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.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

103627 

Vol. 89, No. 244 

Thursday, December 19, 2024 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Housing Service 

7 CFR Part 3560 

[Docket No RHS–24–MFH–0035] 

RIN 0575–AD35 

Revisions to the Smoke Alarm 

Requirements in the Section 515 Rural 

Rental Housing and Section 514/516 

Farm Labor Housing Direct Loan 

Programs 

AGENCY: Multi-Family Housing, Rural 

Housing Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service 

(RHS or Agency), a Rural Development 

(RD) agency of the United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA), is 

amending its regulation to implement 

changes related to the smoke alarm 

requirements for properties that receive 

funding from the Multi-Family Housing 

Section 515 Rural Rental Housing and 

the Section 514/516 Farm Labor 

Housing Direct Loan and Grant 

Programs. These changes are intended 

to align the Agency’s smoke alarm 

requirements with the requirements set 

forth in the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2023. The 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, 

requires each unit of Federally assisted 

housing to contain hardwired or 10-year 

non-rechargeable, non-replaceable, 

sealed, tamper-resistant, primary 

battery-powered smoke alarm devices 

containing silencing means, and 

provides notification for persons with 

hearing loss as required by applicable 

law (Qualifying Smoke Alarm 

requirements). 

DATES: This final rule is effective 

January 21, 2025. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Barbara Chism, Multi-Family Housing 

Asset Management Division, Rural 

Housing Service, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW, Washington DC 20250– 

0782, Telephone: (202) 690–1436; 

Email: Barbara.Chism@usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

The RHS offers a variety of programs 

to build or improve housing and 

essential community facilities in rural 

areas. RHS offers loans, grants, and loan 

guarantees for single- and multi-family 

housing, childcare centers, fire and 

police stations, hospitals, libraries, 

nursing homes, schools, first responder 

vehicles and equipment, and housing 

for farm laborers. RHS also provides 

technical assistance loans and grants in 

partnership with non-profit 

organizations, Indian tribes, State and 

Federal Government agencies, and local 

communities. 

Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 

authorized the USDA to make housing 

loans to farmers to enable them to 

provide habitable dwellings for 

themselves or their tenants, lessees, 

sharecroppers, and laborers. The USDA 

then expanded opportunities in rural 

areas, making housing loans and grants 

to rural residents through the SingleFamily Housing (SFH) and Multi-Family 

Housing (MFH) Programs. 

The RHS administers the MFH section 

515 Rural Rental Housing Direct Loan 

Program under 7 CFR part 3560, subpart 

B. The Section 515 program employs a 

public-private partnership by providing 

subsidized loans at an interest rate of 

one percent to developers to construct 

or renovate affordable rental complexes 

in rural areas. This one percent loan 

keeps the debt service on the property 

sufficiently low to support belowmarket rents affordable to low-income 

tenants. Many of these projects also 

utilize other Federal, State, and local 

funding sources and rental subsidies 

such as HUD’s Section 8 and lowincome housing tax credit proceeds. 

The RHS also operates the MFH Farm 

Labor Housing Direct Loan and Grant 

Program under sections 514 and 516 set 

forth in 7 CFR part 3560, subparts L and 

M. The MFH Farm Labor Housing Direct 

Loan and Grant Program provides low 

interest loans and grants to provide 

housing for farmworkers. These eligible 

farmworkers may either live and work at 

the borrower’s farm, including seasonal 

and migrant workers (‘‘on-farm’’), or 

they may live away from the farm (‘‘offfarm’’). 

Under the current regulation, 

borrowers are required to install and 

maintain smoke alarms in all dwelling 

units, common use areas, and other 

spaces in all residential buildings 

included as security for Agency 

financed loans and grants. Borrowers 

must also ensure that smoke alarms are 

properly located to protect tenant safety 

and the value of the Agency’s asset. 

Failure to maintain adequate smoke 

alarms may lead to injury of persons, 

damage to property, or a non-monetary 

loan default. 

