[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 214 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68427-68429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28244]


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FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Parts 600 and 606

RIN 3052-AD08


Organization and Functions; Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on 
the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Farm 
Credit Administration; Organization of the Farm Credit Administration

AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Farm Credit Administration (FCA, we, our or Agency) issues 
a final rule amending our regulations in order to reflect internal 
organization changes. Another amendment updates a statutory citation 
for the Farm Credit Act.

DATES: This regulation shall become effective no earlier than 30 days 
after publication in the Federal Register during which either or both 
Houses of Congress are in session. We will publish

[[Page 68428]]

notice of the effective date in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael T. Wilson, Policy Analyst, Office of Regulatory Policy, Farm 
Credit Administration, McLean, VA 22102-5090, (703) 883-4124, TTY (703) 
883-4056,
or
Jane Virga, Senior Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Farm Credit 
Administration, McLean, VA 22102-5090, (703) 883-4071, TTY (703) 883-
4056.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Objective

    The objective of this final rule is to reflect changes to the FCA's 
organization and identification of those FCA employees responsible for 
various functions. The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, 
requires, in part, that each Federal agency publish in the Federal 
Register for the guidance of the public a description of its 
organization structure. Another amendment updates the statutory 
citation for the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended (Act).
    We revise the regulations by:
    (1) In Sec.  600.1, adding a citation for the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 110-246, June 18, 2008, (section 
5401-5407), which revised the statutory citation for the Act.
    (2) In Sec.  600.4:
    (a) Including the Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Office of 
Information Technology, Designated Agency Ethics Official, and Equal 
Employment Opportunity and Inclusion in FCA's organizational structure 
and a description of their functions; and
    (b) Amending the responsibilities of the Office of Management 
Services to remove the function of administering FCA's information 
resources management program;
    (3) In Sec.  606.670, removing from paragraph (i) the words 
``Director, Equal Employment Opportunity'' and adding in their place 
the words ``Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Director''.

II. Certain Finding

    We have determined that the amendments involve Agency management 
and personnel and other minor technical changes.
    Therefore, the amendments do not constitute a rulemaking under the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 551, 553(a)(2). Under the 
APA, the public may participate in the promulgation of rules that have 
a substantial impact on the public. The amendments to our regulations 
relate to Agency management and personnel and a minor technical change 
only and have no direct impact on the public and, therefore, do not 
require public participation.
    Even if these amendments were a rulemaking under 5 U.S.C. 551, 
553(a)(2) of the APA, we have determined that notice and public comment 
are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A) and (B) of the APA, an agency may publish regulations in 
final form when they involve matters of agency organization or where 
the agency for good cause finds that notice and public comment are 
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. As 
discussed above, this amendment results from recent office 
reorganizations. Because the amendments will provide accurate and 
current information on the organization of the FCA and update the 
citation to the Act, it would be contrary to the public interest to 
delay amending the regulations.

III. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), FCA hereby certifies that the final rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Each of the banks in the Farm Credit System (System), 
considered together with its affiliated associations, has assets and 
annual income in excess of the amounts that would qualify them as small 
entities. Therefore, System institutions are not ``small entities'' as 
defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 600

    Organization and functions (Government agencies).

12 CFR Part 606

    Administrative practice and procedure, Civil rights, Equal 
employment opportunity, Federal buildings and facilities, Individuals 
with disabilities.

    As stated in the preamble, parts 600 and 606 of chapter VI, title 
12 of the Code of Federal Regulations are amended as follows:

PART 600--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 600 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  Secs. 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 5.11, 5.17, 8.11 of the 
Farm Credit Act (12 U.S.C. 2241, 2242, 2243, 2244, 2245, 2252, 
2279aa-11).


0
2. Revise Sec.  600.1 to read as follows:


Sec.  600.1  The Farm Credit Act.

