This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

31245

Vol. 65, No. 96

Wednesday, May 17, 2000

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

7 CFR Part 2

Revision of Delegations of Authority;

Correction

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

SUMMARY: The Department of

Agriculture published in the Federal

Register of February 4, 2000, a

document of revising 7 CFR Part 2,

Revision of Delegations of Authority.

This document corrects the amendatory

instructions in that document. The

revisions to the delegations of authority

were made to reflect passage of the

Agricultural Research, Extension, and

Education Reform Act of 1998.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective February 4,

2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Philip Schwab, Science Advisor and

Legislation Affairs, Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service, USDA, Room 305–A, Jamie L.

Whitten Federal Bldg., Washington, DC

20250, telephone 202–720–4423.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Department of Agriculture published in

the Federal Register of February 4,

2000, (65 FR 5414) a revision to the

delegations of authority found at 7 CFR

Part 2. Paragraph number (a)(1)(xx) was

inadvertently omitted from amendatory

instruction 2.d. This correction revises

amendatory instruction 2.d. to include

that paragraph number.

In FR Doc. 00–2396 published on

February 4, 2000 (65 FR 5414) made the

following correction. On page 5414, in

the third column, amendatory

instruction 2.d. to 2.21 is corrected to

read as follows:

§ 2.21 [Corrected]

2. * * *

d. Revise paragraphs (a)(1)(x),

(a)(1)(xx), (a)(1)(xliv), (a)(1)(l),

(a)(1)(liii), (a)(1)(lvii), (a)(1)(lix),

(a)(1)(lxxix), and (b)(1)(i) and add

paragraphs (a)(1)(liv), (a)(1)(lxxx),

(a)(1)(lxxxi), and (a)(1)(lxxxvii) to read

as follows:

Done at Washington, DC on this 11th day

of May, 2000.

Dan Glickman,

Secretary of Agriculture.

[FR Doc. 00–12439 Filed 5–16–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 00–004–2]

Asian Longhorned Beetle; Addition to

Quarantined Areas

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as

final rule.

SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final

rule, without change, an interim rule

that amended the Asian longhorned

beetle regulations by expanding the

quarantined area in the city of Chicago,

IL, and adding two new areas in Cook

County, IL. As a result of the interim

rule, the interstate movement of

regulated articles from those areas is

restricted. The interim rule was

necessary on an emergency basis to

prevent the artificial spread of the Asian

longhorned beetle to noninfested areas

of the United States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule

became effective on January 27, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Ron Milberg, Operations Officer,

Program Support, PPQ, APHIS, 4700

River Road Unit 134, Riverdale, MD

20737–1236; (301) 734–5255.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In an interim rule effective January

27, 2000, and published in the Federal

Register on February 2, 2000 (65 FR

4865–4866, Docket No. 00–004–1), we

amended the Asian longhorned beetle

regulations contained in § 301.51–1

through § 301.51–9 by expanding the

quarantined area in the city of Chicago,

IL, and adding two new areas in Cook

County, IL, in § 301.51–3. That action

restricted the interstate movement of

regulated articles from those areas.

Comments on the interim rule were

required to be received on or before

April 3, 2000. We did not receive any

comments. Therefore, for the reasons

given in the interim rule, we are

adopting the interim rule as a final rule.

This action also affirms the

information contained in the interim

rule concerning Executive Orders

12866, 12372, and 12988, and the

Paperwork Reduction Act.

Further, for this action, the Office of

Management and Budget has waived the

review process required by Executive

Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

This rule affirms an interim rule that

amended the Asian longhorned beetle

regulations by expanding the

quarantined area in the city of Chicago,

IL, and adding two new areas in Cook

County, IL. As a result of the interim

rule, the interstate movement of

regulated articles from those areas is

restricted. The interim rule was

necessary on an emergency basis to

prevent the artificial spread of the Asian

longhorned beetle to noninfested areas

of the United States.

The following analysis addresses the

economic effect of this rule on small

entities, as required by the Regulatory

Flexibility Act.

The quarantine and restrictions on the

interstate movement of certain articles

from the quarantined areas has been

determined to be the most effective

means of preventing the artificial spread

of the pest outside the State of Illinois.

Biological controls and pesticides do

not currently appear to be effective

alternatives.

Nonetheless, the interim rule will

have no economic effect on businesses,

large or small, since none are located in

the newly quarantined 216 acres. The

newly quarantined areas consist of a

residential area, a cemetery, and a forest

preserve.

Under these circumstances, the

Administrator of the Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service has

determined that this action will not

have a significant economic impact on

a substantial number of small entities.

