Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Basic Provisions

AGENCY:

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, USDA.

ACTION:

Interim rule; reopening and extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) is reopening and extending the comment period for the interim rule that was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 (70 FR 71749-71751). The interim rule amended the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Basic Provisions to implement the requirements of section 780 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (2006 Appropriations Act) regarding written agreements and the use of similar agricultural commodities. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES:

Written comments and opinions on this interim rule will be accepted until close of business March 24, 2006 and will be considered when the rule is to be made final.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to the Director, Product Development Division, Risk Management Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, 6501 Beacon Drive, Stop 0812, Room 421, Kansas City, MO 64133-4676. Comments titled “Basic Provisions Interim Rule” may also be sent via the Internet to DirectorPDD@rma.usda.gov, or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. A copy of each response will be available for public inspection and copying from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., c.s.t., Monday through Friday, except holidays, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information contact Erin Reid, Risk Management Specialist, Research and Development, Product Development Division, Risk Management Agency, at the Kansas City, MO, address listed above, telephone (816) 926-7730.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On Wednesday, November 30, 2005, FCIC published an interim rule with request for comments in the Federal Register proposing changes to the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Basic Provisions to implement program changes mandated by the 2006 Appropriations Act.

Comments were required to be received on or before January 30, 2006. FCIC believes the email address listed on the interim rule and the Federal eRulemaking Portal address were not operational during that time period. Therefore, interested persons could not provide comment. Therefore, FCIC is reopening and extending the comment period until close of business March 24, 2006. This action will allow interested persons who were unable to submit comments additional time to submit comments.