[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 221 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57534-57536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27678]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service

7 CFR Part 3600


Organization and Functions

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends regulations of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) regarding Agency organization and functions 
of major operational units. This amendment is necessary to reflect 
changes in the organization of NASS due to an internal reorganization.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 16, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rich Allen, Associate Administrator, NASS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Room 4117 South Building, 12th and Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-2000, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 
552(a)(1), requires Federal Agencies to publish in the Federal Register 
descriptions of its central and field organizations. NASS is the agency 
within the U.S. Department of Agriculture primarily responsible for the 
development and dissemination of national and State agricultural 
statistics, statistical research, and coordination of the Department's 
statistical programs. This amendment to 7 CFR Part 3600 is necessary to 
reflect changes in the organization of NASS due to an internal 
reorganization.
    This rule relates to internal agency management. Therefore, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, notice of proposed rulemaking and opportunity 
for comment are not required, and this rule may be made effective less 
than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Further, since 
this rule relates to internal agency management, it is exempt from the 
provisions of Executive Order 12291. Also, this rule will not cause a 
significant economic impact or other substantial effect on small 
entities. Therefore, the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., do not apply.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 3600

    Organization and functions.

    Accordingly, 7 CFR Part 3600 is revised to read as follows:

PART 3600--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS

Sec.
3600.1  General.
3600.2  Organization.
3600.3  Functions.
3600.4  Authority to act for the Administrator.

Appendix A to Part 3600--List of State Statistical Offices

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301 and 552: and 7 CFR 2.85.


Sec. 3600.1  General.

    The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) was established 
on April 17, 1986, by Secretary's Memorandum 1020-24, which renamed the 
Statistical Reporting Service concurrent with an internal 
restructuring. Primary NASS responsibilities are development and 
dissemination of national and State agricultural statistics, 
statistical research, and coordination of Department statistical 
programs.


Sec. 3600.2  Organization.

    The headquarters organization consists of: The Administrator and 
Associate Administrator; Deputy Administrator for Field Operations; 
Four Divisions: Estimates, Survey Management, Research, and Systems and 
Information; and the Agricultural Statistics Board. In the field, each 
of the 45 State Statistical Offices, serving the 50 States, is under a 
State Statistician.


Sec. 3600.3  Functions.

    (a) Administrator. The Administrator is responsible for the 
formulation of current, intermediate, and long-range policies and plans 
to carry out a broad statistical program for the agricultural 

[[Page 57535]]
sector and Departmental functions and activities assigned to NASS. 
Specific functions are:
    (1) Administering an agricultural statistics program which includes 
estimates of production, marketings, inventories, and selected economic 
characteristics of the U.S. agricultural and rural economy.
    (2) Administering a methodological research program to improve 
agricultural data collection and processing, data management, 
estimation, and forecasting.
    (3) Administering programs to conduct surveys for other agencies, 
improve statistics through statistical standards for the Department, 
and coordinate statistical methods and techniques within the Federal 
Government.
    (4) Administering statistical programs jointly developed through 
cooperative agreements with State agencies, universities, private 
groups, and other Federal agencies.
    (5) Administering selected international agricultural statistics 
programs which provide foreign technical assistance, training on 
statistical methodology for developing countries, and exchange of 
information.
    (b) Associate Administrator. The Associate Administrator is 
responsible for advising and counseling the Administrator and high-
level policy officials on matters related to programs of NASS. Major 
functions include:
    (1) Chairing Agricultural Statistics Board activities, designating 
Board membership, presiding at Board sessions, and formulating specific 
procedures.
    (2) Chairing the NASS Strategic Planning Council which coordinates 
long-range planning, information resources management, and research 
reviews.
    (3) Chairing the Resource Management Council which coordinates NASS 
hiring, promotion, and training activities.
    (c) Deputy Administrator for Field Operations. The Deputy 
Administrator manages and coordinates data collection and estimating 
programs carried out by State Statistical Offices. This includes 
supervision of statistical programs with cooperating State and private 
groups, universities, and other Federal agencies. Major functions 
include:
    (1) Formulating policies and programs that relate to functions and 
responsibilities of State Statistical Offices.
    (2) Directing agricultural statistics programs established through 
cooperative agreements with State Departments of Agriculture, Land-
Grant colleges and universities, or appropriate private organizations.
    (3) Establishing and maintaining relationships with respondents, 
producers, commodity groups, data users, and other interested groups to 
gain cooperation in providing useful, timely, and reliable information.
    (d) Director, Estimates Division. The Director is responsible for 
NASS estimating and forecasting programs. Major functions include:
    (1) Defining input and output requirements, estimators and 
variances to be utilized, statistical standards, editing and 
summarization requirements, and analytic procedures.
    (2) Collaborating with the Chairperson of the Agricultural 
Statistics Board to establish the annual programs of statistical 
reports.
    (3) Developing appropriate systems parameters; processing, 
summarizing, and presenting current survey and related historical data 
for Agricultural Statistics Board analysis; and preparing official 
estimates and forecasts.
    (e) Director, Survey Management Division. The Director is 
responsible for application of survey design and data collection 
methodologies to the agricultural statistics program. Major functions 
include:
    (1) Constructing and maintaining appropriate sampling frames for 
agricultural and rural surveys.
    (2) Designing, testing, and establishing survey techniques and 
standards, including sample design, sample selection, questionnaires, 
data collection methods, survey materials, and training methods for 
NASS.
    (3) Reviewing specifications for special data collection activities 
for programs of other Federal or State agencies.
    (f) Director, Research Division. The Director is responsible for 
researching statistical methodology for survey design, data collection, 
processing, estimating, and forecasting. Major functions include:
    (1) Conducting statistical research to develop new and improved 
sampling techniques, develop improved data collection methods, and 
identify methods of controlling sampling and nonsampling errors.
    (2) Researching statistical computing methods and developing 
efficient uses of computer technology including telecommunications, 
networking, and other applications.
    (3) Developing new statistical theory and models and solving 
statistical problems, including numerical methods involving advanced 
mathematical statistics.
    (g) Director, Systems and Information Division. The Director is 
responsible for NASS information management system and processing 
services. Specific functions are:
    (1) Designing, maintaining, and providing access to an integrated 
and standardized information management system containing sampling 
frames, survey data, estimates, and administrative records utilized by 
NASS.
    (2) Providing appropriate support for assisting users of the 
information management system through documentation, evaluation, 
training, and resolution of information management problems.
    (3) Designing and issuing all reports releasing official State and 
national estimates and forecasts from NASS.
    (h) Chairperson, Agricultural Statistics Board. The Chairperson 
reviews, prepares, and issues on specific dates, following approval by 
the Secretary of Agriculture as provided by law (7 U.S.C. 411a) and 
Departmental Regulation, the official State and national estimates 
relating to crop production, livestock and livestock products, dairy 
and dairy products, poultry and poultry products, stocks of 
agricultural commodities, value of farm products, farm inputs, and 
other assigned agricultural aspects.


