[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 11, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65153-65157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31426]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Rural Utilities Service
Farm Service Agency
7 CFR Parts 1924, 1942, 1948, and 1980
RIN 0575-AB59
Planning and Performing Construction and Other Development
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 Rural Housing Service (RHS), Rural Business- Cooperative
Service (RBS), Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and Farm Service Agency
(FSA) are amending their regulations regarding construction and other
development for farm, housing, community and business programs. This
action provides RHS, RBS, RUS and FSA borrowers, grant recipients and
the public with rules for compliance with seismic safety requirements
for new building construction using RHS, RBS, RUS and FSA loan, grant
and guaranteed funds. This action is necessary to set forth the
Agencies' policies and requirements to meet the implementation
requirements of Executive Order 12699, ``Seismic Safety of Federal and
Federally Assisted or Regulated New Building Construction,'' 55 FR 835
(January 5, 1990). This Executive Order addresses compliance with the
building safety provisions of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of
1977, as amended.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 10, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel J. Hodges III, Architect,
Program Support Staff, Rural Housing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, STOP 0761, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC
20250-0761, Telephone: (202) 720-9653.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Classification
This rule has been determined to be not significant for the
purposes of Executive Order 12866 and therefore has not been reviewed
by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Paperwork Reduction Act
The information collection requirements contained in these
regulations have been previously approved by OMB under the provisions
of 44 U.S.C. chapter 35 and have been assigned OMB control numbers
0575-0042, 0575-0015, 0575-0130, and 0575-0024, in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3507). This final rule does
not revise or impose any new information collection or recordkeeping
requirements from those approved by OMB.
Environmental Impact Statement
This document has been reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1940,
subpart G, ``Environmental Program.'' It is the determination of the
issuing agencies that this action does not constitute a major Federal
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Public
Law 91-190, an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5
U.S.C. 605(b), the head of the Agencies certify that this rule will not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
The undersigned have determined that this action will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
because the regulatory changes affect processing of loans and
eligibility for the programs.
[[Page 65154]]
Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995
Title II of the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public
Law 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
affected 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 affected 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 the regulatory
provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for State, local, and tribal
governments or the private sector. Thus, today's rule is not subject to
the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the UMRA.
Civil Justice Reform
This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778,
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 part 11 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.
Intergovernmental Review
This action affects the following programs as listed in the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance:
10.405 Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants
10.407 Farm Ownership Loans
10.410 Low Income Housing Loans
10.415 Rural Rental Housing Loans
10.420 Rural Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance
10.433 Housing Preservation Grants
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
All of the affected programs, except 10.410 Low Income Housing
Loans, are subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372 that
requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials.
Background
General
The affected Agencies make grants, loans, and loan guarantees for
the planning and performing of construction and other development work
in rural areas. The Agencies require borrowers and grant recipients to
meet applicable requirements mandated by Federal statutes, regulations,
and executive orders to obtain Agency financing. One such requirement
is compliance with Executive Order 12699, which implements the building
safety provisions of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).
Therefore, the Agencies are amending their regulations regarding
construction and other development for farm credit housing, community
facilities and business programs to address the requirements of
Executive Order 12699. This action clarifies the seismic requirements
applicable to RHS, RBS, RUS, and FSA programs; informs architects,
engineers and contractors retained by borrowers and grant recipients of
the seismic safety requirements applicable to new building construction
projects; and facilitates understanding of and compliance with the
requirements.
Seismic Introduction
The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (the Act), as
amended, was enacted to reduce risks to life and property from future
earthquakes in the United States through establishment and maintenance
of an effective earthquake hazards reduction program. The Act also
directs the President ``to establish and maintain an effective
earthquake hazards reduction program'' (the National Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Program or NEHRP). The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) is the designated agency with primary responsibilities to plan
and coordinate NEHRP. The objectives of NEHRP include the development
of technologically and economically feasible design and construction
methods to make structures earthquake resistant; the development and
promotion of improved understanding and capability with respect to
seismic risk; the education of the public as to earthquake phenomena;
and other areas of seismic research.
Executive Order 12699 requires that measures to assure seismic
safety be imposed on federally assisted new building construction to
the extent permitted by law. The Executive Order requires each Federal
agency assisting in the financing through Federal grants or loans, or
guaranteeing the financing through loan or mortgage insurance programs
of newly constructed buildings to initiate a plan to assure appropriate
consideration of seismic safety.