II. Purpose of This Regulatory Action 

On December 29, 2022, the President 

signed into law the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117– 

328) (Act), which incorporated The 

Public and Federally Assisted Housing 

Fire Safety Act, 2022, which requires 

each unit and common use areas of 

Federally assisted housing to contain 

hardwired or 10-year non-rechargeable, 

sealed, tamper-resistant primary batterypowered smoke alarm devices, as well 

as other items. The Act further amended 

the Housing Act of 1949, to implement 

these new smoke detector requirements 

for Section 515 Rural Rental Housing 

and Section 514/516 Farm Labor 

Housing Direct Loan Programs Public 

Law 117–328, div. AA, title VI, sec. 601. 

This final rule will implement the 

requirements the Act which is intended 

to: (1) align the smoke alarm 

requirements with more stringent 

requirements for Federally assisted 

housing industry standards; (2) increase 

the safety of tenants and visitors at 

properties; (3) reduce the risk of losing 

available affordable housing units in 

rural communities due to 

uninhabitability caused by smoke and 

fire damage as a result of outdated 

smoke alarm devices; and (4) provide 

the Agency with additional protection 

from the loss of its security value. 

Discussion of the Public Comments 

RHS published a proposed rule on 

January 8, 2024 [89 FR 892], in the 

Federal Register to solicit comments on 

the proposed changes to 7 CFR part 

3560 of subpart B and 7 CFR 

3560.103(a)(3)(xx) of subpart C related 

to smoke alarm requirements for Section 

515 Rural Rental Housing and Section 

514/516 Farm Labor Housing Direct 

Loan and Grant Programs. The comment 

period ended on March 8, 2024. No 


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103628 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

changes were made in this final rule as 

a result of public comments. 

RHS received comments from sixteen 

respondents. Commenters included 

three anonymous, nine private 

individuals, two property management 

agencies, one housing authority, and 

one national trade association. In 

addition, two comments from 

respondents were submitted in 

duplicate. Each comment is addressed, 

and duplicates are addressed in one 

statement. 

The comments the Agency received 

are summarized as follows: 

Public Comment: Two anonymous, 

four individuals, and one property 

management agent respondents 

expressed full support for the proposed 

rule. 

Agency’s Response: The Agency 

appreciates the respondents’ support 

and has determined that no action is 

required. 

Public Comment: Two individual 

respondents expressed concern for the 

poor and substandard living conditions 

and safety of farmworker housing in 

America and ensuring that smoke 

alarms in Federally assisted housing are 

installed identically, legally, and safely. 

The comment stated it would be 

beneficial to apply this rule to 

temporary labor camp housing as well, 

if not already intended to be included. 

Agency’s Response: The Agency 

appreciates the respondent’s position 

and acknowledges the concern. The 

Agency does not fund temporary labor 

camp housing. The housing funded by 

the Agency’s MFH Farm Labor Housing 

Direct Loan and Grant Program is 

intended for year-round and seasonal 

residential use by farmworkers. The 

Agency’s farmworker housing, which is 

subject to the Qualifying Smoke Alarm 

requirements, contains appropriate 

furnishings and equipment, and is 

routinely inspected by the Agency to 

ensure it is maintained in a decent, safe, 

and sanitary manner. 

Public Comment: One individual 

respondent expressed concern for 

flammable substances often involved in 

agricultural processes, and that the 

minimal cost to purchase and install 

smoke detectors far outweighs the 

monetary and physical consequences of 

a fire without an alarm system. 

Agency’s Response: The Agency 

appreciates the respondent’s support 

and has determined that no action is 

required. 

Public Comment: One individual 

respondent expressed concern about the 

Agency’s efforts to improve outdated 

policies to improve conditions for farm 

labor housing residents, and how this 

rule will be implemented and enforced. 

Agency’s Response: The Agency 

appreciates the respondent’s concern. 

