```

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 181 (Monday, September 19, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 57940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23962]

========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 181 / Monday, September 19, 2011 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 57940]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

7 CFR Part 1493

RIN 0551-AA74

CCC Export Credit Guarantee (GSM-102) Program

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service and Commodity Credit Corporation, 
USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) published a proposed 
rule on July 27, 2011 (76 FR 44836-44855), revising and amending the 
regulations that administer the Export Credit Guarantee (GSM-102) 
Program. Changes in this proposed rule incorporate program operational 
changes and information from press releases and notices to participants 
that have been implemented since the publication of the current rule, 
and include other administrative revisions to enhance clarity and 
program integrity. CCC is extending the comment period for the proposed 
rule to give the public more time to provide input and recommendations 
on the proposed rule. The original comment period would have closed on 
September 26, 2011; CCC is extending the comment period for 30 
additional days. With this extension, the public may submit comments 
through October 26, 2011.

DATES: Comments concerning this proposed rule must be received by 
October 26, 2011, to be assured consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions to submit comments.
     E-Mail: GSMregs@fas.usda.gov.
     Fax: (202) 720-2495, Attention: ``GSM102 Proposed Rule 
Comments''.
     Hand Delivery, Courier, or U.S. Postal delivery: Amy 
Slusher, Deputy Director, Credit Programs Division, c/o Public Affairs 
Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Stop 1004, Room 5076, Washington, DC 
20250-1004.
    Comments may be inspected at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except holidays. A copy of this proposed rule is available through the 
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) homepage at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/excredits/exp-cred-guar-new.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Slusher, Deputy Director, Credit 
Programs Division; by phone at (202) 720-6211; or by e-mail at: 
Amy.Slusher@fas.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 27, 2011, CCC published a proposed rule titled ``CCC Export 
Credit Guarantee (GSM-102) Program'' in the Federal Register (76 FR 
44836-44855). The GSM-102 Program is administered by the Foreign 
Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
on behalf of CCC, pursuant to program regulations codified at 7 CFR 
part 1493 and through the issuance of ``Program Announcements'' and 
``Notices to Participants'' that are consistent with this program 
regulation. The current regulations became effective on November 18, 
1994. Since that time, CCC has implemented numerous operational changes 
to improve the efficiency of the program, including revised program 
controls to improve program quality, reduce costs, and protect against 
waste and fraud. Also since that time, agricultural trade and finance 
practices have evolved. This proposed rule is intended to reflect these 
changes and to enhance the overall clarity and integrity of the 
program. In addition, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
repealed the authority to operate the GSM-103 Program, and this change 
is reflected in the proposed rule.
    CCC has received comments from a number of organizations requesting 
that the comment period for the proposed rule be extended to allow 
industry and other affected parties, both in the United States and 
abroad, to carefully analyze changes in the proposed rule and provide 
thorough comments. In response to this request, CCC is extending the 
comment period by 30 days to give the public more time to provide input 
and to make recommendations on the proposed rule. With this extension, 
the public may submit comments through October 26, 2011.

    Dated: September 9, 2011.
Suzanne E. Heinen,
Acting Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation, and Acting 
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-23962 Filed 9-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P
```