following guarantee fees to the lender.
(1)Initial guarantee fee. The Agency will charge an initial guarantee fee equal to one percent of the guaranteed loan amount. For purposes of calculating this fee, the guaranteed loan amount is the product of the percentage of the guarantee times the initial principal amount of the guaranteed loan.
(2)Annual guarantee fee. An annual guarantee fee of at least 50 basis points (one-half percent) of the outstanding principal amount of the loan as of December 31 will be charged each year or portion of a year that the guarantee is in effect.
(3)There is a non-refundable application fee of $2,500 when the application is submitted.
(4)There is a flat fee of $500 when a lender requests USDA Rural Development to extend the term of a guarantee commitment.
(5)There is a flat fee of $500 when a lender requests USDA Rural Development to reopen an application when a commitment has expired.
(6)There is a flat fee of $1,250 when a lender requests USDA Rural Development to approve the transfer of property and assumption of the loan to an eligible prospective borrower.
(7)There is no lender application fee for lender approval in FY 2008. *Eligible Lenders:* An eligible lender for the section 538 GRRHP as required by 7 CFR 3565.102 must be a licensed business entity or Housing Finance Agency
(HFA)in good standing in the state or states where it conducts business. Lender eligibility requirements are contained in 7 CFR 3565.102. Please review 7 CFR 3565.102 for a complete list of all of the criteria. Below is a list of some of the eligible lender criteria under 7 CFR 3565.102:
(1)Licensed business entity that meets the qualifications and has the approval of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD)to make multi-family housing loans that are insured under the National Housing Act. A complete list of HUD approved lenders can be found on the HUD Web site at *http://www.hud.gov.*
(2)A licensed business entity that meets the qualifications and has the approval of the Ginnie Mae or Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae corporations to make multi-family housing loans that are sold to the same corporations. A complete list of Freddie Mac approved lenders can be found in Freddie Mac's Web site at *http://www.freddiemac.com.* Fannie Mae approved lenders are found at *http://www.fanniemae.com.* For a list of Ginnie Mae issuers, contact Ginnie Mae at *http://www.ginniemae.gov.*
(3)A State or local HFA with a top-tier rating from Moody's or Standard & Poors, or member of the Federal Home Loan Bank system, and the demonstrated ability to underwrite, originate, process, close, service, manage, and dispose of multi-family housing loans in a prudent manner.
(4)Be a GRRHP approved lender, defined as an entity with a current executed multi-family housing Lender's Agreement with USDA Rural Development.
(5)Lenders that can demonstrate the capacity to underwrite, originate, process, close, service, manage, and dispose of multi-family housing loans in a prudent manner. In order to be approved the lender will have to have an acceptable level of financial soundness as determined by a lender rating service. The submission of materials demonstrating capacity will be required if the lender's response is selected. Lenders who are otherwise ineligible may become eligible if they maintain a correspondent relationship with an eligible lender that does have the capacity to underwrite, originate, process, close, service, manage, and dispose of multi-family housing loans in a prudent manner. In this case, the eligible lender must submit the response and application on company letterhead. All contractual and legal documentation will be signed between USDA Rural Development and the lender that submitted the response and application. *GRRHP Lender Approval Application:* Lenders whose responses are selected will be notified by the USDA Rural Development to submit a request for GRRHP lender approval application within 30 days of notification. Lenders who request GRRHP approval must meet the standards in the 7 CFR 3565.102 and 103. Lenders that have received GRRHP lender approval in the past and are in good standing do not need to reapply for GRRHP lender approval. *Submission of Documentation for GRRHP Lender Approval:* All lenders that have not yet received GRRHP lender approval must submit a complete lender application to: Director, Multi-Family Housing Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 1263, STOP 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0781. Lender applications must be identified as “Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program” on the envelope. As the Section 538 program does not have a formal application form, a complete application consists of a cover letter requesting GRRHP lender approval and the following documentation:
(1)Request for GRRHP lender approval on the lender's letterhead;
(2)Lenders who are HUD, Ginnie Mae, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae multi-family approved lenders are required to show evidence of this status, such as a copy of a letter designating the distinction;
(3)The lender's Loan Origination, Loan Servicing, and Portfolio Management Handbooks. These handbooks should detail the lender's policies and procedures on loan origination through termination for multi-family loans;
(4)Portfolio performance data;
(5)Copies of standard documents that will be used in processing GRRHP loans;
(6)Resumes and qualifications of key personnel that will be involved in the GRRHP;
(7)Identification of standards and processes that deviate from those outlined in the GRRHP Origination and Servicing Handbook (HB-1-3565) found at *http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/hblist.html#hbw6.*
(8)A copy of the most recent audited financial statements;
(9)Lender specific information including:
(a)Legal name and address,
(b)list of principal officers and their responsibilities,
(c)certification that the officers and principals of the lender have not been debarred or suspended from Federal programs,
(d)Form AD 1047,
(e)certification that the lender is not in default or delinquent on any Federal debt or loan, or possesses an outstanding finding of deficiency in a Federal housing program, and
(f)certification of the lender's credit rating; and
(10)Documentation on bonding and insurance. Additional Construction Lender Requirements The Agency can guarantee the “permanent” loan. The Agency can only guarantee construction advances for the construction of the property if a guarantee for the permanent loan is requested for the same property. The Agency cannot, however, guarantee only the “construction” advances for the construction of a property. A lender making a construction loan must demonstrate an ability to originate and service construction loans, in addition to meeting the other requirements of 7 CFR part 3565, subpart C. A lender who originates and services construction/permanent loans must agree to manage the construction and draw activities in the manner described in the Chapter 5 of HB-1-3565. Lenders must meet either the basic or the demonstrated eligibility test in paragraphs 2.4 and 2.5 of HB-1-3565 and the lender approval requirements set forth in paragraph 2.6 of HB-1-3565. Lenders must clearly identify policies and processes for multi-family construction lending. Lenders must also provide a summary of their multi-family construction lending activity in the same form as specified in paragraph 2.5 of HB-1-3565. The Agency may, at its discretion, consider other types of construction loans—such as those for commercial development—as a substitute for multi-family construction experience. *Lender Responsibilities:* Lenders will be responsible for the full range of loan origination, underwriting, management, servicing, compliance issues, and property disposition activities associated with their projects. The lender will be expected to provide guidance to the prospective borrower on the Agency requirements during the application phase. Once the guarantee is issued, the lender is expected to service each loan it underwrites or contract these services to another capable entity. Discussion of Notice Responses *Content of Notice Responses:* All responses require lender information and project specific data. Incomplete responses will not be considered for funding. Lenders will be notified of incomplete responses. Complete responses are to include a signed cover letter from the lender on the lender's letterhead and the following information:
(1)*Lender certification* —The lender must certify that the lender will make a loan to the prospective borrower for the proposed project, under specified terms and conditions subject to the issuance of the GRRHP guarantee. Lender certification must be on the lender's letterhead and signed by both the lender and the prospective borrower.
