Rural Utilities Service October 16, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Utilities Service, an agency which administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs (hereinafter ``USDA Rural Development'' or the ``Agency,'') is amending its regulations to update the seismic safety requirements of the Agency. These amendments will provide Agency borrowers (including Rural Telephone Bank borrowers), grant recipients, and the public with updated rules for compliance with seismic safety requirements for new building construction using loan, grant, or guaranteed funds of the Agency, or funds provided through lien accommodations or subordinations approved by the Agency. In the final rule section of this Federal Register, USDA Rural Development is publishing this action as a direct final rule without prior proposal because it views this as a non-controversial action and anticipates no adverse comments. 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 USDA Rural Development 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.