[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 78 (Monday, April 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 17701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9669]



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EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES


Environmental Review Procedures

AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Export-Import Bank (``Ex-Im Bank'') is extending the 
effective date of its Environmental Procedures and Guidelines 
(initially issued in February, 1995) and has adopted certain changes to 
improve the specificity, clarity and use of the Guidelines. The revised 
Environmental Procedures and Guidelines will remain in effect until 
April 1, 1998, at which time they will again be subject to review by 
the Bank.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Popi Artavanis, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Engineering 
and Environment Division, 811 Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20571, 
tel: (202) 565-3570.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 106 of the Export Enhancement Act 
(12 U.S.C. 635i-5) (``Section 106'') provides that Ex-Im Bank shall 
establish environmental review procedures consistent with the Bank's 
overall mandate to maintain U.S. export competitiveness. Pursuant to 
this section, the Ex-Im Bank Board of Directors approved a set of 
Environmental Procedures and Guidelines on February 1, 1995. The new 
procedures and guidelines were made effective on a one-year trial basis 
until February 1, 1996. Earlier this year, the Bank extended the 
effective date of these procedures and guidelines to April 1, 1996.
    Prior to April 1, 1996, the Bank's staff solicited comments on the 
procedures and guidelines from exporters and exporter trade 
organizations, and conducted an internal review of the application of 
the procedures and guidelines to particular transactions over the 
course of the year. The staff concluded that the guidelines and 
procedures have generally accomplished their goal of providing an 
environmental benchmark for determining the acceptability of a project 
for financing. At the same time, the guidelines and procedures have 
minimized the impact on the exporting community, and allowed for 
efficient, practical implementation by staff. The Bank's staff 
introduced certain changes to improve the specificity, clarity and use 
of the guidelines and recommended the procedures and guidelines (with 
the proposed changes) be extended for an additional two years. On April 
2, 1996, the Ex-Im Bank Board of Directors voted to extend the 
Environmental Procedures and Guidelines (with the staff's recommended 
changes) until April 1, 1998.
    These procedures and guidelines are not subject to notice and 
comment requirements or to publication in the Federal Register pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2), 553(b)(A), and 553(d)(2).
    Copies may be obtained by written request from Ex-Im Bank's 
Engineering and Environment Division, 811 Vermont Aveue, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20571.
    Accordingly, under the authority of Section 106 of the Export 
Enhancement Act (12 U.S.C. 635i-5), the Environmental Procedures and 
Guidelines will remain in effect until April 1, 1998.

    Dated: April 12, 1996.
Kenneth W. Hansen,
General Counsel, Export-Import Bank of the United States.
[FR Doc. 96-9669 Filed 4-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6690-01-M