[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1827-1829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-900]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 24, 1996 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 1827]]


DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Economic Research Service

7 CFR Part 3700


Organization and Functions

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends regulations of the Economic Research 
Service (ERS) regarding agency organization and functions of major 
oeprational units. This amendment is necessary to reflect changes in 
the organization of ERS due to an internal reorganization.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 24, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Dunmore, Acting Administrator, ERS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Room 1226, 1301 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20005-4788, (202) 219-0300.

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. ERS is the agency 
within the U.S. Department of Agriculture primarily responsible for 
providing economic and other social science information and analysis on 
agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural America. This amendment 
to 7 CFR part 3700 is necessary to reflect changes in the organization 
of ERS due to an internal reorganization. This rule relates to internal 
agency management. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 533, 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 Orders 
12778 and 12866. 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.
    The following actions were taken: Section 3700.1 amended to revise 
the general description; Sec. 3700.2 amended to revise the 
organizational structure; Sec. 3700.3 amended to revise the functions; 
and Sec. 3700.4 amended to update the authority to act for the 
administrator.
    This rule supersedes the notice published on August 25, 1988, 53 FR 
32369.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 3700

    Organization and functions.

    Accordingly, 7 CFR part 3700 is revised to read as follows:

PART 3700--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS

Sec.
3700.1  General.
3700.2  Organization.
3700.3  Functions.
3700.4  Authority to act for the Administrator.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301 and 552, and 7 CFR 2.67.


Sec. 3700.1  General.

    The Economic Research Service (ERS), originally established in 1961 
under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
1621-1627), was reestablished as an agency of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture of September 30, 1981 (46 FR 47747), in response to 
Secretary's Memorandum 1000-1 of June 17, 1981, entitled 
``Reorganization of Department.'' The mission of ERS is to provide 
economic and other social science information and analysis for pubic 
and private decisions on agriculture, food, natural resources, and 
rural America. Its primary customers are USDA policy officials and 
program administrators, the Office of the While House, Congress, and 
environmental, consumer, and rural public interest groups, including 
farm groups and industry.


Sec. 3700.2  Organization.

    ERS maintains its offices at 1301 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20005-4788. The organization consists of:
    (a) The Administrator;
    (b) Associate Administrator;
    (c) Five Divisions; Commercial Agriculture Division, Food and 
Consumer Economics Division, Information Services Division, Natural 
Resources and Environment Division, and Rural Economy Division; and
    (d) Office of Energy and New Uses.


Sec. 3700.3  Functions.

    (a) Administrator and Associate Administrator. The Administrator 
and Associate Administrator are responsible for developing and 
implementing policies and plans in support of a program of economic and 
social science research, analysis, and data dissemination. General 
functions are: Conducting research and staff analysis, and developing 
short to long-term outlook analysis and economic indicators.
    (b) Director, Commercial Agriculture Division. The Director, 
Commercial Agriculture Division, is responsible for conducting a 
program of economic research; economic intelligence gathering, 
analysis, and reporting; and data development and dissemination on 
economic conditions, U.S. and foreign policies, and agriculture 
production, trade, and marketing. General functions are:
    (1) Developing and monitoring current intelligence and indicators 
on domestic and international agricultural markets and related farm and 
trade developments and short to long-term forecasts of domestic and 
world agricultural markets.
    (2) Assessing the technological, economic, and institutional forces 
influencing U.S. and world agricultural markets.
    (3) Conducting special analyses of U.S. and world agricultural 
markets for policy officials to assist in policy development and the 
operation of USDA programs.
    (4) Collecting necessary information and performing international, 
national, and regional macroeconomics analysis to estimate the effects 
of macro economic trends and events in the global economy on the 
American farm sector.
    (c) Director, Food and Consumer Economic Division. The Director, 
Food and Consumer Economic Division, is responsible for providing 
economic 

