Rural Utilities Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

This action amends the servicing regulations that apply when it is determined that unauthorized recipients have received financial assistance under USDA Business, Cooperative, and Community Facility loan and grant programs. The changes make clear that the first demand letter notifying the recipient of the Agency's determination serves as the initial step in the Agency's collection efforts, and that it may serve as the basis for the recipient's appeal rights. The terms of the first demand letter remain in full force and effect, unless the demand letter is subsequently amended in writing by the Agency after discussions with the recipient or modified as a result of judicial proceedings.

The Rural Utilities Service, an agency which administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs (USDA Rural Development) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) related to possible financial assistance to South Mississippi Electric Power Association (SMEPA) for the proposed construction of one approximately 5.76 acre 230:161:69 kV substation, two approximately 0.1 mile 230 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission lines, one 0.4 mile 69 kV electric transmission line, and one microwave tower on an approximate fourteen (14) acre parcel in Greene County, Mississippi. SMEPA is requesting the USDA Rural Development to provide financial assistance for the proposed project.

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.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency which administers the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs (USDA/RDUP) proposes to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and conduct a public scoping meeting related to possible financial assistance to East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) for the proposed construction of two 278 MW Circulating Fluidized Bed generating units (CFBs) in Clark County, Kentucky. EKPC is requesting that RUS provide financial assistance for the proposed project.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the above-named Agencies to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of debt settlement of Community Facilities and Direct Business Program Loans and Grants.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities programs through the Rural Utilities Service (Agency). In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Agency invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is extending the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Highwood Generating Station (HGS), and, as requested, is conducting an additional public hearing. The Draft EIS was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (U.S.C. 4231 et seq.) in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508) and RUS regulations (7 CFR 1794). This document has been prepared jointly with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The Draft EIS is to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of and alternatives to the Southern Montana Electric Transmission & Generation Cooperative, Inc. (SME) application for a loan guarantee to construct a 250 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant near Great Falls, Montana. SME is proposing to use a coal combustion technology known as circulating fluidized bed (CFB). Along with other proposed pollution controls collectively known as Best Available Control Technology (BACT), the HGS would be among the cleanest-burning coal-fired power plants currently operating in the United States. SME also proposes to construct and operate four, 1.5-MW wind turbines to generate supplemental electrical power at the preferred project location eight miles east of Great Falls. Receipt of the Draft EIS was announced by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on July 3, 2006 (official date June 30, 2006). Requests for extension of public comment periods may be honored per 40 CFR 1506.10. The initial 45-day public comment period was to end on August 15, 2006. With the 15-day extension, the new deadline for public comments is now August 30, 2006. In addition to the public hearing held in Great Falls, Montana on July 27, an additional hearing will be held in Havre, Montana. The Havre public hearing will be held on August 7, 2006 at the Applied Technology Center Auditorium at MSU Northern, 300 West 11th Street, Havre, MT. An open house will be held from 5-7 p.m., with the hearing beginning at 7 p.m. The hearing will include a presentation summarizing the findings of the Draft EIS and the opportunity for attendees to submit both oral and written comments. In accordance with 40 CFR Section 1503.1, Inviting Comments, the purpose of the meeting will be to solicit comments from interested parties on the Draft EIS for the Highwood Generating Station.

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 RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs) invites comments on this information collection for which USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Rural Utilities Service, an agency which administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Programs (USDA Rural Development) intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an environmental assessment (EA) related to possible financial assistance to East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc. (EKPC) of Kentucky for the proposed construction of approximately 35 miles of 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line in Clark, Madison, and Garrard counties, KY. The proposed 345 kV transmission line project would be constructed within one of several corridors under consideration. The transmission line corridors originate at the J.K. Smith Power Station near the community of Trapp in Clark County, KY and terminate at the proposed location of a new 345 kV switching station. EKPC is requesting USDA Rural Development to provide financial assistance for the proposed project.

The Rural Utilities Service, an agency which administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs (USDA Rural Development) proposes to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) related to possible financial assistance to East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) for the proposed construction of approximately 15.21 miles of 161 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line in Warren County, Kentucky. EKPC is requesting the USDA Rural Development to provide financial assistance for the proposed project.

The Rural Utilities Service, an agency which administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs (USDA Rural Development) proposes to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) related to possible financial assistance to East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) for the construction of approximately 19 miles of double circuit 345/138 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line and two 345 kV electric transmission substations. The proposed transmission line and substation projects would be located in Clark County, Kentucky. EKPC is requesting USDA Rural Development to provide financial assistance for the proposed project.

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 RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities service through the Rural Utilities Service. USDA Rural Development published a document in the Federal Register of March 16, 2006, concerning solicitation of applications for its Public Television Digital Transition Grant Program application window for fiscal year (FY) 2006. The document contained incorrect criteria scoring information.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agencies' intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 1942, subpart A, ``Community Facility Loans.''

USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities programs through the Rural Utilities Service. USDA Rural Development (the Agency) intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) in connection with potential impacts related to projects proposed by Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC), with headquarters in Tucker, Georgia. The proposal consists of the construction of approximately 55 miles of 500 kilovolt transmission line and approximately 13 miles of 230 kilovolt transmission line, a 500/230 kilovolt substation and a switching station. The 500-kilovolt transmission line project would be located in Putnam, Morgan, Walton and Oconee Counties, Georgia. The 230 kilovolt transmission line projects would be located in Walton County, Georgia. The substation and switching station are also located in Walton County, Georgia. In addition, a 230 kilovolt transmission line in Walton and Oconee Counties and a 230/115 kilovolt substation in Oconee County are included in the proposal as a connected action. GTC is requesting the Agency provide financing for the proposed action.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service, an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities programs through the Rural Utilities Service. USDA Rural Development announces its fiscal year (FY) 2006 funding and application window for the Household Water Well System (HWWS) Grant Program. The HWWS Grant Program is authorized under Section 6012 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (The Act), Public Law 107-171. The Act authorizes USDA Rural Development to make grants to qualified private non-profit organizations to establish lending programs for household water wells. For FY 2006, the HWWS grant funding available is $990,000. The non-profit organizations will use the grants to make loans to individuals to construct or upgrade a household water well system for an existing home. The organizations must contribute an amount equal to at least 10 percent of the grant request to capitalize the loan fund. Applications may be submitted in paper or electronic format. The HWWS Grant Program regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 1776.

USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities programs through the Rural Utilities Service. USDA Rural Development announces its Community Connect Grant Program application window for funding during fiscal year (FY) 2006. In addition, USDA Rural Development announces the minimum and maximum amounts for Community Connect grants applicable for the fiscal year. The Community Connect Grant Program regulations can be found at 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A.

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 RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

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 RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).