Section 2.42 - Administrator, Farm Service Agency(a)Delegations. Pursuant to § 2.16(a)(1) and (2) and (a)(6) through (8) , subject to the reservations in § 2.16(b)(1) , the following delegations of authority are made by the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation to the Administrator, Farm Service Agency: (1) Formulate policies and administer programs authorized by the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1282 et seq.).(2) Formulate policies and administer programs authorized by the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1441 et seq.), except the provisions of section 416(a)(1), (a)(2) and (b) of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, unless specifically provided herein.(5)Related to defense and emergency preparedness.(ii) Administer functions delegated by the President to the Secretary under Executive Order 13603, "National Defense Resources Preparedness" ( 3 CFR, 2012 Comp., p. 225), and Executive Order 12742, "National Security Industrial Responsiveness" ( 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 309), including administration of an Agriculture Priorities and Allocations System.(6) Administer the Emergency Conservation Program under the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, as amended (16 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.).(8) Conduct assigned activities under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stockpiling Act, as amended (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.).(9) Supervise and direct Farm Service Agency State and county offices and designate functions to be performed by Farm Service Agency State and county committees.(10) Administer the Dairy Indemnity Program under the Act of August 13, 1968, as amended (7 U.S.C. 4551 et seq.).(11) Administer procurement, processing, handling, distribution, disposition, transportation, payment, and related services with respect to surplus removal and supply operations which are carried out under section 210 of the Agricultural Act of 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1859 ), the Act of August 19, 1958, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1431 note), and section 709 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1965, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1446a-1 ), except as delegated to the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services in § 2.19 and to the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs in § 2.16(a)(3) , and assist the Food and Consumer Service and the Agricultural Marketing Service in the procurement, handling, payment, and related services under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, as amended (7 U.S.C. 612c ), the Act of June 28, 1937, as amended ( 7 U.S.C. 713c ), the National School Lunch Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), section 8 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1777 ), section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3030a ), and section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973, as amended (7 U.S.C. 612c note), and section 1114 of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (7 U.S.C. 1431e ).(14) Administer the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) except those functions delegated in § 2.21(a)(8)(xi) .(15) Administer energy management activities as assigned.(16) Conduct producer referenda of commodity promotion programs under the Beef Research and Information Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.) and the Agricultural Promotion Programs Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6001 et seq.).(17) Conduct field operations of diversion programs for fresh fruits and vegetables under section 32 of the Act of August 29, 1935.(19) Collect, summarize, and publish data on the production, distribution, and stocks of sugar.(20) Formulate and carry out the Conservation Reserve Program, including the implementation of technical assistance, under the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended ( 16 U.S.C. 1231 et seq.), and the functions of the Grassland Reserve Program transferred to the Conservation Reserve Program.(21) Carry out functions relating to highly erodible land and wetland conservation under sections 1211-1213 and 1221-1223 of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3811 - 3813 and 3821 - 3823 ).(22) 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 petition 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.(23) 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.).(27) Formulate and administer regulations regarding program ineligibility resulting from convictions under Federal or State law of planting, cultivating, growing, producing, harvesting, or storing a controlled substance, as required under section 1764 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 21 U.S.C. 881a ).