[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 1, 1998)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 35847] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-17624] [[Page 35847]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 42 CFR Part 121 Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network; Final Rule Revision of Comment Period and Effective Dates AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS. ACTION: Extension of Comment Period and Delay of Effective Date for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document sets forth the revisions required by the Fiscal Year 1998 Supplemental Appropriations Act, Public Law 105-174, signed into law by the President on May 1, 1998. Section 4002 of that Act states that public comments on the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Final Rule are permitted until August 31, 1998, and that the OPTN rule will not become effective before October 1, 1998. This document is provided to notify the public about these provisions and to make corresponding changes to the regulation. DATES: The effective date of the final rule published April 2, 1998 (63 FR 16296), as amended in this rule, is delayed until October 1, 1998. Comments on the final rule may be submitted through August 31, 1998. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be addressed to Jon L. Nelson, Associate Director, Office of Special Programs, Room 123, Park Building, 12420 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20857 as provided in the April 2, 1998, final rule, 63 FR 16296. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon L. Nelson, Associate Director, Office of Special Programs, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-29, Rockville, MD 20857, telephone 301-443-7577. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 2, 1998, the Secretary of Health and Human Services published in the Federal Register a final rule governing the operation of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. That document invited public comments for a period of sixty days, ending on June 1, 1998. The final rule was to be effective on July 1, 1998. As a result of the enactment of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, the comment period has been extended until August 31, 1998, and the final rule will become effective on October 1, 1998. Consistent with these extensions, several of the provisions of the final rule whose internal deadlines were tied to the effective date of the final rule are also being extended. Therefore, 42 CFR Part 121, as promulgated at 63 FR 16296-16338, is amended as follows: 1. The authority citation for Part 121 continues to read as follows: Authority: Sections 215, 371-376 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 216, 273-274d); Sections 1102, 1106, 1138, and 1872 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1302, 1306, 1320b-8 and 1395ii). Sec. 121.3 [Amended] 2. In Sec. 121.3(e), revise ``July 1, 1998,'' wherever it appears to read ``October 1, 1998,''. Sec. 121.8 [Amended] 3. Sec. 121.8(c)(1), revise ``July 1, 1999'' to read ``October 1, 1999''. 4. Sec. 121.8(c)(2), revise ``August 31, 1998'' to read ``November 30, 1998''. Dated: June 2, 1998. Claude Earl Fox, Administrator. Approved: June 23, 1998. Donna E. Shalala, Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-17624 Filed 6-30-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4180-15-M