(2)*Project specific data* —The lender must submit the project specific data below on the lender's letterhead, signed by both the lender and the prospective borrower. Lender Name Insert the lender's name. Lender Tax ID # Insert lender's tax ID #. Lender Contact Name Name of the lender contact for loan. Mailing Address Lender's complete mailing address. Phone # Phone # for lender contact. Fax # Insert lender's fax #. E-mail Address Insert lender contact e-mail address. Borrower Name and Organization Type State whether borrower is a Limited Partnership, Corporation, Indian Tribe, etc. Equal Opportunity Survey Optional Completion Tax Classification Type State whether borrower is for profit, not for profit, etc. Borrower Tax ID # Insert borrower's tax ID #. Borrower DUNS # Insert DUNS #. Borrower Address, including County Insert borrower's address and county. Borrower Phone # Insert borrower's phone #. Principal or Key Member for the Borrower Insert name and title. Borrower Information and Statement of Housing Development Experience Attach relevant information. New Construction, Acquisition With Rehabilitation, or the Revitalization, Repair, and Transfer (as stipulated in 7 CFR 3560.406) of Existing Direct Section 515 Housing or MPR State whether the project is new construction or acquisition with rehabilitation. Transfer costs, including equity payments, are subject to Agency approval and must be an eligible use of loan proceeds listed in 7 CFR 3565.205. Project Location Town or City Town or city in which the project is located. Project County County in which the project is located. Project State State in which the project is located. Project Zip Code Insert zip code. Project Congressional District Congressional District for project location. Project Name Insert project name. Project Type Family, senior (all residents 55 years or older), or mixed. Property Description and Proposed Development Schedule Provide as an attachment. Total Project Development Cost Enter amount for total project. # of Units Insert the # of units in the project. Ratio of 3-5 bedroom units to total units Insert percentage of 3-5 bedroom units to total units. Cost Per Unit Total development cost divided by # of units. Rent Proposed rent structure. Median Income for Community Provide median income for the community. Evidence of Site Control Attach relevant information. Description of Any Environmental Issues Attach relevant information. Loan Amount Insert the loan amount. Interest Credit
(IC)Is interest credit requested for this loan? (Yes or No) Basis Points over the Long Term Monthly Applicable Federal Rate Lenders seeking interest credit must provide the maximum basis points above the Long Term Monthly AFR that will be used to calculate the interest rate. Priority points will only be given for basis points equal to or less than 250 above the Long Term Monthly AFR. If Above Is Yes, Should Proposal Be Considered Under Non-Interest Credit Selection If Scoring Does Not Meet the Minimum Point Threshold of 55 Points for an Interest Credit Award? If Yes, proposal must show financial feasibility for Non-IC consideration. Borrower's Proposed Equity Insert amount. Tax Credits Have tax credits been awarded? If tax credits were awarded, submit a copy of the award notice/evidence of award with your response. If not, when do you anticipate an award will be made (announced)? What is the [estimated] value of the tax credits? Other Sources of Funds List all funding sources other than tax credits and amounts for each source. Loan to Total Development Cost Guaranteed loan divided by the total development costs of project. Debt Coverage Ratio Net Operating Income divided by debt service payments. Percentage of Guarantee Percentage guarantee requested. Collateral Attach relevant information. Empowerment Zone
(EZ)or Enterprise Community (EC), Colonia, Tribal Lands, or State's Consolidated Plan or State Needs Assessment Yes or No. Is the project in a recognized EZ or EC, Colonia, on an Indian Reservation, or in a place identified in the State's Consolidated Plan or State Needs Assessment as a high need community for multi-family housing? Population Provide the population of the county, city, or town where the project is or will be located. Is a Guarantee for Construction Being Requested? State yes or no. The Agency can guarantee the construction advances of the property if the guarantee for the permanent loan is requested for the same property. The Agency will not, however, guarantee only the “construction” of the property. Loan Term Minimum 25-year term. Maximum 40-year term (includes construction period). May amortize up to 40 years. Balloon mortgages permitted after the 25th year. *Scoring of Priority Criteria for Selection of Projects:* All 2008 responses will be scored based on the criteria set forth below to establish their priority for obligation of funds. Per 7 CFR 3565.5 (b), priority will be given to projects: In smaller rural communities, in the most needy communities having the highest percentage of leveraging, having the lowest interest rate, having the highest ratio of 3-5 bedroom units to total units, or located in Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities or on tribal lands. In addition, the Agency may, at its sole discretion, set aside assistance for or rank projects that meet important program goals. Additional points will be awarded to responses for the revitalization, repair, and transfers of existing direct Section 515 housing. Prior to April 25, 2008, projects with an overall score of 25 points or more and a loan to development cost ratio less than 70 percent will be processed and, when ready, obligated on a first-come-first-serve basis, provided funds are available. Projects that score less than 25 points, and projects that score 25 points or more and do not have a loan to development cost ratio less than 70 percent, may be processed up to the point of obligation, but will not be obligated until after April 25, 2008. After April 25, 2008, the Agency will select the highest scoring proposals using the procedure outlined in the DATES section of this Notice. All projects that score 55 points or more on the seven priority criteria, and request and demonstrate a need for an interest credit subsidy, will receive interest credit awards, subject to the availability of funding. The seven priority criteria for projects are listed below. *Priority 1—* Projects located in eligible rural communities with the lowest populations will receive the highest points. Population size Points 0-10,000 people 15 10,001-15,000 people 10 15,001-20,000 people 5 *Priority 2* —The most needy communities as determined by the median income from the most recent census data will receive points. The Agency will allocate points to projects located in communities having the lowest median income. Points for median income will be awarded as follows: Median income (dollars) Points Less than $45,000 20 $45,000—less than $55,000 15 $55,000—less than $65,000 10 $65,000—less than $75,000 5 $75,000 or more 0 *Priority 3* —Projects that demonstrate partnering and leveraging in order to develop the maximum number of units and promote partnerships with state and local communities will also receive points. Points will be awarded as follows: Loan to total development cost ratio (percentage %) Points 90-100 0 Less than 90-70 15 Less than 70-50 20 Less than 50 30 *Priority 4—* The development of projects on Tribal Lands, or in an Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community will receive points. The USDA Rural Development will attribute 20 points to projects that are developed in any of the locations described in this priority. The development of projects in a Colonia or in a place identified in the State's Consolidated Plan or State Needs Assessment as a high need community for multi-family housing will receive points. The USDA Rural Development will attribute 20 points to projects that are developed in any of the locations described in this priority. *Priority 5—* The USDA Rural Development will award points to projects with the highest ratio of 3-5 bedroom units to total units as follows: Ratio of 3-5 bedroom units to total units Points More than 50% 6 21%-50% 5 Less than 21%—more than 0% 1 *Priority 6—* USDA Rural Development will award points for basis points above the long term monthly AFR used to calculate the interest rate. The score for basis points is as follows: Basis points Points 300 or more basis points −30 251 to 299 basis points −20 200 to 250 basis points 10 100 to 199 basis points 15 0 to 99 basis points 20 *Priority 7—* Notice responses for the revitalization, repair, and transfer (as stipulated in 7 CFR 3560.406) of existing direct section 515 housing and properties involved in the Agency's MPR program (transfer costs, including equity payments, are subject to Agency approval and must be an eligible use of loan proceeds listed in 7 CFR 3565.205) will receive an additional 30 