[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 59318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25522]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 226 / Friday, November 23, 2018 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 59318]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Rural Housing Service
Rural Utilities Service
Farm Service Agency
7 CFR Part 1970
RIN 0572-AC44
Rural Development Environmental Regulation for Rural
Infrastructure Projects
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service,
Rural Utilities Service, Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural
Development (RD), comprised of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service
(RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS),
hereafter referred to as the Agency, proposes amending the Agency's
Environmental Policies and Procedures regulation to allow the Agency
Administrators limited flexibility to obligate federal funds for
infrastructure projects prior to completion of the environmental review
while ensuring full compliance with National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) procedures prior to project construction and disbursement of
funding. The proposed change will allow RD to more fully meet the
Administration's goals to speed the initiation of infrastructure
projects and encourage planned community economic development without
additional cost to taxpayers or change to environmental review
requirements.
DATE: Electronic and written comments must be received on or before
December 24, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments on this rule by any of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower ``Search Regulations and Federal
Actions'' box, select ``Rural Utilities Service'' from the agency drop-
down menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select
RUS-18-AGENCY-0005 to submit or view public comments and to view
supporting and related materials available electronically. Information
on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing
documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close
of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips''
link.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send your comment
addressed to Michele Brooks, Rural Development Innovation Center,
Regulations Team Lead, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Ave. SW, Stop 1522, Room 1562, Washington, DC 20250.
Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. RUS-18-AGENCY-0005.
Other Information: Additional information about Rural Development
and its programs is available on the internet at https://www.usda.gov/topics/rural.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kellie McGinness Kubena, Director,
Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service, USDA
Rural Development, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Mail Stop 1571, Room
2242, Washington, DC 20250-1571, Phone: 202-720-1649.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the rules section of this issue of the
Federal Register, Rural Development is concurrently publishing this
action as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency
views this as a non-controversial action and anticipates no adverse
comments. The language in the direct final rule will also serve as the
language for this proposed rule. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
provided in the direct final rule for the applicable SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION on this action. If no adverse comments are received in
response to the direct final rule, no further action will be taken on
this proposed rule and the action will become effective at the time
specified in the direct final rule. If the Agency receives adverse
comments, a timely document will be published withdrawing the direct
final rule and all public comments received will be addressed in a
subsequent final rule based on this action.
Dated: November 9, 2018.
Anne C. Hazlett,
Assistant to the Secretary, Rural Development.
Bill Northey,
Under Secretary, Farm Production and Conservation.
[FR Doc. 2018-25522 Filed 11-21-18; 8:45 am]
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