Rural Utilities Service 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

ReConnect Pilot Program
Document Number: 2019-26522
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-12-12
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to as the Agency, announces its general policy and application procedures for its second round of funding under the broadband pilot program. This pilot program was established pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018. The Agency is announcing the application window for this second round of funding and requesting comments on the program.
Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
Document Number: 2019-26431
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-12-09
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Services (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Repeal of Regulations Concerning the Rural Telephone Bank, the Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program, and the Local Television Loan Guarantee Program
Document Number: 2019-24310
Type: Rule
Date: 2019-11-07
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
This final rule informs the public that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS or Agency) is repealing the Rural Telephone Bank, Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program and the Local Television Loan Guarantee Program from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This action removes expired and terminated programs from the CFR as repealed by the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act (2018 Farm Bill). The statutory changes result from the 2018 Farm Bill. Additionally, conforming changes are being made to other regulations as a result of the aforementioned statutory changes.
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-23586
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-10-29
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.: Extension of Comment Period for an Environmental Impact Statement
Document Number: 2019-23065
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-10-23
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has issued a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Supplemental Draft EIS) for Central Electric Power Cooperative's (Central Electric) proposed McClellanville Area 115-kV Transmission Project (Project) in South Carolina. In this document, RUS analyzes the environmental impacts associated with an anticipated decision request to approve or deny funding for Central Electric's proposed Project. The Supplement Draft EIS was prepared to address substantial changes to the proposed action and assesses new circumstances and information relevant to potential environmental impacts originally evaluated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS). RUS published a Notice of Intent and Availability on August 30, 2019, that provided a 60-day comment period, ending on the date announced in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) EIS receipt notice on October 22, 2019. RUS is extending the public comment period for the Draft EIS by an additional 30 days to November 21, 2019.
Cardinal-Hickory Creek 345-kv Transmission Line Project
Document Number: 2019-23049
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-10-23
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Code of Federal Regulations related to providing financial assistance to Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC) for its share in the construction of a proposed 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and associated infrastructure connecting the Hickory Creek Substation in Dubuque County, Iowa, with the Cardinal Substation in the Town of Middle, Wisconsin (near Madison, Wisconsin). The Project also includes a new intermediate 345/138-kV substation near the Village of Montfort in either Grant County or Iowa County, Wisconsin. The total length of the 345-kV transmission lines associated with the proposed project will be approximately 100 to 125 miles, depending on the final route. DPC, along with the two other project participant utilities, American Transmission Company LLC, and ITC Midwest LLC (together the Utilities) have identified proposed and alternate segments and locations for transmission lines and associated facilities and for the intermediate substation. DPC is requesting RUS to provide financing for its portion of the proposed project.
Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program Guarantee Fee Rate, Annual Renewal Fee, Rural Area Definition, and Funding Priority for Fiscal Year 2020; and Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Rural Area Definition and Funding Reservation for Fiscal Year 2020
Document Number: 2019-21475
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-10-03
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service, Rural Utilities Service
This notice announces implementation of several provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill related to the Rural Housing Service (RHS) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) agencies of the Rural Development mission area of the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, sometimes hereinafter referred to as Agency. Specifically, it provides notice of the population change in the rural area definition for the Community Facilities (CF) Guaranteed Loan Program and the Water and Waste Disposal (WWD) Guaranteed Loan Program and priorities for each program. It also provides established fee levels for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 for the CF Guaranteed Loan Program. This Notice is being issued prior to enactment of full year appropriation for FY 2020. The Agency will publish the amount of funding received in the final appropriations act on its website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/fy2020-appropriated-funding.
Rural Development Environmental Regulation for Rural Infrastructure
Document Number: 2019-20342
Type: Rule
Date: 2019-09-23
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
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, is issuing a final rule to update the Agency's Environmental Policies and Procedures regulation (7 CFR 1970) 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 any RD funding. This 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.
Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.: Notice of Intent and Availability of a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Notice to Hold a Public Meeting
Document Number: 2019-18790
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-08-30
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has issued a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Supplemental Draft EIS) for Central Electric Power Cooperative's (Central Electric) proposed McClellanville Area 115-kV Transmission Project (Project) in South Carolina. In this document, RUS analyzes the environmental impacts associated with an anticipated decision request to approve or deny funding for Central Electric's proposed Project. The Supplement Draft EIS was prepared to address substantial changes to the proposed action and assesses new circumstances and information relevant to potential environmental impacts originally evaluated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS). In April 2014, RUS issued a Draft EIS that evaluated six 115-kV transmission line corridors originating in Georgetown County, South Carolina and terminating in the McClellanville area of Charleston County, South Carolina. Since publication of the Draft EIS, updated engineering data has resulted in substantial changes to the proposed action, including the need to evaluate new transmission line corridors originating from the Jamestown and Charity areas of Berkeley County, South Carolina, and to account for a new winter weather operating agreement between the former South Carolina Electric and Gas (now Dominion Energy South Carolina) and Berkeley Electric Cooperative that addresses load concerns during the winter months. In addition, the following changes made it necessary to supplement the Draft EIS: The promulgation of a new environmental regulation applicable to RUS (7 CFR part 1970, which replaced the former 7 CFR part 1794, RUS Environmental Policies and Procedures), issuance and implementation of Executive Order 13807: ``Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects'' (known as the ``One Federal Decision Executive Order''), and publication of the Francis Marion National Forest's Forest Plan. The Supplemental Draft EIS addresses the construction, operation, and maintenance of Central Electric's proposed Project. The Project includes the construction of a new 115 kV transmission line needed to energize the new McClellanville Substation located near the McClellanville service area. The Supplemental Draft EIS considers three alternatives, encompassing three potential corridor locations with one corridor including two different alignments. The overall project area encompasses parts of Berkeley, Georgetown and Charleston counties in coastal South Carolina, and potentially crosses the Francis Marion National Forest. The Supplemental Draft EIS has identified the potential for impacts to various resources, including wetlands, biological resources and cultural resources (including historic properties). Central Electric does not hold easements across these areas. Once a final right-of-way (ROW) is selected within the preferred corridor, coordination with federal and state agencies and other interested parties would occur to identify, evaluate and, if needed, mitigate any adverse effects. RUS will compile public comments received on the Supplemental Draft EIS and produce a Final EIS that considers and responds to those substantive public comments. Based on this analysis in additional to technical and financial reviews, RUS will decide to approve or deny an application for funding.
Streamlining Electric Program Procedures
Document Number: 2019-15859
Type: Rule
Date: 2019-07-31
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or Agency) published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 9, 2019, entitled ``Streamlining Electric Program Procedures,'' to make revisions to several regulations to streamline its procedures for Electric Program borrowers, including its loan application requirements, approval of work plans and load forecasts, use of approved contracts and system design procedures. The Agency found an error in this publication, after the published rule became effective. This document will correct the final regulation.
Streamlining Electric Program Procedures
Document Number: 2019-14875
Type: Rule
Date: 2019-07-12
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
On July 9, 2019, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), published a final rule that revised several regulations to streamline its procedures for Electric Program borrowers. RUS has determined it is necessary to accelerate the effective date of the final rule.
Streamlining Electric Program Procedures
Document Number: 2019-14511
Type: Rule
Date: 2019-07-09
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is revising several regulations to streamline its procedures for Electric Program borrowers, including its loan application requirements, approval of work plans and load forecasts, use of approved contracts and system design procedures. Additionally, unnecessary sections in the regulations will be removed.
Standards and Specifications for Timber Products Acceptable for Use by Rural Utilities Service Electric and Telecommunications Borrowers
Document Number: 2019-12238
Type: Rule
Date: 2019-06-18
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of U.S. Department of Agriculture, is amending its regulations on Electric and Telecommunications Standards and Specifications for Materials, Equipment and Construction, to make changes to Bulletin 1728F-700, RUS Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs and Anchor Logs; Bulletin 1728H- 701, Specification for Wood Crossarms, Transmission Timbers, and Pole Keys; and Bulletin 1728H-702, Specification for Quality Control and Inspection of Timber Products (Wood Bulletins) to keep RUS standards current with the technology advances and consistent with the industry practice. The bulletins are provided as regulated specifications to RUS Electric Program borrowers for procurement of electric transmission and distribution line wood materials.
Announcement of New Cushion of Credit Program Provisions
Document Number: 2019-11924
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-07
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, is issuing this notice regarding the new provisions affecting RUS borrower participation in the Cushion of Credit (CoC) program pursuant to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, (the 2018 Farm Bill).
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-10408
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-05-20
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-10192
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-05-16
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
Document Number: 2019-09874
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-05-14
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 as amended; Section 12204 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, Rural Development (RD) gives notice of its proposal to modify the system of records entitled USDA/RD-1 Current or Prospective Producers or Landowners, Applicants, Borrowers, Grantees, Tenants, and other participants in RD programs. To communicate the revision to the USDA RD-1 Systems of Records Notice in which the addition of Routine Use 26 below is published. However, this was not the only revised Routine Usethese were also revised: 1. Routine Use 21 was revised, 2. Routine Use 22 was added [OMB M-17-12 items], 3. In addition, Routine Uses 23 and 24 were renumbered to 24 and 25, respectively.
Announcement of Loan Applications Procedures and Deadlines for the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP); Update
Document Number: 2019-08796
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-05-01
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, published a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) in the Federal Register on Monday, August 6, 2018 (83 FR 38273) announcing funding availability, soliciting letters of intent for loan applications, outlining the application process for those loans, and setting forth deadlines for applications from eligible entities under the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP). Since the publication of the NOFA, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) became law on December 20, 2018, and included statutory changes affecting RESP. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of changes made to RESP pursuant to section 6303 of the Farm Bill.
