(a) Delegations. Pursuant to § 2.21(a)(1), (a)(3) and (a)(5) through (a)(7), subject to reservations in § 2.21(b)(1), the following delegations of authority are made by the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics to the Administrator, Agricultural Research Service:

(1) [Reserved]

(2) Conduct research related to the economic feasibility of the manufacture and commercialization of natural rubber from hydrocarbon-containing plants and other critical agricultural materials from native agricultural crops having strategic and industrial importance (7 U.S.C. §§ 178–178n).

(3) Conduct research on the control of undesirable species of honeybees in cooperation with specific foreign governments (7 U.S.C. § 284).

(4) Conduct research concerning domestic animals and poultry, their protection and use, the causes of contagious, infectious, and communicable diseases, and the means for the prevention and cure of the same (7 U.S.C. § 391).

(5) Conduct research related to the dairy industry and to the dissemination of information for the promotion of the dairy industry (7 U.S.C. § 402).

(6) Conduct research and demonstrations at Mandan, ND, related to dairy livestock breeding, growing, and feeding, and other problems pertaining to the establishment of the dairy and livestock industries (7 U.S.C. §§ 421-422).

(7) Conduct research on new uses for cotton and on cotton ginning and processing (7 U.S.C. §§ 423-424).

(8) Conduct research into the basic problems of agriculture in its broadest aspects, including, but not limited to, production, marketing (other than statistical and economic research but including research related to family use of resources), distribution, processing, and utilization of plant and animal commodities; problems of human nutrition; development of markets for agricultural commodities; discovery, introduction, and breeding of new crops, plants, animals, both foreign and native; conservation development; and development of efficient use of farm buildings, homes, and farm machinery except as otherwise delegated in §§ 2.22(a)(1)(ii) and 2.79(a)(2) (7 U.S.C. § 427, 1621-1627, 1629, 2201 and 2204).

(9) Conduct research on varietal improvement of wheat and feed grains to enhance their conservation and environmental qualities (7 U.S.C. § 428b).

(10) Administer an experienced services program to obtain technical, professional, and administrative services to support the research, education, and economics mission area of the Department (16 U.S.C. § 3851).

(11) Enter into agreements with and receive funds from any State, other political subdivision, organization, or individual for the purpose of conducting cooperative research projects (7 U.S.C. § 450a).

(12) Conduct research under the IR-4 program (7 U.S.C. § 450i(e)).

(13) Conduct research related to soil and water conservation, engineering operations, and methods of cultivation to provide for the control and prevention of soil erosion (7 U.S.C. § 1010 and 16 U.S.C. § 590a).

(14) Maintain four regional research laboratories and conduct research at such laboratories to develop new scientific, chemical, and technical uses and new and extended markets and outlets for farm commodities and products and the by-products thereof (7 U.S.C. § 1292).

(15) Conduct a Special Cotton Research Program designed to reduce the cost of producing upland cotton in the United States (7 U.S.C. § 1444a(c)).

(16) [Reserved]

(17) Conduct research to develop and determine methods for the humane slaughter of livestock (7 U.S.C. § 1904).

(18) Provide national leadership and support for research programs and other research activities in the food and agricultural sciences to meet major needs and challenges in food and agricultural system productivity; development of new food, fiber, and energy sources; agricultural energy use and production; natural resources; promotion of the health and welfare of people; human nutrition; and international food and agriculture pursuant to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. § 3101 et seq.).

(19) [Reserved]

(20) Administer the National Agricultural Science Award for research or advanced studies in the food and agricultural sciences (7 U.S.C. § 3153).

(21) Conduct program evaluations to improve the administration and effectiveness of agricultural research and education programs (7 U.S.C. § 3317).

(22) Enter into contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements to further research programs and library and related information programs supporting research, extension, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences (7 U.S.C. § 3318).

(23) Enter into cost-reimbursable agreements with State cooperative institutions or other colleges and universities for the acquisition of goods or services in support of research, extension, or teaching activities in the food and agricultural sciences, including the furtherance of library and related information programs (7 U.S.C. § 3319a).

