[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19900-19901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10640]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

7 CFR Part 2


Revision of Delegations of Authority

AGENCY: 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 
reflect the establishment of the Risk Management Agency.

EFFECTIVE DATES: Effective April 24, 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, Washington, D.C. 20250, 
telephone 202-720-6035.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 194 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, Public Law No. 104-127 (the Act), 
amended the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, to 
require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an Office of Risk 
Management. The act provides that the functions of the Office of Risk 
Management are to supervise the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation; 
administer all programs authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance 
Act; administer any program that involves revenue sharing, risk 
management savings accounts, or the use of the futures market to manage 
risk and support farm income; and such other functions as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. On May 3, 1996, the Secretary established the 
Risk Management Agency.
    The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation formerly was under the 
supervision of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
Services, and the Administrator, Farm Service Agency. This document 
makes delegations to the Administrator, Risk Management Agency, and 
revises the delegations of authority to the Under Secretary for Farm 
and Foreign Agricultural Services, and the Administrator, Farm Service 
Agency, to reflect the establishment of the Risk Management Agency.
    This rule relates to internal agency management. Therefore, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, notice of proposed rule making and 
opportunity for comment are not required and good cause is found that 
this rule may be made effective upon 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. 605), and thus is exempt from the provisions 
of that Act. Finally, this action is not a rule as defined in 5 U.S.C. 
804, and thus does not require review by Congress.

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

    Accordingly, 7 CFR part 2 is amended as follows:
    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

    2. Section 2.16 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(4) and (b)(3) 
to read as follows:


Sec. 2.16  Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.

    (a) * * *
    (4) Related to risk management. (i) Exercise general supervision of 
the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
    (ii) Appoint such officers and employees as may be necessary for 
the transaction of the business of the Federal Crop Insurance 
Corporation and the Risk Management Agency.
    (iii) Conduct pilot programs involving revenue insurance, risk 
management savings accounts, or the use of futures markets to manage 
risk and support farm income.
    (iv) Provide education in management of the financial risks 
inherent in the production and marketing of agricultural commodities.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Related to risk management. (i) Appointment of those members of 
the Board of Directors of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation who 
are not already otherwise employed by the Department of Agriculture, 
and as authorized in 7 U.S.C. 1505(a) designating an Under Secretary of

[[Page 19901]]

Agriculture to be a member of the Board in addition to the Under 
Secretary responsible for the Federal crop insurance program who is a 
Board member pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 1505(a).
    (ii) Appointment of the Administrator of the Risk Management Agency 
who also shall serve as the Manager of the Federal Crop Insurance 
Corporation.

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


Sec. 2.42  [Amended]

    3. Section 2.42 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph 
(a)(41).
    4. A new section 2.44 is added to subpart F to read as follows:


Sec. 2.44  Administrator, Risk Management Agency and Manager, Federal 
Crop Insurance Corporation.

    (a) Delegations. Pursuant to Sec. 2.16(a)(4), subject to 
reservations in Sec. 2.16(b)(3), the following delegations of authority 
are made by the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
Services to the Administrator, Risk Management Agency, and Manager 
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation:
    (1) Appoint such officers and employees as may be necessary for the 
transaction of the business of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 
and the Risk Management Agency.
    (2) Conduct pilot programs involving revenue insurance, risk 
management savings accounts, or the use of futures markets to manage 
risk and support farm income.
    (3) Provide education in management of the financial risks inherent 
in the production and marketing of agricultural commodities.
    (b) [Reserved]

    Dated: April 17, 1997.

    For Subpart C:
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
    Dated: April 1, 1997.
    For Subpart F:
Dallas R. Smith,
Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
[FR Doc. 97-10640 Filed 4-23-97; 8:45 am]
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