Key Energy Crop Program Rule Writing Begins
(June 3) In a series of public meetings and in a request for written comments, USDA is asking the public for its opinion on how to implement the new Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). BCAP will help to make advanced, sustainable biofuels production a reality by providing incentive payments to farmers to help offset energy crop establishment, harvesting, and other related costs. Comments on first part of the EIS process are due to USDA by close-of-business on June 12, and can be submitted here.
Using procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department is conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS), and is proposing two different options for implementing BCAP: limited or broad implementation.
USDA’s Proposal
USDA has proposed two options for implementing BCAP: A limited, targeted approach that would restrict acreage, scope of payments, and types of crops and facilities, or a broader approach with payments for more practices and inclusion of more project and crop types.
The following table summarizes USDA’s two alternatives for implementing BCAP.
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USDA Proposed Alternatives for Implementing BCAP May 28, 2009 |
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| Alternative A – Targeted Implementation of BCAP | Alternative B – Broad Implementation of BCAP |
| Already established biomass conversion facility supported by BCAP project areas are limited to producing energy and biofuels. | All bio-based products produced by any biomass conversion facility in BCAP project areas can be supported. |
| Collection, harvest, storage, and transportation payments are limited to eligible material delivered to biomass conversion facilities included in a BCAP project area. | Facilities outside of a BCAP project area may receive BCAP supported eligible material. |
| No new non-agricultural lands allowed for BCAP project area crop production. | New non-agricultural lands allowed for BCAP project area crop production. |
| Cropland acres enrolled in the program would be capped at 25 percent of cropland acres within a given county. | Cropland acres enrolled in the program would be not be capped. |
| Advanced biofuels produced by BCAP project area biomass conversion facilities must meet the greenhouse gas test. | Advanced biofuels produced by BCAP project area biomass conversion facilities do not need to meet the greenhouse gas test. |
| Only new biomass conversion facilities are allowed to be part of BCAP project areas and only newly established crops on BCAP contract acres are eligible crops. | Existing biomass conversion facilities and crops already established that meet BCAP eligibility requirements are supported. |
| Only large commercial biomass conversion facilities would be allowed in BCAP project areas. | Small and Pilot biomass conversion facilities would qualify for BCAP project areas. |
| Payments would be limited to provide some risk mitigation. | Payments would completely replace lost potential income from non-BCAP crops. |
USDA is preparing a “programmatic environmental impact statement” that will summarize the different environmental impacts of each of these two options and help guide the Department’s implementation of BCAP.
Additional Resources
- USDA’s informational/public comment page on the BCAP Environmental Impact Statement process – visit this page if you want to submit your own comments and to learn more about USDA’s proposal.
- The BCAP legislation from the 2008 Farm Bill.
- Our summary of the BCAP program.
- USDA’s Federal Register notice announcing the public meetings and written comment period for the BCAP EIS process.