[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 131 (Monday, July 9, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40249-40250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16610]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 131 / Monday, July 9, 2012 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 40249]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

7 CFR Part 2

Agricultural Research Service

7 CFR Part 520

RIN 0524-AA63


Revision of Delegations of Authority

AGENCIES: Office of the Secretary, USDA; Agricultural Research Service, 
USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This rule makes a number of miscellaneous amendments to 
delegations of authority by adding new authorities, correcting 
references, and removing obsolete authorities.

DATES: This rule is effective July 9, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Lockhart; Senior Policy 
Specialist; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. Department 
of Agriculture; STOP 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue SW.; Washington, DC 
20250-2299; Voice: 202-559-5088; Fax: 202-401-7752; Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Delegations of Authority

    This rule makes changes to existing delegations in 7 CFR parts 2 
and 520. The delegations of authority to the Under Secretary for 
Research, Education, and Economics (REE) in 7 CFR 2.21 and to the 
Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in 7 
CFR 2.66 are amended to reflect the delegation of the authority of the 
Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) in section 405 of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7625), 
as added by section 209(b) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, 
Public Law 111-353, to carry out a competitive grant program within 
NIFA to provide food safety training, education, extension, outreach, 
and technical assistance to owners and operators of farms, small food 
processors, and small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.
    The authorities to approve the selection of State directors of 
extension and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between land-grant 
universities and USDA, related to cooperative extension programs, 
reserved to the Secretary in 7 CFR 2.21(b)(1)(v) and (vi), 
respectively, are removed. The MOUs, which required USDA approval of 
extension directors/administrators, have been terminated by USDA due to 
obsolescence.
    The delegations of authority to the Administrator of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service in 7 CFR 2.68 are amended to reflect 
the delegation of authority, currently delegated to the Under Secretary 
for REE in 7 CFR 2.21(a)(xviii), to enter into agreements with and 
receive funds from any State, other political subdivision, 
organization, or individual for the purpose of conducting cooperative 
research projects, including agricultural statistical survey activities 
(7 U.S.C. 450a).
    Finally, this rule amends Agricultural Research Service (ARS) 
regulations at 7 CFR 520.4 to correct a reference to the ARS official 
with delegated responsibility for the establishment of procedures and 
coordination necessary to carry out the policies and provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act within ARS.

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 Order 12866. This action is 
not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended by 
the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., or the Congressional Review 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 Parts 2 and 520

    Authority delegations (Government agencies), Agricultural research, 
Agricultural extension, Federal assistance, Food and agricultural 
sciences.

    Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended accordingly 
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, Under 
Secretaries, and Assistant Secretaries

0
2. Amend Sec.  2.21 as follows:
0
a. Add paragraph (a)(1)(ccv); and
0
b. Remove paragraphs (b)(1)(v) and (vi).
    The addition reads as follows:


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

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ccv) Administer a competitive grant program for national food 
safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical 
assistance (7 U.S.C. 7625).
* * * * *

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

0
3. Amend Sec.  2.66 by adding paragraph (a)(160) to read as follows:


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

    (a) * * *
    (160) Administer a competitive grant program for national food 
safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical 
assistance (7 U.S.C. 7625).
* * * * *

[[Page 40250]]


0
4. Amend Sec.  2.68 by adding paragraph (a)(12) to read as follows:


Sec.  2.68  Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

    (a) * * *
    (12) Enter into agreements with and receive funds from any State, 
other political subdivision, organization, or individual for the 
purpose of conducting cooperative research projects, including 
agricultural statistical survey activities (7 U.S.C. 450a).
* * * * *

PART 520--PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTING NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY 
ACT

0
5. The authority citation for part 520 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as amended, 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; E.O. 11514, 34 FR 4247, as amended by E.O. 
11991, 42 FR 26927; E.O. 12144, 44 FR 11957; 5 U.S.C. 301; 40 CFR 
1500-1508.


0
6. Amend Sec.  520.4 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  520.4  Responsibilities.

    (a) Administrator. The Administrator is responsible for 
environmental analysis and documentation required for compliance with 
the provisions of NEPA and related laws, policies, plans, programs, and 
projects. The ARS Deputy Administrator for Natural Resources has been 
delegated responsibility for the establishment of procedures and 
coordination necessary to carry out the policies and provisions of 
NEPA.
* * * * *

    Dated: June 29, 2012.
Thomas J. Vilsack,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-16610 Filed 7-6-12; 8:45 am]
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