points. *Notifications:* Responses will be reviewed for completeness and eligibility. The USDA Rural Development will notify those lenders whose responses are selected via letter. The USDA Rural Development will request lenders without GRRHP lender approval to apply for GRRHP lender approval within 30 days upon receipt of notification of selection. For information regarding GRRHP lender approval, please refer to the section entitled “ *Submission of Documentation for GRRHP Lender Approval* ” in this Notice. Lenders will also be invited to submit a complete application and the required application fee of $2,500 to the USDA Rural Development State Office where the project is located. *Submission of GRRHP Applications:* Notification letters will instruct lenders to contact the USDA Rural Development State Office immediately following notification of selection to schedule required agency reviews. USDA Rural Development State Office staff will work with lenders in the development of an application package. In response to the Notice, lenders must submit a response to the office address identified in the Notice for the scoring and ranking of a proposed GRRHP project. The lender must provide the requested information concerning the project, to establish the purpose of the proposed project, its location, and how it meets the established priorities for funding. The Agency will determine the highest ranked responses based on priority criteria and a threshold score. Notice responses will at least include the following [but the Agency, at its sole discretion, may request additional information]:
(1)The Project
(a)A brief description of the proposed location of the project, including town, county, state, and congressional district.
(b)A description of the property and improvements, including lot size, number of units, building type, type of construction, etc., including preliminary drawings, if available.
(c)The proposed development schedule.
(d)Total project development cost.
(e)The proposed rent structure and area median income (HUD published area median incomes can be found online at *http://www.huduser.org* ).
(f)Evidence of site control by the proposed borrower or a purchase option.
(g)Description of any environmental issues that may affect the project.
(h)Amount of loan to be guaranteed.
(i)Type of project (e.g., elderly or family).
(2)The Proposed Financing
(a)Proposed loan amount and the proposed borrower's equity.
(b)Proposed use of interest credit—If the lender proposes to use interest credit, this section should include the maximum basis points the lender will charge the borrower for the project. The interest rate may not be lower than the published Long Term Monthly AFR at the closing of the lender's loan. Selection and scoring criteria that the project must meet to receive interest credit will be published in the Notice.
(c)Estimated development budget (total and cost/unit) and the proposed sources and uses of funds. This information should include all proposed financing sources—the amount, type, rates and terms of loans, tax credits, or grant funds. Letters of application and commitment letters should be included, if available.
(d)Estimated loan-to-development cost ratio for the guaranteed loan.
(e)Proposed Agency guarantee percentage for guaranteed loan (under no condition can the percentage exceed 90 percent of the loan amount).
(f)Collateral—all security, in addition to the real property, proposed to secure the loan.
(3)The Proposed Borrower
(a)The name of the borrower and the type of ownership entity. List the general partners if a limited partnership, officers if a corporation or members of a Limited Liability Corporation.
(b)Borrower's contact name, mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address.
(c)Certification that the borrower or principals of the ownership are not barred from participating in Federal housing programs and are not delinquent on any Federal debt.
(d)Borrower's unaudited or audited financial statements.
(e)Statement of borrower's housing development experience.
(4)Lender Eligibility and Approval Status Evidence that the lender is either an approved lender for the purposes of the GRRHP or that the lender is eligible to apply for approved lender status. The lender's application for approved lender status can be submitted with the response but must be submitted to the National Office within 45 calendar days of the lender's receipt of the “Notice to Proceed With Application Processing” letter.
(5)Competitive Criteria Information that shows how the proposal is responsive to the selection criteria specified in the Notice.
(6)Lender Certification A commitment letter signed by the lender, on the lender's letterhead, indicating that the lender will make a loan to the borrower for the proposed project, under specified terms and conditions subject only to the issuance of a guarantee by the Agency. The deadline for the submission of a complete application and application fee is 90 days from the date of notification of response selection. If the application and fee are not received by the appropriate State Office within 90 days from the date of notification, the selection is subject to cancellation, thereby allowing another response that is ready to proceed with processing to be selected. The State Office has the ability to extend this 90 day deadline for receipt of an application only for good cause. *Obligation of Program Funds:* The Agency will only obligate funds to projects that meet the requirements for obligation, including having undergone a satisfactory environmental review in accordance with the National Environmental Protection Act
(NEPA)and having submitted the $2,500 application fee and completed Form RD 3565-1 for the selected project. *Conditional Commitment:* Once required documents for obligation and the application fee are received and all NEPA requirements have been met, the USDA Rural Development State Office will issue a conditional commitment, which stipulates the conditions that must be fulfilled before the issuance of a guarantee, in accordance with 7 CFR 3565.303. *Issuance of Guarantee:* The USDA Rural Development Office will issue a guarantee to the lender for a project in accordance with 7 CFR 3565.303. No guarantee can be issued without a complete application, review of appropriate certifications, satisfactory assessment of the appropriate level of environmental review, and the completion of any conditional requirements. Non-Discrimination Statement USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at
(202)720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call
(800)795-3272 (voice), or
(202)720-6382 (TDD). “USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.” Dated: January 29, 2008. James C. Alsop, Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service. [FR Doc. E8-1949 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila E. Forbes, Office of AD/CVD Operations, Customs Unit, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, telephone:
(202)482-4697. Background Each year during the anniversary month of the publication of an antidumping or countervailing duty order, finding, or suspension of investigation, an interested party, as defined in section 771(9) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), may request, in accordance with section 351.213
(2004)of the Department of Commerce (the Department) Regulations, that the Department conduct an administrative review of that antidumping or countervailing duty order, finding, or suspended investigation. *Opportunity to Request a Review:* Not later than the last day of February 2008, 1 interested parties may request administrative review of the following orders, findings, or suspended investigations, with anniversary dates in February for the following periods: 1 Or the next business day, if the deadline falls on a weekend, federal holiday or any other day when the Department is closed. Period Antidumping Duty Proceedings BRAZIL: Stainless Steel Bar, A-351-825 2/1/07-1/31/08 Frozen Warmwater Shrimp, A-351-838 2/1/07-1/31/08 ECUADOR: Frozen Warmwater Shrimp, A-331-802 2/1/07-8/14/07 FRANCE: Uranium, A-427-818 2/1/07-1/31/08 INDIA: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate, A-533-817 2/1/07-1/31/08 Forged Stainless Steel Flanges, A-533-809 2/1/07-1/31/08 Frozen Warmwater Shrimp, A-533-840 2/1/07-1/31/08 Stainless Steel Bar, A-533-810 2/1/07-1/31/08 Certain Preserved Mushrooms, A-533-813 2/1/07-1/31/08 INDONESIA: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate, A-560-805 2/1/07-1/31/08 Certain Preserved Mushrooms, A-560-802 2/1/07-1/31/08 ITALY: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate, A-475-826 2/1/07-1/31/08 Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings, A-475-828 2/1/07-1/31/08 JAPAN: Carbon Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings, A-588-602 2/1/07-1/31/08 Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate, A-588-847 2/1/07-1/31/08 Stainless Steel Bar, A-588-833 