[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2864]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

7 CFR Parts 272 and 273

RIN: 0584-AC39


Food Stamp Program: Personal Responsibility of the Personal 
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996: 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 Food Stamp Program: Personal 
Responsibility Provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, published in the Federal 
Register on January 17, 2001, 66 FR 4438. The rule implements 13 
provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation Act of 1996. To the extent that 5 U.S.C. section 553 
applies to this section, 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 Food Stamp Program: Personal 
Responsibility Provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, published in the Federal 
Register on January 17, 2001, at 66 FR 4438, is delayed for 60 days, 
from April 2, 2001, to a new effective date of June 1, 2001 except for 
the amendments to 7 CFR 272.2(d)(1)(xiii) which retains the effective 
date of August 1, 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. 01-2864 Filed 2-2-01; 8:45 am]
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