[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 31, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8809-8810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02010]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

13 CFR Part 312

[Docket No.: 160615526-7122-03]
RIN 0610-AA68


Regional Innovation Program

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2017, from 
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled 
``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,'' published in the Federal Register 
on January 24, 2017 (the Memorandum), this action temporarily delays 
the effective date of the Final Rule entitled ``Regional Innovation 
Program'' (Final Rule or Rule) published in the Federal Register on 
January 11, 2017. The Final Rule implements the Regional Innovation 
Program of the Economic Development Administration (EDA or the Agency), 
U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and specifically focuses on outlining 
the regulatory structure of its centerpiece grant program, the Regional 
Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program.

DATES: The effective date of the Final Rule published in the Federal 
Register on January 11, 2017 (82 FR 3131), is delayed until March 21, 
2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mara Quintero Campbell, Regional 
Counsel, Office of the Chief Counsel, Economic Development 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Suite 72023, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-9055.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 8810]]

I. Background

    On January 11 2017, EDA published a Final Rule in the Federal 
Register (82 FR 3131) implementing the Regional Innovation Program as 
authorized by section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
Act of 1980, as amended. Through the RIS Program, the centerpiece of 
the Regional Innovation Program, EDA currently awards grants for 
capacity building programs that provide proof-of concept and 
commercialization assistance to innovators and entrepreneurs and for 
operational support for organizations that provide essential early-
stage funding to startup companies. The Final Rule lays out the 
overarching regulatory framework for the RIS Program, including its 
mission and objectives, applicant eligibility requirements, allowable 
investment rates, eligible project activities, and required application 
components. In the Final Rule, the Agency also responds to the one 
germane comment it received during the 60-day Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) comment period that was open between September 21, 
2016 and November 21, 2016 (81 FR 64805).

II. Provisions of This Action

    This action delays the effective date of the Final Rule from 
February 10, 2017 to March 21, 2017. This action is issued in 
accordance with the Memorandum that required temporary postponement of 
rules, that have been published in the Federal Register but have not 
yet taken effect, for 60 days from the date of the Memorandum for the 
purpose of reviewing questions of fact, law, and policy.

III. Determination of Exemption From Notice and Comment

    To the extent that the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553 apply to this 
action, there is good cause to exempt this action from notice and 
comment pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). EDA is delaying the effective 
date for this action to give DOC officials the opportunity to further 
review and consider new regulations, consistent with the Memorandum. 
Given the imminence of the new effective date, seeking prior public 
comment on this temporary delay would be impractical, unnecessary, and 
also contrary to the public interest in the orderly promulgation and 
implementation of regulations.

    Dated: January 25, 2017.
Thomas Guevara,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs, Performing the non-
exclusive duties of the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 2017-02010 Filed 1-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-24-P