UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20250

 

July 1, 2008

 

 

SECRETARY’S MEMORANDUM 1053-001

 

Delegations of Authority

Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008

 

1.      PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this memorandum is to delegate authority within the Department to implement the provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-246 (hereafter referred to as “FCEA”).  The authorities delegated herein by reference to a section of the FCEA include delegations of both new provisions of law enacted in the section and amendments made by the section to existing Acts, to the extent authorities under such Acts are not covered by previously published delegations of authority.

 

2.      DELEGATIONS

 

I hereby delegate authorities vested in the Secretary by the FCEA to the Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and heads of the Offices of the Department as identified in Column A of the attached section-by-section table of FCEA authorities.  The Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and heads of Offices of the Department shall re-delegate the authorities delegated herein to the agencies and offices of the Department as identified in Column B of the attached table.  Where there is an assigned delegation in Column A, but no assigned re-delegation in Column B, the Column A delegatee is authorized to re-delegate that authority as appropriate. 

 

3.      EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION

 

The delegations made herein are effective immediately, except where provided otherwise in the attached table, and the delegations made herein shall 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.

 

Attachment

 

 

                                                                                    /s/EDWARD T. SCHAFER

                                                                                    Secretary

 

 

 

Attachment

 

Section or Subsection

Short Title

COLUMN A                       Under Secretary or Assistant Secretary or General Officer Delegation

COLUMN B                           Agency or Office Delegation

Effective Date  of Delegation  (immediate unless otherwise noted)

 

TITLE I -- COMMODITY PROGRAMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle A -- Direct Payments and Counter-Cyclical Payments

 

 

 

1001

Definitions

FFAS

FSA

 

1101

Base Acres

FFAS

FSA

 

1102

Payment Yields

FFAS

FSA

 

1103

Availability of Direct Payments

FFAS

FSA

 

1104

Availability of Counter-Cyclical Payments

FFAS

FSA

 

1105

Average Crop Revenue Election Program

FFAS

FSA

 

1106

Producer Agreement Required As Condition of Provision of Payments

FFAS

FSA

 

1107

Planting Flexibility

FFAS

FSA

 

1108

Special Rule for Long Grain and Medium Grain Rice

FFAS

FSA

 

1109

Period of Effectivness

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle B -- Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments

 

 

 

1201

Availability of Nonrecourse Marketing Assistance Loans for Loan Commodities

FFAS

FSA

 

1202

Loan Rates for Nonrecourse Marketing Assistance Loans

FFAS

FSA

 

1203

Term of Loans

FFAS

FSA

 

1204

Repayment of Loans

FFAS

FSA

 

1205

Loan Deficiency Payments

FFAS

FSA

 

1206

Payments in Lieu of Loan Deficiency Payments for Grazed Acreage

FFAS

FSA

 

1207

Special Marketing Loan Provisions for Upland Cotton

FFAS

FSA, FAS

 

1208

Special Competitiveness Provisions for Extra Long Staple Cotton

FFAS

FSA, FAS

 

1209

Availability of Recourse Loans for High Moisture Feed Grains and Seed Cotton

FFAS

FSA

 

1210

Adjustment of Loans

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle C -- Peanuts

 

 

 

1301

Definitions

FFAS

FSA

 

1302

Base Acres for Peanuts for a Farm

FFAS

FSA

 

1303

Availability of Direct Payments for Payments

FFAS

FSA

 

1304

Availability of Counter-Cyclical Payments for Peanuts

FFAS

FSA

 

1305

Producer Agreement Required as Condition on Provision of Payments

FFAS

FSA

 

1306

Planting Flexibility

FFAS

FSA

 

1307

Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments for Peanuts

FFAS

FSA

 

1308

Adjustment of Loans

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle D -- Sugar

 

 

 

1401

Sugar Program

FFAS

FSA, FAS

 

1402

United States Membership in the International Sugar Organization

FFAS

FAS

 

1403

Flexible Marketing Allotments for Sugar

FFAS

FSA, FAS

 

1404

Storage Facility Loans

FFAS

FSA

 

1405

CCC Storage Payments

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle E -- Dairy

 

 

 

1501

Dairy Product Price Support Program

FFAS

FSA

 

1502

Dairy Forward Pricing Program

MRP

AMS

 

1506

Milk Income Loss Contract Program

FFAS

FSA

 

1508

Report on Department of Agriculture Reporting Procedures for Nonfat Dry Milk

REE lead, MRP

NASS lead, AMS

 

1509

Federal Milk Marketing Order Review Commission

MRP

AMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle F -- Administration

 

