[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53262-53263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26493]
[[Page 53261]]
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Part V
Department of Housing and Urban Development
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24 CFR Part 598
Empowerment Zones: Rule for Second Round Designations; Final Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 191 / Friday, October 2, 1998 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 53262]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
24 CFR Part 598
[Docket No. FR-4281-F-07]
RIN 2506-AB97
Empowerment Zones: Rule for Second Round Designations
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This rule adopts as final the interim rule published on this
subject on April 16, 1998, without substantive change. The only change
at the final rule is to include the OMB approval number for the rule's
information collection requirements. The August 16, 1998 interim rule
increased the scope of HUD's Empowerment Zones Program by providing
authorization for the designation of 15 new urban zones.
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 2, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elaine Braverman, Empowerment Zone/
Enterprise Community Initiative, Department of Housing and Urban
Development, Room 7130, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410,
telephone (202) 708-6339. (This telephone number is not toll-free.) For
hearing-and speech-impaired persons, this telephone number may be
accessed via TTY (text telephone) by calling the Federal Information
Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 (toll-free).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On April 16, 1998 (63 FR 19151), HUD published an interim rule to
implement an August 1997 enactment authorizing HUD to increase the
scope of its Empowerment Zones program by designating 15 new urban
empowerment zones. This second round of designations increased the size
of the program beyond the six urban empowerment zones designated in
1995 under prior legislation. The interim rule specified the
eligibility criteria, which the statute had changed somewhat from those
used in making the first round of designations. The rule also specified
the nomination procedure to be followed by local and State (or tribal)
governments and the selection factors to be used by HUD.
The rule was made effective on May 18, 1998, so that governments,
businesses, and non-profit organizations would be able to work together
to develop proposals in time for the announced October 9, 1998 deadline
for nominations.
II. This Final Rule
The Department received no public comments on the interim rule.
This final rule adopts the interim rule as final without substantive
change. The publication of the final rule assures the affected parties
that the provisions of the interim rule are permanent, continuing in
effect without change throughout this period of preparation of
nominations and selection of designated zones.
In addition, this final rule inserts in the rule text the statement
of the information collection approval number approved by OMB for the
sections that contain information collections.
III. Findings and Certifications
A. Public Reporting Burden
The information collections contained in the interim rule and
implementing documents were approved by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB control number 2506-0148, effective
through August 31, 1998. Comments were solicited on the information
collections in that interim rule, but none were received. Since
publication of the interim rule, HUD submitted a request to OMB for an
extension of the approval for the information collections. OMB granted
that approval, extending its approval through September, 2001. In this
final rule, the approval number is being inserted after the sections to
which it applies. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD
may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to,
a collection of information unless the collection displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
B. Impact on Small Entities
In the interim rule, HUD stated its determination that, after
review for compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
605(b)), the rule would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. The rule merely authorizes
entities of all sizes to seek designation as Empowerment Zones, as
authorized by statute. The rule's preamble invited comment on this
determination, however, on any of the requirements for seeking
designation that could be tailored in a way that might be less
burdensome to small entities. No comments were received. Consequently,
the Department reiterates its conclusion that the rule does not impose
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
C. Environmental Impact
A Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the environment
was made with respect to the interim rule, in accordance with HUD
regulations at 24 CFR part 50, which implement section 102(2)(C) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. That Finding is applicable
to this rule, as well, and it is available for public inspection
between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays in the Regulations Division of
the Office of the General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban
Development, Room 10276, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410.
D. Regulatory Review
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reviewed this rule under
Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review. OMB determined
that this rule is a ``significant regulatory action,'' as defined in
section 3(f) of the Order (although not economically significant, as
provided in section 3(f)(1) of the Order). Any changes made to the
final rule after its submission to OMB are identified in the docket
file, which is available for public inspection in the Regulations
Division of the Office of General Counsel at the address stated above,
under Environmental Impact.
E. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program number assigned
to this program is 14.244.
Accordingly, the interim rule amending part 598 of title 24 of the
Code of Federal Regulations, as published in the Federal Register at 63
FR 19151on April 16, 1998, is adopted as final with the following
change:
PART 598--URBAN EMPOWERMENT ZONES: ROUND TWO DESIGNATIONS
1. The authority citation continues to read as follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 1391; 42 U.S.C. 3535(d).
Secs. 598.200, 598.205, 598.210, 598.215, 598.415, 598.430 [Amended]
2. Sections 598.200, 598.205, 598.210, 598.215, 598.415, and
598.430 are amended by adding at the end of each of the sections the
following language:
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control
Number 2506-0148)
[[Page 53263]]
Dated: September 25, 1998.
Saul N. Ramirez, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 98-26493 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
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