Federal Register /Vol. 63, No. 231 /Wednesday, December 2, 1998 /Proposed Rules

regulations for Yucca Mountain can be

found in a Commission paper,

designated SECY-97-300, dated

December 24, 1997. This strategy was

approved by the SRM dated March 6,

1998. Because the NRC is developing

site-specific disposal regulations for

Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the proposed

rulemaking is being withdrawn.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day

of November, 1998.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

John C. Hoyle,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 98-32109 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket Number EE-RM-97-500]

RIN:1904-AA75

Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products : Fluorescent

Lamp Ballasts Energy Conservation

Standards

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, Department of

Energy.

ACTION : Notice of extension of comment

period.

SUMMARY : On October 30, 1998, the

Department of Energy published a

notice providing limited reopening of

the record of its rulemaking to revise

energy conservation standards for

fluorescent lamp ballasts under the

Energy Policy and Conservation Act (63

FR 58330). The notice announced that

November 30, 1998, would be the

closing date for receiving public

comments regarding the Department's

consideration of consumers who choose

electronic ballast T-8 systems over

electronic ballast T-12 systems and

consumers who choose electronic

ballasts over cathode cutout ballasts. On

November 20, 1998, the National

Electrical Manufacturers Association

requested that the comment period be

extended until December 15, 1998, to

allow additional time for data collection

and to avoid having the closing date

immediately follow the Thanksgiving

holiday. The Department agrees to

extend the comment period closing date

until December 15, 1998.

DATES : Comments must be received on

or before December 15, 1998.

ADDRESSES : Written comments are

welcome. Please submit 10 copies (no

faxes) to: Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S.

Department of Energy, Office of Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy,

Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products: Fluorescent Lamp

Ballasts, Docket No. EE-RM-97-500,

1000 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20585-0121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl

Adams, U.S. Department of Energy,

Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, EE-43, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-

9127, or Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S.

Department of Energy, Office of General

Counsel, GC-72, 1000 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585,

(202) 586-9507.

Issued in Washington, DC, on November

25, 1998.

Dan W. Reicher,

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 98-32120 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

66499

9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except as

provided in § 261.14 of those same

Rules. (12 CFR 261.12 and 261.14)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean

Anderson, Staff Attorney, Legal Division

(202/452-3707). For the hearing

impaired only, Telecommunications

Device for the Deaf (TDD), Diane Jenkins

(202/452-3544).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : The Board

is proposing to amend Regulation CC to

allow banks that consummate merger

transactions on or after July 1, 1998, and

before June 1, 1999, greater time to

implement software changes related to

the merger. The Board recognizes that

banks are currently dedicating their

automation resources to renovating and

testing software and replacing

noncompliant systems to address Year

2000 and leap year computer problems.

Because a large amount of banks'

automation resources may be dedicated

to these efforts, banks may be

challenged to make and test other

programming changes, including those

that may be required to comply with

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 229

[Regulation CC; Docket No. R-1027]

Availability of Funds and Collection of

Checks

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the

Federal Reserve System.

ACTION : Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY : The Board of Governors of the

Federal Reserve System (the Board) is

proposing to amend Regulation CC to

allow banks that consummate a merger

on or after July 1, 1998, and before June

1, 1999, greater time to implement

software changes related to the merger.

DATES : Comments must be received by

January 4, 1999.

ADDRESSES : Comments, which should

refer to Docket No. R-1027, may be

mailed to Ms. Jennifer Johnson,

Secretary, Board of Governors of the

Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and

Constitution Avenue, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20551. Comments

addressed to Ms. Johnson may also be

delivered to the Board's mail room

between 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m., and to

the security control room at all other

times. Both the mail room and the

security control room are accessible

from the courtyard entrance on 20th

Street between Constitution Avenue and

C Street, N.W. Comments may be

inspected in room MP-500, pursuant to

§ 261.12 of the Board's Rules Regarding

Availability of Information, between

Regulation CC's merger transition

provisions, thus potentially jeopardizing

the success of their Year 2000 efforts

and/or their system integration efforts

due to the merger. Therefore, the Board

is proposing to allow banks that

consummate a merger on or after July 1,

1998, and before June 1, 1999, to be

treated as separate banks until June 1,

2000. Beginning in June 1999, the

normal one-year transition period will

resume.

