[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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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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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