(24) Conduct research for the development of supplemental and alternative crops (7 U.S.C. § 3319d).

(25)-(26) [Reserved]

(27) Cooperate and work with national and international institutions, Departments and Ministries of Agriculture in other nations, land-grant colleges and universities, and other persons throughout the world in the performance of agricultural research activities (7 U.S.C. § 3291).

(28) Provide a biennial report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on efforts of the Federal Government to coordinate international agricultural research within the Federal Government, and to more effectively link the activities of domestic and international agricultural researchers, particularly researchers of the Agricultural Research Service (7 U.S.C. § 3291(d)(2)).

(29) Conduct a program of basic research on cancer in animals and birds (7 U.S.C. § 3902).

(30) Promote cooperation and coordination between 1862, 1890, 1994, and NLGCA Institutions, HSACUs, and cooperating forestry schools and international partner institutions in developing countries by exercising the Secretary’s authority in 7 U.S.C. § 3292, including coordinating with the Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service to place interns from covered institutions in, or in service to benefit, developing countries.

(31) Conduct research to optimize crop and livestock production potential, integrated resource management, and integrated crop management (7 U.S.C. § 5821).

(32) Administer a national research program on genetic resources to provide for the collection, preservation, and dissemination of genetic material important to American food and agriculture production (7 U.S.C. § 5841).

(33) Conduct remote-sensing and other weather-related research (7 U.S.C. § 5852).

(34)-(37) [Reserved]

(38) Administer a grant program for risk assessment research to address concerns about the environmental effects of biotechnology (7 U.S.C. § 5921).

(39) Conduct a research initiative known as the Agricultural Genome Initiative, and make grants or enter into cooperative agreements on a competitive basis to carry out the Initiative (7 U.S.C. § 5924).

(40) Facilitate access, including through the National Agricultural Library, by research and extension professionals, farmers, and other interested persons in the United States to, and the use by those persons of, organic research conducted outside the United States (7 U.S.C. § 5925d).

(41)-(46) [Reserved]

(47) Establish a National Plant Disease Recovery System to engage in strategic long-range planning to recover from high-consequence plant transboundary diseases (7 U.S.C. § 8914(d)).

(48) Coordinate Departmental policies under the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 2601–2629).

(49) With respect to facilities and activities under his or her authority, to exercise the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to section 1-102 related to compliance with applicable pollution control standards and section 1-601 of Executive Order 12088, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 243, to enter into an inter-agency agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or an administrative consent order or a consent judgment in an appropriate State, interstate, or local agency, containing a plan and schedule to achieve and maintain compliance with applicable pollution control standards established pursuant to the following:

(i) Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as further amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments, and the Federal Facility Compliance Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.);

(ii) Federal Water Pollution Prevention and Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.);

(iii) Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq.);

(iv) Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.);

(v) Noise Control Act of 1972, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 4901 et seq.);

(vi) Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.);

(vii) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq.); and

(viii) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.).

(50) Perform research and administer grants for research and development in aquaculture (16 U.S.C. § 2804).

(51) Maintain a National Arboretum for the purposes of research and education concerning tree and plant life, and order disbursements from the Treasury, in accordance with the Act of March 4, 1927 (20 U.S.C. § 191 et seq.).

(52) Conduct research on foot-and-mouth disease and other animal diseases (21 U.S.C. § 113a).

(53)-(56) [Reserved]

(57) Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Administrator of General Services to the Secretary of Agriculture in 34 FR 6406, 36 FR 1293, 36 FR 18840, and 38 FR 23838, appoint uniformed armed guards and special policemen, make all needful rules and regulations, and annex to such rules and regulations such reasonable penalties (not to exceed those prescribed in 40 U.S.C. § 318(c)), as will insure their enforcement, for the protection of persons, property, buildings, and grounds of the Arboretum, Washington, DC; the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE.; the Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD; and the Animal Disease Center, Plum Island, NY, over which the United States has exclusive or concurrent criminal jurisdiction, in accordance with the limitations and requirements of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 U.S.C. § 471 et seq.), the Act of June 1, 1948, as amended (40 U.S.C. § 318 et seq.), and the policies, procedures, and controls prescribed by the General Services Administration. Any rules or regulations promulgated under this authority shall be approved by the Director, Office of Operations, and the General Counsel prior to issuance.

