Policy Statement for Direct Final Rulemaking

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is implementing a new rulemaking procedure to expedite making noncontroversial changes to its regulations. Rules that RUS judges to be noncontroversial and unlikely to result in adverse comments will be published as ``direct final'' rules. ``Adverse comments'' are those comments that suggest a rule should not be adopted or suggest that a change should be made to the rule. Each direct final rule will advise the public that no adverse comments are anticipated, and that unless written adverse comments or written notice of intent to submit adverse comments is received within 30 days from the date the direct final rule is published in the Federal Register , the rule will be effective 45 days from the date the direct final rule is published in the Federal Register. At the same time, RUS will publish a document in the proposed rules section of the same issue of the Federal Register proposing approval of and soliciting comments on the same action contained in the direct final rule. If adverse comments or notice of intent to file adverse comments are received by RUS, the direct final rule will be withdrawn prior to the effective date. RUS will address the comments received in response to the direct final rule in a subsequent final rule. This new policy should expedite the promulgation of noncontroversial rules by reducing the time that would be required to develop, review, clear and publish separate proposed and final rules.