[Federal Register: March 27, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 59)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 16593]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27mr01-1]                         


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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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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 16593]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

7 CFR Part 2

 
Revision of Delegations of Authority

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service; Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule revises the delegations of authority from the 
Under Secretary for Rural Development. This rule will effectuate the 
change of the delegation of the administration of the hazardous weather 
early warning systems program, from the Administrator, Rural Housing 
Service (RHS), to the Administrator, Rural Utilities Service (RUS).

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 27, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, 
Washington, DC, 20250-1522. Telephone: 202-720-9551. E-mail: 
fheppe@rus.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administration and Congress recognize 
the need to advance coverage of the NOAA Weather Radio and Alert 
Systems in unserved rural areas. The Administration requested, and 
Congress appropriated funds for this program, under section 306 of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926). It has 
been determined that the hazardous weather early warning systems and 
the grant funds appropriated therefor should be administered by the 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS), in accordance with the authorizing 
legislation.
    This rule relates to internal agency management. Therefore, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, notice of proposed rule making and 
opportunity for comment are not required, and this rule is made 
effective on the date of publication in the Federal Register. Further, 
since this rule relates to internal agency management, it is exempt 
from the provisions of Executive Order Nos. 12866 and 12988. In 
addition, this action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), and, thus, is exempt from the 
provisions of that Act. This action is not a rule as defined in 5 
U.S.C. 804 and thus does not require review by Congress.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 2

    Authority delegations (Government agencies).

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

    Accordingly, part 2, title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, is 
amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 2 is revised 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 G--Delegation of Authority by the Under Secretary for Rural 
Economic and Community Development

    2. Amend Sec. 2.47 to redesignate paragraphs (a)(4)(vi) through 
(a)(4)(x) as (a)(4)(vii) through (a)(4)(xi) and add a new paragraph 
(a)(4)(vi) to read as follows:


Sec. 2.47  Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.

    (a) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (vi) Section 306 (7 U.S.C. 1926) relating to hazardous weather 
early warning systems;
* * * * *
    3. Amend Sec. 2.49 to revise paragraph (a)(1)(i) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 2.49  Administrator, Rural Housing Service.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Section 306 (7 U.S.C. 1926) except subsection 306(a)(11) and 
except financing for water and waste disposal facilities; hazardous 
weather early warning systems; grazing facilities; irrigation and 
drainage facilities; rural electrification or telephone systems or 
facilities; and hydro-electric generating and related distribution 
systems and supplemental and supporting structures if they are eligible 
for Rural Utilities financing;
* * * * *

    Dated: March 18, 2001.
Ann M. Veneman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 01-7388 Filed 3-26-01; 8:45 am]
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