The Agency implements regulations, 

policies and procedures with a focus to 

protect the health and safety of residents 

in its properties, including policies 

aimed at improving living conditions for 

farm labor housing residents. The 

Agency’s routine physical inspections 

historically show that farm labor 

housing properties are currently in 

compliance with the smoke alarm 

requirements. With the effective date of 

this rule, properties found to be out of 

compliance with Qualifying Smoke 

Alarm requirements will be given 

written notice of a 30-day period to 

resolve the violation, which is 

considered a health and safety violation 

requiring immediate action. The Agency 

makes every effort to work closely with 

property owners and management 

agents to resolve any outstanding 

compliance issues prior to 

recommending legal action and levying 

monetary penalties. 

Public Comment: One individual 

respondent expressed the concern that 

combining smoke and carbon monoxide 

detectors should be prohibited in all 

USDA Housing Programs because each 

device requires opposite positioning to 

be effective. 

Agency’s Response: The Agency 

appreciates the respondent’s position 

and acknowledges the concern. 

Although this rule does not address a 

combined installation of smoke and 

carbon monoxide detectors, the Agency 

will take the respondent’s comment 

under advisement as future fire and 

smoke alarm policies are developed. 

Public Comment: One anonymous 

respondent expressed concern for the 

steady rate of increased housing repair 

and replacement costs in the affordable 

housing industry due to demand/supply 

constraints in the market for labor and 

materials. The respondent stated that 

the proposed rule aligns with more 

stringent requirements for smoke 

alarms, and that the Agency should 

prioritize ensuring that every home 

within the scope of the MFH Program 

has a reliable smoke alarm. 

Agency’s Response: The Agency 

appreciates the respondent’s position 

and acknowledges the concern. The 

Agency endeavors to utilize current 

programs for assisting owners to obtain 

needed affordable funding sources for 

housing repair and replacement costs 

and has determined that no action is 

required. The Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2023 requires that 

all dwelling units rehabilitated or 

repaired with a loan made or insured 

under the Act shall contain Qualifying 

Smoke Alarms that are installed in 

accordance with applicable codes and 

standards. 

Public Comment: The housing 

authority respondent expressed 

concerns that the proposed rule does 

not include funding to purchase and 

install the required equipment. This 

creates a financial burden on the 

project. To implement this requirement, 

other necessary repairs will likely be 

sidelined when having to decide how to 

fund everything needed by the project. 

Agency’s Response: The Agency 

appreciates the respondent’s position 

and acknowledges the concerns 

regarding the costs associated with this 

requirement. Except for a select number 

of properties not in compliance and in 

need of substantial replacements, the 

Agency does not consider the overall 

cost to upgrade to be substantial. The 

cost of upgrading to the Qualifying 

Smoke Alarm is an eligible expense that 

may be paid from the property’s 

operating funds. The Agency will utilize 

existing servicing methods to assist 

borrowers experiencing a financial 

hardship to ensure compliance with this 

rule. 

Public Comment: A national trade 

association respondent expressed their 

commitment to supporting 

technological advancements and 

changes to national consensus codes 

and standards that will increase the 

number of operational smoke alarms in 

U.S. homes. The respondent’s position 

is that consumers should be free to 

choose which smoke alarms are present 

in their homes, provided those devices 

comply with consensus codes and 

standards. The respondent does not 

support legislation that attempts to 

mandate one type of life safety 

technology at the exclusion of other 

important technologies. 

Agency’s Response: The Agency 

appreciates the respondent’s position 

and acknowledges the concern. 

Federally funded residential properties 

must comply with established Federal 

and local fire protection laws and 

standards, at a minimum. The Agency 

does not preclude borrowers and 

management agents from purchasing 

and installing life saving features that 

exceed the minimum Federal 

requirements. The Agency is mandating 

this type of life safety technology for 

buildings that are Federally funded to 

comply with established Federal and 

local fire protection laws and standards. 

This will ensure that safe and uniform 

lifesaving notification methods are 

consistently being used at all times. 

RHS is required to abide by the latest 

statutes and regulations and as new life 

saving technologies become available 

and are Federally adopted, the Agency 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 103629 

will comply. In addition, the Agency 

will take the recommendation of 

additional policy guidance promoting 

monthly testing, and the installation of 

extra life safety technologies not 

supported by 10-year batteries, such as 

Low-Frequency Audible Alarms 

(Enhanced Waking Effectiveness), 

Multiple Sensing Technology Alarms, 

Control Units, and Interconnection if it 

exceeds Federally mandated 

requirements under advisement. 

