[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 38 (Friday, February 25, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9995-9996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4168]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 38 / Friday, February 25, 2000 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 9995]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

7 CFR Parts 1484 and 1550

RIN 0551-AA26


Programs To Help Develop Foreign Markets for Agricultural 
Commodities (Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program)

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This rule revises the regulations governing the Foreign Market 
Development Cooperator (Cooperator) program to reflect that the 
Cooperator program will now be funded by the Commodity Credit 
Corporation (CCC) and operated under the authority of the CCC Charter 
Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 25, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Sisson or Denise Huttenlocker at 
(202) 720-4327.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

    This final rule is issued in conformance with Executive Order 
12866. It has been determined that this final rule will not have an 
annual economic effect in excess of $100 million; will not cause a 
major increase in costs to consumers, individual industries, Federal, 
State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions; and will 
not have an adverse effect on competition, employment, investment, 
productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to 
compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic or foreign markets.

Executive Order 12988

    This final rule has been reviewed in accordance with Executive 
Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. The rule would have preemptive 
effect with respect to any State or local laws, regulations or policies 
which conflict with such provisions or which otherwise impede their 
full implementation; does not have retroactive effect; and does require 
administrative proceedings before suit may be filed.

Executive Order 12372

    This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
12372 which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and 
local officials (see the Notice related to 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, 
published at 48 FR 29115).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    It has been determined that the Regulatory Flexibility Act is not 
applicable to this final rule because the CCC is not required by any 
provision of law to publish a notice of rulemaking with respect to the 
subject matter of this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection requirements for participating in the 
Cooperator program have been submitted for reinstatement to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB has previously assigned control 
number 0551-0026 to the information collection and recordkeeping 
requirements. This final rule does not impose new information 
collection requirements.

Background

    The Cooperator program is designed to encourage the creation, 
expansion, and maintenance of foreign markets for agricultural 
commodities. Most recently, the Cooperator program has been operated 
under Title VII of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 and funded by 
annual appropriations to the Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA. 
Beginning with fiscal year 2000, the Cooperator program will be funded 
by the CCC and operated under the authority of the CCC Charter Act. 
This rule reflects that change by codifying the change in authority, 
redesignating the regulations currently in 7 CFR part 1550 as 7 CFR 
part 1484, and by making minor conforming changes to the regulations.
    This rule is published as a final rule and is effective on the date 
of publication because the decision to utilize CCC authority to 
implement the Cooperator program to the CCC is a matter of agency 
management.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Parts 1484 and 1550

    Agricultural commodities, Exports, Grant programs--agriculture, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, Title 7 is amended as follows:

PART 1550--[REDESIGNATED AS PART 1484]

    1. Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended by 
redesignating part 1550, consisting of Secs. 1550.10 through 1550.76, 
as part 1484--Programs To Help Develop Foreign Markets for Agricultural 
Commodities, consisting of Secs. 1484.10 through 1484.76.

    2. The authority citation for redesignated part 1484 is revised to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 714c(f).

    3. Newly redesignated Sec. 1484.10 is amended by adding a sentence 
at the end thereof to read as follows:


Sec. 1484.10  What is the effective date of this part?

    * * * The Cooperator Program is administered by personnel of the 
Foreign Agricultural Service.

    4. In newly redesignated Sec. 1484.13, the following definitions 
are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1484.13  Are there any special definitions that apply to the 
Cooperator program?

* * * * *
    Administrator--the Vice President, CCC, who also serves as 
Administrator, FAS, USDA, or designee.
* * * * *
    Project funds--the funds made available to a Cooperator under a 
project agreement, and authorized for expenditure in accordance with 
this part.
* * * * *

    5. In newly redesignated Sec. 1484.35, paragraph (d)(1) is revised 
to read as follows:


Sec. 1484.35  Must Cooperators follow specific contracting procedures?

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) Ensure that all expenditures for goods and services in excess 
of $25.00,

[[Page 9996]]

which are reimbursed with project funds, are documented by a purchase 
order, invoice, or contract;
* * * * *

    6. In newly redesignated Sec. 1484.36, paragraph (a) introductory 
text is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1484.36  How do Cooperators dispose of disposable property?

    (a) Property purchased by the Cooperator, and for which the 
Cooperator is reimbursed with project funds, that is unusable, 
unserviceable, or no longer needed for project purposes shall be 
disposed of in one of the following ways. The Cooperator may: * * *
* * * * *


Secs. 1484.38, 1484.73, 1484.74, 1484.75  [Amended]

    7. In newly redesignated Secs. 1484.38, 1484.73, 1484.74(c), and 
1484.75, remove the word ``FAS'' and add, in its place, the words 
``Commodity Credit Corporation.''

    Signed at Washington, DC, on February 15, 2000.
Timothy J. Galvin,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 00-4168 Filed 2-24-00; 8:45 am]
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