Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 38 / Monday, February 26, 2001 / Proposed Rules 11549

‘‘government securities’’ to include

qualified Canadian government

obligations, specifically whether

particular requirements in the GSA

regulations would raise operational

issues of which we are unaware.

Subchapter B

As noted above, Subchapter A of the

regulations requires institutions subject

to Subchapter A (i.e., government

securities brokers and dealers and

exempt institutions) to also comply with

the rules in Subchapter B. In addition,

under Title II of the GSA (31 U.S.C.

3121(h), 9110) depository institutions

that are not government securities

brokers or dealers and that hold

government securities for the account of

customers must comply with the rules

prescribed by Treasury in 17 CFR,

Subchapter B, Part 450. Thus, there are

three categories of institutions that must

follow the rules in Subchapter B—(a) (as

required by the rules in Subchapter A),

financial institution government

securities brokers and dealers and (b)

(also as required by the rules in

Subchapter A), exempt financial

institutions, and (c) depository

institutions that are not government

securities brokers or dealers and that

hold government securities for the

account of customers.

Because two of these categories of

institutions ((a) and (b)) are based on

one statutory authority (Title I of the

GSA), and the third category ((c)) is

based on another statutory authority

(Title II of the GSA), we are proposing

a revised regulatory definition of

‘‘government securities’’ at section

450.2(e) that takes this into account.

Proposed § 450.2(e)(1), the definition

applicable to institutions that are

required under the rules in Subchapter

A to follow the Subchapter B rules, will

include qualified Canadian government

obligations. Proposed § 450.2(e)(2) of the

definition is narrower and does not

include qualified Canadian government

obligations. It would be applicable to

institutions that are required to follow

the Subchapter B rules solely because of

the requirements of Title II of the GSA.

Therefore, for institutions required to

follow the rules in Subchapter B as a

result of the requirements of Subchapter

A, proposed § 450.2(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii)

would extend the requirements of

Subchapter B to institutions holding

qualified Canadian government

obligations for customer accounts.

Based on our consultation with staff

of the bank regulatory agencies, we

understand this proposed change in the

definition of ‘‘government securities’’

would not have a material impact on

banks. They are not aware of situations

in which banks in the U.S. are handling

qualified Canadian government

obligations for customers. Therefore, we

believe this conforming amendment

would not have more than a minimal

effect on banks.

The G–L–B Act was enacted on

November 12, 1999. The effective date

of Subtitle A of Title II of the G–L–B Act

is 18 months after enactment, or May

12, 2001. Accordingly, after we consider

all comments received in response to

this proposed amendment, we intend to

issue a final amendment to the GSA

regulations that will be effective May

12, 2001.

Special Analysis

The proposed rule would only make

a technical amendment to the GSA

regulations to conform to a change in

definition of the term ‘‘government

securities’’ made by the G–L–B Act.

Based on the very limited impact of the

proposed amendment, it is our view that

the proposed regulations are not a

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ for the

purposes of Executive Order 12866.

For the same reasons, we certify

under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5

U.S.C. 601, et seq.) that the proposed

regulations, if adopted, will not have a

significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities. As

a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis

is not required.

List of Subjects in 17 CFR Part 450

Banks, banking, Government

securities, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

For the reasons stated in the

preamble, we propose to amend 17 CFR

Part 450 to read as follows:

PART 450—CUSTODIAL HOLDINGS

OF GOVERNMENT SECURITIES BY

DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS

1. The authority citation for Part 450

is revised to read as follows:

Authority: Sec. 201, Pub. L. 99–571, 100

Stat. 3222–23 (31 U.S.C. 3121, 9110); Sec.

101, Pub. L. 99–571, 100 Stat. 3208 (15 U.S.C.

78o–5(b)(1)(A), (b)(4), (b)(5)(B)).

2. Section 450.2 is amended by

revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:

§ 450.2 Definitions.

* * * * *

(e) Government securities means:

If . . . Then . . .

(1)(i) A depository institution is a government securities broker or dealer as defined in sections 3(a)(43) and 3(a)(44) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(43)–(44)).‘‘Government securities’’ means those obligations described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), or (E) of section 3(a)(42) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(42)(A)–(C), (E)).

(ii) A depository institution is exempt under Part 401 of this chapter

from the requirements of Subchapter A.

‘‘Government securities’’ means those obligations described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), or (E) of section 3(a)(42) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(42)(A)–(C), (E)).

(2) A depository institution is not a government securities broker or

dealer as defined in sections 3(a)(43) and 3(a)(44) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(43)–(44)).

‘‘Government securities’’ means those obligations described in subparagraphs (A), (B), or (C) of section 3(a)(42) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(42)(A)–(C)).

* * * * *

Dated: February 21, 2001.

Donald V. Hammond,

Acting Under Secretary, Domestic Finance.

[FR Doc. 01–4647 Filed 2–23–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810–39–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 3

RIN 2900–AJ44

Well-Grounded Claims

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule.

SUMMARY: In a document published in

the Federal Register at 64 FR 67528 on

December 2, 1999, the Department of

Veterans Affairs (VA) proposed to

amend its adjudication regulations

concerning a claimant’s statutory

responsibility to support his or her

11550 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 38 / Monday, February 26, 2001 / Proposed Rules

claim with evidence adequate to make

the claim ‘‘well grounded.’’ The

proposed rule also addressed VA’s duty

to help claimants who have filled wellgrounded claims obtain evidence

pertinent to their claims. This document

withdraws that proposed rule.