(58) Administer the Department’s Patent Program except as delegated to the General Counsel in § 2.31(a)(5).

(59) Provide management support services for the Economic Research Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service as agreed upon by the agencies with authority to take actions required by law or regulation. As used herein, the term management support services includes budget, finance, personnel, information technology, procurement, property management, communications, paperwork management, and related administrative services.

(60) With respect to land and facilities under his or her authority, exercise the functions delegated to the Secretary by Executive Order 12580, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193, under the following provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“the Act”), as amended:

(i) Sections 104 (a), (b), and (c)(4) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9604 (a), (b), and (c)(4)), with respect to removal and remedial actions in the event of release or threatened release of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant into the environment;

(ii) Sections 104(e)-(h) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9604(e)-(h)), with respect to information gathering and access requests and orders; compliance with Federal health and safety standards and wage and labor standards applicable to covered work; and emergency procurement powers;

(iii) Section 104(i)(11) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9604(i)(11)), with respect to the reduction of exposure to significant risk to human health;

(iv) Section 104(j) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9604(j)), with respect to the acquisition of real property and interests in real property required to conduct a remedial action;

(v) The first two sentences of section 105(d) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9605(d)), with respect to petitions for preliminary assessment of a release or threatened release;

(vi) Section 105(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9605(f)), with respect to consideration of the availability of qualified minority firms in awarding contracts, but excluding that portion of section 105(f) pertaining to the annual report to Congress;

(vii) Section 109 of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9609), with respect to the assessment of civil penalties for violations of section 122 of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9622), and the granting of awards to individuals providing information;

(viii) Section 111(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9611(f)), with respect to the designation of officials who may obligate money in the Hazardous Substances Superfund;

(ix) Section 113(k) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9613(k)), with respect to establishing an administrative record upon which to base the selection of a response action and identifying and notifying potentially responsible parties;

(x) Section 116(a) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9616(a)), with respect to preliminary assessment and site inspection of facilities;

(xi) Sections 117(a) and (c) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9617 (a) and (c)), with respect to public participation in the preparation of any plan for remedial action and explanation of variances from the final remedial action plan for any remedial action or enforcement action, including any settlement or consent decree entered into;

(xii) Section 119 of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9119), with respect to indemnifying response action contractors;

(xiii) Section 121 of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9621), with respect to cleanup standards; and

(xiv) Section 122 of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9622), with respect to settlements, but excluding section 122(b)(1) of the Act (42 U.S.C. § 9622(b)(1)), related to mixed funding agreements.

(61) [Reserved]

(62) Perform food and agricultural research in support of functions assigned to the Department under the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.), and title VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 5195 et seq.).

(63) Propagate bee-breeding stock and release bee germplasm to the public (7 U.S.C. § 283).

(64) Administer a National Food and Human Nutrition Research Program under the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended. As used herein the term “research” includes:

(i) Research on the nutrient composition of foods and the effects of agricultural practices, handling, food processing, and cooking on the nutrients they contain;

(ii) Surveillance of the nutritional benefits provided to participants in the food programs administered by the Department; and

(iii) Research on the factors affecting food preference and habits (7 U.S.C. §§ 3171–3173, 3175).

(65) The authority in paragraph (a)(64) of this section includes the authority to:

(i) Appraise the nutritive content of the U.S. food supply;

(ii) Develop and make available data on the nutrient composition of foods needed by Federal, State, and local agencies administering food and nutrition programs, and the general public, to improve the nutritional quality of diets;

(iii) Coordinate nutrition education research and professional education projects within the Department; and

(iv) Maintain data generated on food composition in a National Nutrient Data Bank.

