[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 168 (Thursday, August 30, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50081-50084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17194]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 168 / Thursday, August 30, 2007 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 50081]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1728

RIN AC11


Specifications for Primary Underground Power Cable

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, an agency delivering the United 
States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development Utilities 
Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or the 
Agency, proposes to amend its regulations regarding Bulletin 50-70 (U-
1) for electric distribution specifications for 15 kV and 25 kV primary 
underground power cable. This proposed rule is necessary to provide 
Agency electric borrowers with updated specifications for 15 kV and 25 
kV underground power cable, and to provide borrowers with 
specifications for 35 kV underground power cable for use in 25 kV 
primary systems. These specifications cover single-phase and multi-
phase primary underground power cable which Agency electric borrowers 
use to construct their rural underground electric distribution systems.

DATES: Written comments must be received by the Agency or bear a 
postmark or equivalent no later than October 29, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit adverse comments or notice of intent to submit 
adverse comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower ``Search Regulations and Federal 
Actions'' box, select ``Rural Utilities Service'' from the agency drop-
down menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select 
RUS-07-Electric-0009 to submit or view public comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. Information 
on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing 
documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close 
of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips'' 
link.
     Postal Mail: Addressed to Michele L. Brooks, Acting 
Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural 
Development, Utilities Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Addressed to Michele L. Brooks, 
Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA 
Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Room 5168 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and the subject heading ``Primary Underground Power Cable.'' All 
comments received must identify the name of the individual (and the 
name of the entity, if applicable) who is submitting the comment. All 
comments received will be posted without change to http://www.usda.gov/rus/index2/Comments.htm, including any personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Trung V. Hiu, Electrical Engineer, 
Electric Staff Division, Distribution Branch, Utilities Program, USDA 
Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 1262-S, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1569. Telephone: (202) 
720-1877. Fax: (202) 720-7491. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

    This proposed rule is exempted from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) review for purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, 
therefore, has not been reviewed by OMB.

Executive Order 12372

    This proposed rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order 
12372, Intergovernmental Consultation, which may require consultation 
with State and local officials. A notice of final rule entitled 
``Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive Order 
12372,'' (50 FR 47034) exempted USDA Rural Development Utilities 
Program loans and loan guarantees to from coverage under this order.

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. USDA Rural Development has determined that this 
proposed rule meets the applicable standards provided in section 3 of 
the Executive Order. In addition, all state and local laws and 
regulations that are in conflict with this rule will be preempted. No 
retroactive effect will be given to this rule and in accordance with 
section 212(e) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912(e)) administrative appeal procedures, if any, must 
be exhausted before an action against the Department or its agencies 
may be initiated.

Executive Order 13132

    This proposed rule will not have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Under Executive Order 13132, this rule 
does not have sufficient federalism implications to require preparation 
of a Federalism Assessment.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    USDA Rural Development has been determined that the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act is not applicable to this rule since USDA Rural 
Development is not required by 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq. or any other 
provision of the law to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking with 
request to the subject matter of this rule.

Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements

    This proposed rule contains no additional information collection or 
recordkeeping requirements approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The program described by this proposed rule is listed in the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Programs under No. 10.850, Rural 
Electrification Loans and Loan Guarantees. This

[[Page 50082]]

catalog is available on a subscription basis from the Superintendent of 
Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, 
telephone number (202) 512-1800.

Executive Order 12372

    This proposed rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order 
12372, Intergovernmental Consultation, which may require consultation 
with State and local officials. See the final rule related notice 
titled ``Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive 
Order 12372'' (50 FR 47034), advising that USDA Rural Development 
Utilities Programs loans and loan guarantees are excluded from the 
scope of Executive Order 12372.

Unfunded Mandates

    This proposed rule contains no Federal Mandates (under the 
regulatory provision of title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995 [2 U.S.C. Chapter 25]) for State, local, and tribal governments or 
the private sector. Thus, this proposed rule is not subject to the 
requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act of 1995.

National Environmental Policy Act Certification

    USDA Rural Development has determined that this proposed rule will 
not significantly affect the quality of the human environment as 
defined by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.). Therefore, this action does not require an environmental 
impact statement or assessment.

