Water and Waste Program Regulations

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) amends the rules used to administer the water and waste loan and grant programs. This action implements provisions of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (Act). The Act reduces the amount of funds that a rural or native Alaskan village applicant must contribute from 50 percent to 25 percent of the project development costs. Additionally, it removes the population eligibility requirement that expired September 30, 1998, for certain timber-dependent communities in the Pacific Northwest. This action also includes an increase in the administrative fee that the Appalachian Regional Commission pays to USDA to administer grants for projects in which USDA has provided no funds and makes other technical corrections. The intended effect is to make 7 CFR part 1780 current with statutory authority.