[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1827-1829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-900]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 24, 1996 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 1827]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Economic Research Service
7 CFR Part 3700
Organization and Functions
AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This document amends regulations of the Economic Research
Service (ERS) regarding agency organization and functions of major
oeprational units. This amendment is necessary to reflect changes in
the organization of ERS due to an internal reorganization.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 24, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Dunmore, Acting Administrator, ERS, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 1226, 1301 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC
20005-4788, (202) 219-0300.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C.
552(a)(1), requires Federal agencies to publish in the Federal Register
descriptions of its central and field organizations. ERS is the agency
within the U.S. Department of Agriculture primarily responsible for
providing economic and other social science information and analysis on
agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural America. This amendment
to 7 CFR part 3700 is necessary to reflect changes in the organization
of ERS due to an internal reorganization. This rule relates to internal
agency management. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 533, 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, since this rule relates to internal
agency management, it is exempt from the provisions of Executive Orders
12778 and 12866. Also, this rule will not cause a significant economic
impact or other substantial effect on small entities. Therefore, the
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.,
do not apply.
The following actions were taken: Section 3700.1 amended to revise
the general description; Sec. 3700.2 amended to revise the
organizational structure; Sec. 3700.3 amended to revise the functions;
and Sec. 3700.4 amended to update the authority to act for the
administrator.
This rule supersedes the notice published on August 25, 1988, 53 FR
32369.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 3700
Organization and functions.
Accordingly, 7 CFR part 3700 is revised to read as follows:
PART 3700--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
Sec.
3700.1 General.
3700.2 Organization.
3700.3 Functions.
3700.4 Authority to act for the Administrator.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301 and 552, and 7 CFR 2.67.
Sec. 3700.1 General.
The Economic Research Service (ERS), originally established in 1961
under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C.
1621-1627), was reestablished as an agency of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture of September 30, 1981 (46 FR 47747), in response to
Secretary's Memorandum 1000-1 of June 17, 1981, entitled
``Reorganization of Department.'' The mission of ERS is to provide
economic and other social science information and analysis for pubic
and private decisions on agriculture, food, natural resources, and
rural America. Its primary customers are USDA policy officials and
program administrators, the Office of the While House, Congress, and
environmental, consumer, and rural public interest groups, including
farm groups and industry.
Sec. 3700.2 Organization.
ERS maintains its offices at 1301 New York Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20005-4788. The organization consists of:
(a) The Administrator;
(b) Associate Administrator;
(c) Five Divisions; Commercial Agriculture Division, Food and
Consumer Economics Division, Information Services Division, Natural
Resources and Environment Division, and Rural Economy Division; and
(d) Office of Energy and New Uses.
Sec. 3700.3 Functions.
(a) Administrator and Associate Administrator. The Administrator
and Associate Administrator are responsible for developing and
implementing policies and plans in support of a program of economic and
social science research, analysis, and data dissemination. General
functions are: Conducting research and staff analysis, and developing
short to long-term outlook analysis and economic indicators.
(b) Director, Commercial Agriculture Division. The Director,
Commercial Agriculture Division, is responsible for conducting a
program of economic research; economic intelligence gathering,
analysis, and reporting; and data development and dissemination on
economic conditions, U.S. and foreign policies, and agriculture
production, trade, and marketing. General functions are:
(1) Developing and monitoring current intelligence and indicators
on domestic and international agricultural markets and related farm and
trade developments and short to long-term forecasts of domestic and
world agricultural markets.
(2) Assessing the technological, economic, and institutional forces
influencing U.S. and world agricultural markets.
(3) Conducting special analyses of U.S. and world agricultural
markets for policy officials to assist in policy development and the
operation of USDA programs.
(4) Collecting necessary information and performing international,
national, and regional macroeconomics analysis to estimate the effects
of macro economic trends and events in the global economy on the
American farm sector.
(c) Director, Food and Consumer Economic Division. The Director,
Food and Consumer Economic Division, is responsible for providing
economic
[[Page 1828]]
research, monitoring and statistical indicators, and staff and the
policy analysis of consumer and food marketing issues, including:
Consumption determinants and trends; consumer demand for food quality,
safety, and nutrition; food security; market competition; vertical
coordination; nutrition education and food assistance programs; and
food safety regulation. General functions are:
(1) Analyzing consumer behavior and food choices, including
research regarding the socio-demographic and economic determinants of
food and nutrient consumption; consumer valuation of quality, safety,
and nutrition characteristics; and the role of information in
determining food choices.
(2) Examining food assistance and nutrition programs, nutritional
adequacy of diets, and food security, including costs and benefits of
food assistance and nutrition programs, program and policy
alternatives, the extent and social cost of good insecurity, and the
role of food assistance in meeting larger goals of welfare programs.
(3) Analyzing the food processing and distribution sector,
including the ability of the sector to meet changing consumer demand;
the effect of government market interventions to facilitate that
response; and the effect of government interventions and rapid changes
in the sector on consumer and producer welfare.
(4) Analyzing food safety issues, including consumer benefits from
risk reduction, production tradeoffs in reducing hazards, impact of
proposed regulations and international harmonization, and policy
alternatives.
(5) Developing and monitoring indicators of individual, household,
and market level food consumption, expenditures, and nutrients; food
marketing costs, marketing margins, and farm-retail price spreads; and
food safety hazards, their effects, and mitigation.
(d) Director, Information Services Division. The Director,
Information Services Division, is responsible for managing and
directing agencywide information technology, communications, and
administrative activities in support of the economic research and
analysis mission of ERS. General functions are:
(1) Developing and managing information technology infrastructure
and training.