Background

    Pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq.), the Agency is proposing to amend Title 7 CFR 
Chapter XVII, Part 1728, Electric Standards and Specifications for 
Materials and Construction, by revising RUS Bulletin 50-70 (U-1), 
``Specifications for 15 kV and 25 kV Primary Underground Power Cable.'' 
This revised bulletin will be renumbered and renamed Bulletin 1728F-U1, 
``Specification for Primary Underground Power Cable.'' The proposed 
action would continue to incorporate the revised bulletin by reference 
in 7 CFR 1728.97 and RUS Bulletin 50-70 (U-1) would be rescinded and 
removed from the list in 7 CFR 1728.97. The change in the bulletin 
number and reformatting is necessary to conform to current publications 
and directives system. The Agency maintains a system of bulletins that 
contain construction standards and specifications for materials and 
equipment which must be complied with when system facilities are 
constructed by electric and telecommunications borrowers in accordance 
with the loan contract. These standards and specifications contain 
standard construction units and material items and equipment units 
commonly used in electric and telecommunications borrowers' systems.
    Bulletin 50-70 (U-1) provides standard requirements for 15 kV and 
25 kV single-phase and multi-phase primary underground power cable with 
cross-linked polyethylene with tree retardant or ethylene propylene 
rubber insulation, concentric neutral, and insulating outer jacket. The 
Agency proposes to update the specifications for 15 kV and 25 kV 
primary underground cable while adding specifications for 35 kV primary 
underground power cable.
    The following changes and updating of Bulletin 50-70 (U-1) are 
proposed:
    1. Water blocking sealant would be required in all stranded 
conductor cables.
    2. The plain cross-linked polyethylene (XLP) would be removed and 
be replaced by tree-retardant cross-linked polyethylene (TR-XLPE) as an 
acceptable insulation material.
    3. Nominal insulation thickness on 25 kV cable would be reduced 
from 345 mils to 260 mils.
    4. An optional semi-conducting jacketing material would be added to 
the specification for cables of all three specified voltages. Cables 
with semi-conducting jackets may be used by USDA Rural Development 
borrowers in areas with soil resistivity greater than 25 ohm-meter, in 
lieu of using cables with an insulating jacket to help improve the 
effectiveness of system grounding in locations of high soil 
resistivity.
    The following table summarizes all of the changes and contains a 
cross walk between the format of the current bulletin and the new 
proposed bulletin:

                             RUS Specifications for Primary Underground Power Cable
                                          [Summary of proposed changes]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Proposed new  location
Existing section Bulletin 50-70 (U-    Bulletin  1728F-U1         Action taken         Proposed content change
     1) (old numbering system)       (new numbering system)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N/A................................  1.a Summary...........  New addition..........  Identifies new title and
                                                                                      number for REA Bulletin 50-
                                                                                      70(U-a) and updates the
                                                                                      superseded reference.
N/A................................  1.b Principal           New addition..........  Lists the principal changes
                                      Revisions.                                      made in the reissued and
                                                                                      renumbered bulletin.
1.1.1 Scope........................  2.a General             Modified..............  States the revised scope to
                                      Specifications.                                 add 35 kV rated cable and
                                                                                      semiconducting jacket to
                                                                                      the existing 15 and 25 kV
                                                                                      specifications. Removes
                                                                                      XLPE as an acceptable
                                                                                      insulation material.
                                                                                      Removes reference to 13.2/
                                                                                      7.62 kV power cables.
1.1.2..............................  2.b...................  No change.............  ...........................
1.1.3..............................  2.c...................  Modified..............  Adds conductor size for 35
                                                                                      kV cable.
1.1.4..............................  2.d...................  Modified..............  Updates reference to the
                                                                                      renamed industry standard
                                                                                      reference for material
                                                                                      specifications (this
                                                                                      comment pertains to all
                                                                                      such references throughout
                                                                                      Bulletin 1728F-U1).
1.1.5..............................  2.d...................  No substantive change.  Updates reference to
                                                                                      renamed industry standard
                                                                                      references.
2..................................  3.a...................  Modified..............  Updates references to
                                                                                      renamed industry standard
                                                                                      references for material
                                                                                      specifications.
                                                                                      Incorporates additional
                                                                                      material specifications
                                                                                      added to the industry
                                                                                      standard reference since
                                                                                      the last publication of
                                                                                      this bulletin.
N/A................................  3.b(1), b(2)..........  New...................  Provides information to
                                                                                      reader on where to obtain
                                                                                      industry standard
                                                                                      references incorporated in
                                                                                      this bulletin.
3.3.1..............................  4.a...................  No change.............  ...........................

