[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 24, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52851-52852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21597]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 164 / Wednesday, August 24, 2011 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 52851]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

7 CFR Part 2

RIN 0503-AA48


Revision of Delegations of Authority

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document revises the delegations of authority from the 
Secretary of Agriculture to the Under Secretary for Research, 
Education, and Economics (REE) and the Under Secretary for Rural 
Development (RD), and from the Under Secretary for REE to the Director 
of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), to reflect 
the division of responsibilities for carrying out the biomass research 
and development authorities in section 9008 of the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) (7 U.S.C. 8108).

DATES: Effective Date: August 24, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chavonda Jacobs-Young; Acting 
Director, NIFA, REE, USDA at (202) 720-4423 or William F. Hagy, 
Director of Alternative Energy Policy, RD, USDA, at (202) 720-4581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule revises the delegations of 
authority within the Department of Agriculture to carry out the various 
authorities of the Secretary of Agriculture in section 9008 of FSRIA 
(formerly the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000) (7 U.S.C. 
8108), as added by section 9001(a) of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 110-246.
    Currently, the authority to carry out section 9008 of FSRIA is 
delegated to the Under Secretary for REE, as reflected in 7 CFR 
2.21(a)(1)(cci). The authority to administer the grants program known 
as the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (7 U.S.C. 8108(e)) 
is further delegated to the Director of NIFA within the REE mission 
area, as reflected in 7 CFR 2.66(a)(156).
    This final rule divides responsibilities for carrying out section 
9008 of FSRIA between the REE and RD mission areas, as follows. The 
Under Secretary for REE will continue to exercise delegated authority 
to administer the Biomass Research and Development Initiative program, 
as well as consult and coordinate, as appropriate, with the Under 
Secretary for RD and other mission areas of the Department as necessary 
in carrying out this authority. These authorities are further delegated 
to the Director of NIFA. The delegations in 7 CFR 2.21(a)(1)(cci) and 
2.66(a)(156) are revised accordingly.
    The Under Secretary for RD is delegated the responsibility to carry 
out all other authorities of the Secretary in 7 U.S.C. 8108, including 
administration of the Biomass Research and Development Board and 
Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee, and 
submission of reports to Congress. The Under Secretary for RD will 
consult and coordinate, as appropriate, with the Under Secretary for 
REE and other mission areas of the Department in carrying out these 
authorities. A new delegation is added to 7 CFR 2.17(a)(30) to reflect 
the delegation of these authorities.
    Finally, the Under Secretary for RD will serve as the designated 
``point of contact'' referenced in 7 U.S.C. 8108 for the Department, 
except that the point of contact for purposes of administering the 
Biomass Research and Development Initiative program will continue to be 
the Under Secretary for REE.

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, 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 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.  2.17 by adding a new paragraph (a)(30) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2.17  Under Secretary for Rural Development.

    (a) * * *
    (30) Related to biomass research and development.
    Administer section 9008 of FSRIA (7 U.S.C. 8108) with respect to 
biomass research and development, including administration of the 
Biomass Research and Development Board and Biomass Research and 
Development Technical Advisory Committee, and submission of reports to 
Congress, except for the authority delegated to the Under Secretary for 
REE in Sec.  2.21(a)(1)(cci) to carry out the Biomass Research and 
Development Initiative; consult and coordinate, as appropriate, with 
the Under Secretary for REE and other mission areas within the 
Department as deemed necessary in carrying out the authorities 
delegated herein; and serve as the designated point of contact 
referenced in 7 U.S.C. 8108 for the Department, except for purposes of 
administering the Biomass Research and Development Initiative as 
provided in Sec.  2.21(a)(1)(cci).
* * * * *
0
3. Amend Sec.  2.21 by revising paragraph (a)(1)(cci) to read as 
follows:

[[Page 52852]]

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

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (cci) Administer the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (7 
U.S.C. 8108(e)); consult and coordinate, as appropriate, with the Under 
Secretary for RD and other mission areas of the Department as deemed 
necessary in carrying the authorities delegated herein; serve as the 
designated point of contact referenced in 7 U.S.C. 8108 for the 
Department for purposes of administering the Biomass Research and 
Development Initiative.
* * * * *

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

0
4. Amend Sec.  2.66 by revising paragraph (a)(156) to read as follows:


Sec.  2.66  Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

    (a) * * *
    (156) Administer the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (7 
U.S.C. 8108(e)); consult and coordinate, as appropriate, with the Under 
Secretary for Rural Development and other mission areas of the 
Department as deemed necessary in carrying out the authorities 
delegated herein.
* * * * *

    Signed in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2011.
Pearlie S. Reed,
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-21597 Filed 8-23-11; 8:45 am]
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