[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72102-72104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34493]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
7 CFR Part 1728
Electric Overhead Distribution Lines; Specifications and Drawings
for 24.9/14.4 kV Line Construction
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is revising its bulletin of
specifications and drawings for 24.9/14.4 kV overhead distribution line
construction. RUS is separating the bulletin into 19 sections. Each
section contains an index, construction specifications, and a group of
similar drawings of construction assemblies, which perform a common
function. RUS is changing the drawing number on each drawing to conform
to a new, functional format. RUS is also making certain technical
changes to the drawings so that construction assemblies conform to
current RUS construction requirements and specifications. Where
applicable, the drawings show allowable loading limits and reference to
new tables, which show maximum line angles. Existing specifications,
such as pole setting depths, are not being modified, however, they are
being moved to the section that contains wood poles. RUS is renumbering
and reformatting this bulletin in accordance with its new publications
and directives system.
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 1, 1999. The incorporation by reference of the
publication listed in the role is approved by the Director of the
Federal Register February 1, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James L. Bohlk, Electrical
Engineer, Distribution Branch, Electric Staff Division, Rural Utilities
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
STOP 1569, Washington, DC 20250-1569. Telephone: (202) 720-1967. Fax:
(202) 720-7491.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Executive Order 12372
This 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 to governmental and non-
governmental entities from coverage under this order.
Executive Order 12988
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil
Justice Reform. RUS has determined that this rule meets the applicable
standards provided in Sec. 3. of the Executive Order. In addition, all
state and local laws and regulations that are in conflict
[[Page 72103]]
with this rule will be preempted, no retroactive effort will be given
to this rule, and in accordance with Sec. 212(c) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6912(c)), appeal
procedures must be exhausted before an action against the Department or
its agencies may be initiated.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Administrator of RUS has determined that a rule will not have
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities defined in
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), and therefore,
the Regulatory Flexibility act does not apply to this rule.
Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements
This 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 rule is listed in the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance Programs under No. 10.850, Rural
Electrification Loans and Loan Guarantees. This catalog is available on
a subscription basis from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325.
Unfunded Mandates
This rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory
provision of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act) for State,
local, and tribal governments or the private sector. Thus, this rule is
not subject to the requirements of section 202 and 205 of the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act.
Background
Pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 as amended (7
U.S.C. 901 et seq.), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is amending 7
CFR Chapter XVII, Part 1728, Electric Standards and Specification for
Materials and Construction, by revising RUS Bulletin 50-5 (D-803),
Specification and Drawings for 14.4/24.9 kV Line Construction, and
renumbering it as RUS Bulletin 1728F-803. RUS maintains a system of
bulletins that contains construction standards and specifications for
materials and equipment. These standards and specifications apply to
system facilities constructed by RUS electric and telecommunications
borrowers in accordance with the RUS loan contract, and contain
standard construction units, material, and equipment units commonly
used in RUS electric and telecommunication borrowers' systems.
RUS Bulletin 50-5 provides dimensioned drawings of standard
assembly units and specifications for the construction of 24.9/14.4 kV
overhead electric distribution lines. RUS is changing the bulletin
number from RUS Bulletin 50-5 to RUS Bulletin 1728F-803. The change in
the bulletin number and reformatting is necessary to conform to RUS'
new publications and directives system. This bulletin is incorporated
by reference in 7 CFR part 1728.97. It may be purchased from the
Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15250-7954.
The major changes in the bulletin are described below.
The bulletin has been separated into 19 different sections or
categories. Each section generally contains construction specifications
related to the category, an index of drawings in the section and
several similar construction drawings of assemblies that are designed
to perform a similar function. The revised bulletin also contains an
overall index and general construction specifications. Also added to
the bulletin are additional new tables displaying maximum line angles
and soil classifications.
The drawing numbers on all the modified drawings have been slightly
changed. The drawing number on each new and modified drawing is in a
new, uniform format based on the original RUS numbering scheme and
format in which each character in the number has a functional meaning
related to the contents of the drawings.
Approximately 64 of the 154 construction drawings in previous
bulletin 50-5 have been deleted in the revised bulletin. Each drawing
was eliminated for one or more of the following reasons:
(a) There is a conflict in the permissible line angles between the
primary conductor supports and the neutral conductor supports;
(b) The assembly is comprised of materials no longer contained in
Information Publication 202-1, ``List of Materials Acceptable for Use
on Systems of RUS Electrification Borrowers'';
(c) The assembly or assemblies have been renumbered and reorganized
and included in the revised bulletin as a new drawing;
(d) The assembly design is no longer acceptable as a RUS
construction standard for mechanical strength or clearance reasons;
(e) The drawing is redundant of another similar drawing and thus
not needed or useful;
(f) The assembly design is no longer preferred or commonly used; or
(g) The drawing contains construction instructions or details that
are no longer applicable to RUS construction standards.
