UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
October 1, 2008
SECRETARY’S MEMORANDUM 1055-001
Delegations of Authority
Section 9008 (“Biomass Research and Development”) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. § 8108) and Section 251(f) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to delegate authority within the Department to implement section 9008 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (“FSRIA”) (formerly the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000), as added by section 9001(a) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (“FCEA”), Pub. L. No. 110-246, and section 251(f) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (“Reorganization Act”), as added by section 7511(a)(4) of FCEA.
2. DELEGATIONS
I hereby delegate the authority vested in the Secretary by section 9008 of FSRIA (7 U.S.C. § 8108) to the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (“REE”). Additionally, I delegate authority to the Under Secretary for REE to implement establishment of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (“NIFA”) authorized under section 251(f) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (“Reorganization Act”) within the REE mission area of the Department by October 1, 2009.
The Under Secretary for REE will be the point of contact referenced in section 9008 of FSRIA for the Department. In carrying out the biomass research and development authorities in section 9008 of FSRIA, the Under Secretary for REE will consult and coordinate, as appropriate, with the Under Secretary for Rural Development, and other mission areas within the Department as deemed necessary.
The authority to approve the final establishment of NIFA is reserved to the Secretary, and the authority to appoint the NIFA Director is by law reserved to the President. The Director of NIFA, when appointed, shall report to the Under Secretary for REE.
3. EXISTING DELEGATIONS
Secretary’s Memorandum 1030-063 (May 30, 2008), which delegated authorities vested in the Secretary by the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000, as amended, to the Under Secretary for Rural Development, is hereby revoked.
4. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION
This delegation is effective immediately and will remain in effect for one year from the effective date, or until such earlier time as the Department’s published delegations of authority have been revised to incorporate the provisions of this memorandum.
/s/Edward T. Schafer
Secretary