To support the implementation of Executive Order 12699, the
Interagency Committee on Seismic Safety in Construction (ICSSC),
composed of members representing Federal agencies involved with
construction or responsible for governmental assistance for
construction, recommends the use of seismic codes and standards which
are substantially equivalent to the ``NEHRP Recommended Provisions for
the Development of Seismic Regulations for New Buildings.'' This
guideline that represents the state-of-the-art in seismic design, has
been widely reviewed, and is currently incorporated into national
standards and most model codes that can be adopted by state and local
building codes.
Seismic Design
Unlike hurricanes, earthquakes cannot be predicted; they strike
without warning with great destructive forces. Most casualties occur
when ground shaking causes buildings and other structures to collapse
and objects to fall upon people. For these reasons, buildings and other
structures need to be designed to resist earthquake forces.
Structural performance in earthquakes indicates that severe damage
to and collapse of buildings almost always are the consequence of
inadequate design or construction. The successful performance of
buildings designed and constructed in accordance with seismic standards
shows that effects of severe earthquakes can be resisted economically.
In order to reduce hazards from earthquakes, buildings should be
designed according to appropriate seismic standards and codes.
Executive Order 12699 requires the use of and conformance to seismic
standards and codes for all new federally assisted buildings to the
extent permitted by law. The Federal government has established NEHRP
to reduce the hazard due to earthquakes and ICSSC to assist Federal
agencies with earthquake hazard reduction implementation measures.
ICSSC has identified standards and model building codes that meet the
requirements of the Executive Order and recommends their use.
Therefore, the Agencies are requiring that new construction
[[Page 65155]]
financed by programs deriving their statutory from the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S.C. 1921, et seq., comply with the
seismic requirements of these model building codes and recommending
that the construction and housing under programs authorized by title V
of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1491, et seq.,
scomply with the seismic requirements of these model building codes.
Discussion of Comments
A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register (60 FR 44283)
on August 25, 1995, providing for a 60-day comment period. The rule
proposed that RHS, RBS, RUS and FSA amend their regulations regarding
construction and other development in order to meet the implementation
requirements of Executive Order 12699.
Interested persons were afforded an opportunity to comment and
participate in the making of this rule. Due consideration has been
given to the 5 letters received commenting on the various aspects in
the proposed rule.
Three comments suggested that development work be designed and
constructed in accordance with the seismic requirements of the most
recently adopted model building code. After review of the May 95
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) report,
Comparison of the Seismic Provisions of Model Building Codes and
Standards to the 1991 NEHRP Recommended Provisions, this regulation
provides for the use of the most recently adopted model building code
in the final rule. The following editions of the model codes are
referenced in the final rule as the baseline or minimum for providing a
level of seismic safety substantially equivalent to that provided by
NEHRP Recommended Provisions:
--1991 ICBO Uniform Building Code
--1993 BOCA National Building Code
--1992 SBCCI Standard Building Code
One comment recommended the Agency recognize the Council of
American Building Officials (CABO) One and Two Family Dwelling Code
with amendments for the purpose of compliance with seismic requirements
in addition to the three model building codes. Comparison of the CABO
Code with the 1991 NEHRP provisions in the NIST report found that
conventional light frame dwellings of two stories or 35 feet in height
maximum, constructed under the 1992 CABO One and Two Family Dwelling
Code provide the same level of seismic safety as those designed using
the 1991 NEHRP provisions. However, townhouses where the Av
0.05 will not meet the level of safety prescribed by the NEHRP
provisions. Also, dwellings of masonry designed using the CABO One and
