[Federal Register: April 29, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 81)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 19373-19374]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ap09-1]
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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 19373]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
7 CFR Part 2
Revision of Delegations of Authority
AGENCY: Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This final rule revises certain delegations of authority by
the Secretary of Agriculture published at 7 CFR part 2. The Secretary
delegates to the Assistant Secretary for Administration authority to
serve as the USDA Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer; delegates
to the Department of Agriculture Chief Information Officer the
authority to appoint the USDA Privacy Act Officer; and, removes those
delegations from the Department of Agriculture Director of the Office
of Communications.
DATES: Effective Date: April 29, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rita Morgan, USDA FOIA Service Center,
202-720-8164.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 31, 2007, the Openness Promotes
Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007 became effective.
It directs the head of each agency to appoint a senior official to
serve as the Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer.
Therefore, this document amends 7 CFR part 2 section 2.24 of the
delegations of authority by the Secretary of Agriculture to the
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Administration to serve as
Department of Agriculture Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer;
amends 7 CFR part 2 section 2.37 of the delegations of authority by the
Secretary of Agriculture to the Chief Information Officer to appoint a
Department of Agriculture Privacy Act Officer; and further amends 7 CFR
Part 2 section 2.36 to remove those delegations by the Secretary of
Agriculture to the Director of the Office of Communications.
The Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer is responsible to
oversee efficient and appropriate compliance with the provisions of the
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552); to monitor implementation of
5 U.S.C. 552 throughout the agency and to keep the Secretary, the
General Counsel, and the Attorney General informed regarding agency
performance of that implementation; to recommend to the Secretary any
necessary adjustments to agency practices, policies, personnel, and
funding to improve the implementation of 5 U.S.C. 552; to review agency
implementation and report to the Attorney General, through the
Secretary, as the Attorney General may direct; and, to facilitate
public understanding of the purposes of the statutory exemptions
contained in 5 U.S.C. 552.
The delegation of authority to the Chief Information Officer
related to the Privacy Act reflects the practice that is already in
place.
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 Orders 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 the Act. Accordingly, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 808,
this rule may be made effective upon publication.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 2
Authority delegations (government agencies).
0
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 citation for part 2 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6912(a); 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, the
Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries
0
2. Section 2.24 is amended by adding paragraph (a)(3) to read as
follows:Sec. 2.24 Assistant Secretary for Administration.
(a) * * *
(3) Related to the Freedom of Information Act. (i) Serve as the
Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer for the Department.
(ii) Oversee general officers and agency heads in efficient and
appropriate compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552); monitor implementation of 5 U.S.C. 552
throughout the agency and keep the Secretary, the General Counsel, and
the Attorney General informed regarding agency performance in its
implementation; recommend to the Secretary necessary adjustments to
agency practices, policies, personnel, and funding to improve
implementation of 5 U.S.C. 552; review and report to the Attorney
General, through the Secretary, as the Attorney General may direct;
and, facilitate public understanding of the purposes of the statutory
exemptions contained in 5 U.S.C. 552.
* * * * *
Subpart D--Delegation of Authority to Other General Officers and
Agency Heads
0
3. Section 2.36 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph
(a)(2)(viii) to read as follows:
Sec. 2.36 Director, Office of Communications.
(a) * * *
(2) * * *
(viii) [Reserved]
* * * * *
0
4. Section 2.37 is amended by adding paragraph (b) to read as follows:
Sec. 2.37 Chief Information Officer.
* * * * *
(b) Related to the Privacy Act. (i) Appoint a Department Privacy
Act Officer.
(ii) Oversee general officers and agency heads in the development
and implementation of policies issued pursuant to the provisions of the
[[Page 19374]]
Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and provide consultation and guidance
regarding those policies.
Thomas J. Vilsack,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. E9-9726 Filed 4-28-09; 8:45 am]
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