00-11985. General and Pre-Loan Policies and Procedures Common to Insured and Guaranteed Loans

AGENCY:

Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is proposing to amending its regulations to modify the requirement that borrowers must seek bids from all sources if funding is requested for generation projects equal to or greater than 10 megawatt or for modifications to existing plants if it results in an increase in capacity of 10 percent or more. This proposed rule will allow RUS to determine when borrowers must seek bids from all sources on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Administrator.

In the final rule section of this Federal Register, RUS is publishing this action as a direct final rule without prior proposal because RUS views this as a non-controversial action and anticipates no adverse comments. If no adverse comments are received in response to the direct final rule, no further action will be taken on this proposed rule and the action will become effective at the time specified in the direct final rule. If RUS receives adverse comments, a timely document will be published withdrawing the direct final rule based on this action. Any parties interested in commenting on this proposed action should do so at this time.

DATES:

Comments on this proposed action must be received on or before June 16, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Submit adverse comments or notice of intent to submit adverse comments to F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1522, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone [phone]. RUS requires a signed original and three copies of all comments (7 CFR 1700.4). Comments will be available for public inspection during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wei M. Moy, Chief, Power Resources & Planning Branch, Power Supply Division, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1568, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1568. Telephone: [phone]. FAX [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

See the Supplementary Information provided in the direct final rule located in the final rule section of this Federal Register for the applicable supplementary information on this section.

Dated: May 5, 2000.

Jill Long Thompson,

Under Secretary, Rural Development.