42 USC 8819 - Review; reorganization

Collapse to view only § 8819. Review; reorganization

§ 8811. Biomass energy development plans
§ 8812. Program responsibility and administration and effect on other programs
§ 8813. Insured loans
§ 8814. Loan guarantees
§ 8815. Price guarantees
§ 8816. Purchase agreements
§ 8817. General requirements regarding financial assistance
§ 8818. Reports
§ 8819. Review; reorganization
§ 8820. Office of Alcohol Fuels
§ 8821. Termination of authorities; modification of terms and conditions of conditional commitments for loan guarantees

§ 8811. Biomass energy development plans

(a) Plan respecting maximized production and use by December 31, 1982; preparation, transmission, etc.

(b) Comprehensive plan respecting maximized production and use from January 1, 1983, to December 31, 1990, preparation, transmission, etc.

(1) Not later than January 1, 1982, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy shall jointly prepare, and transmit to the President and the Congress, a comprehensive plan for maximizing in accordance with this subchapter biomass energy production and use, for the period beginning January 1, 1983, and ending December 31, 1990. Such plan shall be designed to achieve a level of alcohol production within the United States equal to at least 10 percent of the level of gasoline consumption within the United States as estimated by the Secretary of Energy for the calendar year 1990.

(2) The plan prepared under this subsection shall evaluate the feasibility of reaching the goals set forth in such subsection.

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 211, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 686.)

§ 8812. Program responsibility and administration and effect on other programs

(a) Duties and functions of Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Energy over projects

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), in the case of any financial assistance under this subchapter for a biomass energy project, the Secretary concerned shall be—

(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, in the case of any biomass energy project which will have an anticipated annual production capacity of less than 15,000,000 gallons of ethanol (or the energy equivalent of other forms of biomass energy) and which will use feedstocks other than aquatic plants; and

(B) the Secretary of Energy, in the case of any biomass energy project which will use aquatic plants as feedstocks or which will have an anticipated annual production capacity of 15,000,000 gallons or more of ethanol (or the energy equivalent of other forms of biomass energy).

(2)

(A) Either the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Energy may be the Secretary concerned in the case of any biomass energy project which will have an anticipated annual production capacity of 15,000,000 gallons or more of ethanol (or the energy equivalent of other forms of biomass energy) and—

(i) which will use wood or wood wastes or residue, or

(ii) which is owned and operated by a cooperative and will use feedstocks other than aquatic plants.

(B) Financial assistance may not be provided by either Secretary under subparagraph (A) without the written concurrence of the other Secretary. Such concurrence shall be granted or denied by such Secretary in accordance with subparagraph (C) and on the same standards as that Secretary applies in making his own awards of financial assistance under this paragraph.

(C)

(i) In the case of a project described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned shall provide the other Secretary a copy of the application and such supporting information as may be material, and shall provide the other Secretary at least 15 days to review the project. If during such 15-day period the reviewing Secretary provides written notification to the Secretary concerned specifying reasons why such project should not proceed, the Secretary concerned shall defer the final decision on the application for an additional 30 days. During such 30-day period, both Secretaries shall attempt to reach agreement regarding all issues raised in the written notice. Before the end of the 30-day period, the reviewing Secretary shall notify the Secretary concerned of his decision regarding concurrence. If the reviewing Secretary fails to provide such notice before the end of such period, concurrence shall be deemed to have been given.

(ii) The project applicant may reapply for financial assistance for such project, after making such modifications to the project as may be necessary to address issues raised by the reviewing Secretary in the original notice of objection. The subsequent review of such project by the reviewing Secretary shall be limited to the issues originally raised by the reviewing Secretary and any issues raised by changed circumstances.

(D) Both Secretaries may jointly act as the Secretary concerned in accordance with such procedures as the Secretaries may jointly prescribe, in which case—

(i) subparagraphs (B) and (C) and subsection (c) shall not apply, and

(ii) the proportion of financial assistance provided by each Secretary shall be determined in accordance with the procedures jointly prescribed.

