Emergency Conservation Program and Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)

Instructions for 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. 

 

Submit the original of the completed form in hard copy or facsimile to the appropriate USDA servicing office.

 

Customers who have established electronic access credentials with USDA may electronically transmit this form to the USDA servicing office, provided that (1) the customer submitting the form is the only person required to sign the transaction, or (2) the customer has an approved Power of Attorney (Form FSA-211) on file with USDA to sign for other customers for the program and type of transaction represented by this form.

 

Features for transmitting the form electronically are available to those customers with access credentials only.  If you would like to establish online access credentials with USDA, follow the instructions provided at the USDA eForms web site.

 

Project Sponsors must complete Items 4 through 5.

 

Items 1-3 are for FSA use only.

 

Items 4-5

Fld Name / Item No.	Instruction
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: (1)   Has not been a farm or ranch operator or owner for more than  10 years, (2)   Materially and substantially participates in the operation of the farm or ranch, and (3)   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: (1)   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 (2)   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 (3)   Enter the number of distinct crops included in the project proposal
5A Signature (By)	Enter the signature for the representative of the project sponsor.   If you are mailing or faxing this form, print the form and manually enter your signature. If this form is approved for electronic transmission and you have established credentials with USDA to submit forms electronically, use the buttons provided on the form for transmitting the form to the USDA servicing office
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.

 

Item 6 is for FSA use only.