[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10755-10757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4128]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

7 CFR Part 2


Establishment of Office of the Chief Scientist; Revision of 
Delegations of Authority

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the delegations of authority within the 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reflect the establishment of the 
Office of the Chief Scientist within the Research, Education, and 
Economics (REE) mission area of USDA, and to identify the authorities 
of the Under Secretary for REE (Chief Scientist of the Department) and 
the Director of the Office of the Chief Scientist with respect to 
scientific integrity within USDA and the coordination of agricultural

[[Page 10756]]

research, education, and extension programs and activities.

DATES: This rule is effective February 28, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Director, 
Office of the Chief Scientist, United States Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250, or telephone: (202) 
720-3444.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Establishment of the Office of the Chief Scientist

    On March 16, 2010, the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) 
established the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) within the 
Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area of USDA. For 
further information, see Secretary's Memorandum 1066-001, 
``Establishment of the Office of the Chief Scientist.'' OCS exists to 
provide leadership and coordination to ensure that research supported 
by and scientific advice provided to USDA and external stakeholders are 
held to the highest standards of intellectual rigor and scientific 
integrity. OCS also assists the Under Secretary for REE in coordinating 
the agricultural research, education, and extension activities of the 
Department through a series of divisions focused on renewable energy, 
natural resources, and environment; food safety, nutrition, and health; 
plant health and production and plant products; animal health and 
production and animal products; agricultural systems and technology; 
and agricultural economics and rural communities.
    OCS is headed by a Director that reports to the Under Secretary for 
REE. Pursuant to section 251(c) of the Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (Reorganization Act) (7 U.S.C. 6971(c)), as 
amended by section 7511 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008, Public Law 110-246, the Under Secretary for REE also holds the 
title of Chief Scientist of the Department (Chief Scientist).
    This rule amends the delegations of authority in 7 CFR 2.21 to 
reflect that the Under Secretary for REE, as the Chief Scientist, is 
delegated primary responsibility for ensuring that research and 
scientific advice are held to the highest standards of intellectual 
rigor and scientific integrity. The Under Secretary for REE, as the 
Chief Scientist, is also responsible for coordinating the agricultural 
research, education, and extension activities of the Department 
pursuant to sections 251(c)(2) and 251(d)(2) of the Reorganization Act 
(7 U.S.C. 6971(c)(2), (d)(2)). This rule also adds a new 7 CFR 2.69 to 
reflect the establishment of OCS and to delegate to the Director of OCS 
the authority to assist the Chief Scientist in carrying out its 
responsibilities.

Classification

    This rule relates to internal agency management. Accordingly, 
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. This rule also 
is exempt from the provisions of Executive Orders 12866 and 12988. This 
action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
Public Law 96-354, and the Small Business Regulatory Fairness 
Enforcement Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., and thus is exempt from the 
provisions of those Acts. This rule contains no information collection 
or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 2

    Authority delegations (Government agencies).

    Accordingly, Subtitle A of Title 7 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations is amended as set forth below:

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

0
1. The authority citation for Part 2 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  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 for Congressional 
Relations and Administration

0
2. Amend Sec.  2.21 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a) introductory text and the heading of paragraph 
(a)(1); and
0
b. Add new paragraphs (a)(11) and (a)(12), to read as follows:


Sec.  2.21  Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.

    (a) The following delegations of authority are made by the 
Secretary of Agriculture to the Under Secretary for Research, 
Education, and Economics (who holds the title of Chief Scientist of the 
Department).
    (1) Related to research, extension, and education. * * *
* * * * *
    (11) Related to scientific integrity. (i) Provide to the Secretary 
information on topics that can benefit from scientific input to ensure 
informed decision-making at the highest levels of Government.
    (ii) Facilitate the coordination and collaboration within the 
Department on high priority science issues that will benefit from 
intra-Departmental collaboration, including coordinating the assessment 
of the relevance, quality, performance, and impact of the Department's 
efforts in science.
    (iii) Build partnerships within the scientific community by serving 
as a point of contact for interactions with other agencies of science, 
universities, and other external members of the scientific community 
for the purpose of leveraging and promoting relationships to explore 
common scientific interests and shared goals.
    (iv)Develop mechanisms to address scientific integrity within the 
Department.
    (v) Serve as Chair of the USDA Science Council.
    (12) Related to coordination of agricultural research, education, 
and extension programs and activities. Coordinate the agricultural 
research, education, and extension activities of the Department 
pursuant to sections 251(c)(2) and 251(d)(2) of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971(c)(2), (d)(2)).
* * * * *

Subpart K--Delegations of Authority by the Under Secretary for 
Research, Education, and Economics

0
3. Add a new Sec.  2.69 to subpart K, to read as follows:


Sec.  2.69  Director, Office of the Chief Scientist.

    (a) Delegations. Pursuant to Sec.  2.21(a)(11) and (a)(12), the 
following delegations of authority are made by the Under Secretary for 
Research, Education, and Economics to the Director, Office of the Chief 
Scientist.
    (1) Provide to the Under Secretary (Chief Scientist of the 
Department) information on topics that can benefit from scientific 
input to ensure informed decision-making at the highest levels of 
Government.
    (2) Assist the Chief Scientist with facilitating the coordination 
and collaboration within the Department on high priority science issues 
that will benefit from intra-Departmental

[[Page 10757]]

collaboration, including coordinating the assessment of the relevance, 
quality, performance, and impact of the Department's efforts in 
science.
    (3) Assist the Chief Scientist with building partnerships within 
the scientific community and with the Chief Scientist's role as point 
of contact for interactions with other agencies of science, 
universities, and other external members of the scientific community 
for the purpose of leveraging and promoting relationships to explore 
common scientific interests and shared goals.
    (4) Assist the Chief Scientist with developing mechanisms to 
address scientific integrity within the Department.
    (5) [Reserved]
    (6) Assist the Chief Scientist in carrying out sections 251(c)(2) 
and 251(d)(2) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971(c)(2), (d)(2)) by exercising the duties set forth 
in section 25 l(e)(3)(E) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 6971(e)(3)(E)) through a 
series of divisions organized by the following focus areas:
    (i) Renewable energy, natural resources, and environment;
    (ii) Food safety, nutrition, and health;
    (iii) Plant health and production and plant products;
    (iv) Animal health and production and animal products;
    (v) Agricultural systems and technology; and
    (vi) Agricultural economics and rural communities.
    (b) The divisions will be headed by Division Chiefs/Senior Advisors 
(or a similar title), and will be known collectively as the Research, 
Education, and Extension Office.

Thomas J. Vilsack,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2011-4128 Filed 2-25-11; 8:45 am]
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