[[Page 50083]]

 
3.3.2..............................  4.b...................  Modified..............  Adds combination unilay
                                                                                      stranded phase conductors.
3. 3.2.1...........................  4.b...................  Modified..............  Adds combination unilay
                                                                                      stranded phase conductors.
3.3.3.1............................  4.c(1)................  No change.............  ...........................
3.3.3.2............................  4.c(2)................  Modified..............  Adds compact round
                                                                                      concentric-lay-stranded
                                                                                      phase conductors and
                                                                                      combination unilay
                                                                                      stranded aluminum phase
                                                                                      conductors.
3.3.4..............................  4.c(3)................  Modified..............  Changes the acceptable
                                                                                      filler for interstices
                                                                                      between strands of
                                                                                      stranded conductors from
                                                                                      ``conductive'' material to
                                                                                      ``material designed to
                                                                                      fill the interstices,''
                                                                                      adds requirement that the
                                                                                      surfaces of the strands
                                                                                      that form the outer
                                                                                      surface of the stranded
                                                                                      conductor shall be free of
                                                                                      the fill material. Adds
                                                                                      testing requirement for
                                                                                      compatibility of the
                                                                                      strand fill material and
                                                                                      water penetration.
N/A................................  4.c(4)................  Added.................  Requires the solid
                                                                                      conductor and center
                                                                                      strand of stranded
                                                                                      conductors to be indented
                                                                                      at fixed interval with the
                                                                                      name of manufacturer and
                                                                                      year of manufacture.
4.4.1..............................  5.a...................  No substantive change.  ...........................
5.5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.1.3..............  6.a...................  Modified..............  Removes XLPE as an
                                                                                      acceptable insulation
                                                                                      material. Conforms
                                                                                      references to industry
                                                                                      standard references.
5.2................................  6.b...................  Modified..............  Maintains 220 mils as the
                                                                                      nominal allowed insulation
                                                                                      thickness on 15 kV cable,
                                                                                      reduces the allowed
                                                                                      insulation nominal
                                                                                      thickness from 345 mils to
                                                                                      260 mils on 25 kV cable
                                                                                      and establishes nominal
                                                                                      insulation thickness of
                                                                                      345 mils on 35 kV cable.
6.6.1..............................  7.a...................  No change.............  ...........................
6.6.2..............................  ......................  Deleted...............  Removes specific test
                                                                                      requirement for sunlight
                                                                                      exposure and atmospheric
                                                                                      conditions. There is no
                                                                                      current test reference
                                                                                      available.
6.6.3..............................  7.b...................  No change.............  ...........................
6.6.4..............................  7.c...................  Modified..............  Specifies specific
                                                                                      stripping tension values
                                                                                      in lieu of cross
                                                                                      referencing industry
                                                                                      standards.
6.6.5..............................  7.d...................  No change.............  ...........................
7.7.1..............................  8.a...................  Modified..............  Adds requirement that
                                                                                      concentric neutral wires
                                                                                      shall remain in continuous
                                                                                      intimate contact with the
                                                                                      extruded insulation
                                                                                      shield.
7.7.2..............................  ......................  Deleted...............  ...........................
7.7.3..............................  8.a...................  ......................  Adds full neutral
                                                                                      requirement for single
                                                                                      phase and \1/3\ neutral
                                                                                      requirement for three
                                                                                      phase applications.
                                                                                      Establishes minimum wire
                                                                                      size of 16 AWG for the
                                                                                      concentric neutral.
7.7.4..............................  8.b...................  No substantive change.  ...........................
8.8.1..............................  9.a...................  Modified..............  Adds semi-conducting outer
                                                                                      jacket.
8.8.1.1............................  9.a(1)................  No substantive change.  Adds requirement that the
                                                                                      jacket material shall have
                                                                                      three red stripes
                                                                                      longitudinally extruded
                                                                                      into the jacket surface
                                                                                      120 degrees apart.
8.8.1.2............................  9.a(2)................  No substantive change.  Adds medium density and
                                                                                      high density HMW black
                                                                                      polyethylene compound.
                                                                                      Specifies that polyvinyl
                                                                                      chloride (PVC) and
                                                                                      chlorinated polyethylene
                                                                                      (CPE) jackets are not
                                                                                      acceptable.
8.2................................  ......................  Deleted...............  ...........................
8.3................................  9.b...................  No change.............  ...........................
9.1................................  10....................  No change.............  ...........................
10.1...............................  11.a..................  No substantive change.  ...........................
10.1.1.............................  11.a(1)...............  No change.............  ...........................
10.1.2.............................  11.a(2)...............  No change.............  ...........................
10.1.3.............................  11.a(3)...............  No change.............  ...........................
10.2...............................  11.b..................  No substantive change.  Eliminates affirmative
                                                                                      requirements to submit
                                                                                      data to REA.
10.2.1.............................  11.b(1)...............  No change.............  ...........................
10.2.2.............................  11.b(2)...............  No change.............  ...........................
10.3...............................  11.c..................  Modified..............  Clarifies that the tests in
                                                                                      this section 11c are to be
                                                                                      performed on cable jackets
                                                                                      from the same production
                                                                                      sample as is subjected to
                                                                                      tests specified in section
                                                                                      11b.
10.3.1.............................  11.c(1)...............  No change.............  ...........................
10.3.2.............................  11.c(2)...............  Modified..............  Prescribes the same test
                                                                                      voltage (4.5kV AC) for
                                                                                      cable diameters less than
                                                                                      or equal to 1.5 inches and
                                                                                      sets a test voltage of 7.0
                                                                                      kV for cable diameters
                                                                                      greater than 1.5 inches.
10.4...............................  11.d..................  No change.............  ...........................
10.5...............................  ......................  Deleted...............  Removes measurement
                                                                                      requirement that is
                                                                                      implicit in other sections
                                                                                      of the bulletin.

