Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)

Instructions for the Form BCAP-21, “BIOMASS CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (BCAP) PROJECT AREA PROPOSAL ESTIMATES.”

Project sponsors complete the BCAP-21 “Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Project Area Proposal Estimates” as part of their package describing the project area they are proposing for inclusion in BCAP. Project areas are specific geographic areas where certain producers would then be eligible to apply for establishment annual payments under BCAP.

The project proposal form will supply information required for review of project proposals under 7 CFR Part 1450, as outlined in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

Specifically this form will collect information concerning the proposed project area selection criteria:

1. The dry tons of the eligible crops proposed to be produced in the proposed project area and the probability that such crops will be used for BCAP purposes;

2. Dry tons of renewable biomass projected to be available from the sources other than the eligible crops grown on contract acres;

3. The anticipated economic impact in the proposed project area;

4. The opportunity for producers and local investors to participate in the ownership of the biomass conversion facility in the proposed project area;

5. The participation rate by beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers;

6. The impact on soil, water, and related resources;

7. The variety in biomass production approaches within a project area, including agronomic conditions, harvest and postharvest practices, and monoculture and polyculture crop mixes;

8. The range of eligible crops among project areas; and

9. Other additional criteria concerning the project viability and impacts.

For more information please visit the USDA Farm Service Agency’s web site at www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap or contact Kelly Novak at 202.720.4053 or [email protected].

Project Sponsors must complete “BIOMASS CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (BCAP) PROJECT AREA PROPOSAL ESTIMATES” Items 4 through 5.

Fld Name / Item No.	Instruction
1A Approved Project Area ID Number	For FSA National office use.
1B Date Assigned (MM-DD-YYYY)	For FSA National office use.
2 A – C Project Proposal Cost Estimate -- Annual Payments	To be completed by CCC, the State FSA office. For each applicable line item, representing a unique combination of land type and contract duration, CCC will enter A) the total acreage of proposed for inclusion in the project area and B) the proposed average per acre contract annual payment rate to calculate C) the estimated annual contract payments for the proposed project area. Entries in column A and B must based on documentation submitted with the project proposal package.
3 A - D Project Proposal Cost Estimate -- Establishment Payments	To be completed by CCC, the State FSA office. For each perennial crop included in the project area proposal, CCC will enter: The common name of the crop The total acreage proposed for establishment in the project area The estimated cost-share amount for establishment of the eligible crop. CCC will calculate D) the total estimated establishment costs of the proposed project area.
4A Criteria 1 The volume of the eligible crops proposed.	The project sponsor will enter the percentage of the annual biomass feedstock needs that will be met by crops established on BCAP contract acres. This percentage shall be based on estimates of biomass consumption of the facility or facilities committed to the BCAP project and the production of biomass from BCAP contract acres when the project is fully operational.
4B Criteria 2 The volume of renewable biomass projected …	The project sponsor will enter the percentage of the annual biomass feedstock needs that will be met by materials obtained from sources other than BCAP contract acres. This percentage shall be based on estimates of biomass consumption of the facility or facilities committed to the BCAP project and the production of biomass from BCAP contract acres when the project is fully operational.
4C Criteria 3 The anticipated economic impact in the proposed project area.	The project sponsor will enter the anticipated number of new jobs that will be created in the project area as a result of BCAP. The number entered here should represent jobs created at the associated conversion facility and in the project area.
4D Criteria 4 The opportunity for producers and local investors to participate in the ownership…	The project sponsor will enter the percentage of the associated biomass conversion facility that is owned by investors whose primary residence is in the project area.
4E Criteria 5 The participation rate by beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.	The project sponsor will enter the expected participation rate by socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers. For the purposes of BCAP, socially disadvantaged producers are defined in the BCAP rule , 7 CFR Part 1450, section 1450.2 means: “unless other classes of persons are approved by CCC in writing, a farmer or rancher who is a member of a group whose members have been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. Groups include: (1) American Indians or Alaskan Natives; (2) Asians or Asian Americans; (3) Blacks or African Americans; (4) Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders; and (5) Hispanics.” For the purposes of BCAP, beginning farmers and ranchers are defined in the BCAP rule, 7 CFR Part 1450, section 1450.2 means: “as determined by CCC, a person or entity who: Has not been a farm or ranch operator or owner for more than 10 years, Materially and substantially participates in the operation of the farm or ranch, and If an entity, is an entity in which at least 50 percent of the members or stockholders of the entity meet the first two requirements of this definition.”
4F Criteria 6 The impact on soil, water, and related resources.	The project sponsor will make a yes or no selection in response to seven questions related to the anticipated environmental impact of the proposed project area. These factors characterize the expected impact the proposed project will have on soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources with the project area when compared to current land use.
4G Criteria 7 The variety in biomass production approaches within a project area, including, as appropriate, agronomic conditions…	The project sponsor will: Select a yes or no response as to whether the project area has agronomic conditions suitable for the cultivation of crops included in the project proposal Select a yes or no response as to the suitability of the project area for a variety of harvest and post harvest practices for the crops included in the project proposal Enter the number of distinct crops included in the project proposal
5A Signature (By)	Enter the signature for the representative of the project sponsor.
5B Title/Relationship of the Individual if Signing in a Representative Capacity	Enter the signing representative’s title that is assigned to the individual by the entity or best reflects the signing representative’s role with the entity.
5C Date (MM-DD-YYYY)	Enter the date on which the representative signed the BCAP-21 form. Enter the date in the following format: MM/DD/YYYY.
6A CCC Signature	For State FSA office use only. Enter the signature for the CCC representative.
6B Date (MM-DD-YYYY)	For State FSA office use only. Enter the date on which the CCC representative signed the BCAP-21 form. Enter the date in the following format: MM/DD/YYYY.