114 STAT. 2763A-590 PUBLIC LAW 106-554—APPENDIX G communities under this subsection shall be those nominated areas with the highest average ranking with respect to the criteria described in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of subsection (c)(3). For purposes of the preceding sentence, an area shall be ranked within each such criterion on the basis of the amount by which the area exceeds such criterion, with the area which exceeds such criterion by the greatest amount given the highest ranking. "(B) EXCEPTION WHERE INADEQUATE COURSE OF ACTION, ETC.— An area shall not be designated under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development determines that the course of action described in subsection (d)(2) with respect to such area is inadequate. "(C) PREFERENCE FOR ENTERPRISE COMMUNITIES AND EMPOWERMENT ZONES. —With respect to the first 20 designations made under this section, a preference shall be provided to those nominated areas which are enterprise communities or empowerment zones (and are otherwise eligible for designation under this section). "(4) LIMITATION ON DESIGNATIONS. — "(A) PUBLICATION OF REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall prescribe by regulation no later than 4 months after the date of the enactment of this section, after consultation with the officials described in paragraph (1)(B)— "(i) the procedures for nominating an area under paragraph (1)(A), "(ii) the parameters relating to the size and population characteristics of a renewal community, and "(iii) the manner in which nominated areas will be evaluated based on the criteria specified in subsection (d). "(B) TIME LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may designate nominated areas as renewal communities only during the period beginning on the first day of the first month following the month in which the regulations described in subparagraph (A) are prescribed and ending on December 31, 2001. "(C) PROCEDURAL RULES.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall not make any designation of a nominated area as a renewal community under paragraph (2) unless— "(i) the local governments and the States in which the nominated area is located have the authority— "(I) to nominate such area for designation as a renewal community, "(II) to make the State and local commitments described in subsection (d), and "(III) to provide assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development that such commitments will be fulfilled, "(ii) a nomination regarding such area is submitted in such a manner and in such form, and contains such information, as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall by regulation prescribe, and
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