Public Comment: One property 

management agency respondent 

expressed concern that the rule as 

proposed by RD is incorrectly stated. 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 

2023 requires smoke detectors to 

provide notification for persons with 

hearing loss, whereas the Public and 

Federally Assisted Housing Fire and 

Safety Act of 2022 does not. Respondent 

questions the sensibility of requiring all 

units in the housing development to 

contain a notification system for 

individuals with hearing loss regardless 

of whether a non-hearing loss 

household occupies the unit. Also, the 

rule should define what RD considers 

‘‘Substantially Rehabilitated’’ for 

purposes of requiring hardwired smoke 

detectors. The cost of implementing the 

rule without funding provided for in 

title VI section 601(g) of the 

Appropriations Act creates a significant 

cost for older properties already 

struggling. USDA should state in its rule 

how it will reimburse properties for the 

cost of complying with the requirements 

or allow owners to opt out of the 

program. 

Agency’s Response: The Agency 

appreciates the commenters remarks 

and has stated the final rule as 

presented in title VI, section 

601(e)(3)(B)(ii) of the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2023 and affirms 

the Qualifying Smoke Alarm Definition 

in the final Smoke Alarm rule mirrors 

that of the Housing Act of 1949, as 

amended. The Agency has determined 

that the language in the final rule 

informs that only units housing an 

individual with hearing loss must 

contain a notification system. 

III. Summary of Changes 

The final changes are as follows: 

1. A new paragraph (e) will be added 

to § 3560.60 that cross-references 

§ 3560.103(a)(3)(xx), which includes the 

Qualifying Smoke Alarm requirements 

that a smoke alarm must contain 

hardwired or 10-year non-rechargeable, 

non-replaceable, sealed, tamperresistant, primary battery-powered 

smoke alarm devices containing 

silencing means, and provides 

notification for persons with hearing 

loss as required by applicable law. 

2. The new Qualifying Smoke Alarm 

requirements will be added to 

§ 3560.103(a)(3)(xx) which will set forth 

the new requirements that are crossreferenced in § 3560.60. 

IV. Regulatory Information 

Statutory Authority 

The changes in this final rule are 

authorized under the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2023, (Pub. L. 117– 

328), div. AA, title VI, sec. 601 and is 

authorized under sections 514(k), 

515(m), and 516(c) of title V of the 

Housing Act of 1949, as amended; 42 

U.S.C. 1480 et seq.; and implemented 

under 7 CFR part 3560. 

Executive Order 12372, 

Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs 

These loans are subject to the 

provisions of Executive Order 12372, 

which requires intergovernmental 

consultation with State and local 

officials. RHS conducts 

intergovernmental consultations for 

each loan in accordance with 2 CFR part 

415, subpart C. 

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory 

Planning and Review 

This final rule has been determined to 

be non-significant and, therefore, was 

not reviewed by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) under 

Executive Order 12866. 

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice 

Reform 

This final rule has been reviewed 

under Executive Order 12988. In 

accordance with this rulemaking: (1) 

Unless otherwise specifically provided, 

all State and local laws that conflict 

with this rulemaking will be preempted; 

(2) no retroactive effect will be given to 

this rulemaking except as specifically 

prescribed in the rule; and (3) 

administrative proceedings of the 

National Appeals Division of the 

Department of Agriculture (7 CFR part 

11) must be exhausted before suing in 

court that challenges action taken under 

this rulemaking. 

Executive Order 13132, Federalism 

The policies contained in this final 

rule do not have any substantial direct 

effect on states, on the relationship 

between the National Government and 

the states, or on the distribution of 

power and responsibilities among the 

various levels of government. This final 

rule does not impose substantial direct 

compliance costs on State and local 

governments; therefore, consultation 

with states is not required. 