The Board requests comment on the

need for this amendment and whether

the proposed liberalization of the

regulation's merger transition provisions

is adequate to avoid contention for

programming and testing resources

necessary to manage banks' Year 2000

readiness efforts that otherwise would

be created by these requirements.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5

U.S.C. 601-612) requires an agency to

publish an initial regulatory flexibility

analysis with any notice of proposed

rulemaking. The initial regulatory

flexibility analysis (5 U.S.C. 603(b))

requires an agency to describe the

reasons why the proposed rule is being

considered and a statement of the

objectives of, and legal basis for, the

proposed rule. The "Supplementary

Information" above, contains this

information. The proposed rule requires

no additional reporting or

recordkeeping requirements and does

not overlap with other federal rules.

The initial regulatory flexibility

analysis also requires a description of,

EE-RM-97-500 COMMENT 36

Federal Register/Vol. 63, No. 231/Wednesday, December 2, 1998/Proposed Rules 66499 

regulations for Yucca Mountain can be 

found in a Commission paper, 

designated SECY -97 -300, dated 

December 24, 1997. This strategy was 

approved by the SRM dated March 6, 

1998. Because the NRC is developing 

site-specific disposal regulations for 

Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the proposed 

rulemaking is being withdrawn. 

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day 

of November, 1998. 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

John C. Hoyle, 

Secretary of the Commission. 

[FR Doc. 98-32109 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

10 CFR Part 430 

[Docket Number EE-RM-97-500] 

RIN:1904-AA75 

Energy Conservation Program for 

Consumer Products: Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballasts Energy Conservation 

Standards 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment 

period. 

SUMMARY: On October 30, 1998, the 

Department of Energy published a 

notice providing limited reopening of 

the record of its rulemaking to revise 

energy conservation standards for 

fluorescent lamp ballasts under the 

Energy Policy and Conservation Act (63 

FR 58330). The notice announced that 

November 30, 1998, would be the 

closing date for receiving public 

comments regarding the Department's 

consideration of consumers who choose 

electronic ballast T -8 systems over 

electronic ballast T -12 systems and 

consumers who choose electronic 

ballasts over cathode cutout ballasts. On 

November 20, 1998, the National 

Electrical Manufacturers Association 

requested that the comment period be 

extended until December 15, 1998, to 

allow additional time for data collection 

and to avoid having the closing date 

immediately follow the Thanksgiving 

holiday. The Department agrees to 

extend the comment period closing date 

until December 15. 1998. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before December 15. 1998. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments are 

welcome. Please submit 10 copies (no 

faxes) to: Brenda Edwards-Jones. U.S. 

Department of Energy. Office of Energy 

Efficiency and Renewable Energy. 

Energy Conservation Program for 

Consumer Products: Fluorescent Lamp 

Ballasts. Docket No. EE-RM-97-500. 

1000 Independence Avenue. SW. 

Washington, DC 20585-0121. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl 

Adams. U.S. Department of Energy. 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. EE-43, 1000 

Independence Avenue. SW. 

Washington. DC 20585-0121. (202) 586-

9127. or Eugene Margolis. Esq .. U.S. 

Department of Energy. Office of General 

Counsel. GC-72. 1000 Independence 

Avenue. SW. Washington. DC 20585. 

(202) 586-9507. 

Issued in Washington. DC. on November 

25. 1998. 

Dan W. Reicher, 

Assistant Secretary. Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. 

[FR Doc. 98-32120 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P 

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 

12 CFR Part 229 

[Regulation CC; Docket No. R-1027] 

Availability of Funds and Collection of 

Checks 

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the 

Federal Reserve System. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: The Board of Governors of the 

Federal Reserve System (the Board) is 

proposing to amend Regulation CC to 

allow banks that consummate a merger 

on or after July 1. 1998. and before June 

1. 1999. greater time to implement 

software changes related to the merger. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

January 4. 1999. 

ADDRESSES: Comments. which should 

refer to Docket No. R-1027, may be 

mailed to Ms. Jennifer Johnson. 

Secretary. Board of Governors of the 

Federal Reserve System. 20th Street and 

Constitution Avenue. N.W .. 

