[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 121 (Thursday, June 24, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 35229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14323]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 121 / Thursday, June 24, 2004 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 35229]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1792

RIN 0572-AB74


Seismic Safety

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of confirmation of direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the 
United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities 
Programs, gives notice that no adverse comments were received regarding 
the direct final rule amending its regulations to update the seismic 
safety requirements of the agency, and confirms the effective date of 
the direct final rule.

DATES: The direct final rule published in the Federal Register on April 
30, 2004, (69 FR 23641) was effective on June 14, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald Heald, Structural Engineer, 
Transmission Branch, Electric Staff Division, Rural Utilities Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 
1569, Washington, DC 20250-1569. Telephone: (202) 720-9102. Fax: (202) 
720-7491.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    RUS requires borrowers and grant recipients to meet applicable 
requirements mandated by Federal statutes and regulations to obtain RUS 
financing. One such requirement is compliance with building safety 
provisions of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, as amended 
(42 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) as implemented pursuant to Executive Order 
12699, Seismic Safety of Federal and Federally Assisted or Regulated 
New Building Construction (3 CFR, 1990 Comp., pg. 269).
    Subpart C of 7 CFR Part 1792 codifies the policies and requirements 
that RUS and RTB borrowers and grant recipients must meet for new 
building construction when using funds provided or guaranteed by RUS or 
RTB, or when obtained through a lien accommodation or subordination 
approved by RUS or RTB.
    The Executive Order requires all Federal agencies to ensure that 
any new building which is leased for Federal uses or purchased or 
constructed with Federal assistance is designed and constructed in 
accordance with appropriate seismic design standards. Those standards 
must be equivalent to or exceed the seismic safety levels in the 
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) recommended 
provisions for the development of seismic regulations for new 
buildings. The Executive Order charges the Interagency Committee on 
Seismic Safety in Construction (ICSSC) with recommending appropriate 
and cost-effective seismic design, construction standards and 
practices.
    According to a recent study commissioned by the ICSSC, the model 
codes and standards that are equivalent to the 1997 NEHRP Recommended 
Provisions are the 2000 International Building Code and the ASCE 7-98 
Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures. These codes 
will be added to the list of codes equivalent to the 1994 or 1997 NEHRP 
Recommended Provisions. In addition, clarification is added to the 
acknowledgment.

Confirmation of Effective Date

    This is to confirm the effective date of June 14, 2004, for the 
direct final rule, 7 CFR 1792, Seismic Safety, published in the Federal 
Register on April 30, 2004.

    Dated: June 18, 2004.
Hilda Gay Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 04-14323 Filed 6-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P