[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 72575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33640]


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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. 64, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 28, 1999 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 72575]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1721


Post-Loan Policies and Procedures for Insured Electric Loans

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: As a part of its ongoing program of streamlining regulations, 
the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is proposing to amend its regulation 
on the advance of funds to reflect an increase in the threshold limit 
from $25,000 to $100,000, for which plant investments may be made in 
the borrowers' systems and be eligible for insured loan fund financing 
without being included in an RUS approved construction work plan (CWP). 
In addition, RUS is proposing to no longer limit borrowers to 130 
percent of the project cost estimate for projects in the CWP or 
amendment and approved loan, as amended, for which prior RUS approval 
must be obtained. These changes would have the effect of reducing the 
number of actions by borrowers that would otherwise be required and 
would reduce administrative costs to borrowers and to the agency.
    In the final rule section of this Federal Register, RUS is 
publishing this action as a direct final rule without prior proposal 
because RUS views this as a noncontroversial action and anticipates no 
adverse comments. 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 RUS receives adverse comments, a 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. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do 
so at this time.

DATES: Comments on this proposed action must be received on or before 
January 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., 
Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. RUS requires a signed original and three 
copies of all comments (7 CFR 1700.4). Comments will be available for 
public inspection during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHUR INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles M. Philpott, Chief, 
Engineering Branch, Northern Regional Division, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service, Room 4034 South Bldg., 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 
720-1432. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the Supplementary Information provided 
in the direct final rule located in the final rule section of this 
Federal Register for the applicable supplementary information on this 
section.

    Dated: December 21, 1999.
Jill Long Thompson,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 99-33640 Filed 12-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P