(b) Procedural requirements applicable

(1) Each Secretary shall take such action as may be necessary to assure that—

(A) guidelines for soliciting and receiving applications for financial assistance are established within 90 days after June 30, 1980;

(B) applications for financial assistance for biomass energy projects are initially solicited within 30 days after such guidelines are established;

(C) additional applications for financial assistance are solicited within 1 year after the date of the initial solicitation;

(D) any application is evaluated and a decision made on such application within 120 days after the receipt of the application, including review under subsections (a)(2)(C), (a)(2)(D), or (c); and

(E) all interested persons are provided the easiest possible access to the application process, including procedures which assure that—

(i) information concerning financial assistance from either Secretary is available through all appropriate offices of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy, and other regional and local offices of the Federal Government, as may be appropriate;

(ii) all such locations where such information is available will be able to accept and file applications, and will forward them to the Secretary concerned; and

(iii) the procedures established for accepting, evaluating, and awarding financial assistance will provide for categories of biomass energy projects, according to size and provide to the maximum extent practicable the simplest procedures for small producers.

(2) The procedural requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1) shall not apply to either Secretary to the extent that the Secretary finds that other procedures are adopted for the solicitation, evaluation, and awarding of financial assistance which will result in applications being processed more expeditiously.

(1) After evaluating any application and before awarding any financial assistance on the basis of that application, the Secretary concerned shall provide the other Secretary with—

(A) a copy of the application and such supporting material as may be appropriate, and

(B) an opportunity of not less than 15 days to review the application.

This subsection shall not apply in the case of a project subject to review under subsection (a)(2)(C).

(2) If the reviewing Secretary provides written notice specifying any issues regarding matters subject to the Secretary’s review to the Secretary concerned before the end of the 15-day review period, the Secretary concerned shall defer a final decision on the application for an additional 30 days to provide an opportunity for both Secretaries to answer and resolve such issues. At the expiration of the 30-day period, the Secretary concerned may make a final decision with respect to the application, using the best judgment of the Secretary concerned to resolve any remaining issues.

(3) Reviews of projects under the provisions of subsection (a)(2)(C) or paragraph (1)(B) by the Secretary of Agriculture shall be for the purpose of considering the national, regional, and local agricultural policy impacts of such project on agricultural supply, production, and use, and reviews by the Secretary of Energy under such provisions shall be for the purpose of considering national energy policy impacts and the technical feasibility of the project.

(4) The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy may jointly establish categories of projects to which paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply. Within 90 days after June 30, 1980, the Secretaries shall identify potential categories and make an initial determination of exempted categories.

(d) Notification of applicant upon disapproval of application for financial assistance

(e) Implementation of functions assigned to Secretary of Agriculture by administrative entities within Department of Agriculture; issuance of regulations; coordination of functions by designated entities

(1) The functions assigned under this subchapter to the Secretary of Agriculture may be carried out by any of the administrative entities in the Department of Agriculture which the Secretary of Agriculture may designate. Within 30 days after June 30, 1980, the Secretary of Agriculture shall make such designations and notify the Congress of the administrative entity or entities so designated and the officials in such administrative entity or entities who are to be responsible for such functions.

(2) The Secretary of Agriculture may issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out functions assigned to the Secretary of Agriculture under this subchapter.

(3) The entities or entity designated under paragraph (1) shall coordinate the administration of functions assigned to it under this subsection with any other biomass energy programs within the Department of Agriculture established under other provisions of law.

(f) Implementation of functions assigned to Secretary of Energy by Office of Alcohol Fuels

(g) Energy equivalency determinations respecting biomass energy and ethanol

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 212, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 687.)

§ 8813. Insured loans

(a) Authority of Secretary of Agriculture; maximum amount per project

(b) Estimated project construction costs as determinative of initial and revised amount of loan; interest rate

(1) Any insured loan under this section—

(A) may not exceed 90 per centum of the total estimated cost of construction of the biomass energy project involved, and

(B) shall bear interest at rates determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average maturities of such loans, plus not to exceed one per centum, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, and adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of one per centum.

