[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 16, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76194-76195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29708]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No.: 080213181-8811-01]
RIN 0610-AA64

13 CFR Parts 301, 302, 303, 305, 307, 308, 310, 314 and 315


Revisions to the EDA Regulations

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce

ACTION: Extension of public comment period on interim final rule.

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SUMMARY: On October 22, 2008, the Economic Development Administration 
(``EDA'') published an interim final rule in the Federal Register. This 
document extends the deadline for submitting public comments on the 
interim final rule from December 22, 2008 until January 22, 2009. The 
extension of the public comment period is necessary to provide 
additional time for the submission of public comments and to allow for 
EDA's additional consideration of matters pertaining to the effective 
implementation of the interim final rule.

DATES: The deadline for submitting public comments on the interim final 
rule is extended from 5 p.m. (EST) on December 22, 2008 until 5 p.m. 
(EST) on January 22, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Chief Counsel, ATTN: Hina 
Shaikh, Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce, 
Room 7005, 1401

[[Page 76195]]

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
4687.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EDA published an interim final rule 
(``IFR'') in the Federal Register (73 FR 62858) on October 22, 2008. In 
March 2007, the Office of the Inspector General published a report 
titled Aggressive EDA Leadership and Oversight Needed to Correct 
Persistent Problems in the RLF Program. In the time since the 
publication of this report, EDA has made significant improvements in 
the management and oversight of its revolving loan fund (``RLF'') 
program, including the issuance of written guidance that provides EDA 
staff with reasonable steps to help better ensure grantee compliance 
with RLF requirements. EDA published the interim final rule to 
synchronize the RLF regulations with that guidance. Additionally, EDA 
published the IFR to make changes to certain definitions in the Trade 
Adjustment Assistance for Firms Program regulations set out in 13 CFR 
part 315. The IFR also provided notice of other substantive and non-
substantive revisions made to the EDA regulations.
    This document extends the deadline for submitting public comments 
on the entire interim final rule from 5 p.m. (EST) on December 22, 2008 
until 5 p.m. (EST) on January 22, 2009. The procedure for submitting 
public comments is set forth in the interim final rule and is not 
changed by this document. The extension of the public comment period is 
necessary to provide additional time for the submission of public 
comments and to allow for EDA's additional consideration of matters 
pertaining to the effective implementation of the interim final rule.

Executive Order No. 12866

    It has been determined that this final rule is not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Congressional Review Act

    This document is not ``major'' under the Congressional Review Act 
(5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.).

Executive Order No. 13132

    Executive Order 13132 requires agencies to develop an accountable 
process to ensure ``meaningful and timely input by State and local 
officials in the development of regulatory policies that have 
federalism implications.'' ``Policies that have federalism 
implications'' is defined in Executive Order 13132 to include 
regulations that have ``substantial direct effects on the States, on 
the relationship between the national government and the States, or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels 
of government.'' It has been determined that this document does not 
contain policies that have federalism implications.

    Dated: December 10, 2008.
Otto Barry Bird,
Chief Counsel, Economic Development Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-29708 Filed 12-15-08; 8:45 am]
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