[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58335-58339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24361]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 188 / Tuesday, September 29, 2015 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 58335]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

7 CFR Part 2

RIN 0503-AA58


Revision of Delegations of Authority

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to delegate 
functions, powers, and duties as the Secretary deems appropriate. This 
document amends the existing delegations of authority by adding and 
modifying certain delegations, as explained in the Supplementary 
Information section below.

DATES: Effective September 29, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam J. Hermann, Office of the General 
Counsel, USDA, 3311-South Bldg., 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-9425, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule makes several changes to the 
United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) delegations of 
authority in 7 CFR part 2 by adding new delegations and modifying 
existing delegations.
    This rule adds a new delegation of authority from the Secretary to 
the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to provide guidance on implementation 
of prize competition authority in section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719), as added by the 
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-358). This 
includes delegated authority to develop guidelines to ensure that 
judges appointed for prize competitions are fairly balanced and operate 
in a transparent manner. Delegations of authority are also added to the 
following General Officers to carry out prize competition authorities 
in 15 U.S.C. 3719 in their respective areas: Under Secretary for Farm 
and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS); Under Secretary for Rural 
Development; Under Secretary for Food Safety; Under Secretary for Food, 
Nutrition, and Consumer Services; Under Secretary for Natural Resources 
and Environment; Under Secretary for Research, Education, and 
Economics; Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; 
Assistant Secretary for Administration; Assistant Secretary for Civil 
Rights; and the Chief Economist. The authority to approve prize 
competitions that may result in the award of more than $1,000,000 in 
cash prizes is reserved to the Secretary. See Secretary's Memorandum 
1076-008 (September 26, 2014), available at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/secretarys-memorandum-1076-008.
    This rule also adds a new delegation of authority from the 
Secretary to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to award grants 
and enter into cooperative agreements, as appropriate, under the 
following authorities for the purpose of conducting outreach efforts in 
connection with functions delegated to the Assistant Secretary: Grants 
and cooperative agreements under section 2501(a)(3) of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)(3)); 
cooperative agreements under section 1472(b) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
(NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3318(b)); grants and cooperative agreements under 
section 1472(c) of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3318(c)); cooperative agreements 
under section 607(b)(4) of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 
2204b(b)(4)); and cooperative agreements under section 714 of the 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (7 U.S.C. 6962a). See 
Secretary's Memorandum 1076-009 (November 5, 2014), available at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/secretarys-memorandum-1076-009.
    This rule also revises the existing delegations from the Secretary 
to the Under Secretary for FFAS, and from the Under Secretary for FFAS 
to the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency (FSA), to expand the 
purposes for which cooperative agreements under section 607(b)(4) of 
the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4)) may be 
awarded. That authority authorizes the Secretary to enter into 
cooperative agreements with other Federal agencies, State and local 
governments, and any other organization or individual ``to improve the 
coordination and effectiveness of Federal programs, services, and 
actions affecting rural areas'' if the objectives of the agreement 
``will serve the mutual interest of the parties in rural development 
activities.'' Currently, within the FFAS mission area, this authority 
is delegated to the Under Secretary for FFAS and the Administrator of 
FSA only with respect to conservation programs. This rule expands that 
delegation by providing authority to enter into cooperative agreements 
of less than $100,000 with nongovernmental organizations or educational 
institutions, where the agreement is related to outreach and technical 
assistance for FSA programs. If the cooperative agreement focuses on 
outreach activities involving beginning, underserved, or veteran 
producers, coordination with USDA's Office of Advocacy and Outreach is 
required. See Secretary's Memorandum 1076-010 (January 13, 2015), 
available at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/secretarys-memorandum-1076-010.
    This rule also amends the existing delegations from the Secretary 
to the Under Secretary for FFAS, and from the Under Secretary for FFAS 
to the Administrator of FSA, to clarify the authority of FSA to 
implement an Agriculture Priorities and Allocations System, similar to 
the Department of Commerce's Defense Priorities and Allocations System 
(15 CFR part 700), to establish procedures for the placement, 
acceptance, and performance of priority rated contracts and orders and 
for the allocation of materials, services, and facilities, by adding a 
specific delegation. Final approval of any allocations orders is 
reserved to the Secretary. See FSA, Proposed Rule, ``Agriculture 
Priorities and Allocations System,'' 76 FR 29084 (May 19, 2011). Minor 
changes are also being made to the delegations to FSA, the Assistant 
Secretary for Administration, and the Director of the Office of 
Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination regarding the Defense 
Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2061, et seq.) to

