[Federal Register: August 30, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 168)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 51421]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30au06-1]                         


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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

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[[Page 51421]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

7 CFR Part 2

RIN 0560-AH58

 
Revisions of Delegations of Authority

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the delegations of authority from the 
Secretary of Agriculture to the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign 
Agricultural Services (FFAS) and to the Administrator, Farm Service 
Agency (FSA), to implement cooperative agreements for Conservation 
Programs carried out by FSA and to implement the Grassroots Source 
Water Protection Programs as authorized by section 1240O of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (1985 Act).

DATES: This rule is effective August 30, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John H. Carter III, Program Manager, 
Conservation and Environmental Programs Division, Farm Service Agency, 
USDA/FSA/STOP 0513, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0513, (202) 720-8774.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1240O of the 1985 Act, 16 U.S.C 
3839bb-2, authorizes the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program. 
Fiscal Year 2006 funding for this program was appropriated to the Farm 
Service Agency of USDA; however, the authority to administer the 
program is delegated to another USDA agency. Therefore, the delegations 
of authority from the Secretary to the Under Secretary, FFAS, and from 
the Under Secretary, FFAS, to the Administrator, FSA, are revised to 
authorize those entities to implement the Grassroots Source Water 
Protection Program.
    Consistent with FSA's authority to implement the Grassroots Source 
Water Protection Program, this rule also includes a delegation of 
authority to FSA to enter into cooperative agreements to improve that 
program's coordination and effectiveness in meeting the program's 
goals. This rule further delegates authority to FSA to enter into 
cooperative agreements for other conservation programs to improve the 
coordination and effectiveness of those programs.
    This rule relates to internal agency management. Therefore, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2), 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. 
Further, because this rule relates to internal agency management, it is 
exempt from the provisions of Executive Order Nos. 12291 and 12866. 
Finally, this action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., and is, therefore, exempt from 
the provisions of that Act. Accordingly, as authorized by section 808 
of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 5 
U.S.C. 808, this rule may be made effective upon publication.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 2

    Administrative practice and procedure, Authority delegations 
(Government agencies).

0
Accordingly, Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as 
follows:

PART 2--DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE 
AND GENERAL OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT

0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR 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 parts 1949-1953 Comp., p. 1024.

Subpart C--Delegations of Authority to the Deputy Secretary and to 
the Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries

0
2. Section 2.16 is amended by adding paragraphs (a)(1)(xxvii) and 
(xxviii) to read as follows:


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

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (xxvii) Formulate and carry out the Grassroots Source Water 
Protection Program authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-2).
    (xxviii) Administer cooperative agreements authorized under 7 
U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4) with respect to conservation programs.
* * * * *

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

0
3. Section 2.42 is amended by adding paragraphs (a)(49) and (50) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  2.42  Administrator, Farm Service Agency.

    (a) * * *
    (49) Formulate and carry out the Grassroots Source Water Protection 
Program, authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 3839bb-2).
    (50) Administer cooperative agreements under 7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4) 
with respect to conservation programs.
* * * * *

    For Part 2, Subpart C, Paragraph 2.16(a)(1):

    Dated: August 23, 2006.
Mike Johanns,
Secretary of Agriculture.
    For Part 2, Subpart C, Paragraph 2.42(a):

    Dated: August 18, 2006.
J.B. Penn,
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
[FR Doc. E6-14365 Filed 8-29-06; 8:45 am]

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