[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 218 (Friday, November 8, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57788-57790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28695]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1728


Electric Transmission Specifications and Drawings (34.5 kV to 69 
kV and 115 kV to 230 kV) for Use on RUS Financed Electric Systems

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) proposes to revise its 
electric specifications and drawings for 34.5 kV to 230 kV transmission 
lines. These specifications and drawings are set forth in RUS Bulletins 
50-1 and 50-2. These specifications and drawings are currently 
incorporated by reference. RUS is proposing editorial changes and 
changes to improve clarity of the bulletins. RUS borrowers and other 
users of RUS electric transmission line specifications have proposed 
corrections to several drawings. RUS and RUS borrowers have also 
suggested modifications to clarify and modify some of the drawings. RUS 
also proposes to renumber and reformat these bulletins in accordance 
with the Agency's publications and directives system.


[[Page 57789]]


DATES: Written comments must be received by RUS or bear a postmark or 
equivalent no later than January 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Mr. Donald G. Heald, Transmission 
Engineer, Electric Staff Division, Rural Utilities Service, room 1246-
S, Stop 1569 , 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-1569. 
RUS requires an original and three copies of all comments (7 CFR 
1700.30(e)). All comments received will be made available for 
inspection at room 2234-S, during regular business hours (7 CFR 
1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald G. Heald at the above 
address, or telephone (202) 720-9102.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12372

    This proposed rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order 
12372, Intergovernmental Consultation which may require consultation 
with State and local officials. A Notice of Final Rule entitled 
Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive Order 12372 
(50 FR 47034) exempts RUS loans and loan guarantees from coverage under 
this order.

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866 and therefore has not been reviewed by OMB.

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed in accordance with Executive 
Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. RUS has determined that this 
proposed rule meets the applicable standards provided in Sec. 3. of the 
Executive Order.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Administrator of RUS has determined that a rule relating the 
the RUS electric loan program is not a rule as defined in the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. et seq.), and, therefore, the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply to this proposed rule.

Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements

    This proposed rule contains no reporting or recordkeeping 
provisions requiring Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as 
amended).

National Environmental Policy Act Certification

    The Administrator of RUS has determined that this rule will not 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment as defined by 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
Therefore, this action does not require an environmental impact 
statement or assessment.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The program described by this proposed rule is listed in the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Programs under number 10.850, 
Rural Electrification Loans and Loan Guarantees. This catalog is 
available on a subscription basis from the Superintendent of Documents, 
United States Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325.

Background

    Pursuant to the Rural Electrification Administration Act of 1936 as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), RUS proposes to amend 7 CFR Chapter 
XVII, Part 1728, Electric Standards and Specifications for Materials 
and Construction, by revising RUS Bulletin 50-1, Electric Transmission 
Specifications and Drawings, 115 kV to 230 kV, and RUS Bulletin 50-2, 
Electric Transmission Specifications and Drawings, 34.5 kV to 69 kV, 
and renumbering them as Bulletins 1728F-811 and 1728F-810, 
respectively.
    The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) maintains bulletins that contain 
construction standards and specifications for materials and equipment. 
These standards and specifications apply to systems constructed by RUS 
electric and telecommunications borrowers in accordance with the RUS 
loan contract, and contain standard construction units, material, and 
equipment units used on RUS electric and telephone borrowers' systems. 
Bulletins 50-1 and 50-2 establish standard overhead electric 
transmission construction drawings and specifications for wood pole 
structures and assemblies for use by RUS borrowers on electric systems.
    RUS proposes to change the bulletins numbers from Bulletins 50-1 
and 50-2 to Bulletins 1728F-811 and 1728F-810, respectively. The 
changes in the bulletin number and reformatting of the specifications 
are necessary to conform to RUS' publications and directives system. In 
addition to reformatting, minor editorial changes and changes to 
improve clarity are being proposed. Changes are being proposed for some 
of the drawings that appear in the current bulletins. These proposed 
drawing changes are summarized below. Drawings for which changes are 
not being proposed will appear exactly as they appear in the current 
bulletins with the exception that the Final Rule effective date will be 
added to the drawings for publication and verification purposes. The 
Final Rule effective date will also be added to the drawings for which 
changes are being proposed.