    The Farm Credit Act of 1971, Public Law 92-181 recodified and 
replaced the prior laws under which the Farm Credit Administration 
(FCA) and the institutions of the Farm Credit System (System or FCS) 
were organized and operated. The prior laws, which were repealed and 
superseded by the Act, are identified in section 5.40(a) of the Act. 
Subsequent amendments to the Act and enactment dates are as follows: 
Public Law 94-184, December 31, 1975; Public Law 95-443, October 10, 
1978; Public Law 96-592, December 24, 1980; Public Law 99-190, December 
19, 1985; Public Law 99-198, December 23, 1985; Public Law 99-205, 
December 23, 1985; Public Law 99-509, October 21, 1986; Public Law 100-
233, January 6, 1988; Public Law 100-399, August 17, 1988; Public Law 
100-460, October 1, 1988; Public Law 101-73, August 9, 1989; Public Law 
101-220, December 12, 1989; Public Law 101-624, November 28, 1990; 
Public Law 102-237, December 13, 1991; Public Law 102-552, October 28, 
1992; Public Law 103-376, October 19, 1994; Public Law 104-105, 
February 10, 1996; Public Law 104-316, October 19, 1996; Public Law 
107-171, May 13, 2002; Public Law 110-246, June 18, 2008. The law is 
codified at 12 U.S.C. 2000, et seq.

0
3. Revise Sec.  600.4 to read as follows:


Sec.  600.4  Organization of the Farm Credit Administration.

    (a) Offices and functions. The primary offices of the FCA are:
    (1) Office of Congressional and Public Affairs. The Office of 
Congressional and Public Affairs performs Congressional liaison duties 
and coordinates and disseminates Agency communications.
    (2) Office of Examination. The Office of Examination evaluates the 
safety and soundness of FCS institutions and their compliance with law 
and regulations and manages FCA's enforcement and supervision 
functions.
    (3) Office of General Counsel. The Office of General Counsel 
provides legal advice and services to the FCA Chairman, the FCA Board, 
and Agency staff.
    (4) Office of Inspector General. The Office of Inspector General 
conducts independent audits, inspections, and investigations of Agency 
programs and operations and reviews proposed legislation and 
regulations.
    (5) Office of Regulatory Policy. The Office of Regulatory Policy 
develops policies and regulations for the FCA Board's consideration; 
evaluates regulatory and statutory prior approvals;

[[Page 68429]]

manages the Agency's chartering activities; and analyzes policy and 
strategic risks to the System.
    (6) Office of Management Services. The Office of Management 
Services provides financial management services. It administers the 
Agency's human resources management program, contracts, procurement, 
mail services, and payroll.
    (7) Office of Secondary Market Oversight. The Office of Secondary 
Market Oversight regulates and examines the Federal Agricultural 
Mortgage Corporation for safety and soundness and compliance with law 
and regulations.
    (8) Secretary to the Board. The Secretary to the Board serves as 
the parliamentarian for the Board and keeps permanent and complete 
records and minutes of the acts and proceedings of the Board.
    (9) Office of the Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Operating 
Officer has broad responsibility for planning, directing, and 
controlling the operations of the Offices of Management Services, 
Information Technology, Examination, Regulatory Policy, and General 
Counsel in accordance with the operating philosophy and policies of the 
FCA Board.
    (10) Designated Agency Ethics Official. The Designated Agency 
Ethics Official is designated by the FCA Chairman to administer the 
provisions of title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as 
amended, to coordinate and manage FCA's ethics program, and to provide 
liaison to the Office of Government Ethics with regard to all aspects 
of FCA's ethics program.
    (11) Office of Information Technology. The Office of Information 
Technology manages information resources management program and 
delivers the Agency's information technology, data analysis 
infrastructure, and the security supporting Agency technology 
resources.
    (12) Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion. The Office of 
Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion manages and directs the 
Agency-wide Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunity 
Program for FCA and FCSIC. The office serves as the chief liaison with 
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of Personnel 
Management on all Equal Employment Opportunity, diversity, and 
inclusion issues. The office provides counsel and leadership to Agency 
management to carry out its continuing policy and program of 
nondiscrimination, affirmative action, and diversity.
    (b) Additional Information. You may obtain more information on the 
FCA's organization by visiting our Web site at http://www.fca.gov. You 
may also contact the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs:
    (1) In writing at FCA, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, Virginia 
22102-5090;
    (2) By email at [email protected]; or
    (3) By telephone at (703) 883-4056.

PART 606--ENFORCEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAP 
IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE FARM CREDIT 
ADMINISTRATION

0
4. The authority citation for part 606 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  29 U.S.C. 794.


Sec.  606.670  [Amended]

0
5. Amend Sec.  606.670 by removing the words ``Director, Equal 
Employment Opportunity'' and adding in their place, the words ``Equal 
Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Director'' in paragraph (i).

    Dated: October 30, 2015.
Dale L. Aultman,
Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.
[FR Doc. 2015-28244 Filed 11-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6705-01-P