Food Distribution Programs: FDPIHOOklahoma Waiver Authority

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

7 CFR Part 254

RIN 0584-AB56

Food Distribution Programs: FDPIHO--Oklahoma Waiver Authority

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule; Confirmation of effective date of direct final

rule.

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SUMMARY: This action confirms the effective date of the direct final

rule, published in the Federal Register on January 8, 1999 (64 FR

1097), that amends regulations for the Food Distribution Program for

Indian Households in Oklahoma (FDPIHO) at 7 CFR Part 254. The rule

reinstates the Food and Nutrition Service's authority to grant waiver

requests from Indian Tribal Organizations in Oklahoma to allow Indian

tribal households living in urban places to participate in FDPIHO. No

adverse comments nor notices of intent to submit adverse comments were

received in response to that rule. The comment period ended February 8,

1999.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 9, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillie F. Ragan, Assistant Branch

Chief, Household Programs Branch, Food Distribution Division, Food and

Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 612, 4501 Ford

Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, or telephone (703) 305-2662.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Procedural Matters

II. Background and Discussion of Final Rule

I. Procedural Matters

Regulatory Flexibility Act

This action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility

Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and is exempt from the provisions of that Act.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This action does not contain reporting or recordkeeping

requirements subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget

in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.

3507).

Executive Order 12372

This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance Programs under No. 10.570, and is subject to the provisions

of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation

with State and local officials (7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, and final

rule-related notices published at 48 FR 29114, June 24, 1983, and 49 FR

22676, May 31, 1984.

II. Background and Discussion of Final Rule

On January 8, 1999, the Department published a direct final rule to

amend the regulatory requirements for FDPIHO at 7 CFR Part 254. The

rule expressed the Food and Nutrition Service's intent to reinstate the

authority to grant waiver requests from Indian Tribal Organizations in

Oklahoma to allow Indian tribal households living in urban places to

participate in FDPIHO. It provided a 30-day comment period and

stipulated that unless the Department received written adverse

comments, or written notices of intent to submit adverse comments, the

rule would become effective on March 9, 1999, which was 60 days after

publication in the Federal Register. Since no adverse comments were

received, this action confirms the rule's effective date as March 9,

1999.

Dated: March 25, 1999.

Samuel Chambers, Jr.,

Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.

[FR Doc. 99-8762 Filed 4-7-99; 8:45 am]

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