 

 

1605

Availability of Quality Incentive Payments for Covered Oilseed Producers

FFAS

FSA

 

1609

Tracking of Benefits

FFAS

FSA

 

1611

Prevention of Deceased Individuals Receiving Payments Under Farm Commodity Programs

FFAS

FSA

 

1612

Hard White Wheat Development Program

FFAS

FSA

 

1613

Durum Wheat Quality Program

FFAS

FSA

 

1614

Storage Facility Loans

FFAS

FSA

 

1618

Modernization of FSA

FFAS

FSA

 

1619

Information Gathering

NRE, FFAS, RD, MRP

NRCS, FS, FSA, RBS, RHS, APHIS

 

1620

Leasing of Office Space

FFAS lead, ASA

FSA lead, OPPM

 

1621

Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE II -- CONSERVATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle B -- Conservation Reserve Program

 

 

 

2110(b)

Evaluation and Acceptance of Contract Offers, Annual Rental Payments, and Payment Limitations (annual survey of dryland and irrigated cash rental rates)

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle C -- Wetlands Reserve Program

 

 

 

2210

Report on Implications of Long-Term Nature of Conservation Easements

NRE

NRCS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle D -- Conservation Stewardship Program

 

 

 

2301

Conservation Stewardship Program

NRE

NRCS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle E -- Farmland Protection and Grassland Reserve

 

 

 

2403

Grassland Reserve Program

FFAS, NRE

FSA, NRCS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle G -- Other Conservation Programs of the Food Security Act of 1985

 

 

 

2605

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program

NRE

NRCS

 

2606

Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle H -- Funding and Administration of Conservation Programs

 

 

 

2702

Authority to Accept Contributions to Support Conservation Programs

FFAS, NRE

FSA, NRCS

 

2705

Report Regarding Enrollments and Assistance Under Conservation Programs

NRE

NRCS

 

2707(b)

Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

NRE

NRCS

 

2710

Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services Program

NRE

NRCS

 

2711

Establishment of State Technical Committees and Their Responsibilities

NRE

NRCS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle I -- Conservation Programs Under Other Laws

 

 

 

2807

Desert Terminal Lakes

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE III -- TRADE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle A -- Food for Peace Act

 

 

 

3022(2)

Coordination of Foreign Assistance Programs (report on improving procurement planning)

FFAS

FAS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle C -- Miscellaneous

 

 

 

3203

Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (annual report)

FFAS

FAS

 

3205

Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products

FFAS lead, MRP

FAS lead, AMS

 

3206

Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Projects

FFAS

FAS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE IV -- NUTRITION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle A -- Food Stamp Program

 

 

 

4142

Study on Comparable Access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico

FNCS

FNS

10/1/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle B -- Food Distribution Programs

 

 

 

4211(b)

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Food Package (report)

FNCS

FNS

10/1/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle C -- Child Nutrition and Related Programs

 

 

 

4301

State Performance on Enrolling Children Receiving Program Benefits for Free School Meals

FNCS

FNS

10/1/2008

4304(a)(2)(B)

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (transition of existing schools)

FNCS

FNS

10/1/2008

4305

Whole Grain Products

FNCS

FNS

10/1/2008

4307

Survey of Foods Purchased by School Food Authorities

FNCS

FNS

10/1/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle D -- Miscellaneous

 

 

 

4401

Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows and Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows

FNCS

FNS

 

4402(3)

Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development Center

REE

CSREES

10/1/2008

4403

Joint Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Activities

FNCS

CNPP

10/1/2008

4404(a)-(b)


Section 32 Funds for Purchase of Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts to Support Domestic Nutrition Assistance Programs

MRP

AMS

 

4405

Hunger-Free Communities

FNCS

FNS

10/1/2008

4406(c)(2)

Nutrition Information and Awareness Pilot Program (reauthorization)

FNCS

FNS

10/1/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE V -- CREDIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle A -- Farm Ownership Loans

 

 

 

5002

Conservation Loan and Loan Guarantee Program (establishes a new program in section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972)

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle F -- Miscellaneous

 

 

 

5501

Loans to Purchasers of Highly Fractioned Land

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE VI -- RURAL DEVELOPMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle A -- Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act

 

 

 

6013(d)

Rural Cooperative Development Grants (cooperative research program)

RD

RBS

 

6013(e)

Rural Cooperative Development Grants (addressing needs of minority communities)

RD

RBS

 

6016

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas ("ATTRA")

RD

RBS

 

6017

Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones

RD

RHS, RUS, RBS

 