Sec. 3600.4  Authority to act for the Administrator.

    In the absence of the Administrator, the following officials are 
designated to serve as Acting Administrator in the order indicated:

Associate Administrator
Deputy Administrator for Field Operations
Director, Estimates Division
Director, Survey Management Division
Director, Systems and Information Division
Director, Research Division

Appendix A to Part 3600--List of State Statistical Offices

Section 1. General

    Information concerning NASS statistics programs and activities 
related to individual States may be obtained from the State 
Statistician, State Statistical Office, NASS, in the locations 
listed below.

Section 2. List of Addresses

Alabama, Sterling Centre, Suite 200, 4121 Carmichael Road, 
Montgomery, AL 36106-2872
Alaska, 809 South Chugach Street, Suite 4, Palmer, AK 99645
Arizona, 3003 North Central Avenue, Suite 950, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Arkansas, 3408 Federal Office Building, Little Rock, AR 72201

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California, 1220 ``N'' Street, Room 243, Sacramento, CA 95814
Colorado, 645 Parfet Street, Suite W-201, Lakewood, CO 80215-5517
Delaware, Delaware Department of Agriculture Building, 2320 South 
Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901
Florida, 1222 Woodward Street, Orlando, FL 32803
Georgia, Stephens Federal Building, Suite 320, Athens, GA 30613
Hawaii, State Department of Agriculture Building, 1428 South King 
Street, Honolulu, HI 96814
Idaho, 2224 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID 83712
Illinois, Illinois Department of Agriculture Building, 801 Sangamon 
Avenue, Room 54, Springfield, IL 62702
Indiana, 1148 AGAD Building, Purdue University, Room 223, West 
Lafayette, IN 47907-1148
Iowa, 833 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Kansas, 632 S.W. Van Buren, Room 200, Topeka, KS 66603
Kentucky, Gene Snyder & Courthouse Building, 601 W. Broadway, Room 
645, Louisville, KY 40202
Louisiana, 5825 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Maryland, 50 Harry S Truman Parkway, Suite 202, Annapolis, MD 21401
Michigan, 201 Federal Building, Lansing, MI 48904
Minnesota, 8 East 4th Street, Suite 500, St. Paul, MN 55101
Mississippi, 121 North Jefferson Street, Jackson, MS 39201
Missouri, 601 Business Loop West, Suite 240, Columbia, MO 65203
Montana, Federal Building & U.S. Court House, Room 398, 301 S. Park 
Avenue, Helena, MT 59626
Nebraska, 100 Centennial Mall N., Room 273 Federal Building, 
Lincoln, NE 68508
Nevada, Max C. Fleischmann Agriculture Building, Room 232, 
University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557
New Hampshire, 22 Bridge Street, Room 301, Concord, NH 03301
New Jersey, Health and Agriculture Building, Room 205, CN-330 New 
Warren Street, Trenton, NJ 08625
New Mexico, 2507 North Telshor Boulevard, Suite 4, Las Cruces, NM 
88001
New York, Department of Agriculture & Markets, 1 Winners Circle, 
Albany, NY 12235
North Carolina, 2 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-1085
North Dakota, 1250 Albrecht Boulevard, NDSU, Room 448, Fargo, ND 
58105
Ohio, 200 N. High Street, New Federal Building, Room 608, Columbus, 
OH 43215
Oklahoma, 2800 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Oregon, 1220 S.W. Third Avenue, Room 1735, Portland, OR 97204
Pennsylvania, 2301 N. Cameron Street, Room G-19, Harrisburg, PA 
17110
South Carolina, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1008, Columbia, SC 29201
South Dakota, 3528 S. Western Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57117
Tennessee, 440 Hogan Road, Holeman Office Building, Ellington 
Agricultural Center, Nashville, TN 37220-1626
Texas, 300 E. 8th Street, Federal Building, Room 504, Austin, TX 
78701
Utah, 176 N. 2200 West--Suite 260, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Virginia, 1100 Bank Street, Room 706, Richmond, VA 23219
Washington, 1111 Washington Street, SE, Olympia, WA 98504
West Virginia, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard E, Charleston, WV 25305
Wisconsin, 2811 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI 53704
Wyoming, 504 W. 17th Street, Suite 250, Cheyenne, WY 82001

    Done at Washington, D.C., this 2nd day of November, 1995.
Rich Allen,
Acting Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 95-27678 Filed 11-15-95; 8:45 am]
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