(66) Conduct, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Program. Included in this delegation is the authority to:

(i) Design and carry out periodic nationwide food consumption surveys to measure household food consumption;

(ii) Design and carry out a continuous, longitudinal individual intake survey of the United States population and special high-risk groups; and

(iii) Design and carry out methodological research studies to develop improved procedures for collecting household and individual food intake consumption data;

(67) [Reserved]

(68) Provide staff support to the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics related to the Ten-Year Comprehensive Plan and the Interagency Board for Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research required by Pub. L. No. 101-445, 7 U.S.C. § 5301 et seq.

(69) Obtain and furnish excess property to eligible recipients for use in the conduct of research and extension programs.

(70) [Reserved]

(71) Establish and maintain a Food Safety Research Information Office at the National Agricultural Library to provide to the research community and the general public information on publicly and privately funded food safety research initiatives (7 U.S.C. § 7654(a)).

(72) Develop and maintain library and information systems and networks and facilitate cooperation and coordination of the agricultural libraries of colleges, universities, USDA, and their closely allied information gathering and dissemination units in conjunction with private industry and other research libraries (7 U.S.C. § 2201, 2204, 3125a, and 3126).

(73) Accept gifts and order disbursements from the Treasury for the benefit of the National Agricultural Library or for the carrying out of any of its functions (7 U.S.C. §§ 2264–2265).

(74) Provide for the dissemination of appropriate rural health and safety information resources possessed by the National Agricultural Library Rural Information Center, in cooperation with State educational program efforts (7 U.S.C. § 2662).

(75) Provide national leadership in the development and maintenance of library and related information systems and other activities to support the research, extension, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences pursuant to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. § 3101 and 3121).

(76) Administer the programs and services of the National Agricultural Library consistent with its charge to serve as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States and enter into agreements and receive funds from various entities to conduct National Agricultural Library activities (7 U.S.C. § 3125a).

(77) Provide and distribute information and data about Federal, State, local, and other rural development assistance programs and services available to individuals and organizations. To the extent possible, the National Agricultural Library shall use telecommunications technology to disseminate such information to rural areas (7 U.S.C. § 3125b).

(78) Assemble and collect food and nutrition educational materials, including the results of nutrition research, training methods, procedures, and other materials related to the purposes of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended; maintain such information; and provide for the dissemination of such information and materials on a regular basis to State educational agencies and other interested parties (7 U.S.C. § 3126).

(79) Conduct program evaluations to improve the administration and efficacy of the National Agricultural Library and related information systems in the food and agricultural sciences (7 U.S.C. § 3317).

(80) Administer the National Agricultural Library, including the farmland information center, pursuant to section 1544(b) of the Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. § 4205(b)).

(81) Support Department water programs through participation in State water quality coordination programs and dissemination of agrichemical information (7 U.S.C. §§ 5503-5506).

(82)-(83) [Reserved]

(84) Represent the Department on all library and information science matters before Congressional Committees and appropriate commissions, and provide representation to the coordinating committees of the Federal and State governments concerned with library and information science activities.

(85) Represent the Department in international organizational activities and on international technical committees concerned with library and information science activities.

(86) Prepare and disseminate computer files, indexes and abstracts, bibliographies, reviews and other analytical information tools.

(87) Arrange for the consolidated purchasing and dissemination of printed and automated indexes, abstracts, journals, and other widely used information resources and services.

(88) Provide assistance and support to professional organizations and others concerned with library and information science matters and issues.

(89) Copy and deliver on demand selected articles and other materials from the National Agricultural Library’s collections by photographic reproduction or other means within the permissions, constraints, and limitations of sections 106, 107, and 108 of the Copyright Act of October 19, 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 106, 107 and 108).

(90) Formulate, write, or prescribe bibliographic and technically related standards for the library and information services of USDA (7 U.S.C. § 3125a et seq.).

(91) Assure the acquisition, preservation, and accessibility of all information concerning food and agriculture by providing leadership to and coordination of the acquisition programs and related activities of the library and information systems, with the agencies of USDA, other Federal departments and agencies, State agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, and other research institutions and organizations.

(92) Determine by survey or other appropriate means, the information needs of the Department’s scientific, professional, technical, and administrative staffs, its constituencies, and the general public in the areas of food, agriculture, the environment, and other related areas.

(93) Review cooperative research and development agreements entered into pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §§ 3710a–3710c, with authority to disapprove or require the modification of any such agreement.

