[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 34 (Monday, February 22, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4239]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Part 203

[Docket No. FR-4251-N-02]
RIN 2502-AH00


Withdrawal of Proposed Rule on Suspension of Authority to Insure 
New FHA Single Family Mortgages on Indian Reservations Pursuant to 
Section 248 of the National Housing Act

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This notice withdraws a proposed rule that would have 
suspended the authority of the HUD Secretary to provide FHA insurance 
pursuant to section 248 of the National Housing Act for mortgage loans 
made for the financing of single family homes on Indian reservations.

DATES: The proposed rule is withdrawn February 22, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Morris Carter, Office of Insured 
Single Family Housing, Room 9162, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410. Telephone: 
(202) 708-3046. (This is not a toll-free number.) For hearing- and 
speech-impaired persons, this number may be accessed via TTY by calling 
the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On February 3, 1998, at 63 FR 5660, the Department published for 
public comment a proposed rule that would amend 24 CFR 203.43h to 
suspend the FHA Section 248 program for mortgage insurance on Indian 
reservations. The suspension would be in effect whenever authority is 
available for HUD to guarantee loans under the Section 184 Indian 
Housing loan guarantee program.
    The public comment period on the proposed rule expired on April 6, 
1998. The Department received 34 comments, including 3 comments that 
had been submitted before publication of the proposed rule. The 
commenters were primarily Indian tribes or Indian housing authorities. 
HUD also received comments from the Native American Indian Housing 
Council, two State agencies, one Federal agency, a Federal Home Loan 
Bank, two lenders, and two individuals.
    Every commenter opposed the proposed rule and supported 
continuation of the Section 248 program without suspension. The 
commenters pointed out several advantages of the Section 248 program 
over the Section 184 program, including: Section 248 is a permanent 
program independent of the appropriations process; Section 248 has 
lower upfront closing costs because no upfront MIP is required for 
General Insurance Fund programs; and Section 184 cannot be used for 
refinancing.
    Upon consideration of these public comments, HUD has determined to 
withdraw its proposed rule to suspend the Section 248 program.
    Accordingly, the proposed rule to amend 24 CFR 203.43h, published 
on February 3, 1998, at 63 FR 5660, entitled, Suspension of Authority 
to Insure New FHA Single Family Mortgages on Indian Reservations 
Pursuant to Section 248 of the National Housing Act, is hereby 
withdrawn.

    Dated: February 12, 1999.
William C. Apgar,
Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 99-4239 Filed 2-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-27-P