Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 14 /Thursday, January 22, 1998 / Notices 3331

Number of

respondents×

Frequency

of response× Hours per

response = Burdenhours

HUD–2457 ............................................................................................................................... 750 2 .5 750

Total Estimated Burden Hours: 750.

Status: Reinstatement, with changes.

Contact: Ben J. Jacinto, HUD, (202)

708–2866, x2533; Joseph F. Lackey, Jr.,

OMB, (202) 395–7316.

Dated: January 15, 1998.

[FR Doc. 98–1435 Filed 1–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4210–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR–4315–N–01]

Mortgage and Loan Insurance

Programs Under the National Housing

Act—Debenture Interest Rates

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing

Commissioner, (HUD).

ACTION: Notice of change in debenture

interest rates.

SUMMARY: This notice announces

changes in the interest rates to be paid

on debentures issued with respect to a

loan or mortgage insured by the Federal

Housing Commissioner under the

provisions of the National Housing Act

(the ‘‘Act’’). The interest rate for

debentures issued under Section

221(g)(4) of the Act during the sixmonth period beginning January 1,

1998, is 61⁄4 percent. The interest rate

for debentures issued under any other

provision of the Act is the rate in effect

on the date that the commitment to

insure the loan or mortgage was issued,

or the date that the loan or mortgage was

endorsed (or initially endorsed if there

are two or more endorsements) for

insurance, whichever rate is higher. The

interest rate for debentures issued under

these other provisions with respect to a

loan or mortgage committed or endorsed

during the six-month period beginning

January 1, 1998, is 63⁄8 percent.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James B. Mitchell, Department of

Housing and Urban Development, 451

7th Street, S.W., Room 6164,

Washington, D.C. 20010. Telephone

(202) 708–1220 ext. 2612, or TDD (202)

708–4594 for hearing- or speechimpaired callers. These are not toll-free

numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

224 of the National Housing Act (24

U.S.C. 1715o) provides that debentures

issued under the Act with respect to an

insured loan or mortgage (except for

debentures issued pursuant to Section

221(g)(4) of the Act) will bear interest at

the rate in effect on the date the

commitment to insure the loan or

mortgage was issued, or the date the

loan or mortgage was endorsed (or

initially endorsed if there are two or

more endorsements) for insurance,

whichever rate is higher. This provision

is implemented in HUD’s regulations at

24 CFR 203.405, 203.479, 207.259(e)(6),

and 220.830. Each of these regulatory

provisions states that the applicable

rates of interest will be published twice

each year as a notice in the Federal

Register.

Section 224 further provides that the

interest rate on these debentures will be

set from time to time by the Secretary

of HUD, with the approval of the

secretary of the Treasury, in an amount

not in excess of the annual interest rate

determined by the Secretary of the

Treasury pursuant to a statutory formula

based on the average yield of all

outstanding marketable Treasury

obligations of maturities of 15 or more

years.

The Secretary of the Treasury (1) has

determined, in accordance with the

provisions of Section 224, that the

statutory maximum interest rate for the

period beginning January 1, 1998, is 63⁄8

percent and (2) has approved the

establishment of the debenture interest

rate by the Secretary of HUD at 63⁄8

percent for the six-month period

beginning January 1, 1998. This interest

rate will be the rate borne by debentures

issued with respect to any insured loan

or mortgage (except for debentures

issued pursuant to Section 221(g)(4))

with an insurance commitment or

endorsement date (as applicable) within

the first six months of 1998.

For convenience of reference, HUD is

publishing the following chart of

debenture interest rates applicable to

mortgages committed or endorsed since

January 1, 1980:

Effective interest rate On or after Prior to

91⁄2 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1980 ............ July 1, 1980.

97⁄8 ........................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1980 ............ Jan. 1, 1981.

113⁄4 ...................................................................................................................................................... Jan. 1, 1981 ............ July 1, 1981.

127⁄8 ...................................................................................................................................................... July 1, 1981 ............ Jan. 1, 1982.

123⁄4 ...................................................................................................................................................... Jan. 1, 1982 ............ Jan. 1, 1983.

101⁄4 ...................................................................................................................................................... Jan. 1, 1983 ............ July 1, 1983.

103⁄8 ...................................................................................................................................................... July 1, 1983 ............ Jan. 1, 1984.

111⁄2 ...................................................................................................................................................... Jan. 1, 1984 ............ July 1, 1984.

133⁄8 ...................................................................................................................................................... July 1, 1984 ............ Jan. 1, 1985.

115⁄8 ...................................................................................................................................................... Jan. 1, 1985 ............ July 1, 1985.

111⁄8 ...................................................................................................................................................... July 1, 1985 ............ Jan. 1, 1986.

101⁄4 ...................................................................................................................................................... Jan. 1, 1986 ............ July 1, 1986.

81⁄4 ........................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1986 ............ Jan. 1, 1987.

8 ............................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1987 ............ July 1, 1987.

9 ............................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1987 ............ Jan. 1, 1988.

91⁄8 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1988 ............ July 1, 1988.

93⁄8 ........................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1988 ............ Jan. 1, 1989.

91⁄4 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1989 ............ July 1, 1989.

9 ............................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1989 ............ Jan. 1, 1990.

81⁄8 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1990 ............ July 1, 1990.

