98-20393. Property Management  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 150 (Wednesday, August 5, 1998)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 41715-41716]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-20393]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Rural Housing Service
    Rural Business-Cooperative Service
    Rural Utilities Service
    Farm Service Agency
    
    7 CFR Part 1955
    
    
    Property Management
    
    AGENCIES: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, 
    Rural Utilities Service, and Farm Service Agency, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Agencies are revising their Property Management 
    regulations to clarify changes in definitions that only affect Real 
    Estate Owned (REO) by the Agency, and not a customer's account. This 
    action is being taken to update and correct the definitions of the 
    terms ``nonrecoverable'' and ``recoverable.'' The intended effect is to 
    improve the Agencies' recordkeeping systems.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: August 5, 1998.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Muhlbauer, Program Support Staff, 
    Rural Housing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 0761, South 
    Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
    20250-0761; telephone (202) 690-2141.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Classification and Summary of Changes
    
        This action is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
    12866 since it only involves a change in the way the Agencies perform 
    their accounting. In pre-Credit Reform practice, taxes were paid out of 
    the revolving funds, making it impossible to identify and credit later 
    tax payment reimbursements to the properties affected. This change will 
    allow the Agencies to more precisely charge and credit tax payments 
    related to Real Estate Owned (REO) property by associating them with 
    the specific properties on which taxes are invoiced. Property 
    management regulation definitions of ``nonrecoverable'' and 
    ``recoverable'' and policy and procedure for related Agency 
    expenditures are being revised to conform to certain definitions and 
    cost accounting developed under the Credit Reform Act as implemented 
    through the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-34. Definitions 
    developed under OMB guidance, intended to distinguish between 
    administrative expenses directly related to program operations 
    (nonrecoverable), and expenses directly related to and chargeable to a 
    borrower or REO account (recoverable), including the costs of 
    foreclosing, managing, and selling collateral, have been in use under 
    unpublished internal Agency policy (RD Instruction 2024-A). Property 
    Management regulations were never revised to reflect the change in 
    definitions. These revisions do not affect the legal or actual 
    recoverability of a charge from a borrower. The replacement of the term 
    ``nonrecoverable costs'' with ``recoverable costs'' in Secs. 1955.67, 
    1955.68, and 1955.69 affects only REO property, not a borrower account. 
    Since the public is not affected by this rulemaking change, publication 
    for notice and comment is not necessary.
    
    Programs Affected
    
        These programs or activities are listed in the Catalog of Federal 
    Domestic Assistance and are subject to the provisions of Executive 
    Order 12372 which require intergovernmental consultation with State and 
    local officials under the following numbers:
    
    10.405--Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants
    10.407--Farm Ownership Loans
    10.411--Rural Housing Site Loans
    10.415--Rural Rental Housing Loans
    10.416--Soil and Water Loans
    10.421--Indian Tribes and Tribal Corporation Loans
    10.760--Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities
    10.764--Resource Conservation and Development Loans
    10.765--Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Loans
    10.766--Community Facilities Loans
    10.767--Intermediary Relending Program
    10.768--Business and Industrial Loans
    10.770--Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants
    
        The following programs or activities are excluded from the scope of 
    Executive Order 12372 which requires intergovernmental consultation 
    with State and local officials, under the following numbers:
    
    10.404--Emergency Loans
    10.406--Farm Operating Loans
    10.443--Outreach and Assistance Grants for Socially Disadvantaged 
    Farmers and Ranchers
    10.850--Rural Electrification Loans and Loan Guarantees
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        The information collection requirements contained in this 
    regulation have been approved by the
    
    [[Page 41716]]
    
    Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the provisions of 44 U.S.C. 
    chapter 35 and have been assigned OMB control numbers 0575-0109 and 
    0575-0110 in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
    U.S.C. 3507). This rule does not revise or impose any new information 
    collection or recordkeeping requirements.
    