6018(b)

Report on "rural area"

RD

 

 

6022

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program

RD

RBS

 

6023

Grants for Expansion of Employment Oportunities for Individuals with Disabilities in Rural Areas

RD

RBS

 

6024

Health Care Services

RD

RHS

 

6025

Delta Regional Authority (reauthorization)

RD

RBS

 

6028

Rural Collaborative Investment Program

RD

RBS

 

6029

Funding of Pending Rural Development Loan and Grant Applications

RD

RHS, RUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle B -- Rural Electrification Act of 1936

 

 

 

6112

Comprehensive Rural Broadband Strategy (coordination with the FCC)

RD

RUS

 

6113

Study on Rural Electric Power Generation

RD

RUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle C -- Miscellaneous

 

 

 

6206

Study on Rural Transportation Issues

MRP

AMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE VII -- RESEARCH AND RELATED MATTERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle A -- National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977

 

 

 

7109(b)

Grants and Fellowships for Food and Agricultural Sciences Education (report)

REE

CSREES

 

7124

Grants to Upgrade Agriculture and Food Sciences Facilities at the District of Columbia Land-Grant University

REE

CSREES

 

7125

Grants to Upgrade Agriculture and Food Sciences Facilities and Equipment at Insular Area Land-Grant Institutions

REE

CSREES

 

7129

Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities

REE

CSREES

 

7137

New Era Rural Technology Program

REE

CSREES

 

7138

Capacity Building Grants for NLGCA Institutions

REE

CSREES

 

7139

Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program

FFAS

FAS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle B -- Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990

 

 

 

7207

Agricultural Bioenergy Feedstock and Energy Efficiency Research and Extension Initiative

REE

CSREES

 

7208

Farm Business Management and Benchmarking

REE

CSREES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle C -- Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998

 

 

 

7310

Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Development for Developing Countries (reauthorization)

FFAS

FAS

 

7311

Specialty Crop Research Initiative

REE

CSREES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle D -- Other Laws

 

 

 

7406(a)

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

REE

CSREES

 

7408

Exchange or Sale Authority

REE

ARS, CSREES, APHIS

 

7409

Enhanced Use Lease Authority Pilot Program

REE

ARS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle E -- Miscellaneous

 

 

 

7503

Fort Reno Science Park Research Facility

REE

ARS

 

7504

Roadmap

REE

 

 

7521

Research and Education Grants for the Study of Antibiotic-Resistent Bacteria

REE

CSREES

 

7522

Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

REE

CSREES

 

7523

Seed Distribution

REE

CSREES

 

7524

Live Virus Foot and Mouth Disease Research

MRP

APHIS

 

7525

Natural Products Research Program

REE

ARS

 

7526

Sun Grant Program

REE

CSREES

 

7527

Study and Report on Food Deserts

REE

ERS

 

7529

Agricultural and Rural Transportation Research and Education

REE

CSREES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE VIII -- FORESTRY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle B -- Cultural and Heritage Cooperation Authority

NRE

FS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle D -- Boundary Adjustments and Land Conveyance Provisions

 

 

 

8302

Land Conveyances

NRE

FS

 

8303

Sale and Exchange of National Forest System Land, Vermont

NRE

FS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle E -- Miscellaneous Provisions

 

 

 

8401

Qualifying Timber Contract Options

NRE

FS

 

8402

Hispanic-serving Institution Agricultural Land National Resources Leadership Program

REE

CSREES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE IX -- ENERGY

 

 

 

9001(a)

Energy ("Section 9003" -- Biorefinery Assistance)

RD

RBS

 

9001(a)

Energy ("Section 9004" -- Repowering Assistance)

RD

RBS

 

9001(a)

Energy ("Section 9005" -- Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels)

RD

RBS

 

9001(a)

Energy ("Section 9007" -- Rural Energy for America Program)

RD

RBS

 

9001(a)

Energy ("Section 9009" -- Rural Energy Self-Sufficiency Initiative)

RD

RBS

 

9001(a)

Energy ("Section 9010" -- Feedstock Flexibility Program for Bionergy Producers)

FFAS

FSA

 

9001(a)

Energy ("Section 9011" -- Biomass Crop Assistance Program)

FFAS

FSA

 

9001(a)

Energy ("Section 9012" -- Forest Biomass for Energy)

NRE

FS

 

9001(a)

Energy ("Section 9013" -- Community Wood Energy Program)

NRE

FS

 

9002

Biofuels Infrastructure Study

OCE

OEPNU

 