Executive Order 13175, Consultation 

and Coordination With Indian 

Governments 

Executive Order 13175 imposes 

requirements on RHS in the 

development of regulatory policies that 

have Tribal implications or preempt 

Tribal laws. RHS has determined that 

the final rule does not have a substantial 

direct effect on one or more Indian 

tribe(s) or on either the relationship or 

the distribution of powers and 

responsibilities between the Federal 

Government and Indian tribes. Thus, 

this final rule is not subject to the 

requirements of Executive Order 13175. 

If Tribal leaders are interested in 

consulting with RHS on this 

rulemaking, they are encouraged to 

contact USDA’s Office of Tribal 

Relations or RD’s Tribal Coordinator at: 

AIAN@usda.gov to request such a 

consultation. 

Administrative Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 

2023 

The Administrative Pay-As-You-GoAct of 2023 (Act) (See Fiscal 

Responsibility Act of 2023, Pub. L. 118– 

5, 137 Stat 31, div. B, title III) requires 

the U.S. Government Accountability 

Office (GAO) to assess agency 

compliance with the Act, which 

establishes requirements for 

administrative actions that affect direct 

spending, in GAO’s major rule reports. 

The Act does not apply to this rule 

because it does not increase direct 

spending. 

Assistance Listing 

The programs affected by this 

regulation are listed in the Assistance 

Listing Catalog (formerly Catalog of 

Federal Domestic Assistance) under 

number 10.415-Rural Rental Housing 

Loans, 10.427-Rural Rental Assistance 

Payments, 10.405-Farm Labor Housing 

Loans and Grants. 

Civil Rights Impact Analysis 

Rural Development has reviewed this 

final rule in accordance with USDA 

Regulation 4300–004, Civil Rights 

Impact Analysis, to identify any major 

civil rights impacts the final rule might 

have on program participants on the 

basis of age, race, color, national origin, 

sex, or disability. After review and 

analysis of the final rule and available 

data, it has been determined that 

implementation of the rulemaking will 

not adversely or disproportionately 

impact very low, low- and moderateincome populations, minority 

populations, women, Indian tribes, or 


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103630 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

persons with disability by virtue of their 

race, color, national origin, sex, age, 

disability, or marital or familial status. 

No major civil rights impact is likely to 

result from this final rule. 

E-Government Act Compliance 

RD is committed to the E-Government 

Act, which requires Government 

agencies in general to provide the public 

the option of submitting information or 

transacting business electronically to 

the maximum extent possible. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

This final rule has been reviewed in 

accordance with 7 CFR part 1970, 

subpart A, ‘‘Environmental Policies.’’ 

RHS determined that this action does 

not constitute a major Federal action 

significantly affecting the quality of the 

environment. In accordance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969, Public Law 91–190, an 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

is not required. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

The information collection 

requirements contained in this final rule 

have been approved by OMB and have 

been assigned OMB control number 

0575–0189. This final rule contains no 

new reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements that would require 

approval under the Paperwork 

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

chapter 35). 

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

This final rule has been reviewed 

with regard to the requirements of the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 

601–612). The undersigned has 

determined and certified by signature 

on this document that this final rule 

will not have a significant economic 

impact on a substantial number of small 

entities since this rulemaking action 

does not involve a new or expanded 

program nor does it require any more 

action on the part of a small business 

than required of a large entity. 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

(UMRA) 

Title II of the Unfunded Mandates 

Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public 

Law 104–4, establishes requirements for 

Federal agencies to assess the effects of 

their regulatory actions on State, local, 

and Tribal Governments and on the 

private sector. Under section 202 of the 

UMRA, Federal agencies generally must 

prepare a written statement, including 

cost-benefit analysis, for proposed and 

final rules with ‘‘Federal mandates’’ that 

may result in expenditures to State, 

local, or Tribal Governments, in the 

aggregate, or to the private sector, of 

$100 million or more in any one year. 

When such a statement is needed for a 

rule, section 205 of the UMRA generally 

requires a Federal agency to identify 

and consider a reasonable number of 

regulatory alternatives and adopt the 

least costly, more cost-effective, or least 

burdensome alternative that achieves 

the objectives of the rule. 