Corrections or modifications were made to the approximately 90
remaining drawings of the bulletin. Each revised drawing contains one
or more of the following changes:
(a) Each drawing was given a new, shorter, simpler, and more
uniform drawing title or name;
(b) The primary system voltage of ``24.9/14.4 kV'' and the number
of primary phases were drawn in a uniform place in the title block on
each drawing where this information is relevant;
(c) The number (quantity) of locknuts is shown in the material list
of all the drawings that have these items;
(d) The revised drawings specify that crossarms be generally
installed 1 foot, 6 inches from the top of the pole to utilize the new
predrilled hole arrangement in the new RUS standard pole drilling
guide;
(e) The new drawings depict the use of 4\1/4\-inch primary deadend
insulators instead of 6-inch deadend insulators as shown on the
previous drawings;
(f) New technical information, defined as ``design parameters'' was
added to the title blocks on most of the drawings. These design
parameters include maximum line angles (referenced to the new tables),
maximum longitudinal, transverse or unbalanced loads, maximum working
load, or maximum holding power. This new technical information defines
and usually limits the physical applications of the assembly units
shown on the drawings; and
(g) Several of the revised drawings contain new advisory notes,
technical information, and references to other drawings.
There are approximately 84 new drawings. Many of these new drawings
are of construction assemblies from the
[[Page 72104]]
previous bulletin that have been modified as appropriate, renumbered,
and reorganized. Other new drawings were added to exhibit one or more
of the following:
(a) The application of post-type insulators;
(b) Construction guides and design details;
(c) New equipment and new design; and
(d) Details of subassembly units.
A few new drawings were added to replace, with modifications as
required, needed drawings or assemblies that were deleted from the
previous bulletin for the reasons previously given.
Comments
On August 26, 1997, RUS published a proposed rule in the Federal
Register, Vol. 62, No. 165. Comments were received from two parties.
The first party, a distribution borrower of RUS, made three
comments. The first comment pointed out a minor technical error on one
of the drawings that RUS subsequently corrected. The second comment
pointed out the absence of platforms for large transformer banks which
is not a RUS standard and has not been a standard for over 30 years.
The final comment regarded a preference size of conduit on a service
entrance drawing. Since this third comment refers to a guide drawing
and not a RUS specification, no changes are necessary to accommodate
the preference of the commenter.
The second set of approximately 30 comments was received from a
consulting engineering firm. Four comments were general in nature
regarding the National Electrical Safety Code, the size of the openings
on clevises, crossarm loading and grounding assemblies. No response for
the above comments were called for nor needed.
The commenter pointed out minor technical, drafting, or
typographical errors or improvements on several drawings. As a result
of these comments the following 21 drawings were corrected:
VA4.1 VD2.91L E3.1
VB4.1 VD4.1 E4.1L
VC1.41L VD4.1L F1.XX
VC2.52L E1.1 F2.XX
VC4.1 E1.01 F3.XX
VC4.2L E2.1 F6.6
VC5.11G E2.3G VQ.41
Based on the comments given, drawing M2.1G was eliminated.
This commenter suggested the addition of notes on several drawings,
where relevant, regarding maximum transverse loading for conductors,
clearances from poles of conductors on swing angles, separation of
conductors on double-circuit assemblies, helix sizes, torques and
depths on anchor drawings, right-of-way clearing details, and lead
lengths on surge arresters. The commenter also suggested the addition
of logs anchors, elimination of rock anchors, replacement of swamp
anchors, and minor design changes on certain oil circuit recloser,
auto-transformer and switch drawings. Each of the above comments was
thoroughly reviewed and considered. RUS determined that each of the
suggestions immediately above, which describe the commenter's
construction preferences on some assembly units, are technically
correct. Likewise, the RUS version of the assemblies is technically
sound. In the interest of staying consistent with previous RUS standard
assembly units, RUS did not change any of these drawings as suggested.
The commenter also suggested that drawing VD6.91 was technically
wrong, that ``silts'' should be eliminated from some soil
classifications in Table F, and that the ground connections on two of
the transformer/meter connection schematics was incorrect. RUS reviewed
these comments very carefully and determined that the RUS drawings are
correct and that the comments were incorrect. Thus, no changes were
made to these drawings.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1728
Electric power, Incorporation by reference, Loan programs-energy,
Rural areas.
For reasons set out in the preamble, RUS is amending 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.; 1921 et seq.; 6941 et seq.).
2. Section 1728.97(b) is amended by removing the entry for Bulletin
50-5 and adding to the list of bulletins, in numerical order, the entry
for Bulletin 1728F-803, to read as follows:
Sec. 1728.97 Incorporation by reference of electric standards and
specifications.
* * * * *
(b) List of Bulletins.
* * * * *
Bulletin 1728F-803, Specifications and Drawings for 24.9/14.4 kV
Line Construction (October 1998).
* * * * *
Dated: December 18, 1998.
Jill Long Thompson,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 98-34493 Filed 12-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P