[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 50026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19954]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program Finding of No 
Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has made a finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) for implementing its new Energy Efficiency 
and Conservation Loan Program. The FONSI decision document is based on 
impact analysis documented in a programmatic environmental assessment 
of the new program that was issued for 30-day public comment beginning 
February 26, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deirdre M. Remley, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, RUS, Water and Environmental Programs, 
Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 
1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, Telephone: (202) 720-9640 or email: 
[email protected]. The FONSI is available online at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-ea.htm or you may contact Ms. Remley for a hard 
copy.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 22, 2008, the U.S. Congress enacted 
the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) as 
Public Law 110-234. The 2008 Farm Bill amended Section 12 to authorize 
energy audits and energy efficiency measures and devices to reduce 
demand on electric systems. Section 6101 of the 2008 Farm Bill amended 
Sections 2(a) and 4 of the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) by 
inserting ``efficiency and'' before ``conservation'' each place it 
appears. Under the authority of the ``efficiency'' provisions added to 
the RE Act by the 2008 Farm Bill, RUS proposes to amend 7 CFR part 1710 
by adding a new subpart H entitled ``Energy Efficiency and Conservation 
Loan Program,'' which expands upon policies and procedures specific to 
loans for a new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan program. The 
program would provide loans to eligible rural utility providers 
(Primary Recipients) who would act as intermediaries to make Energy 
Efficiency (EE) loans to consumers (Ultimate Recipients) in the Primary 
Recipients' service territories for EE improvements at the Ultimate 
Recipients' premises.
    This program is funded through existing authorizations and 
appropriations. RUS expects that $250 million per year will be 
dedicated to the EE program. On July 26, 2012, RUS published a proposed 
rulemaking in the Federal Register at 77 FR 43723, with a 60-day 
comment period, for the subpart H of 7 CFR part 1710, which would 
implement the EE program. The final rule will outline the procedures 
for providing loans to eligible Primary Recipients who will establish 
EE activities in their service territories and to pay reasonable 
administrative expenses associated with their loans under the program. 
The proposed rule defines an ``Eligible Borrower'' (Primary Recipient) 
as an electric utility that has direct or indirect responsibility for 
providing retail electric service to persons in a rural area.
    Certain financing actions taken by RUS are Federal actions subject 
to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
regulations implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508), and RUS ``Environmental Policies and Procedures'' (7 
CFR part 1794). The Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) 
considered two Federal actions under the new EE program: (1) Loans 
awarded by RUS to Primary Recipients, and (2) Loans and other EE 
activities that the Primary Recipient executes for the benefit of 
Ultimate Recipients.
    Based on its analysis in the PEA for the EE program, RUS has 
concluded that agency actions implementing the new program would have 
no significant impact to the quality of the human environment. 
Therefore, RUS will not prepare an environmental impact statement for 
its rulemaking adding subpart H to 7 CFR part 1710 nor its actions 
related to implementing the EE program. The FONSI will be available on 
RUS's Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-ea.htm.

    Dated: July 2, 2013.
Nivin Elgohary,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs, USDA, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-19954 Filed 8-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P