[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1031-1032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-360]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 5 / Wednesday, January 8, 1997 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 1031]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

7 CFR Part 2


Revision of Delegations of Authority

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document revises the delegations of authority from the 
Secretary of Agriculture and general officers of the Department to 
delegate the authority vested in the Secretary pursuant to section 
2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers and to make grants and enter into contracts and 
other agreements to provide such outreach and technical assistance.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 8, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert L. Siegler, Deputy Assistant 
General Counsel, General Law Division, Office of the General Counsel, 
Department of Agriculture, Room 2321-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., 
Washington, DC 20250, telephone 202-720-6035.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 2501(a) of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, 7 U.S.C. 2279(a), the 
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to provide outreach and 
technical assistance to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches and to 
participate in agricultural programs. Under the authority of 7 U.S.C. 
2279(a)(2), the Secretary may make grants and enter into contracts and 
other agreements with certain community based organizations and 
educational institutions to provide outreach and technical assistance 
to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
    The delegations of authority of the Department of Agriculture are 
amended to delegate to the under Secretary for Natural Resources and 
Environment the authority vested in the Secretary by 7 U.S.C. 2279(a) 
to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers and to make grants and enter into contracts and 
other agreements to provide such outreach and technical assistance. 
Further, that authority is redelegated by the Under Secretary for 
Natural Resources and Environment to the Chief, Natural Resources 
Conservation Service.
    Prior delegations of authority by the Secretary to the Under 
Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, and by the Under 
Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services to the 
Administrator, Farm Service Agency, to make grants and enter into 
contracts and other agreements to provide outreach and technical 
assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers under 7 
U.S.C. 2279 are removed.
    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 Nos. 12866 and 12988. In addition, this 
action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 
U.S.C. 601, et seq., and, thus, is exempt from the provisions of that 
Act. Accordingly, as authorized by section 808 of the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, Public Law 104-121, this 
rule may be made effective upon publication in the Federal Register.
    Accordingly, 7 CFR part 2 is amended as set forth below.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 2

    Authority delegations (Government agencies).

PART 2--DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE 
AND GENERAL OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT

    1. The authority citation for part 2 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sec. 212(a), Pub. L. 103-354, 108 Stat. 3210, 7 
U.S.C. 6912(a)(1); 5 U.S.C. 301; Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953, 
3 CFR, 1949-1953 Comp., p. 1024.

Subpart C--Delegations of Authority to the Deputy Secretary, the 
Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries


Sec. 2.16  [Removed and reserved]

    2. In Sec. 2.16, paragraph (a)(2)(iv) is removed and reserved.
    3. In Sec. 2.20, paragraph (a)(9) is added as follows:


Sec. 2.20  Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment.

    (a) * * *
    (9) Related to outreach and technical assistance to socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Provide outreach and technical 
assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and make 
grants and enter into contracts and other agreements to provide such 
outreach and technical assistance under 7 U.S.C. 2279.
* * * * *

Subpart F--Delegations of Authority by the Under Secretary for Farm 
and Foreign Agricultural Services


Sec. 2.42  [Amended]

    4. In Sec. 2.42, paragraph (a)(31) is removed and reserved.

Subpart J--Delegations of Authority by the Under Secretary for 
Natural Resources and Environment

    5. In Sec. 2.61, paragraph (a)(25) is added as follows:


Sec. 2.61  Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

    (a) * * *
    (25) Provide outreach and technical assistance to socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and make grants and enter into 
contracts and other agreements to provide such outreach and technical 
assistance under 7 U.S.C. 2279.
* * * * *
    For Subpart C.


[[Page 1032]]


    Dated: October 1, 1996.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
    For Subpart F.

Eugene Moos,
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services.
    For Subpart J.

    Dated: October 2, 1996.
James R. Lyons,
Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment.
[FR Doc. 97-360 Filed 1-7-97; 8:45 am]
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