Rural Housing Service May 29, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On March 13, 2006 (71 FR 12671-74), a notice was published regarding the availability of hurricane disaster assistance that expanded the rural area definition for USDA Rural Development's housing programs. USDA Rural Development's housing programs are governed by the Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1471, et seq.)(Act). Section 541 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1490q), which only applies to USDA Rural Development's housing programs, provided the authority to waive rural area requirements in Sec. 520 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1490) subsequent to a natural disaster. This waiver authority applied with respect to assistance under Sec. 541. The Secretary could allocate appropriated disaster funds under Sec. 541(a) for each fiscal year during the 3-year period beginning on the declaration of the disaster by the President. Notice is hereby given that the expanded rural area definition (which increased the population limits to 75,000) under the March 13, 2006 notice will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, September 30, 2008, for areas covered under the Hurricane Katrina or Rita declarations. Financial assistance in these expanded communities must be obligated by the above-mentioned dates. Financial disaster assistance will continue in areas meeting the rural area definition of Sec. 520 of the Act until such appropriations are expended.