(2) In the event the total estimated costs of construction of the project thereafter exceed the total estimated costs initially determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary may in addition, upon application therefor, make an insured loan for so much of the additional estimated total costs as does not exceed 10 per centum of the total costs initially estimated.

(1) The Secretary of Agriculture shall make insured loans under this section using, to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund in section 309 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act [7 U.S.C. 1929] or the Rural Development Insurance Fund in section 309A of such Act [7 U.S.C. 1929a] (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Funds”). The Secretary of Agriculture may not use an aggregate amount of funds to make or commit to make insured loans under this section in excess of the aggregate amount for insured loans and administrative costs appropriated and transferred under section 8803 of this title. The terms, conditions, and requirements applicable to such insured loans shall be in accordance with this subchapter.

(2) There shall be reimbursed to the Funds, from appropriations made under section 8803 of this title, amounts equal to the operating and administrative costs incurred by the Secretary of Agriculture in insuring loans under this section.

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act [7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.], no funds made available to the Secretary of Agriculture under this section for insured loans shall be used for any other purpose.

(4) For purposes of this section, the term “insured loan” means a loan which is made, sold, and insured.

(d) Preconditions

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 213, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 690.)

§ 8814. Loan guarantees

(a) Authority of Secretary concerned

(b) Estimated project construction costs as determinative of initial and revised amount of guarantee

(1) Any guarantee of a loan under this section may not exceed 90 per centum of the cost of the construction of the biomass energy project involved, as estimated by the Secretary on the date of the guarantee or commitment to guarantee.

(2) In the event the construction costs of the project are thereafter estimated by the Secretary concerned to exceed the construction costs initially estimated by the Secretary, the Secretary may in addition, upon application therefor, guarantee, against loss of principal and interest, a loan for up to 60 per centum of the difference between the construction costs then estimated and the construction costs initially estimated.

(d) Terms and conditions

(e) Termination, cancellation, or revocation, and conclusive nature of guarantee

(f) Payment to lender

If the Secretary concerned determines that—

(1) the borrower is unable to meet payments and is not in default,

(2) it is in the public interest to permit the borrower to continue with such project, and

(3) the probable net benefit to the United States in paying the principal and interest due under the loan will be greater than that which would result in the event of a default,

then the Secretary may pay to the lender under a loan guarantee agreement an amount not greater than the principal and interest which the borrower is obligated to pay to such lender, if the borrower agrees to reimburse the Secretary for such payment on terms and conditions, including interest, which the Secretary determines are sufficient to protect the financial interests of the United States.

(g) Preconditions

(1) A loan may not be guaranteed under this section unless the applicant for such loan has established to the satisfaction of the Secretary concerned that the lender is not willing without such a guarantee to extend credit to the applicant at reasonable rates and terms, taking into consideration prevailing rates and terms for loans for similar purposes and periods of time, to finance the construction of the biomass energy project for which such loan is sought.

(2) The Secretary concerned shall ensure that the lender bears a reasonable degree of risk in the financing of such project.

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II § 214, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 690.)

§ 8815. Price guarantees

(a) Authority of Secretary concerned; minimum sales price

(b) Cost-plus arrangements as basis

(1) No price guarantee under this section may be based upon a cost-plus arrangement, or variant thereof, which guarantees a profit to the owner or operator involved.

(2) The use of a cost-of-service pricing mechanism by a person pursuant to law, or by a regulatory body establishing rates for a regulated person, shall not be deemed to be a cost-plus arrangement, or variant thereof, for purposes of paragraph (1).

(d) Renegotiation of sales price and maximum liability

If the Secretary determines, in the discretion of the Secretary, that—

(1) a biomass energy project would not otherwise be satisfactorily completed or continued, and

(2) completion or continuation of such project would be necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter,

the sales price set forth in the price guarantee, and maximum liability under such guarantee, may be renegotiated.

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 215, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 692.)

