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