(94) Administer the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center (16 U.S.C. § 778 et seq.; Pub. L. 104-127, sec. 889).

(95) Provide technical and educational assistance to conserve and enhance private grazing land resources (16 U.S.C. § 2005b).

(96) Provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (16 U.S.C. § 3830 et seq.).

(97) Enter into cooperative research and development agreements with industry, universities, and others; institute a cash award program to reward scientific, engineering, and technical personnel; award royalties to inventors; and retain and use royalty income (15 U.S.C. §§ 3710a–3710c).

(98) Coordinate USDA activities delegated under 15 U.S.C. §§ 3710a–3710c.

(99) Ensure that agricultural research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) addresses a concern that is a priority and has national, multistate, or regional significance (7 U.S.C. § 7611).

(100) Solicit and consider input and recommendations from persons who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or education (7 U.S.C. § 7612(b)).

(101) Consider the results of the annual review performed by the Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board regarding the relevance to priorities of the funding of all agricultural research, extension, or education activities conducted or funded by the Department and the adequacy of funding when formulating each request for proposals, and evaluating proposals, involving an agricultural research, extension, or education activity funded, on a competitive basis, by the Department; and solicit and consider input from persons who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or education regarding the prior year’s request for proposals for each activity funded on a competitive basis (7 U.S.C. § 7613(c)).

(102) Establish procedures that ensure scientific peer review of all research activities conducted by the Agricultural Research Service (7 U.S.C. § 7613(d)).

(103) Coordinate the resources of the Department to develop, commercialize, and promote the use of biobased products, and enter into cooperative agreements with private entities to operate pilot plants and other large-scale preparation facilities under which the facilities and technical expertise of the Agricultural Research Service may be made available (7 U.S.C. § 7624).

(104) Administer grants to consortia of land-grant colleges and universities to enhance the ability of the consortia to carry out multi-State research projects aimed at understanding and combating diseases of wheat, triticale, and barley caused by Fusarium graminearum and related fungi or Tilletia indica and related fungi (7 U.S.C. § 7628).

(105) Administer a program of fees to support the Patent Culture Collection maintained and operated by the Agricultural Research Service (7 U.S.C. § 7641).

(106) Update on a periodic basis, nutrient composition data, and report to Congress the method that will be used to update the data and the timing of the update (7 U.S.C. § 7651).

(107) Ensure that each research activity conducted by an Agricultural Research Service facility serves a national or multistate need (7 U.S.C. § 390a(e)).

(108) Exchange, sell, or otherwise dispose of animals, animal products, plants, and plant products, and use the sale or other proceeds to acquire such items or to offset costs related to the maintenance, care, or feeding of such items (7 U.S.C. § 2241a).

(109) Establish and administer a pilot program at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and National Agricultural Library to lease nonexcess property (7 U.S.C. § 3125a note).

(110) Lease land at the Grazinglands Research Laboratory at El Reno, Oklahoma, pursuant to section 7503 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246).

(111) Administer a natural products research program (7 U.S.C. § 5937).

(112) Provide staff support to the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics related to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (7 U.S.C. § 3123).

(113) Carry out pollinator health research activities (7 U.S.C. § 5925(g)(2)).

(114) Enter into grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other legal instruments with former Department of Agriculture agricultural research facilities (7 U.S.C. § 3315(b)).

(115) Enter into cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education regarding the dissemination of agricultural and food law research, legal tools, and information (7 U.S.C. §§ 3125a–1).

(b) [Reserved]

[60 FR 56393, Nov. 8, 1995, as amended at 62 FR 65594, Dec. 15, 1997; 65 FR 5416, Feb. 4, 2000; 68 FR 27445, May 20, 2003; 74 FR 3409, Jan. 21, 2009; 75 FR 43381, July 23, 2010; 76 FR 4802, 4803, Jan. 27, 2011; 79 FR 44115, July 30, 2014; 83 FR 61314, Nov. 29, 2018; 85 FR 65520, Oct. 15, 2020; 87 FR 44270, July 26, 2022]