§ 8816. Purchase agreements

(a) Authority of Secretary concerned; consultative requirements

Subject to sections 8812 and 8817 of this title, the Secretary concerned may commit to make, and make, purchase agreements for all or part of the biomass energy production of any biomass energy project, if the Secretary determines—

(1) that such biomass energy is of a type, quantity, and quality that can be used by Federal agencies; and

(2) that the quantity of such biomass energy, if delivery is accepted, would not exceed the likely needs of Federal agencies.

Each Secretary concerned shall consult with the other Secretary before making any determination under paragraph (2).

(b) Maximum sales price

The Secretary concerned in entering into, or committing to enter into, a purchase agreement under this section shall require—

(1) assurances that the quality of the biomass energy purchased will meet standards for the use for which such energy is purchased;

(2) assurances that the ordered quantities of such energy will be delivered on a timely basis; and

(3) such other assurances as may reasonably be required.

(d) Arrangements for delivery pursuant to agreement; charge to Federal agency receiving delivery

(e) Consultative requirements

(f) Terms and conditions

(g) Maximum dollar amount of liability of United States

(h) Renegotiation of sales price and maximum liability

If the Secretary concerned determines, in the discretion of the Secretary, that—

(1) a biomass energy project would not otherwise be satisfactorily completed or continued, and

(2) completion or continuation of such project would be necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter,

the sales price set forth in the purchase agreement, and maximum liability under such agreement, may be renegotiated.

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 216, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 692.)

§ 8817. General requirements regarding financial assistance

(a) Priorities, terms, availability, etc.

(1) Priority for financial assistance under this subchapter, and the most favorable financial terms available, shall be provided to a person for any biomass energy project that—

(A) uses a primary fuel other than petroleum or natural gas in the production of biomass fuel, such as geothermal energy resources, solar energy resources, or waste heat; or

(B) applies new technologies which expand the possible feedstocks, produces new forms of biomass energy, or produces biomass fuel using improved or new technologies.

Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to exclude financial assistance for any project which does not use such a fuel or apply such a technology.

(2)

(A) Financial assistance under this subchapter shall be available for a biomass energy project only if the Secretary concerned finds that the Btu span of the motor fuels to be used in the facility involved to produce the biomass fuel will not exceed the Btu span of the biomass fuel produced in the facility.

(B) In making the determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned shall take into account any displacement of motor fuel or other petroleum products which the applicant has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Secretary would result from the use of the biomass fuel produced in the facility involved.

(3) No financial assistance may be provided under this subchapter to any person for any biomass energy project if the Secretary concerned finds that the process to be used by the project will not extract the protein span of the feedstock for utilization as food or feed for readily available markets in any case in which to do so would be technically and economically practicable.

(4) Financial assistance may not be provided under this subchapter to any person unless the Secretary concerned—

(A) finds that necessary feedstocks are available and it is reasonable to expect they will continue to be available in the future, and, for biomass energy projects using wood or wood wastes or residues from the National Forest System, there shall be taken into account current levels of use by then existing facilities;

(B) has obtained assurance that the person receiving such financial assistance will bear a reasonable degree of risk in the construction and operation of the project; and

(C) has determined that the amount of financial assistance provided for the project is not greater than is necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter.

(5) In providing financial assistance under this subchapter, the Secretary concerned shall give due consideration to promoting competition.

(6) In determining the amount of financial assistance for any biomass energy project which will yield byproducts in addition to biomass energy, the Secretary shall consider the potential value of such byproducts and the costs attributable to their production.

(b) Terms, conditions, maturity, etc., for insured loans, and loan guarantees

(1) No financial assistance may be provided to any person under this subchapter unless an application therefor—

(A) has been submitted to the Secretary concerned by that person in such form and under such procedures as the Secretary shall prescribe, consistent with the requirements of this subchapter, and

(B) has been approved by the Secretary in accordance with such procedures.

(2) Each such application shall include information regarding the construction costs of the biomass energy project involved, and estimates of operating costs and income relating to that project (including the sale of any byproducts from that project). In addition, each applicant shall provide—

(A) access at reasonable times to such other information, and

(B) such assurances,

as the Secretary concerned may require.