9 ............................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1990 ............ Jan. 1, 1991.

83⁄4 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1991 ............ July 1, 1991.

81⁄2 ........................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1991 ............ Jan. 1, 1992.
3332 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 14 /Thursday, January 22, 1998 / Notices

Effective interest rate On or after Prior to

8 ............................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1992 ............ July 1, 1992.

8 ............................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1992 ............ Jan. 1, 1993.

73⁄4 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1993 ............ July 1, 1993.

7 ............................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1993 ............ Jan. 1, 1994.

65⁄8 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1994 ............ July 1, 1994.

73⁄4 ........................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1994 ............ Jan. 1, 1995.

83⁄8 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1995 ............ July 1, 1995.

71⁄4 ........................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1995 ............ Jan. 1, 1996.

61⁄2 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1996 ............ July 1, 1996.

71⁄4 ........................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1996 ............ Jan. 1, 1997.

63⁄4 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1997 ............ July 1, 1997.

71⁄8 ........................................................................................................................................................ July 1, 1997 ............ Jan. 1, 1998.

63⁄8 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jan. 1, 1998 ............ July 1, 1998.

Section 221(g)(4) of the Act provides

that debentures issued pursuant to that

paragraph (with respect to the

assignment of an insured mortgage to

the Secretary) will bear interest at the

‘‘going Federal rate’’ of interest in effect

at the time the debentures are issued.

The term ‘‘going Federal rate’’ is defined

to mean the interest rate that the

Secretary of the Treasury determines,

pursuant to a statutory formula based on

the average yield on all outstanding

marketable Treasury obligations of

eight- to twelve-year maturities, for the

six-month periods of January through

June and July through December of each

year. Section 221(g)(4) is implemented

in the HUD regulations at 24 CFR

221.790.

The Secretary of the Treasury has

determined that the interest rate to be

borne by debentures issued pursuant to

Section 221(g)(4) during the six-month

period beginning January 1, 1998, is 61⁄4

percent.

HUD expects to publish its next

notice to change in debenture interest

rates in July 1998.

The subject matter of this notice falls

within the categorical exclusion from

HUD’s environmental clearance

procedures set forth in 24 CFR 50.20(1).

For that reason, no environmental

finding has been prepared for this

notice.

(Secs. 211, 221, 224, National Housing Act,

12 U.S.C. 1715b, 17151, 1715o; sec. 7(d),

Department of HUD Act, 42 U.S.C. 3535(d))

Dated: January 15, 1998.

Sarah Rosen,

Associate General Deputy, Assistant Secretary

for Housing.

[FR Doc. 98–1434 Filed 1–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4210–27–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Intent to Prepare

Comprehensive Conservation Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare

Comprehensive Conservation Plan.

SUMMARY: This notice advises that the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)

intends to gather information necessary

to prepare a Comprehensive

Conservation Plan (CCP) and associated

environmental documents for the

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge in

Bennett County in southwestern South

Dakota.

The Notice of Intent is in compliance

with the Service’s CCP policy to advise

other agencies and the public of its

intentions. The Service plans to obtain

suggestions and information on the

scope of issues to be considered in the

planning process.

DATES: Written comments should be

received by February 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for

more information should be referred to

Jon Kauffeld, Planning Team Leader,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 203 W.

2nd, Federal Building, Grand Island, NE

68801.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Service has initiated Comprehensive

Conservation Planning for the Lacreek

National Wildlife Refuge. Each National

Wildlife Refuge has specific purposes

for which it was established and for

which legislation was enacted. Those

purposes are used to develop and

prioritize management goals and

objectives within the National Wildlife

Refuge System mission, and to guide

which public uses occur on the Refuge.

The planning process is a way for the

Service and the public to evaluate

management goals and objectives for the

best possible conservation efforts of this

important wildlife habitat, while

providing for wildlife-dependent

recreation opportunities that are

compatible with each national wildlife

refuge’s establishing purposes and the

mission of the National Wildlife Refuge

System.

The Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge

(16,410 acres) was established as ‘‘* * *

a refuge and breeding ground for

migratory birds and other wildlife

* * *’’ by Executive Order No. 7160, on

August 26, 1935. The Refuge is located

in the Lake Creek Valley, southern

Bennett County, on the northern edge of

the Nebraska sandhills. The Refuge

provides breeding and migration habitat

for Central Flyway waterfowl, other

migratory birds, and is home to a

significant portion of the high plains

trumpeter swan populations.

The Refuge administers the Little

White River Recreation Area which was

donated to and accepted by the Service

on May 20, 1980, under authority of the

Refuge Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 460K–

K4) for public recreation. Public use

opportunities include wildlife

observation and photography,

environmental education, and hunting

and fishing on the refuge, and on the

Little White River Recreation Area

boating, waterskiing, swimming, and

camping are also permitted.

The Service will conduct a

comprehensive conservation planning

process that will provide opportunity

for Tribal, State and local governments,

agencies, organizations, and the public

to participate in scoping issues and

comment. The Service is requesting

input for issues, concerns, ideas, and

suggestions for future management of

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge.

Anyone interested in providing input is

invited to respond to the following three

questions.

(1) What makes the Lacreek Refuge (or

any specific unit) special or unique for

you?

(2) What problems or issues do you

want to see addressed in the

Comprehensive Conservation Plan?