[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: 01-2868]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

7 CFR Part 770

Rural Housing Service

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Utilities Service

Farm Service Agency

7 CFR Parts 1823, 1902, 1951 and 1956

RIN 0560-AF43


Loans to Indian Tribes and Tribal Corporations: Delay of 
Effective Date

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-
Cooperative Service, Rural Utilities Service, Department of 
Agriculture.

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 Loans to Indian Tribes and Tribal 
Corporations, published in the Federal Register on January 9, 2001, 66 
FR 1563. That rule consolidates and revises the Indian Tribal Land 
Acquisition Program regulations. 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.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The effective date of the Loans to Indian Tribes and 
Tribal Corporations, published in the Federal Register on January 9, 
2001, at 66 FR 1563, is delayed for 60 days, from February 8, 2001 to a 
new effective date of April 9, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary West, Senior Loan Officer, Farm 
Loan Program, Loan Servicing and Property Management Division, Farm 
Service Agency, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0523, 
Washington, DC 20250-0523. Telephone (202) 690-0949.

    Dated: January 29, 2001.
Ann M. Veneman,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-2868 Filed 2-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-M