Two Family Dwelling Code will not provide a similar level of seismic
safety except where Av < 0.05.="" the="" cabo="" seismic="" requirements="" for="" townhouses="" and="" masonry="" construction="" are="" not="" comparable="" to="" those="" in="" the="" nehrp="" recommended="" provisions.="" therefore,="" icssc="" recommendation="" of="" model="" codes="" appropriate="" for="" use="" does="" not="" include="" the="" cabo="" code.="" the="" agency="" recognizes="" that="" the="" cabo="" code="" is="" not="" completely="" in="" compliance="" with="" the="" nehrp="" recommended="" provisions.="" however,="" section="" 509(a)="" of="" the="" housing="" act="" of="" 1949,="" 49="" u.s.c.="" 1479(a),="" requires="" the="" secretary="" to="" approve="" a="" residential="" building="" for="" financing="" under="" title="" v="" of="" the="" housing="" act="" of="" 1949="" if="" the="" building="" is="" constructed="" in="" accordance="" with="" the="" standards="" contained="" in="" any="" of="" the="" voluntary="" national="" model="" building="" codes.="" the="" housing="" act="" of="" 1949="" requires="" the="" agency="" to="" finance="" decent,="" safe="" and="" sanitary="" housing,="" and="" section="" 4(b)="" of="" the="" executive="" order="" requires="" the="" agency="" to="" amend="" its="" regulations="" to="" comply="" with="" nehrp="" only="" ``to="" the="" extent="" permitted="" by="" law''="" to="" reduce="" the="" hazards="" from="" earthquakes.="" the="" agency="" cannot="" disregard="" the="" requirements="" contained="" in="" the="" housing="" act="" and="" must="" continue="" to="" finance="" dwellings="" constructed="" in="" accordance="" with="" cabo,="" even="" though="" present="" cabo="" standards="" do="" not="" comply="" with="" nehrp.="" however,="" it="" is="" important="" to="" design="" buildings="" according="" to="" appropriate="" seismic="" standards="" and="" codes.="" therefore,="" the="" agency="" recommends,="" but="" cannot="" require,="" that="" all="" townhouses="" and="" masonry="" dwellings="" financed="" by="" the="" rural="" housing="" service="" housing="" programs="" meet="" the="" seismic="" requirements="" of="" one="" of="" the="" voluntary="" national="" model="" codes="" that="" provide="" a="" level="" of="" safety="" substantially="" equivalent="" to="" that="" intended="" by="" the="" nehrp="" recommended="" provisions.="" this="" will="" ensure="" that="" the="" agency="" provides="" decent,="" safe="" and="" sanitary="" housing="" for="" its="" borrowers="" and="" meet="" the="" intent="" of="" the="" executive="" order.="" the="" proposed="" rule="" contained="" the="" agency's="" seismic="" requirements="" for="" single="" family="" housing="" in="" exhibit="" n,="" of="" 7="" cfr="" part="" 1924,="" subpart="" a.="" this="" exhibit="" has="" been="" eliminated="" from="" the="" final="" rule="" and="" the="" single="" family="" housing="" seismic="" requirements="" are="" included="" in="" the="" body="" of="" 7="" cfr="" part="" 1924,="" subpart="" a.="" one="" comment="" suggested="" that="" regulations="" should="" reference="" the="" 1994="" nehrp="" maps="" that="" delineate="" by="" counties="" geographic="" areas="" that="" are="" affected="" by="" the="" av="" threshold="" criteria.="" the="" icssc="" recommendation="" of="" appropriate="" codes="" specifically="" states="" that="" codes="" which="" are="" substantially="" equivalent="" to="" the="" most="" recent="" or="" immediately="" preceding="" edition="" of="" the="" nehrp="" recommended="" provisions="" may="" be="" considered="" adequate.="" the="" agency="" used="" the="" 1991="" nehrp="" maps="" for="" the="" proposed="" rule.="" however,="" for="" the="" final="" rule="" the="" agency="" used="" the="" 1994="" nehrp="" maps.="" there="" is="" no="" difference="" in="" the="" 1991="" and="" 1994="" av="" maps.="" one="" comment="" requested="" a="" definition="" of="" the="" term="" ``earthquake="" resistant''="" in="" light="" of="" the="" 1994="" nehrp="" recommended="" provisions="" that="" state="" ``prevention="" of="" damage="" even="" in="" an="" earthquake="" event="" with="" a="" reasonable="" probability="" of="" occurrence="" cannot="" be="" achieved="" economically="" for="" most="" buildings.''="" the="" point="" of="" this="" statement="" is="" that="" the="" seismic="" safety="" provisions="" of="" our="" building="" codes="" are="" intended="" to="" prevent="" fatalities;="" they="" do="" not="" claim="" to="" be="" able="" to="" prevent="" property="" damage.