[[Page 58336]]

make a correction and update the list of Executive Orders.
    This rule also amends the delegation of authority from the Under 
Secretary for Food Safety to the Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety 
in 7 CFR 2.51, which gives the Deputy Under Secretary, during the 
absence or unavailability of the Under Secretary, the authority to 
perform all the duties and exercise all the powers delegated to the 
Under Secretary. The delegation is amended to establish the order in 
which a Deputy Under Secretary may exercise that delegation when the 
Food Safety mission area has more than one Deputy Under Secretary. The 
authority will be exercised first by a career Deputy Under Secretary in 
the order in which he or she has taken that office, and second by a 
non-career Deputy Under Secretary in the order in which he or she has 
taken that office.
    This rule also adds a specific delegation from the Secretary to the 
Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics to consult with 
the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research pursuant to section 
7601(d)(1)(B) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5939(d)(1)(B)).
    This rule includes a technical fix to remove an obsolete delegation 
from the Secretary to the Assistant Secretary for Congressional 
Relations in 7 CFR 2.23. That amendment was included in the final rule 
published at 79 FR 44101, 44109 (July 30, 2014), but that amendment 
could not be incorporated due to an inaccurate amendatory instruction. 
This rule includes the correct amendatory instruction.
    Finally, this rule corrects a reference to the Chief of the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service with respect to carrying out certain 
functions under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and 
deletes an obsolete reporting delegation from that Act.

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 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 Part 2

    Authority delegations (Government agencies).

    Accordingly, 7 CFR part 2 is amended as follows:

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.  2.16 as follows:
0
a. Remove paragraph (a)(1)(xxvi)(C);
0
b. Revise paragraphs (a)(1)(xxviii) and (a)(6);
0
c. Add paragraphs (a)(10), (b)(1)(iii), and (b)(4).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  2.16  Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (xxviii) Administer cooperative agreements authorized under 7 
U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4) as follows:
    (A) Administer cooperative agreements with respect to conservation 
programs;
    (B) Administer cooperative agreements, of less than $100,000, with 
nongovernmental organizations or educational institutions related to 
outreach and technical assistance for programs carried out by the Farm 
Service Agency, and, where such cooperative agreements focus on 
outreach activities to beginning, underserved, or veteran producers, 
coordinate with the Assistant Secretary for Administration to reduce 
potential duplication.
* * * * *
    (6) Related to defense and emergency preparedness. (i) Administer 
responsibilities and functions assigned under the Defense Production 
Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.), and title VI of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5195 et seq.), concerning agricultural production; food processing, 
storage, and distribution; distribution of farm equipment and 
fertilizer; rehabilitation and use of food, agricultural, and related 
agribusiness facilities; CCC resources; farm credit and financial 
assistance; and foreign agricultural intelligence and other foreign 
agricultural matters.
    (ii) Administer functions delegated by the President to the 
Secretary under Executive Order 13603, ``National Defense Resources 
Preparedness'' (3 CFR, 2012 Comp., p. 225), and Executive Order 12742, 
``National Security Industrial Responsiveness'' (3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 
309), including administration of an Agriculture Priorities and 
Allocations System.
* * * * *
    (10) Carry out prize competition authorities in section 24 of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) 
related to functions otherwise delegated to the Under Secretary for 
Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, except for authorities 
delegated to the Chief Financial Officer in Sec.  2.28(a)(29) and 
authorities reserved to the Secretary in paragraph (b)(4) of this 
section.
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) Final approval of allocations orders issued by the Department 
pursuant to authorities delegated by the President to the Secretary 
under Executive Order 13603, ``National Defense Resources 
Preparedness'' (3 CFR, 2012 Comp., p. 225).
* * * * *
    (4) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of 
more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(m)(4)(B)).

