[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5263-5264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2265]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Housing Service

Rural Utilities Service

Farm Service Agency

7 CFR Part 1940


Methodology and Formulas for Allocation of Loan and Grant Program 
Funds

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is amending the 
regulation to recognize a transition

[[Page 5264]]

formula that will be used for allocating funds to State Offices. This 
action is needed due to the significant impact the use of the new 2000 
U.S. Census data versus the 1990 U.S. Census data, used in previous 
years, will have on certain States' allocations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 4, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sylvia Neal, Management Analyst, 
Business Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 3221, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3221, telephone (202) 
720-2811, or by sending an e-mail message to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Classification

    This action is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
12866 since it involves only internal Agency management. This action is 
not published for prior notice and comment under the Administrative 
Procedure Act since it involves only internal Agency management and 
publication for comment is unnecessary and contrary to the public 
interest.

Programs Affected

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers for the programs 
impacted by this action are as follows:

    10.768--Business and Industry Loans, and
    10.769--Rural Development Grants (RBEG) (TDG).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule does not revise or impose any new information 
collection requirements from those previously approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public 
Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local and tribal 
governments, and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, the 
agency generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost 
benefit analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Final mandates'' 
that may result in expenditures to State, local, or tribal governments, 
in the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in 
any one year. When such a statement is needed for a rule, section 205 
of the UMRA generally requires the agency to identify and consider a 
reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt the least 
burdensome alternative that achieves the objective of the rule.
    This rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory 
provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for State, local and tribal 
governments, or the private sector. Thus, today's rule is not subject 
to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the UMRA.

Environmental Impact Statement

    This action has been reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1940, 
subpart G, ``Environmental Program.'' The Agency has determined that 
this action does not constitute a major Federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment and in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Public Law 91-190, an 
Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

Discussion

    The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is amending the 
regulation to recognize a transition formula that will be used for 
allocating funds to State Offices. The transition formula limits 
allocation shifts to any particular State in the event of changes from 
year to year of the basic formula, the basic criteria, or the weights 
given the criteria.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1940

    Administrative practice and procedure, Agriculture, Allocations, 
Grant programs--Housing and community development, Loan programs--
Agriculture, Rural areas.


0
Accordingly, Chapter XVIII, title 7, Code of Federal Regulations is 
amended as follows:

PART 1940--GENERAL

0
1. The authority citation for part 1940 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C.; 7 U.S.C.; 1989, and 42 U.S.C. 1480.

Subpart L--Methodology and Formulas for Allocation of Loan and 
Grant Program Funds

0
2. Amend section 1940.589 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec. 1940.589  Rural Business Enterprise Grants.

* * * * *
    (d) Transition formula. See Sec. 1940.552(d) of this subpart. The 
percentage range for the transition equals 30 percent (15%).
* * * * *

    Dated: January 23, 2004.
John Rosso,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 04-2265 Filed 2-3-04; 8:45 am]
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