[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