[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 237 (Friday, December 9, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 76905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31575]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 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.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 237 / Friday, December 9, 2011 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 76905]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1700

RIN 0572-AC23


Extension of Comment Period for Proposed Rulemaking on 
Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA)

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is extending until January 
17, 2012, the period for public comment on the proposal to issue 
regulations in order to provide loans and grants to facilitate the 
construction, acquisition, or improvement of infrastructure projects in 
Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA).

DATES: Comments must be received by January 17, 2012, to ensure full 
consideration.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow instructions for submitting comments for Docket ID RUS-11-
AGENCY-0004.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send your comment 
addressed to Michele Brooks, Director, Program Development and 
Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
STOP 1522, Room 5159, Washington, DC 20250-1522.

Additional information about the Agency and its programs is available 
on the Internet at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, Rural 
Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., STOP 1510, Room 5135-S, Washington, DC 20250-1590. Telephone 
number: (202) 720-9542, Facsimile: (202) 720-1725.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 14, 2011, at 76 FR 63846, RUS 
published a proposed rule to issue regulations in order to provide 
loans and grants to facilitate the construction, acquisition, or 
improvement of infrastructure projects in Substantially Underserved 
Trust Areas (SUTA). The RUS loan, loan guarantee and grant programs act 
as a catalyst for economic and community development. By financing 
improvements to rural electric, water and waste, and telecom and 
broadband infrastructure, RUS also plays a big role in improving other 
measures of quality of life in rural America, including public health 
and safety, environmental protection, conservation, and cultural and 
historic preservation.
    The 2008 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 110-246, codified at 7 U.S.C. 906f) 
authorized the Substantially Underserved Trust Area (SUTA) initiative. 
The SUTA initiative gives the Secretary of Agriculture certain 
discretionary authorities relating to financial assistance terms and 
conditions that can enhance the financing possibilities in areas that 
are underserved by certain RUS electric, water and waste, and telecom 
and broadband programs.
    The proposed rule invited the public to submit comments by December 
13, 2011. The RUS is now extending the period for submission of public 
comments until January 17, 2012.

    Dated: November 5, 2011.
James R. Newby,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-31575 Filed 12-8-2011; 8:45 am]
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