9003

Renewable Fertilizer Study

REE

ARS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE X -- HORTICULTURE AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle A -- Horticulture Marketing and Information

 

 

 

10101

Independent Evaluation of Department of Agriculture Commodity Purchase Process

MRP

AMS

 

10105

Food Safety Education Initiatives

MRP

AMS

 

10107

Specialty Crops Market News Allocation

MRP

AMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle B -- Pest and Disease Management

 

 

 

10202

National Clean Plant Network

MRP

APHIS

 

10204

Regulations to Improve Management and Oversight of Certain Regulated Articles

MRP

APHIS

 

10205

Pest and Disease Revolving Loan Fund

NRE

FS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle C -- Organic Agriculture

 

 

 

10302

Organic Production and Market Data Initiatives

MRP, REE

AMS (collection and distribution of price reporting relating to organically produced agricultural products; report to Congress) / ERS (conduct surveys and analysis and publish reports relating to organic production, handling, distribution, retail, and trend studies); NASS (develop surveys and report statistical analysis on organically produced agricultural products)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle D -- Miscellaneous

 

 

 

10403

Grant Program to Improve Movement of Specialty Crops

MRP

AMS

 

10404

Market Loss Assistance for Asparagus Producers

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE XI -- LIVESTOCK

 

 

 

11001(a)(2)

Livestock Mandatory Reporting (information reporting and dissemination requirements)

MRP

AMS

 

11001(b)

Livestock Mandatory Reporting (study and report)

MRP

AMS

 

11006

Regulations

MRP

GIPSA

 

11009

National Sheep Industry Improvement Center

MRP

AMS

 

11014

Study on Bioenergy Operations

REE

ERS

 

11015

Interstate Shipment of Meat and Poultry Inspected by Federal and State Agencies for Certain Small Establishments

FS

FSIS

 

11016(b)(3)

Inspection Program for Catfish (report)

FS

FSIS

 

11017(a)

Food Safety Improvement (Federal Meat Inspection Act amendments)

FS

FSIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE XII -- CROP INSURANCE AND DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle A -- Crop Insurance and Disaster Assistance

 

 

 

12014(b)

Study on Efficacy of Pack Factors

FFAS

RMA

 

12030

Declining Yield Report

FFAS

RMA

 

12031

Definition of Basic Unit

FFAS

RMA

 

12033

Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance

FFAS

FSA

 

12034

Fisheries Disaster Assistance (transfer of CCC funds to Department of Commerce)

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE XIV -- MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle A -- Socially Disadvantaged Producers and Limited Resource Producers

 

 

 

14002(b)

Foreclosure (foreclosure report)

OIG

 

 

14003

Receipt for Service or Denial of Service from Certain Department of Agriculture Agencies

FFAS lead, NRE, RD

FSA lead, NRCS, RHS, RBS, RUS

 

14004(a)(2)(B)

Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers (report)

ASCR

OCR

 

14005

Accurate Documentation in the Census of Agriculture and Certain Studies

REE

NASS (with respect to Census of Agriculture); ERS (with respect to studies)

 

14007

Oversight and Compliance

ASCR

 

 

14010

Report of Civil Rights Complaints, Resolutions, and Actions

ASCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle B -- Agricultural Security

 

 

 

14112

Agricultural Biosecurity Communication Center

OHS

 

 

14113

Assistance to Build Local Capacity in Agricultural Biosecurity Planning, Preparedness, and Response

OHS

 

 

14121

Research and Development of Agricultural Countermeasures

REE

CSREES

 

14122

Agricultural Biosecurity Grant Program

REE

CSREES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle C -- Other Miscellaneous Provisions

 

 

 

14208

Department of Agriculture Conference Transparency

OCFO

 

 

14211

Permanent Debarment from Participation in Department of Agriculture Programs for Fraud

OCFO lead, ASA

OPPM

 

14212

Prohibition on Closure or Relocation of County Offices for the Farm Service Agency

FFAS

FSA

 

14216

Consideration of Proposed Recommendations of Study on Use of Cats and Dogs in Federal Research

MRP

APHIS

 

14218

Coordinator for Chronically Underserved Rural Areas

RD

RBS

 

14220

Availability of Excess and Surplus Computers in Rural Areas

ASA

OPPM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE XV -- TRADE AND TAX PROVISIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle A -- Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance From the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund

 

 

 

15101

Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance

FFAS

FSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle C -- Tax Provisions

 

 

 

15353(a)

Information Reporting for CCC Transactions (section "6039J" of the Internal Revenue Code)

FFAS

FSA