2/1/07-1/31/08 MALAYSIA: Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings, A-557-809 2/1/07-1/31/08 MEXICO: Welded Large Diameter Line Pipe, A-201-828 2/1/07-2/26/07 PHILIPPINES: Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings, A-565-801 2/1/07-1/31/08 REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate, A-580-836 2/1/07-1/31/08 Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings, A-580-813 2/1/07-1/31/08 TAIWAN: Forged Stainless Steel Flanges, A-583-821 2/1/07-1/31/08 THAILAND: Frozen Warmwater Shrimp, A-549-822 2/1/07-1/31/08 THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: Axes/adzes, A-570-803 2/1/07-1/31/08 Bars/wedges, A-570-803 2/1/07-1/31/08 Certain Preserved Mushrooms, A-570-851 2/1/07-1/31/08 Frozen Warmwater Shrimp, A-570-893 2/1/07-1/31/08 Hammers/sledges, A-570-803 2/1/07-1/31/08 Natural Bristle Paint Brushes and Brush Heads, A-570-501 2/1/07-1/31/08 Picks/mattocks, A-570-803 2/1/07-1/31/08 SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM: Frozen Warmwater Shrimp, A-552-802 2/1/07-1/31/08 Countervailing Duty Proceedings INDIA: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate, C-533-818 1/1/07-12/31/07 Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand, C-533-829 1/1/07-12/31/07 INDONESIA: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate, C-560-806 1/1/07-12/31/07 ITALY: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate, C-475-827 1/1/07-12/31/07 REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate, C-580-837 1/1/07-12/31/07 Suspension Agreements None. In accordance with section 351.213(b) of the regulations, an interested party as defined by section 771(9) of the Act, may request in writing that the Secretary conduct an administrative review. For both antidumping and countervailing duty reviews, the interested party must specify the individual producers or exporters covered by an antidumping finding or an antidumping or countervailing duty order or suspension agreement for which it is requesting a review, and the requesting party must state why it desires the Secretary to review those particular producers or exporters. 2 If the interested party intends for the Secretary to review sales of merchandise by an exporter (or a producer if that producer also exports merchandise from other suppliers) which were produced in more than one country of origin and each country of origin is subject to a separate order, then the interested party must state specifically, on an order-by-order basis, which exporter(s) the request is intended to cover. 2 If the review request involves a non-market economy and the parties subject to the review request do not qualify for separate rates, all other exporters of subject merchandise from the non-market economy country who do not have a separate rate will be covered by the review as part of the single entity of which the named firms are a part. Please note that, for any party the Department was unable to locate in prior segments, the Department will not accept a request for an administrative review of that party absent new information as to the party's location. Moreover, if the interested party who files a request for review is unable to locate the producer or exporter for which it requested the review, the interested party must provide an explanation of the attempts it made to locate the producer or exporter at the same time it files its request for review, in order for the Secretary to determine if the interested party's attempts were reasonable, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.303(f)(3)(ii). As explained in *Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties,* 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003), the Department has clarified its practice with respect to the collection of final antidumping duties on imports of merchandise where intermediate firms are involved. The public should be aware of this clarification in determining whether to request an administrative review of merchandise subject to antidumping findings and orders. See also the Import Administration Web site at *http://ia.ita.doc.gov.* Six copies of the request should be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Room 1870, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. The Department also asks parties to serve a copy of their requests to the Office of Antidumping/Countervailing Operations, Attention: Sheila Forbes, in room 3065 of the main Commerce Building. Further, in accordance with section 351.303(f)(l)(i) of the regulations, a copy of each request must be served on every party on the Department's service list. The Department will publish in the **Federal Register** a notice of “Initiation of Administrative Review of Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation” for requests received by the last day of February 2008. If the Department does not receive, by the last day of February 2008, a request for review of entries covered by an order, finding, or suspended investigation listed in this notice and for the period identified above, the Department will instruct the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to assess antidumping or countervailing duties on those entries at a rate equal to the cash deposit of (or bond for) estimated antidumping or countervailing duties required on those entries at the time of entry, or withdrawal from use, for consumption and to continue to collect the cash deposit previously ordered. This notice is not required by statute but is published as a service to the international trading community. Dated: January 24, 2008. Stephen J. Claeys, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. E8-1974 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A-570-908] Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sodium Hexametaphosphate From the People's Republic of China AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. DATES: *Effective Date:* February 4, 2008. SUMMARY: On September 14, 2007, the Department of Commerce (the “Department”) published its preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value (“LTFV”) in the antidumping investigation of sodium hexametaphosphate (“SHMP”) from the People's Republic of China (“PRC”). The period of investigation (“POI”) is July 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006. We invited interested parties to comment on our preliminary determination of sales at LTFV. The final dumping margins for this investigation are listed in the “Final Determination Margins” section below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Begnal or Scot Fullerton, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; *telephone:*
(202)482-1442 or
(202)482-1386, respectively. Final Determination We determine that SHMP from the PRC is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV as provided in section 735 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (“the Act”). The estimated margins of sales at LTFV are shown in the “Final Determination Margins” section of this notice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Case History The Department published its preliminary determination of sales at LTFV on September 14, 2007. *See Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sodium Hexametaphosphate from the People's Republic of China* , 72 FR 52544 (September 14, 2007) (“ *Preliminary Determination* ”). On September 11, 2007, Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group (“Hubei Xingfa”) requested a 60-day extension of the final determination. On September 28, 2007, the Department published the postponement of the final determination. *See Postponement of Final Determination of Antidumping Duty Investigation: Sodium Hexametaphosphate from the People's Republic of China* , 72 FR 55176 (September 28, 2007). On September 28, 2007, Hubei Xingfa withdrew from participating in the investigation. 1 1 *See* Letter from Greenberg Traurig to the Department of Commerce, regarding “Sodium Hexametaphosphate from the People's Republic of China: Withdrawal from Participation,” dated September 28, 2007 (“Hubei Xingfa Withdrawal Letter”). On September 17, 2007, the Department received an allegation from Petitioners that the Department made clerical errors in its *Preliminary Determination.* 2 On October 25, 2007, the Department found that it had made a clerical error with regard to its preliminary determination calculation for Hubei Xingfa, but found that the error was not “significant” to warrant amending the *Preliminary Determination* . 3 2 *See* Letter from Williams Mullen to the Department of Commerce, regarding “Sodium Hexametaphosphate from China: Clerical Error Comments,” dated September 17, 2007. 3 *See* Memorandum to James C. Doyle, Director, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9 through Scot T. Fullerton, Program Manager, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, from Erin Begnal, Senior International Trade Analyst, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, regarding “Antidumping Duty Investigation of Sodium Hexametaphosphate from the People's Republic of China: Allegation of Ministerial Errors,” dated October 25, 2007 (“Ministerial Error Memo”). We invited parties to comment on the *Preliminary Determination.