Subsequent to the publication of the

proposed rule, the Veterans Claims

Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA), Pub. L.

No. 106–475, 114 Stat. 2096, was signed

into law. The VCAA eliminated the

claimant’s responsibility to file a wellgrounded claim and redefined VA’s

duty to help claimants obtain evidence

relevant to their claims. Therefore, we

are withdrawing the proposed rule and

preparing a new proposed rule to

implement the new statutory

requirements.

DATES: The proposed rule is withdrawn

as of February 26, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Janice Jacobs, Consultant, Policy and

Regulations Staff, Compensation and

Pension Service, Veterans Benefits

Administration, 810 Vermont Ave., NW,

Washington, DC 20420, telephone (202)

273–7223.

Approved: February 15, 2001.

Anthony J. Principi,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 01–4634 Filed 2–23–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

40 CFR Part 63

[ADL–FRL–6948–8]

RIN 2060–AH47

National Emission Standards for

Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions:

Group IV Polymers and Resins

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of

compliance.

SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing to

extend certain compliance dates

contained in national emissions

standards for hazardous air pollutant

emissions for Group IV polymers and

resins for polyethylene terephthalate

(PET) affected sources. We are

proposing this compliance extension

pursuant to section 301(a)(1) of the

Clean Air Act (CAA) to complete

reconsideration of equipment leaks

provisions and any necessary revision to

the rule.

In the ‘‘Rules and Regulations’’

section of this Federal Register, we are

approving the extension of compliance

dates as a direct final rule without prior

proposal because we view this as a

noncontroversial revision and anticipate

no adverse comment. We have

explained our reasons for this approval

in the preamble to the direct final rule.

If we receive adverse comment, we will

withdraw the direct final rule and it will

not take effect. We will address all

public comments in a subsequent final

rule based on this proposed rule. We

will not institute a second comment

period on this action. Any parties

interested in commenting must do so at

this time.

DATES: Comments. Written comments

must be received by March 28, 2001,

unless a hearing is requested by March

8, 2001. If a hearing is requested,

written comments must be received by

April 12, 2001.

Public Hearing. Anyone requesting a

public hearing must contact the EPA no

later than March 8, 2001. If a hearing is

held, it will take place on March 13,

2001, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments

should be submitted (in duplicate, if

possible) to: Air and Radiation Docket

and Information Center (6102),

Attention Docket Number A–92–45

(Group IV Polymers and Resins), Room

M–1500, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania

Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460.

The EPA requests that a separate copy

also be sent to the contact person listed

below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT). Comments and data may also

be submitted electronically by following

the instructions provided in the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. No

Confidential Business Information (CBI)

should be submitted through electronic

mail.

Public Hearing. If a public hearing is

held, it will be held at the EPA’s Office

of Administration Auditorium, Research

Triangle Park, North Carolina. Persons

interested in attending the hearing or

wishing to present oral testimony

should notify Ms. Maria Noell, U.S.

EPA, MD–13, Research Triangle Park,

NC 27711, telephone (919) 541–5607.

Docket. The official record for this

rulemaking has been established under

docket number A–92–45. A public

version of this record, including

printed, paper versions of electronic

comments and data, which does not

include any information claimed as CBI,

is available for inspection between 8

a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through

Friday, excluding legal holidays. The

official rulemaking record is located at

U.S. EPA, Waterside Mall, 401 M Street,

SW, Washington, DC 20460.

Alternatively, a docket index, as well as

individual items contained within the

docket, may be obtained by calling (202)

260–7548 or (202) 260–7549. A

reasonable fee may be charged for

copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Keith Barnett, Organic Chemicals

Group, Emission Standards Division

(MD–13), Office of Air Quality Planning

and Standards, U.S. EPA, Research

Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone

number (919) 541–5605, fax number

(919) 541–3470, and electronic mail:

barnett.keith@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Docket. The docket reflects the full

administrative record for this action and

includes all the information relied upon

by EPA in the development of this rule.

The docket is a dynamic file because

material is added throughout the

rulemaking process. The docketing

system is intended to allow members of

the public and industries involved to

readily identify and locate documents

so that they can effectively participate

in the rulemaking process. Along with

the proposed and promulgated

standards and their preambles, the

contents of the docket will serve as the

record in the case of judicial review.

(See section 307(d)(7)(A) of the CAA.)

World Wide Web (WWW). In addition

to being available in the docket, an

electronic copy of this proposed rule

will also be available on the WWW

through the Technology Transfer

Network (TTN). Following the

Administrator’s signature, a copy of the

action will be posted on the TTN’s

policy and guidance page for newly

proposed or promulgated rules http://

www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg. The TTN

provides information and technology

exchange in various areas of air

pollution control. If more information

regarding the TTN is needed, call the

TTN HELP line at (919) 541–5384.

Regulated Entities. Regulated

categories and entities include:

Category Examples of regulated

entities

Industry .......... Facilities manufacturing PET

using a batch dimethyl

terephthalate (DMT) process, PET facilities using a

continuous DMT process,

PET facilities using a

batch terephthalic acid

(TPA) process, and PET

facilities using a continuous TPA records.

This table is not intended to be

exhaustive, but rather provides a guide