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the NRC is developing site-specific disposal regulations for Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the proposed rulemaking is being withdrawn.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, 

### 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 ofNovember, 1998.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. John C. Hoyle, Secretaryofthe 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 ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice ofextension ofcomment period.

SUMMARY: On October 30, 1998, the Department ofEnergy published a notice providing limited reopening of therecord ofits rulemakingto 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 regardingthe Department's consideration ofconsumers who choose electronic ballastT-8 systems over electronic ballastT-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 havingthe closing date immediatelyfollow the Thanksgiving holiday. The Department agrees to extend the comment period closing date until December 15. 1998.
DATES: Comments mustbe 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 ofEnergy. Office ofEnergy 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 ofEnergy. Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue. SW. Washington. DC 20585-0121. (202) 586- 9127. or Eugene Margolis. Esq

.. U.S. Department ofEnergy. Office ofGeneral Counsel. GC-72. 1000 Independence Avenue. SW. Washington. DC 20585. (202) 586-9507.

Issued inWashington. DC. on November 25. 1998. DanW. Reicher, AssistantSecretary. EnergyEfficiencyand RenewableEnergy. [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 ofGovernors ofthe Federal Reserve System.
ACTION: Notice ofproposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Board ofGovernors ofthe Federal Reserve System (the Board) is proposingto amend Regulation CC to allow banks that consummate a merger
on or afterJuly 1. 1998. and beforeJune 1. 1999. greater time to implement software changes related to the merger. DATES: Comments mustbe received by January 4. 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments. which should refer to Docket No. R-1027, may be mailed to Ms. JenniferJohnson. Secretary. Board ofGovernors ofthe 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 CStreet. N.W. Comments maybe inspected in room MP-500. pursuantto § 261.12 ofthe Board's Rules Regarding Availability ofInformation, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m

.. except as provided in § 261.14 ofthose same Rules. (12 CFR 261.12 and 261.14)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Anderson. StaffAttorney. Legal Division (202/452-3707). For the hearing impaired only. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD). DianeJenkins (202/452-3544)

. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board is proposing to amend Regulation CC to allowbanks that consummate merger transactions on or afterJuly 1. 1998. and beforeJune 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 ofbanks' automation resources may be dedicated to these efforts. banks may be challenged to make and test other programming changes. includingthose that may be required to comply with Regulation CC's merger transition provisions. thus potentiallyjeopardizing the success oftheir 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 afterJuly 1. 1998. and beforeJune 1. 1999. to be treated as separate banks untilJune 1. 2000. Beginning inJune 1999. the normal one-year transitionperiod will

resume.

The Board requests comment on the need for this amendment and whether the proposed liberalization ofthe 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.
InitialRegulatory FlexibilityAnalysis

The Regulatory FleXibility Act (5 U.s.C. 601-612) requires an agency to publish an initial regulatory flexibility analysis with any notice ofproposed rulemaking. The initialregulatory flexibility analysis (5 U.S.C. 603(b)) requires an agency to describe the

reasons whythe proposed rule is being considered and a statement ofthe objectives of. and legal basis for. the proposed rule. The "Supplementary Information" above, contains this information. Theproposed rule requires

no additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements and does not overlap with otherfederal 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 ofNovember, 1998.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. John C. Hoyle, Secretaryofthe 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 ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice ofextension ofcomment period.

SUMMARY: On October 30, 1998, the Department ofEnergy published a notice providing limited reopening of therecord ofits rulemakingto 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 regardingthe Department's consideration ofconsumers who choose electronic ballastT-8 systems over electronic ballastT-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 havingthe closing date immediatelyfollow the Thanksgiving holiday. The Department agrees to extend the comment period closing date until December 15. 1998.
DATES: Comments mustbe 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 ofEnergy. Office ofEnergy 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 ofEnergy. Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue. SW. Washington. DC 20585-0121. (202) 586- 9127. or Eugene Margolis. Esq

.. U.S. Department ofEnergy. Office ofGeneral Counsel. GC-72. 1000 Independence Avenue. SW. Washington. DC 20585. (202) 586-9507.

Issued inWashington. DC. on November 25. 1998. DanW. Reicher, AssistantSecretary. EnergyEfficiencyand RenewableEnergy. [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 ofGovernors ofthe Federal Reserve System.
ACTION: Notice ofproposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Board ofGovernors ofthe Federal Reserve System (the Board) is proposingto amend Regulation CC to allow banks that consummate a merger
on or afterJuly 1. 1998. and beforeJune 1. 1999. greater time to implement software changes related to the merger. DATES: Comments mustbe received by January 4. 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments. which should refer to Docket No. R-1027, may be mailed to Ms. JenniferJohnson. Secretary. Board ofGovernors ofthe 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 CStreet. N.W. Comments maybe inspected in room MP-500. pursuantto § 261.12 ofthe Board's Rules Regarding Availability ofInformation, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m

.. except as provided in § 261.14 ofthose same Rules. (12 CFR 261.12 and 261.14)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Anderson. StaffAttorney. Legal Division (202/452-3707). For the hearing impaired only. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD). DianeJenkins (202/452-3544)

. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board is proposing to amend Regulation CC to allowbanks that consummate merger transactions on or afterJuly 1. 1998. and beforeJune 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 ofbanks' automation resources may be dedicated to these efforts. banks may be challenged to make and test other programming changes. includingthose that may be required to comply with Regulation CC's merger transition provisions. thus potentiallyjeopardizing the success oftheir 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 afterJuly 1. 1998. and beforeJune 1. 1999. to be treated as separate banks untilJune 1. 2000. Beginning inJune 1999. the normal one-year transitionperiod will

resume.

The Board requests comment on the need for this amendment and whether the proposed liberalization ofthe 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.
InitialRegulatory FlexibilityAnalysis

The Regulatory FleXibility Act (5 U.s.C. 601-612) requires an agency to publish an initial regulatory flexibility analysis with any notice ofproposed rulemaking. The initialregulatory flexibility analysis (5 U.S.C. 603(b)) requires an agency to describe the

reasons whythe proposed rule is being considered and a statement ofthe objectives of. and legal basis for. the proposed rule. The "Supplementary Information" above, contains this information. Theproposed rule requires

no additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements and does not overlap with otherfederal rules.

The initial regulatory flexibility analysis also reqUires a description of.