* On November 19, 2007, the Petitioners 4 filed a case brief. 4 ICL Performance Products, LP and Innophos, Inc. Analysis of Comments Received All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by parties to this investigation are addressed in the “Investigation of Sodium Hexametaphosphate from the People's Republic of China: Issues and Decision Memorandum,” dated January 28, 2008, which is hereby adopted by this notice (“Issues and Decision Memorandum”). A list of the issues which parties raised and to which we respond in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is attached to this notice as an Appendix. The Issue and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file in the Central Records Unit (“CRU”), Main Commerce Building, Room B-099, and is accessible on the Web at *http://www.trade.gov/ia* . The paper copy and electronic version of the memorandum are identical in content. Changes Since the Preliminary Determination Based on our analysis of comments received, we have made changes in our margin calculations for the separate rate respondents. Additionally, because Hubei Xingfa refused to participate in verification, we determined to apply total adverse facts available (“AFA”) to Hubei Xingfa. As AFA, we found that Hubei Xingfa did not demonstrate that it was entitled to a separate rate, and is therefore part of the PRC entity. *See Adverse Facts Available* below. Scope of Investigation The merchandise subject to this investigation is sodium hexametaphosphate (“SHMP”). SHMP is a water-soluble polyphosphate glass that consists of a distribution of polyphosphate chain lengths. It is a collection of sodium polyphosphate polymers built on repeating NaPO3 units. SHMP has a P2O5 content from 60 to 71 percent. Alternate names for SHMP include the following: Calgon; Calgon S; Glassy Sodium Phosphate; Sodium Polyphosphate, Glassy; Metaphosphoric Acid; Sodium Salt; Sodium Acid Metaphosphate; Graham's Salt; Sodium Hex; Polyphosphoric Acid, Sodium Salt; Glass H; Hexaphos; Sodaphos; Vitrafos; and BAC-N-FOS. SHMP is typically sold as a white powder or granule (crushed) and may also be sold in the form of sheets (glass) or as a liquid solution. It is imported under heading 2835.39.5000, HTSUS. It may also be imported as a blend or mixture under heading 3824.90.3900, HTSUS. The American Chemical Society, Chemical Abstract Service (“CAS”) has assigned the name “Polyphosphoric Acid, Sodium Salt” to SHMP. The CAS registry number is 68915-31-1. However, SHMP is commonly identified by CAS No. 10124-56-8 in the market. For purposes of the investigation, the narrative description is dispositive, not the tariff heading, CAS registry number or CAS name. The product covered by this investigation includes SHMP in all grades, whether food grade or technical grade. The product covered by this investigation includes SHMP without regard to chain length i.e., whether regular or long chain. The product covered by this investigation includes SHMP without regard to physical form, whether glass, sheet, crushed, granule, powder, fines, or other form, and whether or not in solution. However, the product covered by this investigation does not include SHMP when imported in a blend with other materials in which the SHMP accounts for less than 50 percent by volume of the finished product. Scope Comments We have addressed comments regarding the Scope in our Issues and Decision Memorandum and have determined to revise the scope of this investigation. *See Issues and Decision Memorandum* at Comment 2. Adverse Facts Available Section 776(a)(2) of the Act provides that, if an interested party
(A)withholds information requested by the Department,
(B)fails to provide such information by the deadline, or in the form or manner requested,
(C)significantly impedes a proceeding, or
(D)provides information that cannot be verified, the Department shall use, subject to sections 782(d) and
(e)of the Act, facts otherwise available in reaching the applicable determination. Pursuant to section 782(e) of the Act, the Department shall not decline to consider submitted information if all of the following requirements are met:
(1)The information is submitted by the established deadline;
(2)the information can be verified;
(3)the information is not so incomplete that it cannot serve as a reliable basis for reaching the applicable determination;
(4)the interested party has demonstrated that it acted to the best of its ability; and
(5)the information can be used without undue difficulties. On September 28, 2007, subsequent to the *Preliminary Determination* and before the commencement of verification, counsel for Hubei Xingfa informed the Department that it would not continue its participation in the instant investigation. *See* Hubei Xingfa Withdrawal Letter dated September 28, 2007. Because Hubei Xingfa ceased participation in the instant investigation, the Department was not able to conduct its verification of Hubei Xingfa's responses. Verification is integral to the Department's analysis because it allows the Department to satisfy itself that it is relying upon accurate information and calculating dumping margins as accurately as possible. By failing to participate in verification, Hubei Xingfa prevented the Department from verifying its reported information, including separate rates information, and significantly impeded the proceeding. Moreover, by not permitting verification, Hubei Xingfa failed to demonstrate that it operates free of government control and is entitled to a separate rate. Therefore, we find the use of facts available, pursuant to sections 776(a)(2)(C) and (D), to be appropriate in determining the applicable rate for Hubei Xingfa. Section 776(b) of the Act authorizes the Department to use an adverse inference with respect to an interested party if the Department finds that the party failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability to comply with a request for information. *See* , *e.g.* , *Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes From Thailand: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review* , 62 FR 53808, 53819-20 (October 16, 1997); *see also Crawfish Processors Alliance* v. *United States* , 343 F. Supp.2d 1242, 1270-1271 (CIT 2004) (approving use of AFA when respondent refused to participate in verification). We find that Hubei Xingfa's late withdrawal from participation and refusal to participate in verification constitutes a failure to cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability to comply with a request from the Department. *See* section 776(b) of the Act. Therefore, pursuant to section 776(b) of the Act, we find that when selecting from among the facts available, an adverse inference is warranted. As AFA, due to its failure to demonstrate separateness, we have, as AFA, treated Hubei Xingfa as part of the PRC-wide entity and thus will receive the rate applicable to PRC-wide entity, which is 188.05 percent. *See* the sections entitled “The PRC-Wide Rate” and “Corroboration,” below, for a discussion of the selection and corroboration of the PRC-Wide rate. Surrogate Country In the *Preliminary Determination* , we stated that we had selected India as the appropriate surrogate country to use in this investigation for the following reasons:
(1)It is a significant producer of comparable merchandise;
(2)it is at a similar level of economic development pursuant to 773(c)(4) of the Act; and