(28) Administer the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) except for the authority contained in the following sections: (ii) Section 306 (7 U.S.C. 1926 ), relating to all programs in that section;(iii) Section 306A (7 U.S.C. 1926a ) and section 306B (7 U.S.C. 1926b ), relating to the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant Programs, and section 306D (7 U.S.C. 1926d ), relating to water systems for rural Alaskan Native Villages;(iv) Section 306C (7 U.S.C. 1926c ) to administer the water and waste facility loans and grants to alleviate health risks;(v) Sections 309 (7 U.S.C. 1929 ) and 309A (7 U.S.C. 1929a ), regarding assets and programs related to rural development;(vi) Section 310A (7 U.S.C. 1931 ), relating to watershed and resource conservation and development loans;(vii) Section 310B (7 U.S.C. 1932 ), regarding various Rural Development programs;(viii) Section 310C (7 U.S.C. 1933 ), relating to housing program interest rates;(ix) Section 310G (7 U.S.C. 1936a ), relating to the use of rural development loans and grants for other purposes, and section 353A (7 U.S.C. 2001a ), relating to the servicing of community facilities loans;(x) Section 364 (7 U.S.C. 2006f ) and section 365 (7 U.S.C. 2008 );(xi) Administrative provisions of subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act related to Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Housing Service activities.(xii) Section 375 (7 U.S.C. 2008j ), relating to the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center.(xiii) Sections 379 (7 U.S.C. 2008n ) through 379G (7 U.S.C. 2008u ) and subtitles E through I (7 U.S.C. 2009 - 2009dd - 7 ) relating to rural development programs and activities.(29) Collect, service, and liquidate loans made or insured by the Farm Service Agency, or its predecessor agencies.(30) Administer the Rural Rehabilitation Corporation Trust Liquidation Act ( 40 U.S.C. 440 et seq.), and trust, liquidation, and other agreements entered into pursuant thereto.(31) Establish programs with any bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), or with other agencies within USDA, in support of the Service First initiative for the purpose of promoting customer service and efficiency, including delegating to employees of DOI and other USDA agencies the authorities of the Farm Service Agency necessary to carry out projects on behalf of USDA (43 U.S.C. 1703 ).(32) Administer Farmers Home Administration or any successor agency assets conveyed in trust under the Participation Sales Act of 1966 (12 U.S.C. 1717 ).(33) Administer the emergency loan and guarantee programs under sections 232, 234, 237, and 253 of the Disaster Relief Act of 1970 (Pub. L. No. 91-606), the Disaster Relief Act of 1969 (Pub. L. No. 91-79), Pub. L. No. 92-385, approved August 16, 1972, and the Emergency Livestock Credit Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-357), as amended.(34) Administer loans to homestead or desertland entrymen and purchasers of land in reclamation projects or to an entryman under the desertland law (7 U.S.C. 1006a and 1006b ).(36) Service, collect, settle, and liquidate: (i) Deferred land purchase obligations of individuals under the Wheeler-Case Act of August 11, 1939, as amended (16 U.S.C. 590y ), and under the item, "Water Conservation and Utilization projects" in the Department of the Interior Appropriation Act, 1940 (53 Stat. 719), as amended;(ii) Puerto Rican Hurricane Relief loans under the Act of July 11, 1956 (70 Stat. 525); and(iii) Loans made in conformance with section 4 of the Southeast Hurricane Disaster Relief Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 1301).(37) Administer loans to Indian tribes, tribal corporations, and purchasers of highly fractionated land (25 U.S.C. 488 - 492 ).(38) Administer the State Agricultural Loan Mediation Program under title 5 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.).(39) Administer financial assistance programs relating to Economic Opportunity Loans to Cooperatives under part A of title III and part D of title I and the necessarily related functions in title VI of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended ( 42 U.S.C. 2763-2768, 2841-2855, 2942, 2943(b), 2961 ), delegated by the Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity to the Secretary of Agriculture by documents dated October 23, 1964 (29 FR 14764), and June 17, 1968 (33 FR 9850), respectively.(40) Exercise all authority and discretion vested in the Secretary by section 331(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended by section 2 of the Farmers Home Administration Improvement Act of 1994, Pub. L. No. 103-248 (7 U.S.C. 1981(c) ), including the following:(i) Determine, with the concurrence of the General Counsel, which actions are to be referred to the Department of Justice for the conduct of litigation, and refer such actions to the Department of Justice through the General Counsel;(ii) Determine, with the concurrence of the General Counsel, which actions are to be referred to the General Counsel, for the conduct of litigation and refer such actions; and(iii) Enter into contracts with private sector attorneys for the conduct of litigation, with the concurrence of the General Counsel, after determining that the attorneys will provide competent and cost effective representation for the Farm Service Agency.(43) Determine the type and quantity of commodities that are available for programming under section 416(b) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1431(b) ), and the Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o ), and arrange for the processing, packaging, transportation, handling and delivery to port of such commodities in connection therewith.(45) Administer all programs of the Commodity Credit Corporation that provide assistance with respect to the production of agricultural commodities or the income of producers, including disaster assistance and the domestic marketing of such commodities, except as may otherwise be reserved by the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, and similar programs (including commodity quality development programs) consigned by statute to the Secretary of Agriculture unless otherwise delegated.