31246 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 17, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 301

Agricultural commodities, Plant

diseases and pests, Quarantine,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Transportation.

PART 301—DOMESTIC QUARANTINE

NOTICES

Accordingly, we are adopting as a

final rule, without change, the interim

rule that amended 7 CFR part 301 and

that was published at 65 FR 4865–4866

on February 2, 2000.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150bb, 150dd,

150ee, 150ff, 161, 162, and 164–167; 7 CFR

2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).

Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of

May 2000.

Craig A. Reed,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 00–12437 Filed 5–16–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–U

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1710

RIN 0572–AB52

General and Pre-Loan Policies and

Procedures Common to Insured and

Guaranteed Loans

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service

(RUS) is amending its regulations to

allow flexibility in determining whether

a borrower needs to solicit bids from all

sources for new or replacement

generation. It is also deleting the

requirement that borrowers seek bids if

RUS financial assistance is requested

from all sources for generation projects

of 10 megawatts or more or for

modifications to existing plants if it

results in an increase in capacity of 10

percent. RUS will review each project

on a case by case basis and determine

whether there is a need for a borrower

to seek bids from all sources for the

project.

DATES: This rule will become effective

July 3, 2000 unless we receive written

adverse comments or written notice of

intent to submit adverse comments on

or before June 16, 2000. If we receive

such comments or notice, we will

publish a timely document in the

Federal Register withdrawing the rule.

Comments received will be considered

under the proposed rule published in

this edition of the Federal Register in

the proposed rule section. A second

public comment period will not be held.

Parties interested in commenting on this

action should do so at this time.

ADDRESSES: Submit adverse comments

or notice of intent to submit adverse

comments to F. Lamont Heppe, Jr.,

Director, Program Development and

Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Stop 1522, 1400 Independence Avenue,

SW, Washington, DC 20250–1522.

Telephone: (202) 720–9550. 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wei

M. Moy, Chief, Power Resources &

Planning Branch, Power Supply

Division, Rural Utilities Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Stop 1568,

1400 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–1568.

Telephone: (202) 720–1438. FAX (202)

720–1401. E-mail: wmoy@rus.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

This rule has been determined to be

not significant for the purposes of

Executive Order 12866 and, therefore,

has not been reviewed by the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB).

Executive Order 12988

This rule has been reviewed under

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice

Reform. RUS has determined that this

rule meets the applicable standards

provided in section 3 of the Executive

Order. In addition, all state and local

laws and regulations that are in conflict

with this rule will be preempted. No

retroactive effect will be given to this

rule, and in accordance with § 212(e) of

the Department of Agriculture

Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 USC

6912(e)) administrative appeal

procedures, if any, must be exhausted

before an action against the Department

or its agencies may be initiated.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

RUS has determined that this rule

will not have a significant impact on a

substantial number of small entities, as

defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act

(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). The RUS electric

program provides loan and loan

guarantees to borrowers at interest rates

and terms that are more favorable than

those generally available from the

private sector. Small entities are not

subjected to any requirements which are

not applied equally to large entities.

RUS borrowers, as a result of obtaining

federal financing, receive economic

benefits that exceed any direct

economic costs associated with

complying with RUS regulations and

requirements.

Information Collection and

Recordkeeping Requirements

This rule contains no additional

information collection or recordkeeping

requirements under the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.

Chapter 35).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

The program described by this rule is

listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance programs under No. 10.850,

Rural Electrification Loans and Loan

Guarantees. This catalog is available on

a subscription basis from the United

States Government Printing Office,

Washington, DC 20402–9325, telephone

number (202) 512–1800.

Executive Order 12372

This rule is excluded from the scope

of Executive Order 12372,

Intergovernmental Consultation, which

may require consultation with State,

local and tribal governments or the

private sector. See the final rule related

notice entitled ‘‘Department Programs

and Activities Excluded from Executive

Order 12372’’ (50 FR 47034).

Unfunded Mandates

This rule contains no Federal

mandates (under the regulatory

provision of title II of the Unfunded

Mandates Reform Act) for State, local,

and tribal governments or the private

sector. Thus, this rule is not subject to

the requirements of section 202 and 205

of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

National Environmental Policy Act

Certification

The Administrator of RUS has

determined that this rule will not

significantly affect the quality of the

human environment as defined by the

National Environmental Policy Act of

1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Therefore,

this action does not require an

environmental impact statement or

assessment.

Background

Section 1710.254 provides that RUS

will consider providing financial

assistance to borrowers for the

construction of generation facilities and

the modification of existing generation

facilities only if certain conditions are

met. The requirements also apply to

financial assistance for all new

generation facilities of 10 megawatts or

more and for modifications to existing