[[Page 50084]]

 
10.6...............................  11.e..................  Added.................  Adds provision that
                                                                                      certified copies of all
                                                                                      tests results performed
                                                                                      pursuant to this
                                                                                      renumbered section 11
                                                                                      shall be provided on
                                                                                      request of the borrower
                                                                                      for all orders.
11.1...............................  12.a..................  Modified..............  Clarifies with greater
                                                                                      specificity markings that
                                                                                      are considered suitable on
                                                                                      the outer surface of the
                                                                                      jacket.
11.2...............................  12.b..................  Modified..............  Adds requirement that each
                                                                                      end of the cable shall be
                                                                                      firmly and properly
                                                                                      secured to the reel.
N/A................................  12.c..................  Added.................  Adds requirement that reels
                                                                                      are to be covered with a
                                                                                      suitable covering to help
                                                                                      protect the cable.
11.3...............................  12.d..................  No substantive change.  Provides that the beginning
                                                                                      and ending sequential
                                                                                      footage numbers are to be
                                                                                      included on the label
                                                                                      regardless of whether they
                                                                                      are marked on the cable
                                                                                      jacket.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1728

    Electric power, Loan programs--energy, Rural areas.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 7 CFR part 1728 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 1728--ELECTRIC STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS AND 
CONSTRUCTION

    1. The authority citation for part 1728 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.; 7 U.S.C. 
6941 et seq.

    2. Section 1728.97(b) is amended by removing the entry for RUS 
Bulletin 50-70, and adding to the list of bulletins, in numerical 
order, the entry for Bulletin 1728F-U1 to read as follows:


Sec.  1729.97  Incorporation by reference of electric standards and 
specifications.

* * * * *
    (b) List of bulletins.
* * * * *
    Bulletin 1728F-U1, Specifications for Primary Underground Power 
Cable, [Insert month and year of effective date of final rule].
* * * * *

    Dated: August 23, 2007.
James M. Andrew,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E7-17194 Filed 8-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P