="" a="" building="" constructed="" to="" meet="" modern="" code="" requirements="" is="" considered="" a="" success="" if,="" after="" the="" earthquake,="" no="" one="" has="" been="" killed="" by="" collapse="" or="" partial="" collapse="" of="" the="" building.="" the="" building="" will="" likely="" be="" damaged="" to="" some="" extent="" and="" may,="" in="" some="" cases,="" be="" so="" badly="" damaged="" that="" it="" is="" not="" economically="" feasible="" to="" repair.="" therefore,="" in="" terms="" of="" earthquake="" resistance,="" the="" successful="" performance="" of="" buildings="" designed="" and="" constructed="" in="" accordance="" with="" seismic="" standards="" shows="" that="" the="" life-="" threatening="" effects="" of="" a="" severe="" earthquake="" can="" be="" resisted="" economically.="" the="" level="" of="" earthquake="" resistance="" provided="" by="" up-to-date="" seismic="" design="" codes="" and="" practices="" is="" intended="" to="" protect="" human="" life,="" not="" to="" prevent="" damage="" to="" the="" building.="" finally,="" one="" comment="" suggested="" that="" the="" proposed="" rule="" would="" drive="" up="" the="" cost="" of="" new="" construction="" in="" the="" face="" of="" dwindling="" development="" resources="" and="" make="" new="" construction="" more="" difficult="" to="" finance.="" this="" commenter="" also="" suggested="" an="" alternative,="" as="" he="" stated,="" ``to="" dumping="" large="" sums="" of="" both="" private="" and="" public="" money="" into="" housing="" projects="" that="" could="" be="" shaken="" into="" rubble="" by="" an="" earthquake.''="" this="" alternative="" suggestion="" would="" promote="" the="" development="" of="" housing="" that="" uses="" alternative="" building="" materials="" that="" are="" less="" expensive="" to="" replace="" and="" more="" durable="" than="" today's="" building="" materials.="" the="" agency="" does="" not="" believe="" that="" this="" rule="" will="" drive="" up="" the="" cost="" of="" housing="" and="" therefore,="" did="" not="" change="" the="" final="" rule="" nor="" adopt="" the="" suggested="" alternative="" as="" a="" result="" of="" this="" comment.="" [[page="" 65156]]="" list="" of="" subjects="" 7="" cfr="" part="" 1924="" agriculture,="" construction="" and="" repair,="" construction="" management,="" energy="" conservation,="" housing,="" loan="" programs--agriculture,="" low="" and="" moderate="" income="" housing.="" 7="" cfr="" part="" 1942="" community="" development,="" community="" facilities,="" loan="" programs--housing="" and="" community="" development,="" loan="" security,="" rural="" areas,="" waste="" treatment="" and="" disposal--domestic,="" water="" supply--domestic.="" 7="" cfr="" part="" 1948="" business="" and="" industry,="" credit,="" economic="" development,="" rural="" areas.="" 7="" cfr="" part="" 1980="" loan="" programs--agriculture,="" loan="" programs--business="" and="" industry--="" rural="" development="" assistance,="" loan="" programs--housing="" and="" community="" development,="" loan="" programs--community="" programs--rural="" development="" assistance.="" therefore,="" chapter="" xviii,="" title="" 7,="" code="" of="" federal="" regulations="" is="" amended="" as="" follows:="" part="" 1924--construction="" and="" repair="" 1.="" the="" authority="" citation="" for="" part="" 1924="" is="" revised="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" authority:="" 5="" u.s.c.="" 301;="" 7="" u.s.c="" 1989;="" 42="" u.s.c="" 1480.="" subpart="" a--planning="" and="" performing="" construction="" and="" other="" development="" 2.="" section="" 1924.5="" is="" amended="" by="" adding="" paragraph="" (d)(4)="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" sec.="" 1924.5="" planning="" development="" work.="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" (d)="" *="" *="" *="" (4)="" except="" as="" provided="" in="" paragraphs="" (d)(4)(i)="" through="" (iii)="" of="" this="" section,="" new="" building="" construction="" and="" additions="" shall="" be="" designed="" and="" constructed="" in="" accordance="" with="" the="" earthquake="" (seismic)="" requirements="" of="" the="" applicable="" agency's="" development="" standard="" (building="" code).="" the="" analysis="" and="" design="" of="" structural="" systems="" and="" components="" shall="" be="" in="" accordance="" with="" applicable="" requirements="" of="" an="" acceptable="" model="" building="" code.