Washington. D.C. 20551. Comments 

addressed to Ms. Johnson may also be 

delivered to the Board's mail room 

between 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m .. and to 

the security control room at all other 

times. Both the mail room and the 

security control room are accessible 

from the courtyard entrance on 20th 

Street between Constitution Avenue and 

C Street. N.W. Comments may be 

inspected in room MP-500. pursuant to 

§ 261.12 of the Board's Rules Regarding 

Availability of Information, between 

9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m .. except as 

provided in § 261.14 of those same 

Rules. (12 CFR 261.12 and 261.14) 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean 

Anderson. Staff Attorney. Legal Division 

(202/452-3707). For the hearing 

impaired only. Telecommunications 

Device for the Deaf (TDD). Diane Jenkins 

(202/452-3544) . 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board 

is proposing to amend Regulation CC to 

allow banks that consummate merger 

transactions on or after July 1. 1998. and 

before June 1, 1999. greater time to 

implement software changes related to 

the merger. The Board recognizes that 

banks are currently dedicating their 

automation resources to renovating and 

testing software and replacing 

noncompliant systems to address Year 

2000 and leap year computer problems. 

Because a large amount of banks' 

automation resources may be dedicated 

to these efforts. banks may be 

challenged to make and test other 

programming changes. including those 

that may be required to comply with 

Regulation CC's merger transition 

provisions. thus potentially jeopardizing 

the success of their Year 2000 efforts 

and/or their system integration efforts 

due to the merger. Therefore. the Board 

is proposing to allow banks that 

consummate a merger on or after July 1. 

1998. and before June 1. 1999. to be 

treated as separate banks until June 1. 

2000. Beginning in June 1999. the 

normal one-year transition period will 

resume. 

The Board requests comment on the 

need for this amendment and whether 

the proposed liberalization of the 

regulation's merger transition provisions 

is adequate to avoid contention for 

programming and testing resources 

necessary to manage banks' Year 2000 

readiness efforts that otherwise would 

be created by these requirements. 

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

The Regulatory FleXibility Act (5 

U.s.C. 601-612) requires an agency to 

publish an initial regulatory flexibility 

analysis with any notice of proposed 

rulemaking. The initial regulatory 

flexibility analysis (5 U.S.C. 603(b)) 

requires an agency to describe the 

reasons why the proposed rule is being 

considered and a statement of the 

objectives of. and legal basis for. the 

proposed rule. The "Supplementary 

Information" above, contains this 

information. The proposed rule requires 

no additional reporting or 

recordkeeping requirements and does 

not overlap with other federal rules. 

The initial regulatory flexibility 

analysis also reqUires a description of. 

Federal Register/Vol. 63, No. 231/Wednesday, December 2, 1998/Proposed Rules 66499 

regulations for Yucca Mountain can be 

found in a Commission paper, 

designated SECY -97 -300, dated 

December 24, 1997. This strategy was 

approved by the SRM dated March 6, 

1998. Because the NRC is developing 

site-specific disposal regulations for 

Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the proposed 

rulemaking is being withdrawn. 

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day 

of November, 1998. 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

John C. Hoyle, 

Secretary of the Commission. 

[FR Doc. 98-32109 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

10 CFR Part 430 

[Docket Number EE-RM-97-500] 

RIN:1904-AA75 

Energy Conservation Program for 

Consumer Products: Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballasts Energy Conservation 

Standards 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment 

period. 

SUMMARY: On October 30, 1998, the 

Department of Energy published a 

notice providing limited reopening of 

the record of its rulemaking to revise 

energy conservation standards for 

fluorescent lamp ballasts under the 

Energy Policy and Conservation Act (63 

FR 58330). The notice announced that 

November 30, 1998, would be the 

closing date for receiving public 

comments regarding the Department's 

consideration of consumers who choose 

electronic ballast T -8 systems over 

electronic ballast T -12 systems and 

consumers who choose electronic 

ballasts over cathode cutout ballasts. On 

November 20, 1998, the National 

Electrical Manufacturers Association 

requested that the comment period be 

extended until December 15, 1998, to 

allow additional time for data collection 

and to avoid having the closing date 

immediately follow the Thanksgiving 

holiday. The Department agrees to 

extend the comment period closing date 

until December 15. 1998. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before December 15. 1998. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments are 

welcome. Please submit 10 copies (no 

faxes) to: Brenda Edwards-Jones. U.S. 