(2) Developing and managing communications, publication, and
dissemination programs, policies, and procedures.
(3) Providing operations and management services, including liaison
with the ARS's Administrative and Financial Management unit.
(e) Director, Natural Resources and Environment Division. The
Director, Natural Resources and Environment Division, is responsible
for providing economic research, monitoring and statistical indicators,
and staff and policy analysis of agricultural resource and environment
issues including the relationship between agriculture--its practices,
technologies, policies, and resource use--and the environment,
including effects on the sustainability of the natural resource base,
preservation of species and genetic diversity, and environmental
quality. General functions are:
(1) Developing and disseminating data for assessing the use of
agricultural resources and technologies by agricultural producers.
These data include use and ownership of land, use of agricultural
chemicals and equipment, and water use.
(2) Evaluating the implications of alternative agricultural and
resource conservation policies and programs on commodity prices,
consumer welfare, competitiveness, and long-range maintenance of
agricultural land and water resources.
(3) Analyzing the costs, benefits, and distributional impacts of
alternative policies to reduce environmental and health risk
externalities associated with agriculture.
(4) Monitoring and analyzing the uses and conditions of the
nation's water resources and the economic consequences of agricultural
and environmental policies affecting water supply, use, and quality.
(5) Analyzing the impacts of national and global developments and
domestic and international policies on the use and value of land,
water, capital assets, and other agricultural production decisions.
(6) Assessing the possible impacts of proposed or anticipated
domestic policy and program changes on agricultural production
decisions.
(7) Assessing the effects of technology on input use and markets
and evaluating the factors affecting input productivity and technology
adoption.
(8) Analyzing the implications of global environmental change and
sustainable development for U.S. agriculture.
(f) Director, Rural Economy Division. The Director, Rural Economy
Division, is responsible for conducting a program of economic and
social science research and analysis on national rural and agricultural
conditions and trends, and identifying and assessing the potential
impact of public and private sector actions and policies that affect
rural areas and the agricultural sector. General functions are:
(1) Analyzing and reporting on current economic and demographic
issues facing rural areas and agricultural, especially how changes in
the national and global economies affect rural areas and the
agriculture sector.
(2) Determining the effects of economic, social, and governmental
events and actions on the demand for and supply of rural local
government services, the quality of such services, and the
relationships between local services and the viability of rural
communities.
(3) Developing and disseminating information on current trends in
the non-metropolitan and farm populations, the number, location and
characteristics of such people, and the factors associated with these
trends.
(4) Developing estimates and analyzing labor force trends in rural
labor markets, including analyses of unemployment and employment by
industry and occupational groups, including farm labor.
(5) Developing data on the income situation of rural people and
evaluating the effectiveness of alternative public policies and
programs in improving incomes of rural people, especially people in
disadvantaged groups.
(6) Monitoring information on and analyzing the development of
rural portions of geographic regions of the United States, including
changes in industry mix, impacts of energy costs, credit availability,
and other economic activities.
(7) Analyzing and reporting on developments in rural and
agricultural financial markets and in Federal tax laws, and their
consequences for agriculture and rural economies.
(8) Collecting and disseminating financial information on farms and
farm enterprises, and developing techniques necessary to measure and
describe the financial condition of the agriculture sector and its
components.
(g) Director, Office of Energy and New Uses. The Director, Office
of Energy and New Uses, is responsible for assisting the Secretary in
developing Departmental energy policy and coordinating Departmental
energy programs and strategies. General functions are:
(1) Providing Department leadership in:
(i) Analyzing and evaluating existing and proposed energy policies
and strategies, including those regarding the allocation of scarce
resources;
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(ii) Developing energy policies and strategies, including those
regarding the allocation of scarce resources;
(iii) Reviewing and evaluating Departmental energy and energy-
related programs and program progress;
(iv) Developing agricultural and rural components of national
energy policy plans;
(v) Preparing reports on energy and energy-related policies and
programs required under Act of Congress and Executive Orders, including
those involving testimony and reports on legislative proposals.
(2) Providing Departmental oversight and coordination with respect
to resources available for energy and energy-related activities,
including funds transferred to USDA from departments and agencies of
the Federal Government pursuant to interagency agreements.
(3) Representing the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and
Economics at conferences, meetings, and other contacts where energy
matters are discussed, including liaison with the Department of Energy,
the Environmental Protection Agency, and other governmental departments
and agencies.
(4) Providing the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and
Economics with such assistance as requested to perform the duties
delegated to him concerning energy and new uses.
(5) Working with the Office of Congressional Relations to maintain
Congressional and public contacts in energy matters, including
development of legislative proposals, preparation of reports on
legislation pending in Congress, appearances before Congressional
committees, and related activities.
(6) These delegations exclude the energy management actions related
to the internal operations of the Department as delegated to the
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
(7) Conduct a program of research on the economic feasibility of
new uses of agricultural products. Assist agricultural researchers by
evaluating the economic and market potential of new agricultural
products and techniques in the initial phase of development and
contributing to prioritization of the Departmental research agenda.
Sec. 3700.4 Authority to act for the Administrator.
In the absence of the Administrator, the following officials are
designated to serve as Acting Administrator in the order indicated:
Associate Administrator
Director, Commercial Agriculture Division
Director, Food and Consumer Economics Division
Director, Natural Resources and Environment Division
Director, Rural Economy Division
Director, Information Services Division
Director, Office of Energy and New Uses
Done at Washington, DC, this 16th day of January 1996.
John Dunmore,
Acting Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. 96-900 Filed 1-23-96; 8:45 am]
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