[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45091-45093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19101]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Rural Housing Service
Rural Utilities Service
OneRD Guaranteed Loan Platform
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Request for information and notice of public listening
sessions.
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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural
Development (RD), comprised of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service
(RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
announces that it is hosting listening sessions for public input
regarding development of a common platform to deliver four guaranteed
loan programs.
The Rural Development Innovation Center (IC) is holding these
listening sessions specifically to provide an opportunity for
stakeholders and other interested parties to offer their comments and
input.
DATES:
Written Comments: Interested parties must submit written comments
on or before October 22, 2018.
Listening Sessions: Listening sessions will be held on September
10, 12, 14, 19, and 20, 2018. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
for additional guidance and information on the listening sessions.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by any of the following methods.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments;
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send your comment
addressed to Michele Brooks, Team Lead, Regulations Management Team,
Rural Development Innovation Center, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., STOP
1522, Room 5159, Washington, DC 20250-1522.
Orally at the listening session; please also provide a
written copy of your comments online as specified above or in hard copy
at the listening session.
Listening Sessions: To ensure maximum stakeholder involvement, six
listening sessions are scheduled and will allow for in-person comments.
The Listening Sessions Are as Follows
West Region: Monday, September 10, 2018, Denver, Colorado. 9:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Denver Federal Center, 6th
Kipling, Building 25, Lecture Hall, Denver, Colorado. See https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/DFC_map_508_2014-0619.pdf for a map of the
facility. To enter the facility, please be prepared to present a valid
driver's license and current vehicle registration at the entrance
gates.
To participate remotely, please log on to https://cc.readytalk.com/r/yjoqkcys0pjm&eom. Participants are encouraged to use their computer's
audio instead of phone lines, however the following toll number can be
used:
U.S. Toll: 303.248.0285.
Access Code: 7207501.
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South Region: Monday, September 10, 2018, Lexington, Kentucky. 1:00
p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Kentucky State Office, USDA
Rural Development, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, Kentucky.
To participate remotely, please log on to https://cc.readytalk.com/r/776hi2fw0o2u&eom. Participants are encouraged to use their computer's
audio instead of phone lines, however the following toll number can be
used:
U.S. Toll: 303.248.0285.
Access Code: 7207502.
Midwest Region: Wednesday, September 12, 2018, Lake Ozark,
Missouri. 1:30-4:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time. The Lodge of Four
Seasons, 315 Four Seasons Drive, Lake Ozark, Missouri. The Sea Chase
Room.
To participate remotely, please log on to https://cc.readytalk.com/r/2sgmfo5txt2a&eom. Participants are encouraged to use their computer's
audio instead of phone lines, however the following toll number can be
used:
U.S. Toll: 303.248.0285.
Access Code: 7207502.
Northeast Region: Friday, September 14, 2018, East Stroudsburg,
Pennsylvania. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. East
Stroudsburg University, Innovation Center, 562 Independence Rd., East
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Innovation Center, Room 336.
To participate remotely, please log on to https://cc.readytalk.com/r/26b0nffdxaoi&eom. Participants are encouraged to use their computer's
audio instead of phone lines, however the following toll number can be
used:
U.S. Toll: 303.248.0285.
Access Code: 7207502.
National: Thursday, September 20, 2018, Washington, DC. 9:30 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. 1400 Jefferson Drive SW,
Washington, DC 20250. The meeting will be held in Room 107-A of the
USDA Whitten Building. To participate remotely, please log on to
https://cc.readytalk.com/r/gfyzg0zqobay&eom. Participants are
encouraged to use their computer's audio instead of phone lines,
however the following toll number can be used:
U.S. Toll: 303.248.0285.
Access Code: 7207502.
Tribal Listening Session: A virtual listening session is scheduled
for Wednesday, September 19, 2018, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time. To participate, please log on to https://cc.readytalk.com/r/qm9gmf0lse56&eom. Participants are encouraged to use
their computer's audio instead of phone lines, however the following
toll number can be used:
U.S. Toll: 303.248.0285.
Access Code: 7207502.
If a Tribe would like to request government-to-government
consultation regarding this rule, requests should be directed to RD's
Native American Coordinator at [email protected] or (720) 544-2911.
Registration: Registration is required for all sessions by sending
an email to [email protected], and listing your name, title,
email, city, state, organization, and session location.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks at (202) 690-1078 or
Jamie Davenport at (202) 720-0002. Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print,
audio tape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-
2600 (voice and TDD).
Individuals needing assistance with ReadyTalk should follow the
Technical Support link in the ReadyTalk Meeting Lobby.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 30, 2017, Executive Order 13771 (Reducing Regulation and
Controlling Regulatory Costs) and on February 24, 2017, Executive Order
13777 (Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda) were issued for action
by the heads of all agencies. The Secretary of Agriculture and the
respective USDA agencies, are working to implement the provisions of
the Executive Orders to meet the needs of our customers and other
stakeholders. In order to implement the provisions expeditiously and to
ensure transparency, it is important to hear from stakeholders to be
aware of their priorities and concerns.
Rural Development is considering the development of a common
platform to deliver four guaranteed loan programs. A common platform
will be developed to provide policies and procedures for guaranteed
loan making and servicing, lender reporting, and program monitoring.