Department of Energy. Office of Energy 

Efficiency and Renewable Energy. 

Energy Conservation Program for 

Consumer Products: Fluorescent Lamp 

Ballasts. Docket No. EE-RM-97-500. 

1000 Independence Avenue. SW. 

Washington, DC 20585-0121. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl 

Adams. U.S. Department of Energy. 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. EE-43, 1000 

Independence Avenue. SW. 

Washington. DC 20585-0121. (202) 586-

9127. or Eugene Margolis. Esq .. U.S. 

Department of Energy. Office of General 

Counsel. GC-72. 1000 Independence 

Avenue. SW. Washington. DC 20585. 

(202) 586-9507. 

Issued in Washington. DC. on November 

25. 1998. 

Dan W. Reicher, 

Assistant Secretary. Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. 

[FR Doc. 98-32120 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P 

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 

12 CFR Part 229 

[Regulation CC; Docket No. R-1027] 

Availability of Funds and Collection of 

Checks 

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the 

Federal Reserve System. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: The Board of Governors of the 

Federal Reserve System (the Board) is 

proposing to amend Regulation CC to 

allow banks that consummate a merger 

on or after July 1. 1998. and before June 

1. 1999. greater time to implement 

software changes related to the merger. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

January 4. 1999. 

ADDRESSES: Comments. which should 

refer to Docket No. R-1027, may be 

mailed to Ms. Jennifer Johnson. 

Secretary. Board of Governors of the 

Federal Reserve System. 20th Street and 

Constitution Avenue. N.W .. 

Washington. D.C. 20551. Comments 

addressed to Ms. Johnson may also be 

delivered to the Board's mail room 

between 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m .. and to 

the security control room at all other 

times. Both the mail room and the 

security control room are accessible 

from the courtyard entrance on 20th 

Street between Constitution Avenue and 

C Street. N.W. Comments may be 

inspected in room MP-500. pursuant to 

§ 261.12 of the Board's Rules Regarding 

Availability of Information, between 

9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m .. except as 

provided in § 261.14 of those same 

Rules. (12 CFR 261.12 and 261.14) 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean 

Anderson. Staff Attorney. Legal Division 

(202/452-3707). For the hearing 

impaired only. Telecommunications 

Device for the Deaf (TDD). Diane Jenkins 

(202/452-3544) . 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board 

is proposing to amend Regulation CC to 

allow banks that consummate merger 

transactions on or after July 1. 1998. and 

before June 1, 1999. greater time to 

implement software changes related to 

the merger. The Board recognizes that 

banks are currently dedicating their 

automation resources to renovating and 

testing software and replacing 

noncompliant systems to address Year 

2000 and leap year computer problems. 

Because a large amount of banks' 

automation resources may be dedicated 

to these efforts. banks may be 

challenged to make and test other 

programming changes. including those 

that may be required to comply with 

Regulation CC's merger transition 

provisions. thus potentially jeopardizing 

the success of their Year 2000 efforts 

and/or their system integration efforts 

due to the merger. Therefore. the Board 

is proposing to allow banks that 

consummate a merger on or after July 1. 

1998. and before June 1. 1999. to be 

treated as separate banks until June 1. 

2000. Beginning in June 1999. the 

normal one-year transition period will 

resume. 

The Board requests comment on the 

need for this amendment and whether 

the proposed liberalization of the 

regulation's merger transition provisions 

is adequate to avoid contention for 

programming and testing resources 

necessary to manage banks' Year 2000 

readiness efforts that otherwise would 

be created by these requirements. 

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

The Regulatory FleXibility Act (5 

U.s.C. 601-612) requires an agency to 

publish an initial regulatory flexibility 

analysis with any notice of proposed 

rulemaking. The initial regulatory 

flexibility analysis (5 U.S.C. 603(b)) 

requires an agency to describe the 

reasons why the proposed rule is being 

considered and a statement of the 

objectives of. and legal basis for. the 

proposed rule. The "Supplementary 

Information" above, contains this 

information. The proposed rule requires 

no additional reporting or 

recordkeeping requirements and does 

not overlap with other federal rules. 

The initial regulatory flexibility 

analysis also reqUires a description of.