[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1603]


  Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 17 / Wednesday, January 26, 1994 /
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[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 26, 1994]


                                                    VOL. 59, NO. 17

                                        Wednesday, January 26, 1994
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farmers Home Administration

7 CFR Part 2018

 

Extension of the Delegation of Authority for Freedom of 
Information Act and Privacy Act Requests

AGENCY: Farmers Home Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this amendment to the Farmers Home 
Administration (FmHA) regulations is to expand the delegation of 
authority to include the Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Specialist 
and Management Analyst positions located in the Freedom of Information/
Torts Section at the National Office, and the State Administrative 
Officers/Administrative Program Chiefs. This action is necessary due to 
a noticeable increase in Freedom of Information requests that must be 
processed. The intended effect is to speed up the processing of the 
Freedom of Information Act requests.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 26, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorothy Hinden, Freedom of Information 
Officer, General Services Staff, Farmers Home Administration (FmHA), 
USDA, room 6847, South Agriculture Building, 14th and Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0700, Telephone (202) 720-9638.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The State Directors, District Directors, County Supervisors and the 
Freedom of Information Officer are the only positions currently 
delegated authority to respond to requests under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA). During the last several years there has been a 
noticeable increase in FOIA requests made to FmHA. To speed up 
processing these requests, it will be necessary to expand the 
delegation of authority to include the Administrative Officers and 
Administrative Program Chief for each state and two additional 
professional positions, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Specialist 
and Management Analyst, located in the FmHA Freedom of Information/
Torts Section at the National Office.

Classification

    This action has been reviewed under USDA procedures which implement 
Executive Order 12886. The action is exempt from those requirements 
because it involves only internal Agency management. While it is USDA 
policy to publish for comment rules relating to public property, loans, 
grants, benefits, or contracts notwithstanding the exemption in 5 
U.S.C. 553 with respect to such rules, this action involves only 
internal Agency management. Therefore, publication for comment is 
unnecessary.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 2018

    Administrative practice and procedure, Freedom of information.

    Accordingly, part 2018 of chapter XVIII, title 7, Code of Federal 
Regulations, is amended as follows:

PART 2018--GENERAL

    1. The authority citation for part 2018 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552.

Subpart F--Availability of Information

    2. The introductory paragraph of Sec. 2018.254 is revised to read 
as follows:


Sec. 2018.254  Requests for records.

    Requests for records are to be submitted in accordance with 7 CFR 
1.3 and may be made to the appropriate County Supervisor, District 
Director, State Administrative Officer, State Administrative Program 
Chief, State Director, or the Freedom of Information/Privacy Act 
Specialist, Management Analyst, or Freedom of Information Officer. The 
last three positions are located in the General Services Staff, Farmers 
Home Administration, Washington, DC 20250-0700. The phrase ``FOIA 
REQUEST'' should appear on the outside of the envelope in capital 
letters. Requests should be as specific as possible in describing the 
records being requested. The Freedom of Information Officer, Freedom of 
Information/Privacy Act Specialist, Management Analyst, each State 
Administrator Officer, each Administrative Program Chief, each State 
Director, each District Director, and each County Supervisor are 
delegated authority to act respectively at the National, state, 
district, or county level on behalf of Farmers Home Administration to:
* * * * *
    Dated: December 14, 1993.
Bob Nash,
Under Secretary, Small Community and Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 94-1603 Filed 1-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-07-U