[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 24995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11995]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
7 CFR Parts 1710 and 1714
Prioritizing the Queue for Hardship Rate and Municipal Rate Loans
to Electric Borrowers
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, Agriculture.
ACTION: Extension of public comment period.
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SUMMARY: On April 8, 1998, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published
in the Federal Register an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for
Prioritizing the Queue for Hardship Rate and Municipal Rate Loans to
Electric Borrowers. RUS wishes to extend the comment period for this
proposed rule.
The RUS makes hardship rate and municipal rate loans to electric
borrowers who meet certain statutory requirements. All applicants from
borrowers for these loans are usually considered for approval on a
first-come first-served basis. RUS now has a significant shortfall
between the total dollar amount of qualified applicants and loan
authority for both hardship rate and municipal rate loans. This
shortfall has resulted in long waits in the queues for loan approval.
RUS is considering making changes to its administrative procedures to
prioritize the applications for hardship rate and municipal rate loans,
separately, in order to offer these loans to borrowers in greater need
of assistance before offering them to other borrowers in the loan
queues.
DATES: The date by which written comments must arrive at the address
given below is extended from May 8, 1998, to June 8, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director,
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service, Stop 1522, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-1522. RUS requires, in hard copy, a
signed original and 3 copies of all comments (7 CFR 1700.4(e)).
Comments will be available for public inspection during regular
business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex M. Cockey, Jr., Deputy Assistant
Administrator-Electric Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural
Utilities Service, Stop 1560, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, D.C. 20250-1560. Telephone: 202-720-9545. FAX: 202-690-
0717.
Blaine C. Stockton,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 98-11995 Filed 5-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