[[Page 1828]]
research, monitoring and statistical indicators, and staff and the 
policy analysis of consumer and food marketing issues, including: 
Consumption determinants and trends; consumer demand for food quality, 
safety, and nutrition; food security; market competition; vertical 
coordination; nutrition education and food assistance programs; and 
food safety regulation. General functions are:
    (1) Analyzing consumer behavior and food choices, including 
research regarding the socio-demographic and economic determinants of 
food and nutrient consumption; consumer valuation of quality, safety, 
and nutrition characteristics; and the role of information in 
determining food choices.
    (2) Examining food assistance and nutrition programs, nutritional 
adequacy of diets, and food security, including costs and benefits of 
food assistance and nutrition programs, program and policy 
alternatives, the extent and social cost of good insecurity, and the 
role of food assistance in meeting larger goals of welfare programs.
    (3) Analyzing the food processing and distribution sector, 
including the ability of the sector to meet changing consumer demand; 
the effect of government market interventions to facilitate that 
response; and the effect of government interventions and rapid changes 
in the sector on consumer and producer welfare.
    (4) Analyzing food safety issues, including consumer benefits from 
risk reduction, production tradeoffs in reducing hazards, impact of 
proposed regulations and international harmonization, and policy 
alternatives.
    (5) Developing and monitoring indicators of individual, household, 
and market level food consumption, expenditures, and nutrients; food 
marketing costs, marketing margins, and farm-retail price spreads; and 
food safety hazards, their effects, and mitigation.
    (d)  Director, Information Services Division. The Director, 
Information Services Division, is responsible for managing and 
directing agencywide information technology, communications, and 
administrative activities in support of the economic research and 
analysis mission of ERS. General functions are:
    (1) Developing and managing information technology infrastructure 
and training.
    (2) Developing and managing communications, publication, and 
dissemination programs, policies, and procedures.
    (3) Providing operations and management services, including liaison 
with the ARS's Administrative and Financial Management unit.
    (e) Director, Natural Resources and Environment Division. The 
Director, Natural Resources and Environment Division, is responsible 
for providing economic research, monitoring and statistical indicators, 
and staff and policy analysis of agricultural resource and environment 
issues including the relationship between agriculture--its practices, 
technologies, policies, and resource use--and the environment, 
including effects on the sustainability of the natural resource base, 
preservation of species and genetic diversity, and environmental 
quality. General functions are:
    (1) Developing and disseminating data for assessing the use of 
agricultural resources and technologies by agricultural producers. 
These data include use and ownership of land, use of agricultural 
chemicals and equipment, and water use.
    (2) Evaluating the implications of alternative agricultural and 
resource conservation policies and programs on commodity prices, 
consumer welfare, competitiveness, and long-range maintenance of 
agricultural land and water resources.
    (3) Analyzing the costs, benefits, and distributional impacts of 
alternative policies to reduce environmental and health risk 
externalities associated with agriculture.
    (4) Monitoring and analyzing the uses and conditions of the 
nation's water resources and the economic consequences of agricultural 
and environmental policies affecting water supply, use, and quality.
    (5) Analyzing the impacts of national and global developments and 
domestic and international policies on the use and value of land, 
water, capital assets, and other agricultural production decisions.
    (6) Assessing the possible impacts of proposed or anticipated 
domestic policy and program changes on agricultural production 
decisions.
    (7) Assessing the effects of technology on input use and markets 
and evaluating the factors affecting input productivity and technology 
adoption.
    (8) Analyzing the implications of global environmental change and 
sustainable development for U.S. agriculture.
    (f) Director, Rural Economy Division. The Director, Rural Economy 
Division, is responsible for conducting a program of economic and 
social science research and analysis on national rural and agricultural 
conditions and trends, and identifying and assessing the potential 
impact of public and private sector actions and policies that affect 
rural areas and the agricultural sector. General functions are:
    (1) Analyzing and reporting on current economic and demographic 
issues facing rural areas and agricultural, especially how changes in 
the national and global economies affect rural areas and the 
agriculture sector.
    (2) Determining the effects of economic, social, and governmental 
events and actions on the demand for and supply of rural local 
government services, the quality of such services, and the 
relationships between local services and the viability of rural 
communities.
    (3) Developing and disseminating information on current trends in 
the non-metropolitan and farm populations, the number, location and 
characteristics of such people, and the factors associated with these 
trends.
    (4) Developing estimates and analyzing labor force trends in rural 
labor markets, including analyses of unemployment and employment by 
industry and occupational groups, including farm labor.
    (5) Developing data on the income situation of rural people and 
evaluating the effectiveness of alternative public policies and 
programs in improving incomes of rural people, especially people in 
disadvantaged groups.
    (6) Monitoring information on and analyzing the development of 
rural portions of geographic regions of the United States, including 
changes in industry mix, impacts of energy costs, credit availability, 
and other economic activities.
    (7) Analyzing and reporting on developments in rural and 
agricultural financial markets and in Federal tax laws, and their 
consequences for agriculture and rural economies.
    (8) Collecting and disseminating financial information on farms and 
farm enterprises, and developing techniques necessary to measure and 
describe the financial condition of the agriculture sector and its 
components.
    (g) Director, Office of Energy and New Uses. The Director, Office 
of Energy and New Uses, is responsible for assisting the Secretary in 
developing Departmental energy policy and coordinating Departmental 
energy programs and strategies. General functions are:
    (1) Providing Department leadership in:
    (i) Analyzing and evaluating existing and proposed energy policies 
and strategies, including those regarding the allocation of scarce 
resources;

[[Page 1829]]

    (ii) Developing energy policies and strategies, including those 
regarding the allocation of scarce resources;
    (iii) Reviewing and evaluating Departmental energy and energy-
related programs and program progress;
    (iv) Developing agricultural and rural components of national 
energy policy plans;
    (v) Preparing reports on energy and energy-related policies and 
programs required under Act of Congress and Executive Orders, including 
those involving testimony and reports on legislative proposals.
    (2) Providing Departmental oversight and coordination with respect 
to resources available for energy and energy-related activities, 
including funds transferred to USDA from departments and agencies of 
the Federal Government pursuant to interagency agreements.
    (3) Representing the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and 
Economics at conferences, meetings, and other contacts where energy 
matters are discussed, including liaison with the Department of Energy, 
the Environmental Protection Agency, and other governmental departments 
and agencies.
    (4) Providing the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and 
Economics with such assistance as requested to perform the duties 
delegated to him concerning energy and new uses.
    (5) Working with the Office of Congressional Relations to maintain 
Congressional and public contacts in energy matters, including 
development of legislative proposals, preparation of reports on 
legislation pending in Congress, appearances before Congressional 
committees, and related activities.
    (6) These delegations exclude the energy management actions related 
to the internal operations of the Department as delegated to the 
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
    (7) Conduct a program of research on the economic feasibility of 
new uses of agricultural products. Assist agricultural researchers by 
evaluating the economic and market potential of new agricultural 
products and techniques in the initial phase of development and 
contributing to prioritization of the Departmental research agenda.


Sec. 3700.4   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
Director, Commercial Agriculture Division
Director, Food and Consumer Economics Division
Director, Natural Resources and Environment Division
Director, Rural Economy Division
Director, Information Services Division
Director, Office of Energy and New Uses

    Done at Washington, DC, this 16th day of January 1996.
John Dunmore,
Acting Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. 96-900 Filed 1-23-96; 8:45 am]
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