(3)we have reliable data from India that we can use to value the factors of production. *See Preliminary Determination* . For the final determination, we received no comments and made no changes to our findings with respect to the selection of a surrogate country. Separate Rates In proceedings involving non-market-economy (“NME”) countries, the Department begins with a rebuttable presumption that all companies within the country are subject to government control and, thus, should be assigned a single antidumping duty deposit rate. It is the Department's policy to assign all exporters of merchandise subject to an investigation in an NME country this single rate unless an exporter can demonstrate that it is sufficiently independent so as to be entitled to a separate rate. *See Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sparklers from the People's Republic of China* , 56 FR 20588 (May 6, 1991) (“ *Sparklers* ”), as amplified by *Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Silicon Carbide from the People's Republic of China* , 59 FR 22585 (May 2, 1994) (“ *Silicon Carbide* ”), and Section 351.107(d) of the Department's regulations. In the *Preliminary Determination* , we found that the separate rate applicants, Jiangyin Chengxing International Trading Co., Ltd. (“Chengxing”) and Sichuan Mianzhu Norwest Phosphate Chemical Company Limited (“Norwest”), demonstrated their eligibility for separate-rate status. For the final determination, we continue to find that the evidence placed on the record of this investigation by Chengxing and Norwest demonstrate both a *de jure* and *de facto* absence of government control, with respect to their respective exports of the merchandise under investigation, and, thus are eligible for separate rate status. In the *Preliminary Determination* , we assigned the rate for Hubei Xingfa, who was a cooperating respondent, as a separate rate to Chengxing and Norwest. However, we have found that Hubei Xingfa has not demonstrated entitlement to a separate rate for this final determination. As such, Hubei Xingfa will be assigned the PRC-wide rate, which is based on AFA. Normally the separate rate is determined based on the estimated weighted average dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding *de minimis* margins or margins based entirely on AFA. *See* section 735(c)(5)(A). If, however, the estimated weighted average margins for all individually investigated respondents are *de minimis* or based entirely on AFA, the Department may use any reasonable method. *See* section 735(c)(5)(B). In this proceeding, because the rate for all individually investigated respondents is based on AFA, we have relied on information from the petition to determine a rate to be applied to the respondents that have demonstrated entitlement to a separate rate. *See* , *e.g.* , * Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Affirmative Final Determination of Critical Circumstances: Glycine from Japan * , 72 FR 67271 (November 28, 2007) (citing *Notice of Final Determinations of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products From Argentina, Japan and Thailand* , 65 FR 5520, 5527-28 (February 4, 2000) and *Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Stainless Steel Plate in Coil from Canada* , 64 FR 15457 (March 31, 1999)). Specifically, we have assigned an average of the margins calculated for purposes of initiation as the separate rate for the final determination. *See Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigation: Sodium Hexametaphosphate From the People's Republic of China* , 72 FR 9926 (March 6, 2007) (“ *Initiation Notice* ”). *See also* Memorandum to the File, from Erin Begnal, Senior International Trade Analyst, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, regarding “Calculation of the Separate Rate” dated January 22, 2008. To corroborate the initiation margins for use as a separate rate, to the extent appropriate information was available, we reviewed the adequacy and accuracy of the information in the petition during our pre-initiation analysis. See *Initiation Checklist* . We examined evidence supporting the calculations in the petition to determine the probative value of the margins alleged in the petition for use as the separate rate. During our pre-initiation analysis, we examined the key elements of the export-price and normal-value calculations used in the petition to derive margins. Also, during our pre-initiation analysis, we examined information from various independent sources provided either in the petition or, based on our requests, in supplements to the petition, that corroborates key elements of the export-price and normal-value calculations used in the petition to derive estimated margins. We received no comments as to the relevance or probative value of this information. Therefore, the Department finds that the rates derived from the petition for purposes of initiation are reliable for purposes of calculating the separate rate. We determined in the *Preliminary Determination* that Yibin Tianyuan Group Co., Ltd. (“Tianyuan”) is not entitled to a separate rate. We received no comments on this issue and continue to find that Tianyuan is not entitled to a separate rate. The PRC-Wide Rate In the *Preliminary Determination* , the Department found that certain companies and the PRC-wide entity did not respond to our requests for information. In the *Preliminary Determination* we treated these PRC producers/exporters as part of the PRC-wide entity because they did not demonstrate that they operate free of government control over their export activities. No additional information has been placed on the record with respect to these entities after the *Preliminary Determination.* The PRC-wide entity has not provided the Department with the requested information; therefore, pursuant to section 776(a)(2)(A) of the Act, the Department continues to find that the use of facts available is appropriate to determine the PRC-wide rate. Section 776(b) of the Act provides that, in selecting from among the facts otherwise available, the Department may employ an adverse inference if an interested party fails to cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability to comply with requests for information. *See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products from the Russian Federation* , 65 FR 5510, 5518 (February 4, 2000). *See also* , “ *Statement of Administrative Action* ” accompanying the URAA, H.R. Rep. No. 103-316, vol. 1, at 870
(1994)(“ *SAA* ”). We determined that, because the PRC-wide entity did not respond to our request for information, it has failed to cooperate to the best of its ability. Therefore, the Department finds that, in selecting from among the facts otherwise available, an adverse inference is appropriate for the PRC-wide entity. Because we begin with the presumption that all companies within an NME country are subject to government control and because only the companies listed under the “Final Determination Margins” section below have overcome that presumption, we are applying a single antidumping rate—the PRC-wide rate—to all other exporters of subject merchandise from the PRC. Such companies did not demonstrate entitlement to a separate rate. *See* , *e.g.* , *Synthetic Indigo from the People's Republic of China: Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value* , 65 FR 25706 (May 3, 2000). The PRC-wide rate applies to all entries of subject merchandise except for entries from the respondents which are listed in the “Final Determination Margins” section below. At the *Preliminary Determination* , we assigned to the PRC-wide entity the calculated margin for Hubei Xingfa, the highest rate calculated for any respondent in the investigation. For the final determination, as total AFA, we have assigned to the PRC-wide entity the rate of 188.05 percent, which is the rate based on the information supplied by Hubei Xingfa in the preliminary determination, with adjustments made for clerical errors. *See* Ministerial Error Memo. In selecting the AFA rate for the PRC-wide entity, we did not use the petition rates because we have an alternative that we find to be sufficiently adverse to effectuate the purpose of the AFA provision of the statute. *See* , *e.g.* , *Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp From Brazil* , 69 FR 76910, 76912 (December 23, 2004). *See also* , *Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod From Moldova* , 67 FR 55790 (August 30, 2002) and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 2 and *Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cold-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products From Venezuela* , 67 FR 62119, 62120 (October 3, 2002). We assigned the rate of 188.05 percent, which was based on information submitted by Hubei Xingfa in its questionnaire responses and database submissions, and remains on the record of this investigation. Corroboration Section 776(c) of the Act provides that, when the Department relies on secondary information in using the facts otherwise available, it must, to the extent practicable, corroborate that information from independent sources that are reasonably at its disposal. We have interpreted “corroborate” to mean that we will, to the extent practicable, examine the reliability and relevance of the information submitted. *See Certain Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products From Brazil: Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value* , 65 FR 5554, 5568 (February 4, 2000); *See* , *e.g.