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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-28-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0596-AC80</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200904</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0596</CODE>
            <NAME>Forest Service</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>FS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>0500</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Agriculture</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>USDA</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Down Payment; Periodic Payments</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[The proposed action is to revise two separate but related rules by providing notice of the proposed rules and request for comments.  36 CFR 223.49 would be revised to correct problems with procedures for releasing down payments associated with a drastic reduction in wood product prices.  The public will also be asked to comment on an alternative procedure for use and release of down payments proposed by the timber industry.  36 CFR 223.49 and 223.50 would be revised to remove the requirement for a down payment and periodic payments on stewardship contracts.  Seek public comment on these proposed amendments prior to issuing final rules.

Justification for Proposed Action:  The drastic reduction in wood product prices that is currently ongoing has revealed problems with the down payment procedures that were not evident when forest product markets were stronger.  Under the current regulations a purchaser must pay for, cut and remove timber equal in value to 10% of the total advertised value plus 20 percent of the bid premium.  On some stumpage rate adjusted sales prices de-escalated so much that most, and in some cases all, of the included timber was cut and paid for without triggering the release of the down payment.  To avert this problem industry has proposed tying release of the down payment to volume rather than value.  But, that method can result in the government not being adequately protected in sharply rising markets or in unit rate sales including combinations of very high and very low value species.  A procedure that uses both value and volume components for triggering release of the down payment would be a more equitable approach.  Industry has also proposed treating the down payment like periodic payments where the cash deposited can be used to pay for timber as it is cut.  This would help their cash flow while still providing the economic incentive the regulation intended to encourage purchasers to harvest the timber sooner rather than later.

Additionally, because stewardship contracting procedures negate the need for down payments and periodic payments the 36 CFR 223.49 and 223.50 regulations need to be revised to exclude stewardship contracts from those requirements.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Substantive, Nonsignificant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>Undetermined</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>Undetermined</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>36 CFR 223.49</CFR>
            <CFR>36 CFR 223.50</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>Not Yet Determined</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>10/29/2008</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>73 FR 64288</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/29/2008</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>05/00/2009</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>Undetermined</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Undetermined</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>Undetermined</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>Undetermined</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Lorrie</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Parker</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Regulatory Analyst</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0596</CODE>
                    <NAME>Forest Service</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>FS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 205-6560</PHONE>
                <FAX>202 205-6539</FAX>
                <EMAIL>lsparker@fs.fed.us</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>ATTN: ORMS, D&amp;R Branch, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20250-0003</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