0
3. Amend Sec.  2.17 by adding paragraphs (a)(31) and (b)(2) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2.17  Under Secretary for Rural Development.

    (a) * * *
    (31) Carry out prize competition authorities in section 24 of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) 
related to functions otherwise delegated to the Under Secretary for 
Rural Development, except for authorities delegated to the Chief 
Financial Officer in Sec.  2.28(a)(29) and authorities reserved to the 
Secretary in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
    (b) * * *
    (2) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of 
more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(m)(4)(B)).

[[Page 58337]]


0
4. Amend Sec.  2.18 by adding paragraphs (a)(8) and (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2.18  Under Secretary for Food Safety.

    (a) * * *
    (8) Carry out prize competition authorities in section 24 of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) 
related to functions otherwise delegated to the Under Secretary for 
Food Safety, except for authorities delegated to the Chief Financial 
Officer in Sec.  2.28(a)(29) and authorities reserved to the Secretary 
in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (b) The following authorities are reserved to the Secretary of 
Agriculture:
    (1) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of 
more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(m)(4)(B)).
    (2) [Reserved]

0
5. Amend Sec.  2.19 by adding paragraphs (a)(6) and (b)(2) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2.19  Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services.

    (a) * * *
    (6) Carry out prize competition authorities in section 24 of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) 
related to functions otherwise delegated to the Under Secretary for 
Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, except for authorities 
delegated to the Chief Financial Officer in Sec.  2.28(a)(29) and 
authorities reserved to the Secretary in paragraph (b)(2) of this 
section.
    (b) * * *
    (2) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of 
more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(m)(4)(B)).

0
6. Amend Sec.  2.20 as follows:
0
a. Remove paragraph (a)(3)(xvi)(C); and
0
b. Add paragraphs (a)(10) and (b)(2).
    The additions read as follows:


Sec.  2.20  Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment.

    (a) * * *
    (10) Carry out prize competition authorities in section 24 of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) 
related to functions otherwise delegated to the Under Secretary for 
Natural Resources and Environment, except for authorities delegated to 
the Chief Financial Officer in Sec.  2.28(a)(29) and authorities 
reserved to the Secretary in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
    (b) * * *
    (2) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of 
more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(m)(4)(B)).

0
7. Amend Sec.  2.21 by adding paragraphs (a)(1)(ccxiii), (a)(13), and 
(b)(3) to read as follows:


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

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ccxiii) Consult with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture 
Research regarding the identification of existing and proposed Federal 
intramural and extramural research and development programs relating to 
the purposes of the Foundation and the coordination of Foundation 
activities with those programs for the purpose of minimizing 
duplication of existing efforts and avoiding conflicts (7 U.S.C. 
5939(d)(1)(B)).
* * * * *
    (13) Carry out prize competition authorities in section 24 of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) 
related to functions otherwise delegated to the Under Secretary for 
Research, Education, and Economics, except for authorities delegated to 
the Chief Financial Officer in Sec.  2.28(a)(29) and authorities 
reserved to the Secretary in paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
    (b) * * *
    (3) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of 
more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(m)(4)(B)).

0
8. Amend Sec.  2.22 by adding paragraphs (a)(11) and (b)(3) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2.22  Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.

    (a) * * *
    (11) Carry out prize competition authorities in section 24 of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) 
related to functions otherwise delegated to the Under Secretary for 
Marketing and Regulatory Programs, except for authorities delegated to 
the Chief Financial Officer in Sec.  2.28(a)(29) and authorities 
reserved to the Secretary in paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
    (b) * * *
    (3) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of 
more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(m)(4)(B)).


Sec.  2.23  [Amended]

0
9. Amend Sec.  2.23 by removing paragraph (a)(2)(v).
0
10. Amend Sec.  2.24 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(8)(ii)(A); and
0
b. Add paragraphs (a)(13) and (b)(3).
    The revision and additions read as follows:


Sec.  2.24  Assistant Secretary for Administration.