(d) Reports and recordkeeping

(1) Every recipient of financial assistance under this subchapter shall, as a condition precedent thereto, consent to such examinations and reports regarding the biomass energy project involved as the Secretary concerned may require.

(2) With respect to each biomass energy project for which financial assistance is provided under this subchapter, the Secretary shall—

(A) require from the recipient of financial assistance such reports and records relating to that project as the Secretary deems necessary;

(B) prescribe the manner in which such recipient shall keep such records; and

(C) have access to such records at reasonable times for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions upon which financial assistance is provided.

(e) Contracts and instruments of Secretary concerned backed by full faith and credit of United States

(f) Contestability of contracts

(g) Fees for loan guarantees, etc.

(1) A fee or fees may be charged and collected by the Secretary concerned for any loan guarantee, price guarantee, or purchase agreement provided under this subchapter.

(2) The amount of such fee shall be based on the estimated administrative costs and risk of loss, except that such fee may not exceed 1 per centum of the amount of the financial assistance provided.

(h) Deposit of amounts received by Secretary concerned

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 217, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 693.)

§ 8818. Reports

(a) Repealed. Pub. L. 99–386, title I, § 101(a), Aug. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 821

(b) Comprehensive list of loans, grants, etc.

(1)

(A) The Office of Alcohol Fuels shall submit to the Congress and the President annual reports containing a general description of the Office’s operations during the year and a description and evaluation of each biomass energy project for which financial assistance by the Office is then in effect.

(B) Each annual report shall describe progress made toward meeting the goals of this subchapter and contain specific recommendations on what actions the Congress could take in order to facilitate the work of the Office in achieving such goals.

(2) On or before September 30, 1990, the Office shall submit to the Congress and the President a report evaluating the overall impact made by the Office and describing the status of each biomass energy project which has received financial assistance under this subchapter from the Office. Such report shall contain a plan for the termination of the work of the Office.

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 218, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 695; Pub. L. 99–386, title I, § 101(a), Aug. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 821.)

§ 8819. Review; reorganization

(a) The President shall review periodically the progress of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy in carrying out the purposes of this subchapter.

(b) If the President determines it necessary in order to achieve such purposes the President may, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 9 of title 5, provide for a reorganization, including any required realignment of the respective programs of the Secretaries under this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 219, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 695.)

§ 8820. Office of Alcohol Fuels

(a) Establishment in Department of Energy; appointment and compensation of Director

(b) Responsibilities of Director

(1) The Director shall be responsible for carrying out the functions of the Secretary of Energy under this subchapter which relate to alcohol, including the terms and conditions of financial assistance and the selection of recipients for that assistance, subject to the general supervision of the Secretary of Energy.

(2) The Director shall be responsible directly to the Secretary of Energy.

(d) Consultations respecting coordination of programs

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 220, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 696.)

§ 8821. Termination of authorities; modification of terms and conditions of conditional commitments for loan guarantees

No insured loan, loan guarantee, price guarantee, or purchase agreement may be committed to or made under this subchapter after September 30, 1984, except that all conditional commitments for loan guarantees under this subchapter which were in existence on September 30, 1984, are hereby extended through June 30, 1987. This section shall not be construed to affect the authority of the Secretary concerned to spend funds after such date pursuant to any contract for financial assistance made on or before that date under this subchapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the Secretary of Energy may modify the terms and conditions of any conditional commitment for a loan guarantee under this subchapter made before October 1, 1984, including the amount of the loan guarantee. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as indicating Congressional approval with respect to any pending conditional commitments under this Act.

(Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 221, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 696; Pub. L. 99–24, § 1(a), Apr. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 50; Pub. L. 99–190, § 101(a), Dec. 19, 1985, 99 Stat. 1185; Pub. L. 99–272, title VII, § 7301, Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 143; Pub. L. 99–500, § 101(h) [title III, § 318], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–242, 1783–286, and Pub. L. 99–591, § 101(h) [title III, § 318], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–242, 3341–287; Pub. L. 100–202, § 106, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–433.)