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    
        Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Pub. 
    L. 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
    effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal 
    governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, the 
    Agencies generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost 
    benefit analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal 
    mandates'' that may result in expenditures to State, local, or tribal 
    governments, in the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 
    million or more in any one year. When such a statement is needed for a 
    rule, section 205 of the UMRA generally requires the Agencies to 
    identify and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives 
    and adopt the least costly, more cost-effective or least burdensome 
    alternative that achieves the objectives of the rule.
        This rule contains no Federal mandates (under regulatory provisions 
    of title II of the UMRA) for State, local, and tribal governments or 
    the private sector. Thus, this rule is not subject to the requirements 
    of sections 202 and 205 of the UMRA.
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The undersigned certify that this rule will not have a significant 
    impact on a substantial number of small entities as defined under the 
    Regulatory Flexibility Act. Pub. L. 96-534, as amended (5 U.S.C. 601). 
    No actions are being taken under this rule that affect small entities. 
    These changes only affect Agency recordkeeping. Therefore, a Regulatory 
    Flexibility Analysis has not been prepared.
    
    Environmental Impact Statement
    
        It is the determination of the issuing Agencies that this action is 
    not a major Federal action significantly affecting the environment and, 
    in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Pub. 
    L. 91-190, an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.
    
    Executive Order 12988
    
        This rule has been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 
    12988, Civil Justice Reform. In accordance with this rule: (1) All 
    State and local laws and regulations that are in conflict with this 
    rule will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this 
    rule; and (3) administrative proceedings in accordance with 7 CFR parts 
    11, and 1900, subpart B or 780, as applicable, must be exhausted before 
    bringing suit in court challenging action taken under this rule unless 
    those regulations specifically allow bringing suit at an earlier time.
    
    List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1955
    
        Foreclosure, Government acquired property, Government property 
    management Chapter XVIII, title 7, Code of Federal Regulations is 
    amended as follows:
    
    PART 1955--PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
    
        1. The authority citation for part 1955 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 7 U.S.C. 1989; 42 U.S.C. 1480.
    
    Subpart A--Liquidation of Loans Secured by Real Estate and 
    Acquisition of Real and Chattel Property
    
        2. Section 1955.3 is amended by revising the definitions of 
    ``Nonrecoverable costs'' and ``Recoverable costs'' to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1955.3  Definitions.
    
    * * * * *
        Nonrecoverable cost is a contractual or noncontractual program loan 
    cost expense not chargeable to a borrower, property account, or part of 
    the loan subsidy.
    * * * * *
        Recoverable cost is a contractual or noncontractual program loan 
    cost expense chargeable to a borrower, property account, or part of the 
    loan subsidy.
    * * * * *
    
    Subpart B--Management of Property
    
        3. Section 1955.53 is amended by revising the definitions of 
    ``Nonrecoverable costs'' and ``Recoverable costs'' to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1955.53  Definitions.
    
    * * * * *
        Nonrecoverable cost is a contractual or noncontractual program loan 
    cost expense not chargeable to a borrower, property account, or part of 
    the loan subsidy.
    * * * * *
        Recoverable cost is a contractual or noncontractual program loan 
    expense chargeable to a borrower, property account, or part of the loan 
    subsidy.
    * * * * *
    
    
    Secs. 1955.67--1955.71  [Removed and Reserved]
    
        4. Sections 1955. 67 through 1955.71 are removed and reserved.
    
        Dated: May 19, 1998.
    Jan E. Shadburn,
    Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
    
        Dated: May 21, 1998.
    William P. Hagy,
    Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
    
        Dated: May 28, 1998.
    Wally B. Beyer,
    Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
    
        Dated: June 1, 1998.
    Keith Kelly,
    Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
    [FR Doc. 98-20393 Filed 8-4-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
8/5/1998
Published:
08/05/1998
Department:
Farm Service Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
98-20393
Dates:
August 5, 1998.
Pages:
41715-41716 (2 pages)
PDF File:
98-20393.pdf
CFR: (2)
7 CFR 1955.3
7 CFR 1955.53