    (a) * * *
    (8) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) Coordinate the delegations and assignments made to the 
Department under the Defense Production Act of 1950, 50 U.S.C. App. 
2061, et seq.; the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121, et seq.; and by Executive Orders 12148, 
``Federal Emergency Management'' (3 CFR, 1979 Comp., p. 412), 12656, 
``Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities'' (3 CFR, 1988 
Comp., p. 585), and 13603, ``National Defense Resources Preparedness'' 
(3 CFR, 2012 Comp., p. 225), or any successor to these Executive 
Orders, to ensure that the Department has sufficient capabilities to 
respond to any occurrence, including natural disaster, military attack, 
technological emergency, or any all hazards incident.
* * * * *
    (13) Other general. (i) Carry out prize competition authorities in 
section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
(15 U.S.C. 3719) related to functions otherwise delegated to the 
Assistant Secretary for Administration, except for authorities 
delegated to the Chief Financial Officer in Sec.  2.28(a)(29) and 
authorities reserved to the Secretary in paragraph (b)(3) of this 
section.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (b) * * *
    (3) Other general. (i) Approval of prize competitions that may 
result in the award of more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under 
section 24(m)(4)(B) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719(m)(4)(B)).
    (ii) [Reserved]

0
11. Amend Sec.  2.25 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(23); and
0
b. Add paragraphs (a)(24), (a)(25), and (b).
    The revision and additions read as follows:


Sec.  2.25  Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

    (a) * * *
    (23) Redelegate, as appropriate, any authority delegated under 
paragraphs

[[Page 58338]]

(a)(1) through (22) of this section to general officers of the 
Department and heads of Departmental agencies.
    (24) Award grants and enter into cooperative agreements, as 
appropriate, under the following authorities only for the purpose of 
conducting outreach efforts in connection with the duties and powers 
delegated to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights under this 
section:
    (i) Grants and cooperative agreements under section 2501(a)(3) of 
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
2279(a)(3));
    (ii) Cooperative agreements under section 1472(b) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3318(b));
    (iii) Grants and cooperative agreements under section 1472(c) of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3318(c));
    (iv) Cooperative agreements under section 607(b)(4) of the Rural 
Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4)); and
    (v) Cooperative agreements under section 714 of the Agriculture, 
Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2001 (7 U.S.C. 6962a).
    (25) Carry out prize competition authorities in section 24 of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) 
related to functions otherwise delegated to the Assistant Secretary for 
Civil Rights, except for authorities delegated to the Chief Financial 
Officer in Sec.  2.28(a)(29) and authorities reserved to the Secretary 
in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (b) The following authorities are reserved to the Secretary of 
Agriculture:
    (1) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of 
more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(m)(4)(B)).
    (2) [Reserved]

Subpart D--Delegations of Authority to Other General Officers and 
Agency Heads

0
12. Amend Sec.  2.28 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(28); and
0
b. Add paragraphs (a)(29) and (b).
    The revision and additions read as follows:


Sec.  2.28  Chief Financial Officer.

    (a) * * *
    (28) Redelegate, as appropriate, any authority delegated under 
paragraphs (a)(1) through (27) of this section to general officers of 
the Department and heads of Departmental agencies.
    (29) Provide Departmentwide guidance on implementation of prize 
competition authority in section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719); develop guidelines to ensure 
that judges appointed for prize competitions under that authority are 
fairly balanced and operate in a transparent manner (15 U.S.C. 
3719(k)(3)).
    (b) The following authorities are reserved to the Secretary of 
Agriculture:
    (1) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of 
more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(m)(4)(B)).
    (2) [Reserved]

0
13. Amend Sec.  2.29 by adding paragraphs (a)(15) and (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2.29  Chief Economist.

    (a) * * *
    (15) Carry out prize competition authorities in section 24 of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) 
related to functions otherwise delegated to the Chief Economist, except 
for authorities delegated to the Chief Financial Officer in Sec.  
2.28(a)(29) and authorities reserved to the Secretary in paragraph 
(b)(1) of this section.
    (b) The following authorities are reserved to the Secretary of 
Agriculture:
    (1) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of 
more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(m)(4)(B)).
    (2) [Reserved]

Subpart F--Delegations of Authority by the Under Secretary for Farm 
and Foreign Agricultural Services

0
14. Amend Sec.  2.42 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(5);
0
b. Remove paragraph (a)(46)(iii); and
0
c. Revise paragraph (a)(50).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  2.42  Administrator, Farm Service Agency.