Copies of the proposed bulletins along with copies of those drawings 
for which changes are being proposed may be obtained from Donald G. 
Heald, Electric Staff Division, at (202) 720-9102; FAX, (202) 720-7491; 
E-mail, [email protected].
    Corrections are proposed to Crossarm Drilling Drawings TCD-11 and 
TCD-20 of bulletin currently designated as Bulletin 50-1 50-2, to be 
reissued as Bulletins 1728F-810 and 1728F-811. Corrections are proposed 
to Crossarm Drilling Drawings TCD-15 and TCD-32 of currently designated 
Bulletin 50-1. Several dimensions which are used to drill the crossarms 
are being corrected on the crossarm drilling drawings. Crossarm types 
81 and 83 (5\1/8\''  x  7\1/2\'') are being eliminated on drawing TCD-
40, since laminated arms are readily available in standard 9\3/8\''  x  
3\5/8\'' sizes.
    Drawing TG-15 and TG-45 of current Bulletins 50-1 and 50-2 are 
revised to show the minimum thickness and width of the guying plate. 
Drawing TG-16 and TG-46 are revised to a better ground the connection 
between the guy wire and the pole ground wire. On drawing TG-17, a 
guying plate is added to TG-17D where the insulators attach to the pole 
and anchor shackles have been added to TG-17E. The anchor shackles are 
necessary to permit the attachment of light duty guy assemblies to the 
double eye pole eye plate. The capacity of the swing angle bracket 
shown on drawing TG-18 is being clarified to show both allowable and 
ultimate capacities. Washers are being added on the clevis side of the 
clevis bolts. These washers will provide a bearing surface when 
tightening the nut to the clevis bolt. The dimensions of the connecting 
links to the pole bands are being removed from drawing TG-26, Guy 
Attachments (Pole Bands) and TG-56, Pole Tie Assemblies (Pole Bands). 
The size of the link depends on the strength of the metal used by 
different manufacturers.
    Drawings TG-28 and TG-29, Bracket and Guy Attachment, are being 
revised to show minimum sizes for the bracket and to clarify the notes 
by adding an allowable vertical load and defining the ultimate load to 
be compatible with the TH-10 series structures and TG-29. Antisplit 
bolts are being added to drawings TG-35D and TG-35E, Heavy Duty Guying 
Ties. Several notes have

[[Page 57790]]

been added to TG-36, Heavy Duty Pole Bands, so that problems associated 
with improper use of this unit are avoided. Since there are no 
suppliers for heavy duty pole eye plates, drawing TG-37 is being 
eliminated. The pole tie assemblies shown in drawing TG-47 are being 
modified to be similar to TG-45.
    Units TM-1B and TM-2B of drawings TM-1 and TM-2, Insulator Assembly 
Units, are being modified in both bulletins to require the use of a Y-
clevis ball instead of the anchor shackle and oval eye ball. The use of 
a Y-clevis ball will provide savings to the RUS borrower. It is a 
standard hardware item that has been used frequently on steel and 
concrete pole construction.
    The Pole Stability, Bearing, and Uplift Foundations drawings (TM-
101, 102, 103) are revised to eliminate the compacted backfill below 
the pole for TM-101 unit, to eliminate unit TM-102B, and to add a note 
to the engineer on TM-103. All three drawings will show the backfill at 
ground level in a more realistic manner. The reason for the proposed 
elimination of unit TM-102B is the difficulty in compacting the soil 
below the top pair of pole bearing plates. The crossarm splice (TM-
114A) is being eliminated since laminated arms are readily available. 
Note 4 to Drawing TM-111 is revised for clarification. Drawing TM-115, 
Steel Upswept Arm Assembly, is revised to show Table 1, Required 
Dimensions and Swing Angle Clearances. A dimension for the 50,000 pound 
anchor shackle has been corrected on Drawing TM-120, Hardware.
    RUS is recommending that the higher capacity log anchors (TA-3L, 
3LC, 5L, and 5LC) be eliminated from the log anchor drawings of both 
bulletins. The size of the washer required in these construction units 
limits the safety factor below those designated for other assemblies. 
The other log anchor units will remain in both bulletins (TA-2L and TA-
4L). On these drawings, as well as drawing TA-2P, average soil is 
redefined as class 5 soil to be consistent with other RUS publications.
    The proposed modification to existing drawings TA-1S through TA-
24S, Anchors (Power Screw), in both bulletins has been suggested by RUS 
borrowers and their consulting engineers. This revision will simplify 
defining unit costs for screw anchors. Screw anchor units will be 
composed of the basic helix section with a 5-foot extension. A bid unit 
will cover the number of extensions. The new drawing will be designated 
TA-2H to 4H.
    Corrections to the list of materials for the TSS-9 structure in 
Bulletin 50-2 is being made to show a 12'0'' arm for the lower crossarm 
instead of 9'0'' arm. The pole ground wire is being relocated on the 
TS-1B, TS-1BX, TS-1C, TSZ-115B, TSZ-138B, TS-115B, and TS-138B in order 
to improve the BIL of the structure.
    Drawings TPF-40 and TPF-50 are being revised to reflect the option 
of using adjustable spacers with gained poles. A corresponding change 
is included in the list of options in the construction specifications.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1728

    Electric power, Incorporation by reference, Loan programs--energy, 
Rural areas.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, RUS proposes to amend 7 
CFR Part 1728 as follows:

PART 1728--ELECTRIC STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS AND 
CONSTRUCTION

    1. The authority citation for Part 1728 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.; 7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.; Pub. L. 
103-354, 108 Stat. 3178 (7 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.).

    2. Section 1728.97, (b) is amended by removing the entries for 
Bulletins 50-1 and 50-2, adding to the list of bulletins in numerical 
order the entries for Bulletins 1728F-811 and 1728F-810, respectively, 
to read as follows:


Sec. 1728.97  Incorporation by reference of electric standards and 
specifications.

* * * * *
    (b) List of bulletins.
* * * * *
Bulletin 1728F-810, Electric Transmission Specifications and 
Drawings 34.5 to 69 kV, [Month and year of publication of Final 
Rule].
Bulletin 1728F-811, Electric Transmission Specifications and 
Drawings 115 kV to 230 kV, [Month and year of publication of final 
rule].

    Dated: October 29, 1996.
Jill Long Thompson,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 96-28695 Filed 11-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P