[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2862]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 24 / Monday, February 5, 2001 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 8885]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

7 CFR Part 246

RIN 0584-AA80


Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and 
Children (WIC); Food Delivery Systems: Delay of Effective Date

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from 
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled 
``Regulatory Review Plan,'' published in the Federal Register on 
January 24, 2001, this action temporarily delays for 60 days the 
effective date of the rule entitled Special Supplemental Nutrition 
Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); Food Delivery Systems, 
published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2000, 65 FR 83248. 
The rule strengthens vendor management in retail food delivery systems 
by establishing mandatory selection criteria, training requirements, 
criteria to be used to certify high-risk vendors, and monitoring 
requirements, including compliance investigations. To the extent that 5 
U.S.C. section 553 applies to this action, it is exempt from notice and 
comment because it constitutes a rule of procedure under 5 U.S.C. 
section 553(b)(A). Alternatively, the Department's implementation of 
this rule without opportunity for public comment, effective immediately 
upon publication today in the Federal Register, is based on the good 
cause exceptions in 5 U.S.C. section 553(b)(B) and 553(d)(3), seeking 
public comment is impracticable, unnecessary and contrary to the public 
interest. The temporary 60-day delay in effective date is necessary to 
give Department officials the opportunity for further review and 
consideration of new regulations, consistent with the Assistant to the 
President's memorandum of January 20, 2001. Given the imminence of the 
effective date, seeking prior public comment on this temporary delay 
would have been impractical, as well as contrary to the public interest 
in the orderly promulgation and implementation of regulations. The 
imminence of the effective date is also good cause for making this rule 
effective immediately upon publication.

DATES: The effective date of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program 
for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); Food Delivery Systems 
regulation, published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2000, at 
65 FR 83248, is delayed for 60 days, from February 27, 2001, to a new 
effective date of April 28, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheri Ackerman, Regulatory Control 
Officer, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22302-1594 or by telephone to (703) 305-2246.

    Dated: January 29, 2001.
Ann M. Veneman,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-2862 Filed 2-2-01; 8:45 am]
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