* , *Tapered Roller Bearings and Parts Thereof, Finished and Unfinished, from Japan, and Tapered Roller Bearings, Four Inches or Less in Outside Diameter, and Components Thereof, from Japan; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews and Partial Termination of Administrative Reviews* , 61 FR 57391, 57392 (November 6, 1996). Because the AFA rate is based on information provided to us by a respondent to this investigation, it is not considered to be secondary information, and therefore, needs not be corroborated. We conclude that this data, although unverified, continues to be the best information reasonably available to us to effectuate the purpose of AFA. Final Determination Margins We determine that the following percentage weighted-average margins exist for the POI: Sodium Hexametaphosphate From the PRC Manufacturer/exporter Weighted-average margin (percent) Jiangyin Chengxing International Trading Co., Ltd. 92.02 Sichuan Mianzhu Norwest Phosphate Chemical Company Limited 92.02 PRC-Wide Rate (including Yibin Tianyuan Group Co., Ltd., Mianyang Aostar Phosphorous Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd. ) 188.05 Disclosure We will disclose the calculations performed within five days of the date of publication of this notice to parties in this proceeding in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, we are directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) to continue to suspend liquidation of all imports of subject merchandise that are entered or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after September 14, 2007, the date of publication of the preliminary determination in the **Federal Register** . We will instruct CBP to continue to require a cash deposit or the posting of a bond for all companies based on the estimated weighted-average dumping margins shown above. The suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice. ITC Notification In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, we have notified the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) of our final determination of sales at LTFV. As our final determination is affirmative, in accordance with section 735(b)(2) of the Act, within 45 days the ITC will determine whether the domestic industry in the United States is materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of imports or sales (or the likelihood of sales) for importation of the subject merchandise. If the ITC determines that material injury or threat of material injury does not exist, the proceeding will be terminated and all securities posted will be refunded or canceled. If the ITC determines that such injury does exist, the Department will issue an antidumping duty order directing CBP to assess antidumping duties on all imports of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of liquidation. Notification Regarding APO This notice also serves as a reminder to the parties subject to administrative protective order (“APO”) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely notification of return or destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation. This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act. Dated: January 28, 2008. David M. Spooner, Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. Appendix Comment 1: Scope Revision Comment 2: Basis for the Final Determination [FR Doc. E8-1971 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northwest Region Vessel Identification Requirements 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 April 4, 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 Jamie Goen,
(206)526-4646 or *jamie.goen@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly on regulatory compliance. The vessel identification requirement is essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link fishing or other activity to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to enforcement of regulations issued under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. A vessel's official number is required to be displayed on the port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on a weather deck. It identifies each vessel and should be visible at distances at sea and in the air. Vessels that qualify for particular fisheries are readily identified, gear violations are more readily prosecuted, and this allows for more cost-effective enforcement. Cooperating fishermen also use the number to report suspicious activities that they observe. The regulation-compliant fishermen ultimately benefit as unauthorized and illegal fishing is deterred and more burdensome regulations are avoided. II. Method of Collection Fishing vessel owners physically mark vessel with identification numbers in three locations per vessel. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0648-0355. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Business or other for-profit organizations. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 1,693. *Estimated Time per Response:* 45 minutes (15 minutes per marking). *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 1,270. *Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $59,255. 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 29, 2008. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E8-1883 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northwest Region Gear Identification Requirements 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 April 4, 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 Jamie Goen,
(206)526-4646 or *jamie.goen@noaa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly on regulatory compliance. The requirements that fishing gear be marked are essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link fishing gear to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to the enforcement of regulations issued under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The marking of fishing gear is also valuable in actions concerning damage, loss, and civil proceedings. The regulations specify fishing gear must be marked with the vessel's official number, federal permit or tag number, or some other specified form of identification. The regulations further specify how the gear is to be marked (e.g., location and color). Law enforcement personnel rely on this information to assure compliance with fisheries management regulations. Gear that is not properly identified is confiscated. The identifying number on fishing gear is used by NMFS, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other marine agencies in issuing violations, prosecutions, and other enforcement actions. Gear marking helps ensure that a vessel harvests fish only from its own traps/pots/other gear and that traps/pots/other gear are not illegally placed. Gear violations are more readily prosecuted when the gear is marked, allowing for more cost effective enforcement. Cooperating fishermen also use the number to report placement or occurrence of gear in unauthorized areas. The regulation-compliant fishermen ultimately benefit from this requirement, because unauthorized and illegal fishing is deterred and more burdensome regulations are avoided. II. Method of Collection The physical marking of fishing buoys is done by the affected public (fishermen in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery) according to regulation. No information is collected. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0648-0352. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Business or other for-profit organizations. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 548. *Estimated Time per Response:* 3 hours (15 minutes per marking). *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 1,782. *Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $2,000. 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 29, 2008. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E8-1884 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Large Pelagic Fishing Survey 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 April 4, 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 Dr. Ronald J. Salz,
(301)713-2328 or *ron.salz@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Large Pelagic Fishing Survey consists of dockside and telephone surveys of recreational anglers for large pelagic fish (tunas, sharks, and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean. The survey provides NMFS with information to monitor catch of bluefin tuna, marlin and other federally-managed species. Catch monitoring in these fisheries and collection of catch and effort statistics for all pelagic fish is required under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The information collected is essential for the U.S. to meet its reporting obligations to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna. Due to funding limitations, the Large Pelagic Fishing Survey has only been conducted from Maine through Virginia in previous years. In 2008 NMFS proposes to conduct pilot studies to characterize the recreational large pelagic fisheries in the South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean regions. II. Method of Collection Dockside and telephone interviews are used for the Large Pelagic Fishing Survey. In lieu of telephone interviews, respondents may also provide information via faxed logsheets or online via a web tool. The pilot studies in the South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean will use telephone interviews. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0648-0380. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households, business or other for-profit organizations. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 1,000 new requirements (18,000 total). *Estimated Time per Response:* 15 minutes for a telephone characterization interview. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 2,500 new requirements (4,871 total). *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
