```

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 26, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 66359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31575]

========================================================================
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. 66, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 26, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 66359]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1710

RIN 0572-AB71

Treasury Rate Direct Loan Program

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: In fiscal year 2001, Congress provided funding to establish a 
Treasury rate direct loan program to address the backlog of qualified 
loan applications for insured municipal rate electric loans from RUS. 
RUS administered the Treasury rate loan program in a manner 
substantially the same as it administered the municipal rate program 
under a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) published in the Federal 
Register at 65 FR 80830 on December 22, 2000. Title III of the 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 authorizes a direct Treasury 
rate electric loan program of $750 million for FY 2002. RUS is 
proposing to amend its regulations to establish rules and regulations 
to administer the Treasury rate direct loan program.
    In the final rule section of this Federal Register, RUS is 
publishing this action as a direct final rule without prior proposal 
because RUS views this as a non-controversial action and anticipates no 
adverse comments. If no adverse comments are received in response to 
the direct final rule, no further action will be taken on this proposed 
rule and the action will become effective at the time specified in the 
direct final rule. If RUS receives adverse comments, a document will be 
published withdrawing the direct final rule and all public comments 
received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule. Any parties 
interested in commenting on this proposed action should do so at this 
time.

DATES: Comments on this proposed action must be received on or before 
January 25, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit adverse comments or notice of intent to submit 
adverse comments to F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program Development 
and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Washington, DC 
20250-1522. RUS suggests a signed original and three copies of all 
comments (7CFR 1700.4). All comments received will be made available 
for public inspection at room 4030, South Building, Washington, DC, 
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (7CFR 1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert O. Ellinger, Chief, Policy 
Analysis and Loan Management Staff, Rural Utilities Service, Electric 
Program, Room 4041 South Building, Stop 1560, 1400 Independence Ave., 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-1560, Telephone: (202) 720-0424, FAX (202) 
690-0717, E-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the Supplementary Information provided 
in the direct final rule located in the final rule section of this 
Federal Register for the applicable supplementary information on this 
action.

    Dated: December 18, 2001.
Hilda Gay Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 01-31575 Filed 12-21-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
```