="" (i)="" agricultural="" buildings="" that="" are="" not="" intended="" for="" human="" habitation="" are="" exempt="" from="" these="" earthquake="" (seismic)="" requirements.="" (ii)="" single="" family="" conventional="" light="" wood="" frame="" dwellings="" of="" two="" stories="" or="" 35="" feet="" in="" height="" maximum="" shall="" be="" designed="" and="" constructed="" in="" accordance="" with="" the="" 1992="" council="" of="" american="" building="" officials="" (cabo)="" one="" and="" two="" family="" dwelling="" code="" or="" the="" latest="" edition.="" (iii)="" single="" family="" housing="" of="" masonry="" design="" and="" townhouses="" of="" wood="" frame="" construction="" and="" additions="" financed="" (either="" directly="" or="" through="" a="" guarantee)="" under="" title="" v="" of="" the="" housing="" act="" of="" 1949="" are="" recommended="" to="" be="" designed="" and="" constructed="" in="" accordance="" with="" the="" earthquake="" (seismic)="" requirements="" of="" one="" of="" the="" building="" codes="" that="" provides="" an="" equivalent="" level="" of="" safety="" to="" that="" contained="" in="" the="" latest="" edition="" of="" the="" national="" earthquake="" hazard="" reduction="" program's="" (nehrp)="" recommended="" provisions="" for="" the="" development="" of="" seismic="" regulations="" for="" new="" building="" (nehrp="" provisions).="" (iv)="" acknowledgment="" of="" compliance="" with="" the="" applicable="" seismic="" safety="" requirements="" for="" new="" construction="" will="" be="" contained="" in="" the="" certification="" of="" final="" plans="" and="" specification="" on="" the="" appropriate="" agency="" form.="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" part="" 1942--associations="" 3.="" the="" authority="" citation="" for="" part="" 1942="" is="" revised="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" authority:="" 5="" u.s.c.="" 301;="" 7="" u.s.c.="" 1989;="" 16="" u.s.c.="" 1005.="" subpart="" a--community="" facility="" loans="" 4.="" section="" 1942.18="" is="" amended="" by="" adding="" paragraph="" (d)(17)="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" sec.="" 1942.18="" community="" facilities--planning,="" bidding,="" contracting,="" constructing.="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" (d)="" *="" *="" *="" (17)="" seismic="" safety.="" (i)="" all="" new="" building="" construction="" shall="" be="" designed="" and="" constructed="" in="" accordance="" with="" the="" seismic="" provisions="" of="" one="" of="" the="" following="" model="" building="" codes="" or="" the="" latest="" edition="" of="" that="" code="" providing="" an="" equivalent="" level="" of="" safety="" to="" that="" contained="" in="" latest="" edition="" of="" the="" national="" earthquake="" hazard="" reduction="" program's="" (nehrp)="" recommended="" provisions="" for="" the="" development="" of="" seismic="" regulations="" for="" new="" building="" (nehrp="" provisions):="" (a)="" 1991="" international="" conference="" of="" building="" officials="" (icbo)="" uniform="" building="" code;="" (b)="" 1993="" building="" officials="" and="" code="" administrators="" international,="" inc.="" (boca)="" national="" building="" code;="" or="" (c)="" 1992="" amendments="" to="" the="" southern="" building="" code="" congress="" international="" (sbcci)="" standard="" building="" code.="" (ii)="" the="" date,="" signature,="" and="" seal="" of="" a="" registered="" architect="" or="" engineer="" and="" the="" identification="" and="" date="" of="" the="" model="" building="" code="" on="" the="" plans="" and="" specifications="" will="" be="" evidence="" of="" compliance="" with="" the="" seismic="" requirements="" of="" the="" appropriate="" building="" code.="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" part="" 1948--rural="" development="" 5.="" the="" authority="" citation="" for="" part="" 1948="" is="" revised="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" authority:="" 7="" u.s.c.="" 1989.="" subpart="" c--intermediary="" relending="" program="" (irp)="" 6.="" section="" 1948.117="" is="" amended="" by="" adding="" paragraph="" (d)="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" sec.="" 1948.117="" other="" regulatory="" requirements.="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" (d)="" seismic="" safety="" of="" new="" building="" construction.