[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 59318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25522]


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 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. 83, No. 226 / Friday, November 23, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 59318]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Housing Service

Rural Utilities Service

Farm Service Agency

7 CFR Part 1970

RIN 0572-AC44


Rural Development Environmental Regulation for Rural 
Infrastructure Projects

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, 
Rural Utilities Service, Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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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), 
hereafter referred to as the Agency, proposes amending the Agency's 
Environmental Policies and Procedures regulation to allow the Agency 
Administrators limited flexibility to obligate federal funds for 
infrastructure projects prior to completion of the environmental review 
while ensuring full compliance with National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) procedures prior to project construction and disbursement of 
funding. The proposed change will allow RD to more fully meet the 
Administration's goals to speed the initiation of infrastructure 
projects and encourage planned community economic development without 
additional cost to taxpayers or change to environmental review 
requirements.

DATE: Electronic and written comments must be received on or before 
December 24, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments on this rule by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower ``Search Regulations and Federal 
Actions'' box, select ``Rural Utilities Service'' from the agency drop-
down menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select 
RUS-18-AGENCY-0005 to submit or view public comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. Information 
on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing 
documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close 
of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips'' 
link.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send your comment 
addressed to Michele Brooks, Rural Development Innovation Center, 
Regulations Team Lead, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW, Stop 1522, Room 1562, Washington, DC 20250. 
Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. RUS-18-AGENCY-0005.
    Other Information: Additional information about Rural Development 
and its programs is available on the internet at https://www.usda.gov/topics/rural.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kellie McGinness Kubena, Director, 
Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service, USDA 
Rural Development, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Mail Stop 1571, Room 
2242, Washington, DC 20250-1571, Phone: 202-720-1649.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the rules section of this issue of the 
Federal Register, Rural Development is concurrently publishing this 
action as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency 
views this as a non-controversial action and anticipates no adverse 
comments. The language in the direct final rule will also serve as the 
language for this proposed rule. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
provided in the direct final rule for the applicable SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION on this action. If no adverse comments are received in 
response to the direct final rule, no further action will be taken on 
this proposed rule and the action will become effective at the time 
specified in the direct final rule. If the Agency receives adverse 
comments, a timely document will be published withdrawing the direct 
final rule and all public comments received will be addressed in a 
subsequent final rule based on this action.

    Dated: November 9, 2018.
Anne C. Hazlett,
Assistant to the Secretary, Rural Development.
Bill Northey,
Under Secretary, Farm Production and Conservation.
[FR Doc. 2018-25522 Filed 11-21-18; 8:45 am]
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