This final rule contains no Federal 

mandates (under the regulatory 

provisions of title II of the UMRA) for 

State, local, and Tribal Governments or 

for the private sector. Therefore, this 

final rule is not subject to the 

requirements of sections 202 and 205 of 

the UMRA. 

Non-Discrimination Policy 

In accordance with Federal civil 

rights laws and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its 

Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, 

employees, and institutions 

participating in or administering USDA 

programs are prohibited from 

discriminating based on race, color, 

national origin, religion, sex, gender 

identity (including gender expression), 

sexual orientation, disability, age, 

marital status, family/parental status, 

income derived from a public assistance 

program, political beliefs, or reprisal or 

retaliation for prior civil rights activity, 

in any program or activity conducted or 

funded by USDA (not all bases apply to 

all programs). Remedies and complaint 

filing deadlines vary by program or 

incident. 

Program information may be made 

available in languages other than 

English. Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means of 

communication to obtain program 

information (e.g., Braille, large print, 

audiotape, American Sign Language) 

should contact the responsible Mission 

Area, agency, staff office; or the Federal 

Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. 

To file a program discrimination 

complaint, a complainant should 

complete a Form AD–3027, USDA 

Program Discrimination Complaint 

Form, which can be obtained online at 

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/ 

files/documents/ad-3027.pdf from any 

USDA office, by calling (866) 632–9992, 

or by writing a letter addressed to 

USDA. The letter must contain the 

complainant’s name, address, telephone 

number, and a written description of the 

alleged discriminatory action in 

sufficient detail to inform the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about 

the nature and date of an alleged civil 

rights violation. The completed AD– 

3027 form or letter must be submitted to 

USDA by: 

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20250–9410; or 

(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690– 

7442; or 

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender. 

Severability 

It is USDA’s intention that the 

provisions of this final rule shall operate 

independently of each other. In the 

event that this rule or any portion is 

ultimately declared invalid or stayed as 

to a particular provision, it is USDA’s 

intent that the rule nonetheless be 

severable and remain valid with respect 

to those provisions not affected by a 

declaration of invalidity or stayed. 

USDA concludes it would separately 

adopt all of the provisions contained in 

this final rule. USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider, employer, and 

lender. 

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 3560 

Accounting, Administrative practice 

and procedure, Aged, Conflicts of 

interest, Government property 

management, Grant programs—housing 

and community development, 

Insurance, Loan programs—agriculture, 

Loan programs—housing and 

community development, Low- and 

moderate-income housing, Migrant 

labor, Mortgages, Nonprofit 

organizations, Public housing, Rent— 

subsidies, Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements, Rural areas. 

For the reasons set forth in the 

preamble, Rural Housing Service 

amends 7 CFR part 3560 as follows: 

PART 3560—DIRECT MULTI-FAMILY 

HOUSING LOANS AND GRANTS 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 3560 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1480. 

Subpart B—Direct Loan and Grant 

Origination 

■ 2. Amend § 3560.60 by adding 

paragraph (e) to read as follows: 

§ 3560.60 Design requirements. 

* * * * * 

(e) Applicable codes and standards. 

All housing and related facilities must 

meet the Qualifying Smoke Alarm 

requirements in § 3560.103(a)(3)(xx). 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 103631 

Subpart C—Borrower Management and 

Operations Responsibilities 

■ 3. Amend § 3560.103 by revising and 

republishing paragraph (a)(3)(xx) to read 

as follows: 

§ 3560.103 Maintaining housing projects. 

(a) * * * 

(3) * * * 

(xx) Smoke alarms. The housing 

project must have Qualifying Smoke 

Alarms which are installed in 

accordance with applicable codes and 

standards as set forth in sections 514(k), 

515(m), and 516(c) of the Housing Act 

of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.), in each 

level and in or near each sleeping area 

in such dwelling unit, including in 

basements but excepting crawl spaces 

and unfinished attics, and in each 

common area in a project containing 

such a dwelling unit. 