="" (1)="" the="" intermediary="" relending="" program="" is="" subject="" to="" the="" provisions="" of="" executive="" order="" 12699="" that="" requires="" each="" federal="" agency="" assisting="" in="" the="" financing,="" through="" federal="" grants="" or="" loans,="" or="" guaranteeing="" the="" financing,="" through="" loan="" or="" mortgage="" insurance="" programs,="" of="" newly="" constructed="" buildings="" to="" assure="" appropriate="" consideration="" of="" seismic="" safety.="" (2)="" all="" new="" buildings="" shall="" be="" designed="" and="" constructed="" in="" accordance="" with="" the="" seismic="" provisions="" of="" one="" of="" the="" following="" model="" building="" codes="" or="" the="" latest="" edition="" of="" that="" code="" providing="" an="" equivalent="" level="" of="" safety="" to="" that="" contained="" in="" the="" latest="" edition="" of="" the="" national="" earthquake="" hazard="" reduction="" program's="" (nehrp)="" recommended="" provisions="" for="" the="" development="" of="" seismic="" regulations="" for="" new="" building="" (nehrp="" provisions):="" (i)="" 1991="" international="" conference="" of="" building="" officials="" (icbo)="" uniform="" building="" code;="" (ii)="" 1993="" building="" officials="" and="" code="" administrators="" international,="" inc.="" (boca)="" national="" building="" code;="" or="" (iii)="" 1992="" amendments="" to="" the="" southern="" building="" code="" congress="" international="" (sbcci)="" standard="" building="" code.="" (3)="" the="" date,="" signature,="" and="" seal="" of="" a="" registered="" architect="" or="" engineer="" and="" the="" identification="" and="" date="" of="" the="" model="" building="" code="" on="" the="" plans="" and="" specifications="" will="" be="" evidence="" of="" compliance="" with="" the="" seismic="" requirements="" of="" the="" appropriate="" building="" code.="" part="" 1980--general="" 7.="" the="" authority="" citation="" for="" part="" 1980="" is="" revised="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" [[page="" 65157]]="" authority:="" 5="" u.s.c.="" 301;="" 7="" u.s.c.="" 1989;="" 7="" u.s.c.="" 4201="" note;="" 42="" u.s.c.="" 1480.="" subpart="" a--general="" 8.="" section="" 1980.48="" is="" added="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" sec.="" 1980.48="" seismic="" safety="" of="" new="" building="" construction.="" (a)="" the="" guaranteed="" loan="" programs="" are="" subject="" to="" the="" provisions="" of="" executive="" order="" 12699="" which="" requires="" each="" federal="" agency="" assisting="" in="" the="" financing,="" through="" federal="" grants="" or="" loans,="" or="" guaranteeing="" the="" financing,="" through="" loan="" or="" mortgage="" insurance="" programs,="" of="" newly="" constructed="" buildings="" to="" assure="" appropriate="" consideration="" of="" seismic="" safety.="" (b)="" all="" new="" buildings="" shall="" be="" designed="" and="" constructed="" in="" accordance="" with="" the="" seismic="" provisions="" of="" one="" of="" the="" following="" model="" building="" codes="" or="" the="" latest="" edition="" of="" that="" code="" providing="" an="" equivalent="" level="" of="" safety="" to="" that="" contained="" in="" the="" latest="" edition="" of="" the="" national="" earthquake="" hazard="" reduction="" program's="" (nehrp)="" recommended="" provisions="" for="" the="" development="" of="" seismic="" regulations="" for="" new="" building="" (nehrp="" provisions):="" (1)="" 1991="" international="" conference="" of="" building="" officials="" (icbo)="" uniform="" building="" code;="" (2)="" 1993="" building="" officials="" and="" code="" administrators="" international,="" inc.="" (boca)="" national="" building="" code;="" or="" (3)="" 1992="" amendments="" to="" the="" southern="" building="" code="" congress="" international="" (sbcci)="" standard="" building="" code.="" (c)="" the="" date,="" signature,="" and="" seal="" of="" a="" registered="" architect="" or="" engineer="" and="" the="" identification="" and="" date="" of="" the="" model="" building="" code="" on="" the="" plans="" and="" specifications="" will="" be="" evidence="" of="" compliance="" with="" the="" seismic="" requirements="" of="" the="" appropriate="" building="" code.="" dated:="" october="" 21,="" 1996.="" jill="" long="" thompson,="" under="" secretary,="" rural="" development.="" dated:="" october="" 15,="" 1996.="" eugene="" moos,="" under="" secretary,="" farm="" and="" foreign="" agricultural="" services.="" [fr="" doc.="" 96-31426="" filed="" 12-10-96;="" 8:45="" am]="" billing="" code="" 3410-xv-u="">