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-08496
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-04-29
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Broadband Pilot Program-ReConnect Program
Document Number: 2019-08176
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-04-23
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced its general policy and application procedures for funding under the eConnectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program) in a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications on December 14, 2018 in the Federal Register and amended the application window closing dates in a notice published on February 25, 2019 in the Federal Register. The Reconnect Program will provide loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. This Notice announces the opening date for the ReConnect Program application windows.
Announcement of Application Deadlines and Requirements for Section 313A Guarantees for Bonds and Notes Issued for Utility Infrastructure Loans for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019
Document Number: 2019-07900
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-04-19
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the application window and requirements and $750 million in loan funding that is available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 under the Guarantees for Bonds and Notes Issued for utility infrastructure loans (the 313A Program) authorized under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (the RE Act), and related terms. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the Farm Bill), enacted on December 20, 2018, amended Section 313A of the RE Act. Applications under this NOSA will be considered under the new statutory provisions. Those provisions supersede any prior inconsistent policy, regulation or guidance. The Farm Bill instructs RUS to continue to carry out this program under a Notice until new regulations are implemented. RUS is developing regulatory changes to implement new Farm Bill provisions related to this program and others. This NOSA implements the new 313A Program provisions until further notice or regulation. Under the 313A Program, in accordance with the Farm Bill, the Federal Financing Bank (FFB) will make loans to the selected applicant(s) and RUS will guarantee the applicant(s)'s repayment of the loans to FFB. The Farm Bill amended the RE Act to allow selected applicants to use the proceeds of loan funds made available under this NOSA for the 313A Program to make utility infrastructure loans (which includes broadband loans) or to refinance, subject to certain limitations, bonds or notes issued for such purposes to an applicant that has at any time received, or is eligible to receive, a loan under the RE Act. In addition, the Farm Bill amendments to the RE Act removed the prohibition against the use of proceeds of loan funds made available under the 313A Program for projects for the generation of electricity.
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-07813
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-04-18
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-07806
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-04-18
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Broadband Pilot (ReConnect) Program
Document Number: 2019-07345
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-04-12
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications in the Federal Register on Friday, December 14, 2018, announcing its general policy and application procedures for funding under the broadband pilot program (ReConnect) established pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 which provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. Since the publication of the FOA, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 (2019 Appropriations Act) became law on February 15, 2019. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of changes made to the ReConnect Program, specifically the updated service area eligibility policies, pursuant to the 2019 Appropriations Act, and other program updates.
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-06202
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-04-01
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-05635
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-03-25
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA), invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-04021
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-03-06
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.
Cardinal-Hickory Creek 345-kv Transmission Line Project
Document Number: 2019-03329
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-02-27
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, published a notice of availability, public meetings, and Section 106 notification on December 7, 2018 (83 FR 63149) Federal Register for the Cardinal-Hickory Creek 345-kV Transmission Line Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Meetings were scheduled for January 2019 and the public review period was to conclude on February 5, 2019. On February 12, 2019 (84 FR 3412), RUS published a notice announcing an extension of the public comment period to April 1, 2019 due to the lapse in federal funding. Previously cancelled Draft EIS public comment meetings in January 2019 are rescheduled for six days in March.
Broadband Pilot Program-ReConnect Program
Document Number: 2019-03163
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-02-25
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced its general policy and application procedures for funding under the eConnectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program) on December 14, 2018, in the Federal Register. The Reconnect Program will provide loans, grants, and loan/ grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and infrastructure, ReConnect will fuel long-term rural economic development and opportunities in rural America. The awards made under this program will bring high speed broadband to the farms which will allow them to increase productivity. This Notice amends the original application window closing dates that were published in the December 14, 2018, Federal Register Notice and provides the anticipated date that the opening application window will be announced.
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-03162
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-02-25
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Document Number: 2019-03077
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-02-22
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program, which it intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Program (SEARCH)
Document Number: 2019-02106
Type: Rule
Date: 2019-02-13
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
On June 24, 2010, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) issued a final rule to establish the regulation for the Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Program (SEARCH) as authorized by Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT). Following final implementation of this final rule, RUS found that the wording for the definition of a rural area is inconsistent with the statute. This document corrects the final regulation.
Extension of Public Comment Period for Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Cardinal-Hickory Creek 345-kv Transmission Line Project
Document Number: 2019-01930
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-02-12
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
A notice of availability, public meetings, and Section 106 notification was published in the Federal Register by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) on December 7, 2018 (83 FR 63149) for the Cardinal-Hickory Creek 345-kV Transmission Line Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Meetings were scheduled for January 2019 and the public review period was to conclude on February 5, 2019. Due to the lapse in federal funding, this notice announces an extension of the public comment period to April 1, 2019. Additionally, previously scheduled Draft EIS public comment meetings in January 2019 were also cancelled and will be rescheduled, once RUS receives full funding for FY 2019.
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