[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 91 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 30215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-09916]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 91 / Thursday, May 11, 2023 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 30215]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1777

[Docket No RUS-21-WATER-0017]
RIN 0572-AC55


Section 306C Water and Waste Disposal (WWD) Loans and Grants

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule; confirmation and response to comment.

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SUMMARY: Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service (hereinafter ``the 
Agency''), of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2023, a final rule 
with request for comments for 7 CFR 1777 Section 306C Water and Waste 
Disposal (WWD) Loans and Grants Programs. Through this action, RUS is 
confirming the final rule as it was published and providing a response 
to the public comment received.

DATES: The final rule published February 1, 2023, at 88 FR 6609 is 
confirmed as of May 2, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Polacek, Acting Assistant 
Administrator, Water and Environmental Programs, Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250; telephone (202) 205-9805; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agency published a final rule with 
request for comments in the Federal Register on February 1, 2023, at 88 
FR 6609. The final rule made necessary revisions to Section 306C WWD 
Loans and Grants program regulations to implement changes recommended 
by Government Accountability Office (GAO) Audit Report GAO 18-309, 
``Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Opportunities Exist to 
Enhance Federal Agency Needs Assessment and Coordination on Tribal 
Projects'' (Audit Report) issued on May 15, 2018, and available at: 
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-18-309. The Agency is also 
implementing other changes to clarify terminology and policies, update 
scoring criteria, and allow the program to run more efficiently.
    The comment period on the final rule closed April 3, 2023. The 
Agency received one comment that was not responsive to the policy 
updates being adopted through this rulemaking. Therefore, the Agency 
confirms the rule without change.

Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-09916 Filed 5-10-23; 8:45 am]
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