(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 29, 2008. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E8-1885 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hydrographic Services Review Panel Meeting AGENCY: National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of open meeting. SUMMARY: The Hydrographic Services Review Panel
(HSRP)was established by the Secretary of Commerce to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on matters related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998, its amendments, and such other appropriate matters that the Under Secretary refers to the Panel for review and advice. *Date and Time:* The meeting will be held Friday, March 7, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. *Location:* The Doubletree Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay, 1717 North Bayshore Drive, Miami, Florida 33132, telephone: 305-372-0313. The times and agenda topics are subject to change. Refer to the HSRP Web site listed below for the most current meeting agenda. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Captain Steven Barnum, NOAA, Designated Federal Official (DFO), Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service (NOS), NOAA (N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910; Telephone: 301-713-2770, Fax: 301-713-4019; e-mail: *Hydroservices.panel@noaa.gov* or visit the NOAA HSRP Web site at *http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting will be open to the public and public comment periods will be scheduled at various times throughout the meeting. These comment periods will be part of the final agenda that will be published before the meeting date on the HSRP Web site listed above. Each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of five
(5)minutes. Written comments (at least 30 copies) should be submitted to the DFO by February 27, 2008. Written comments received by the DFO after February 27, 2008, will be distributed to the HSRP, but may not be reviewed before the meeting date. Approximately 25 seats will be available for the public, on a first-come, first-served basis. *Matters to be Considered:*
(1)NOAA's planned actions to address recommendations in the HSRP Special Report, “HSRP Most Wanted Hydrographic Services Improvements;”
(2)Updates on NOAA's Height Modernization, Fleet Recapitalization, Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping, and Integrated Ocean Observing System Projects;
(3)briefings on the U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System's
(CMTS)response and activities related to the HSRP Special Report and status of the CMTS Navigation Technology Integration Action Team; and
(4)public statements. Dated: January 28, 2008. Captain Steven Barnum, NOAA Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. E8-1965 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [DoD-2006-OS-0030] Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records AGENCY: Department of Defense. ACTION: Notice to delete a System of Records. SUMMARY: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency is deleting a system of records notice from its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. DATES: This proposed action will be effective without further notice on March 5, 2008 unless comments are received which result in a contrary determination. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Office, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Brenda Carter at
(703)767-1771. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of the Secretary of Defense systems of records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the **Federal Register** and are available from the address above. Dated: January 30, 2008. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. Deletion HDTRA 004 System name: Nuclear Weapons Accident Exercise Personnel Radiation Exposure Records (August 24, 2005, 70 FR 45592). Reason: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency does not have a mission requirement to maintain these records. However, these records are maintained under the DoD System of Records F044 AF SG O, United States Air Force Master Radiation Exposure Registry. Published in the **Federal Register** on November 18, 2003, in Volume 68, Page Number 65042. [FR Doc. E8-1940 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary Publication of Housing Price Inflation Adjustment Under 50 U.S.C. App. Section 531 AGENCY: DoD, Office of the Under Secretary (Personnel and Readiness). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, as codified at 50 U.S.C. App. Section 531, prohibits a landlord from evicting a Service member (or the Service member's family) from a residence during a period of military service except by court order. The law as originally passed by Congress applied to dwellings with monthly rents of $2400 or less. The law requires the Department of Defense to adjust this amount annually to reflect inflation, and to publish the new amount in the **Federal Register** . We have applied the inflation index required by the statute. The maximum monthly rental amount for 50 U.S.C. App. Section 531 (a)(1)(A)(ii) as of January 1, 2008, will be $2,831.13. DATES: *Effective Dates:* January 1, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colonel S. Shumake, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness,
(703)697-3387. Dated: January 30, 2008. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. E8-1941 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests AGENCY: Department of Education. SUMMARY: The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 4, 2008. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. OMB may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, publishes that notice containing proposed information collection requests prior to submission of these requests to OMB. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following:
(1)Type of review requested, e.g. new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement;
(2)Title;
(3)Summary of the collection;
(4)Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information;
(5)Respondents and frequency of collection; and
(6)Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. OMB invites public comment. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues:
(1)Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department;
(2)will this information be processed and used in a timely manner;
(3)is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4)how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(5)how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Dated: January 28, 2008. Angela C. Arrington, IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services *Type of Review:* Revision. *Title:* Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind. *Frequency:* Annually. *Affected Public:* State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs. *Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:* *Responses:* 56. *Burden Hours:* 446. *Abstract:* This data collection instrument is being submitted to obtain approval for information collection on the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program. The data to be collected will include information related to staff, consumer demographics, cost of services, and services provided. This data will be used to evaluate and construct a profile for the program nationwide. The respondents will be the managers of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program in each of the 50 states and territories. Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from *http://edicsweb.ed.gov,* by selecting the “Browse Pending Collections” link and by clicking on link number 3560. When you access the information collection, click on “Download Attachments” to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may also be electronically mailed to *ICDocketMgr@ed.gov* or faxed to 202-401-0920. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to *ICDocketMgr@ed.gov.* Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. [FR Doc. 08-487 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am]
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25 references not yet in our index
- 7 CFR 3015.302
- 7 CFR 1940
- 7 CFR 16
- 7 CFR 15
- 7 CFR 3015
- 7 CFR 3016
- 7 CFR 3017
- 7 CFR 3019
- 7 CFR 3052
- Pub. L. 93-288
- 41 USC 5177a
- Pub. L. 110-28
- Pub. L. 105-220
- 7 CFR 1901
- 7 CFR 3560.60(d)
- 7 CFR 3565.4
- 7 CFR 3565
- 7 CFR 3560.406
- 7 CFR 3565.205
- 7 CFR 3565.102
- 7 CFR 3565.252
- 7 CFR 3565.452
- 7 CFR 3565.5
- 7 CFR 3565.303
- 343 F. Supp. 2d 1242
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