[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 28, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40735-40736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19015]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 144 / Wednesday, July 28, 1999 /
Rules and Regulations
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
7 CFR Part 2
Economic Research Service
7 CFR Part 3700
Revision of Delegations of Authority and Revision of
Organizations and Functions
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary and Economic Research Service,
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 in
order to delegate to the Chief Economist and the Director of Office of
Energy Policy and New Uses, the authority to advise the Office of the
Secretary on energy matters, to coordinate energy-related activities
within the Department, to serve as liaison with other Departments on
energy issues, and to conduct a program on the economic feasibility on
new uses of agricultural products; and removes these authorities from
the delegations made to the Under Secretary for Research, Education,
and Economics, the Administrator of Economic Research Service, and the
Director of the Office of Energy and New Uses.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective July 28, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty L. Ollila, Deputy Assistant
General Counsel, General Law Division, Office of the General Counsel,
Department of Agriculture, Room 1457-S, Washington, D.C. 20250,
telephone 202-720-5824.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Title VI, Section 602 of the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998,
Public Law 105-185, 112 Stat. 523, an Office of Energy Policy and New
Uses was established. The Office of Energy Policy and New Uses provides
policy advice for the Office of the Secretary on energy matters,
coordinates energy-related activities within the Department, serves as
liaison with other Departments on energy issues, and conducts a program
on the economic feasibility on new uses of agricultural products.
The delegations of authority of the Department of Agriculture are
amended to delegate to the Chief Economist the authority vested in the
Secretary to provide policy advice for the Office of the Secretary on
energy matters, to coordinate energy-related activities within the
Department, to serve as liaison with other Departments on energy
issues, and to conduct a program on the economic feasibility on new
uses of agricultural products.
Prior delegations of authority by the Secretary to the Under
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, and by the Under
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics to the Administrator,
Economic Research Service, and by the Administrator, Economic Research
Service to the Director, Office of Energy and New Uses to provide
advice for the Office of the Secretary on energy matters, to coordinate
energy-related activities within the Department, to serve as liaison
with other Departments on energy issues, and to conduct a program on
the economic feasibility on new uses of agricultural products are
removed. These delegations exclude the energy management actions
related to the internal operations of the Department as delegated to
the Assistant Secretary for Administration.
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. 601 et seq.), and thus is exempt from the
provisions of that Act. Finally, this action is not a rule as defined
in 5 U.S.C. 801, and thus does not require review by Congress.
List of Subjects
7 CFR Part 2
Authority delegations (Government agencies).
7 CFR Part 3700
Organization and functions (Government agencies).
Accordingly, 7 CFR parts 2 and 3700 are amended as set forth below:
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(1)(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 2.21, paragraph (a)(9) is removed and paragraph (a)(10)
is redesignated as paragraph (a)(9).
Subpart D--Delegations of Authority to Other General Officers and
Agency Heads
3. Section 2.29 is amended by adding a new paragraph (a)(11) to
read as follows:
Sec. 2.29 Chief Economist.
(a) * * *
(11) (Related to energy. (i) Advise the Secretary and other policy-
level officials of the Department on energy policies and programs,
including legislative and budget proposals.
(ii) Serve as or designate the Department representative at
hearings, conferences, meetings and other contacts with respect to
energy and energy-related matters, including liaison with the
Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and other
governmental agencies and departments.
(iii) Enter into contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements to
further research programs in the food and agriculture sciences (7
U.S.C. 3318).
[[Page 40736]]
(iv) Enter into cost-reimbursable agreements relating to
agricultural research (7 U.S.C. 3319a).
(v) Provide Department leadership in:
(A) Analyzing and evaluating existing and proposed energy policies
and strategies, including those regarding the allocation of scarce
resources;
(B) Developing energy policies and strategies, including those
regarding the allocation of scarce resources;
(C) Reviewing and evaluating Departmental energy and energy-related
programs and programs progress;
(D) Developing agricultural and rural components of national energy
policy plans; and
(E) Preparing reports on energy and energy-related polices and
programs required under Acts of Congress and Executive orders,
including those involving testimony and reports on legislative
proposals.
(vi) Provide Departmental oversight and coordination with respect
to resources available for energy and energy-related activities,
including funds transferred to USDA from other departments or agencies
of the Federal Government pursuant to interagency agreements.
* * * * *
Subpart L--Delegations of Authority by the Chief Economist
4. Section 2.73 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 2.73 Director, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.
(a) Delegations. Pursuant to Sec. 2.29(a)(11), the following
delegations of authority are made by the Chief Economist to the
Director, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses:
(1) Providing Department leadership in:
(i) Analyzing and evaluating existing and proposed energy policies
and strategies, including those regarding the allocation of scarce
resources;
(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 Chief Economist 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 Chief Economist with such assistance as requested
to perform the duties delegated to the Director concerning energy and
new uses.
(5) Working with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
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 on the economic feasibility of new uses of
agricultural products. Assist agricultural researchers by evaluating
the economic and market potential of new agricultural products in the
initial phase of development and contributing to prioritization of the
Departmental research agenda.
(b) [Reserved]
Subpart K--Delegations of Authority by the Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics
5. In Sec. 2.67, paragraphs (a)(11), (a)(12) and (a)(13) are
removed. Paragraph (a)(14) is redesignated as paragraph (a)(11).
CHAPTER XXXVII--ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
PART 3700--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
1. The authority citation continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301 and 552, and 7 CFR 2.67.
Sec. 3700.3 [Amended]
2. Section 3700.3 paragraph (g) is removed.
Dated: July 19, 1999.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
Dated: June 21, 1999.
Keith Collins,
Chief Economist.
Dated: June 14, 1999.
I.M. Gonzalez,
Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 99-19015 Filed 7-27-99; 8:45 am]
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