[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
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 144 / Wednesday, July 28, 1999 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 40735]]


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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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