[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 78 (Monday, April 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 17701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9669]
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EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES
Environmental Review Procedures
AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Export-Import Bank (``Ex-Im Bank'') is extending the
effective date of its Environmental Procedures and Guidelines
(initially issued in February, 1995) and has adopted certain changes to
improve the specificity, clarity and use of the Guidelines. The revised
Environmental Procedures and Guidelines will remain in effect until
April 1, 1998, at which time they will again be subject to review by
the Bank.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Popi Artavanis, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Engineering
and Environment Division, 811 Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20571,
tel: (202) 565-3570.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 106 of the Export Enhancement Act
(12 U.S.C. 635i-5) (``Section 106'') provides that Ex-Im Bank shall
establish environmental review procedures consistent with the Bank's
overall mandate to maintain U.S. export competitiveness. Pursuant to
this section, the Ex-Im Bank Board of Directors approved a set of
Environmental Procedures and Guidelines on February 1, 1995. The new
procedures and guidelines were made effective on a one-year trial basis
until February 1, 1996. Earlier this year, the Bank extended the
effective date of these procedures and guidelines to April 1, 1996.
Prior to April 1, 1996, the Bank's staff solicited comments on the
procedures and guidelines from exporters and exporter trade
organizations, and conducted an internal review of the application of
the procedures and guidelines to particular transactions over the
course of the year. The staff concluded that the guidelines and
procedures have generally accomplished their goal of providing an
environmental benchmark for determining the acceptability of a project
for financing. At the same time, the guidelines and procedures have
minimized the impact on the exporting community, and allowed for
efficient, practical implementation by staff. The Bank's staff
introduced certain changes to improve the specificity, clarity and use
of the guidelines and recommended the procedures and guidelines (with
the proposed changes) be extended for an additional two years. On April
2, 1996, the Ex-Im Bank Board of Directors voted to extend the
Environmental Procedures and Guidelines (with the staff's recommended
changes) until April 1, 1998.
These procedures and guidelines are not subject to notice and
comment requirements or to publication in the Federal Register pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2), 553(b)(A), and 553(d)(2).
Copies may be obtained by written request from Ex-Im Bank's
Engineering and Environment Division, 811 Vermont Aveue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20571.
Accordingly, under the authority of Section 106 of the Export
Enhancement Act (12 U.S.C. 635i-5), the Environmental Procedures and
Guidelines will remain in effect until April 1, 1998.
Dated: April 12, 1996.
Kenneth W. Hansen,
General Counsel, Export-Import Bank of the United States.
[FR Doc. 96-9669 Filed 4-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6690-01-M