The intent is to simplify, improve and enhance the delivery of the
Community Program Guaranteed loan program, the Water and Waste Disposal
Guaranteed loan program, the Business and Industry Guaranteed loan
program, and the Rural Energy for America Program guaranteed loans. The
OneRD Guaranteed loan platform is anticipated to provide the following
benefits:
(1) Improve quality customer experience by streamlining and
consolidating similar guaranteed loan programs;
(2) Advance economic development and access to capital by reducing
complexities and redundancies;
(3) Improve operation efficiencies and cross-program coordination
by enabling staff to learn all RD guaranteed loan programs;
(4) Enable RD to integrate innovation in the delivery of loan
guarantees and align with industry lending practices; and
(5) Create a platform that paves the way for modern processing and
servicing to improve portfolio management.
Request for Comment
Stakeholder input is vital to ensure that the OneRD Guaranteed loan
platform will meet expectations and continue to support the mission of
RD without overly burdening the agency's customers. Rural Development
will hold the listening sessions as outlined in the ADDRESSES section
of this notice to receive oral comments from stakeholders and the
public. A written copy of the oral comments is requested. (See the
ADDRESSES section above for information about submitting written
comments.) In addition, those who do not wish to attend or speak at the
listening session are invited to submit written comments.
The following questions and discussion items are provided as
examples of topics stakeholders may wish to provide comment on. Rural
Development welcomes pertinent comments that are beyond the scope of
these questions. Rural Development is requesting comment and discussion
on the following topics:
Automation/Application Process
1. What should the Agency do to simplify the application processes
and standardize application requirements for its four loan guarantee
programs?
a. Are there portions of the required application components, such
as the detailed preliminary engineering report or parts of it, that
should be streamlined?
2. The Agency is considering an online application intake system
for all guaranteed loans.
a. What features would enhance your application submission
experience?
b. Are there any best practices or software solutions that have
been successfully incorporated by your lending institution?
c. In general, in the loan processing/servicing solution space, are
there any practices or software shortcomings that the Agency should be
aware of?
d. What software solutions have been the most effective to avoid
data breaches and maintain the integrity of your online systems?
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Capital Markets
What should the Agency consider that would enhance lenders' access
to capital markets, improve market efficiencies and reduce risks of RD
guaranteed loans sold on the secondary market?
Credit Evaluation
The Agency is considering amendments to key areas such as tangible
balance sheet equity, format of financial statements, requirements for
feasibility studies, and flexibility to consider project finance
evaluation methods. Are there other credit evaluation enhancements
which the Agency should consider that would better integrate existing
lending practices into the OneRD Guaranteed loan platform?
Lenders
1. Should the Agency consider establishing a certified lender or
preferred lender program? If so, what are suggested lender
qualification requirements and program features?
2. The Agency is considering a common platform of requirements for
non-regulated lenders aimed at ensuring maximum participation while
incorporating renewal provisions to ensure portfolio integrity. What
specific challenges have non-regulated lenders faced under the existing
program?
Lender Financing Trends or Needs to be Considered
1. The OneRD Guaranteed loan platform aims to enhance flexibility
across all included programs to support financing via the New Market
Tax Credit (NMTC), investment tax credit (ITC), and other tax credit
structures.
a. Are there additional flexibilities that the Agency should
consider to enhance financing opportunities through NMTC, ITC and other
tax credit programs?
b. What additional financing structures or trends are occurring
that the Agency should be aware of to ensure maximum flexibility within
the OneRD Guaranteed loan platform?
Miscellaneous
1. What other issues should the Agency consider when implementing
the OneRD Guaranteed loan platform?
2. What do you find burdensome about our current processes?
Listening Sessions
Rural Development will hold the listening sessions on the dates
listed in DATES section of this notices. Oral comments received from
this listening session will be documented. All attendees of the
listening sessions who submit oral comments are requested to submit a
written copy to help Rural Development accurately capture public input.
In addition, stakeholders and the public who do not wish to attend or
speak at the listing session are invited to submit written comments
which must be received by the date indicated in the DATES section of
this notice.
At the listening sessions, the focus is for Rural Development to
hear from the public; this is not a discussion with Rural Development
officials or a question and answer session. As noted above, the purpose
is to receive public input that Rural Development can factor into
decisions it needs to make in order to implement the OneRD Guaranteed
Loan platform.
Each listening session will begin with brief opening remarks from
USDA leadership in Rural Development. Individual speakers providing
oral comments are requested to be succinct (the agency reserves the
right to announce a time limitation at the beginning of each session
based on attendance) as we do not know at this time how many
participants there will be. As noted above, we request that speakers
providing oral comments also provide a written copy of their comments.
(See the ADDRESSES section above for information about submitting
written comments.) All stakeholders and interested members of the
public are welcome to register to provide oral comments; however, if
necessary due to the time constraints, a limited number will be
selected on a first come, first serve basis.
During each of the listening sessions, those unable to participate
in-person will be able to do so remotely via ReadyTalk web
conferencing. Those participating through the ReadyTalk platform will
be in listen only-mode, but will have the opportunity to submit
comments via the Chat function. The Chat function will be moderated by
USDA Rural Development.
Each listening session will produce an audio recording and
transcript, both of which will be utilized in the rule-making process.
Instructions for Attending the Meetings
Space for attendance at the meetings are limited. Registration is
required for those attending in person by sending an email to
[email protected] with the following information:
First Name
Last Name
Organization
Title
Email
City
State
Session Attending.
Directions to get to the listening sessions, and how to provide
comments is available by emailing [email protected].
All written comments received will be publicly available on
www.regulations.gov. If you require special accommodations, such as a
sign language interpreter, use the contact information above. The
listening session locations are accessible to persons with
disabilities.
Dated: August 28, 2018.
Anne Hazlett,
Assistant to the Secretary, USDA Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-19101 Filed 9-4-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P