    (a) * * *
    (5) Related to defense and emergency preparedness. (i) Administer 
responsibilities and functions assigned under the Defense Production 
Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.), and title VI of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5195 et seq.), concerning agricultural production; food processing, 
storage, and distribution; distribution of farm equipment and 
fertilizer; rehabilitation and use of food, agricultural, and related 
agribusiness facilities; CCC resources; and farm credit and financial 
assistance.
    (ii) Administer functions delegated by the President to the 
Secretary under Executive Order 13603, ``National Defense Resources 
Preparedness'' (3 CFR, 2012 Comp., p. 225), and Executive Order 12742, 
``National Security Industrial Responsiveness'' (3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 
309), including administration of an Agriculture Priorities and 
Allocations System.
* * * * *
    (50) Administer cooperative agreements authorized under 7 U.S.C. 
2204b(b)(4) as follows:
    (i) Administer cooperative agreements with respect to conservation 
programs;
    (ii) Administer cooperative agreements, of less than $100,000, with 
nongovernmental organizations or educational institutions related to 
outreach and technical assistance for programs carried out by the Farm 
Service Agency, and, where such cooperative agreements focus on 
outreach activities to beginning, underserved, or veteran producers, 
coordinate with the Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach to reduce 
potential duplication.
* * * * *

Subpart H--Delegations of Authority by the Under Secretary for Food 
Safety

0
15. Revise Sec.  2.51 to read as follows:


Sec.  2.51  Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety.

    Pursuant to Sec.  2.18, and subject to policy guidance and 
direction by the Under Secretary, the following delegation of authority 
is made by the Under Secretary for Food Safety to the Deputy Under 
Secretary for Food Safety, to be exercised only during the absence or 
unavailability of the Under Secretary: Perform all the duties and 
exercise all the powers which are now or which may hereafter be 
delegated to the Under Secretary for Food Safety: Provided, that this 
authority shall be exercised first by a career Deputy Under Secretary 
in the order in which he or she has taken office as Deputy Under 
Secretary, and second by a non-career Deputy Under Secretary in the 
order in which he or she has taken office as Deputy Under Secretary.

[[Page 58339]]

Subpart J--Delegations of Authority by the Under Secretary for 
Natural Resources and Environment

0
16. Amend Sec.  2.61 as follows:
0
a. Revise the introductory text of paragraph (a)(25);
0
b. Add ``and'' after the semicolon in paragraph (a)(25)(i);
0
c. Remove ``; and'' and add a period in its place in paragraph 
(a)(25)(ii); and
0
d. Remove paragraph (a)(25)(iii).
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  2.61  Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

    (a) * * *
    (25) Administer the following provisions of the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002 with respect to functions otherwise 
delegated to the Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service:
* * * * *

Subpart P--Delegations of Authority by the Assistant Secretary for 
Administration

0
17. Amend Sec.  2.95(b)(1)(i) to read as follows:


Sec.  2.95  Director, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency 
Coordination.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Coordinate the delegations and assignments made to the 
Department under the Defense Production Act of 1950, 50 U.S.C. App. 
2061, et seq.; the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121, et seq.; and by Executive Orders 12148, 
``Federal Emergency Management'' (3 CFR, 1979 Comp., p. 412), 12656, 
``Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities'' (3 CFR, 1988 
Comp., p. 585), and 13603, ``National Defense Resources Preparedness'' 
(3 CFR, 2012 Comp., p. 225), or any successor to these Executive 
Orders, to ensure that the Department has sufficient capabilities to 
respond to any occurrence, including natural disaster, military attack, 
technological emergency, or any all hazards incident.
* * * * *

    Dated: September 18, 2015.
Thomas J. Vilsack,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2015-24361 Filed 9-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-90-P