Common Crop Insurance Regulations; Rice Crop Insurance Provisions

AGENCY:

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, USDA.

ACTION:

Interim rule.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) amends the Rice Crop Insurance Provisions to provide coverage for losses resulting from failure of irrigation water supplies due to drought and intrusion of saline water as mandated by section 508(a)(8) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act).

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This rule is effective September 19, 2000. Written comments and opinions on this rule will be accepted until the close of business November 20, 2000, 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, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, United States Department of Agriculture, 6501 Beacon Drive, Stop 0812, Room 421, Kansas City, MO 64133-4676. Comments titled “Rice Legislation” may be sent via the Internet to DirectorPDD@rm.fcic.usda.gov. A copy of each response will be available for public inspection and copying from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., CDT, Monday through Friday, except holidays, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information contact Linda Williams, Insurance Management Specialist, Research and Development, Product Development Division, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, at the Kansas City, MO, address listed above, telephone (816) 926-7730.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

This rule has been determined to be exempt for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the collections of information for this rule have been previously approved by OMB under control number 0563-0053 through April 30, 2001. The amendments set forth in this rule do not revise the content or alter the frequency of reporting for any of the forms or information collections cleared under the above-referenced docket.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector. This rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory provisions of title II of UMRA) for State, local, and tribal governments or the private sector. Therefore, this rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of UMRA.

Executive Order 13132

The provisions contained in this rule will not have a substantial direct effect on States, the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, consultation with the States is not required.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

This regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The regulation does not require any more action on the part of the small entities than is required on the part of large entities. The amount of work required by the insurance companies will not increase significantly as a result of this rule. Therefore, this action is determined to be exempt from the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605), and no Regulatory Flexibility Analysis was prepared.

Federal Assistance Program

This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under No. 10.450.

Executive Order 12372

This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372 which require intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials. See the Notice related to 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, published at 48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983.

Executive Order 12988

This rule has been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 12988 on civil justice reform. The provisions of this rule will not have a retroactive effect. The provisions of this rule will preempt State and local laws to the extent such State and local laws are inconsistent herewith. The administrative appeal provisions published at 7 CFR part 11 must be exhausted before any action for judicial review of any determination made by FCIC may be brought.

Environmental Evaluation

This action is not expected to have a significant economic impact on the quality of the human environment, health, and safety. Therefore, neither an Environmental Assessment nor an Environmental Impact Statement is needed.

Background

This interim rule implements the changes to the rice crop insurance policy mandated by section 508(a)(8) of the Act. Section 508(a)(8) of the Act requires the provisions to be implemented for the 2001 and subsequent crop years. Since the changes to the policy made by this rule are required by statute, and the changes must be made by the November 30, 2000, contract change date to be fully implemented for the 2001 crop year, it is contrary to the public interest to publish this rule for notice and comment prior to making the rule effective. However, comments are solicited for 60 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register and will be considered by FCIC before this rule is made final.

FCIC amends the Common Crop Insurance Regulations (7 CFR part 457) by amending 7 CFR 457.141, Rice Crop Insurance Provisions effective for the 2001 and succeeding crop years. The principal changes for insuring rice are:

1. Section 9(a)—Clarify that failure of the irrigation water supply is an insured cause of loss, if during the insurance period an insured cause of loss, drought or intrusion of saline water causes the failure. This will expand coverage for failure of the irrigation water supply.

2. Section 9(b)—Clarify that any loss of production due to the application of saline water is not an insured cause of loss, except when intrusion of saline water occurs due to an insured peril.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 457

• Crop insurance
• Rice

Interim Rule

Accordingly, as set forth in the preamble, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation amends 7 CFR part 457 as follows:

PART 457—COMMON CROP INSURANCE REGULATIONS

1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 457 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1506(l), 1506(p).

2. Amend 457.141 as follows:

a. Revise the introductory text;

b. Revise section 9(a)(8) of the crop provisions; and

c. Revise section 9(b) of the crop provisions.