(A) Dwelling units built before 

December 29, 2022, and not 

substantially rehabilitated after 

December 29, 2022, smoke alarms must: 

(1) Be hardwired; or 

(2) Use 10-year non rechargeable, 

nonreplaceable primary batteries, 

(i) Be sealed, 

(ii) Tamper resistant, 

(iii) Contain silencing means; and 

(3) Provide notification for persons 

with hearing loss as required by 

applicable standards set forth in 

sections 514(k), 515(m), and 516(c) of 

the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 

et seq.). 

(B) Dwelling units built or 

substantially rehabilitated after 

December 29, 2022; smoke alarms must 

be hardwired. 

* * * * * 

Joaquin Altoro, 

Administrator, Rural Housing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30216 Filed 12–18–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Part 431 

Energy Efficiency Program for Certain 

Commercial and Industrial Equipment 

CFR Correction 

This rule is being published by the 

Office of the Federal Register to correct 

an editorial or technical error that 

appeared in the most recent annual 

revision of the Code of Federal 

Regulations. 

In Title 10 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations, Parts 200 to 499, revised as 

of January 1, 2024, make the following 

corrections: 

■ 1. Amend Appendix C to subpart R of 

part 431 in section 3.2.7.1, in the table, 

by removing the words ‘‘Table 1’’ and 

adding in its place, the words ‘‘Table 

C.4’’. 

■ 2. Amend Appendix C1 to subpart R 

of part 431 by reinstating the heading 

and introductory text to section 3.2.5 

before Table 15 to read as follows: 

Appendix C1 to Subpart R of Part 431— 

Uniform Test Method for the 

Measurement of Net Capacity and 

AWEF2 of Walk-In Cooler and Walk-In 

Freezer Refrigeration Systems 

* * * * * 

3. * * * 

3.2 * * * 

3.2.5 Test Operating Conditions for TwoCapacity Indoor Matched-Pair or SinglePackaged Refrigeration Systems 

For two-capacity indoor mediumtemperature matched-pair or single-packaged 

refrigeration systems, conduct tests using the 

test conditions specified in table 15 of this 

appendix. For two-capacity indoor lowtemperature matched-pair or single-packaged 

refrigeration systems, conduct tests using the 

test conditions specified in table 16 of this 

appendix. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2024–30077 Filed 12–18–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 0099–10–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–1468; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2023–00975–T; Amendment 

39–22840; AD 2024–18–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, 

Inc., Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Bombardier, Inc., Model BD–700–2A12 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by 

reports that the pivot door pressure 

seals on the thrust reverser fixed 

structure were found disbonded or 

missing on several airplanes. This AD 

requires inspecting the pivot door 

pressure seals and accomplishing 

applicable corrective actions. This AD 

also requires a functional test of the 

thrust reversers. The FAA is issuing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 23, 

2025. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of January 23, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2024–1468; or in person at 

Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this final rule, the mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI), any comments received, and 

other information. The address for 

Docket Operations is U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For Bombardier, Inc. material 

identified in this AD, contact 

Bombardier Business Aircraft Customer 

Response Center, 400 Coˆte-Vertu Road 

West, Dorval, Que ́bec H4S 1Y9, Canada; 

telephone 514–855–2999; email ac.yul@

aero.bombardier.com; website: 

bombardier.com. 

• You may view this material at the 

FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. 

It is also available at regulations.gov 

under Docket No. FAA–2024–1468. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Joseph Catanzaro, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 

telephone 516–228–7300; email 

joseph.catanzaro@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model 

BD–700–2A12 airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

May 22, 2024 (89 FR 44933). The NPRM 

was prompted by AD CF–2023–61, 

dated August 16, 2023, issued by 

Transport Canada, which is the aviation 

authority for Canada (Transport Canada 

AD CF–2023–61) (also referred to as the 

MCAI). The MCAI states that the pivot 

door pressure seals on the thrust 

reverser fixed structure were found 

disbonded or missing on several 

airplanes. 

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 

require inspecting the pivot door 

pressure seals and accomplishing 

applicable corrective actions. The FAA 

also proposed to require a functional 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1