(46) Administer the following provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 with respect to functions otherwise delegated to the Administrator, Farm Service Agency: (i) The equitable relief provisions of section 1613 (7 U.S.C. 7996 ).(ii) The tracking of benefits under section 1614 (7 U.S.C. 7997 ).(47) Administer programs for Apple Loans and Emergency Loans for Seed Producers under section 203(f) and 253, respectively, of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1421 note, Pub. L. 106-224).(48) Administer evaluations of direct and guaranteed loan programs under section 5301 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1992 note).(49) Formulate and carry out the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program, authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-2 ).(50) Administer cooperative agreements authorized under 7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4) as follows: (i) Administer cooperative agreements with respect to conservation programs;(ii) Administer cooperative agreements with Federal agencies, State, local, and tribal governments, nongovernmental organizations, and educational institutions related to outreach and technical assistance for programs carried out by the Farm Service Agency, and, where such cooperative agreements focus on outreach activities to beginning, underserved, or veteran producers, coordinate with the Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach to reduce potential duplication.(51) Administer the feedstock flexibility program for bioenergy producers under section 9010 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8110 ) and the biomass crop assistance program under section 9011 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 8111 ).(54) Implement the authority in section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841 ) to accept and use voluntary contributions of non-Federal funds in support of natural resources conservation programs under subtitle D of title XII of that Act with respect to authorities delegated to the Administrator, Farm Service Agency.(55) In coordination with the Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach, issue receipts under section 2501A(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279-1(e) ).(56) Administer the following provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 110-246:(ii) Section 1609 relating to the tracking of benefits.(iv) Section 1613 relating to the durum wheat quality program.(v) Section 1621 relating to direct reimbursement payments to geographically disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.(viii) Section 14212 relating to the closure or relocation of county or field offices of the Farm Service Agency.(57) Implement the information disclosure authorities of section 1619(b)(3)(A) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8791(b)(3)(A) ).(58) Administer the following provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014, Public Law 113-79, as amended: (i) Sections 1401-1410 relating to a margin protection program for dairy producers (7 U.S.C. 9051 - 9060 ), and section 1431 relating to a dairy product donation program (7 U.S.C. 9071 ).(ii) Section 1612 relating to the tracking of benefits (7 U.S.C. 9095 ).(iii) Section 12314 relating to the Pima Agriculture Cotton Trust Fund (7 U.S.C. 2101 note), in coordination with the Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.(iv) Section 12315 relating to the Agriculture Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund (7 U.S.C. 7101 note), in coordination with the Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.(59) Enter into cooperative agreements under section 1472(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3318(b) ) for the purpose of implementing section 1614(c)(3) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9097(c) ).(60) Administer the funds made available to the Office of the Secretary under Title I of Subdivision B, Further Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018, Public Law 115-123.(61) Administer the Organic Certification Cost Share Programs authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)(4)(C)(ii) , and under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, as amended by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 6523 ).(62) Determine the agricultural commodities acquired under price support programs which are available for export.(63) Administer the following provisions of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 116-334: (i) Section 5413 relating to reporting on farm loans (7 U.S.C. 2008x ).(ii) Section 12304 relating to the National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator (7 U.S.C. 6934a ).(iii) Section 12612 relating to a national agriculture imagery program (7 U.S.C. 2204j ).(iv) Section 12615 relating to the eligibility for farm operators on heirs' property to obtain a farm loan number (7 U.S.C. 2266b ).(b)Reservations. The following authorities are reserved to the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation:(1) Designating counties and areas for emergency programs under Pub. L. No. 85-58, as amended.(2) Making and issuing notes to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purposes of the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund as authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1929 ).60 FR 56393, Nov. 8, 1995, as amended at 61 FR 25776, May 23, 1996; 61 FR 37552, July 18, 1996; 62 FR 1031, Jan. 8, 1997; 62 FR 19901, Apr. 24, 1997; 68 FR 27443 , May 20, 2003; 69 FR 34254 , June 21, 2004; 71 FR 35491 , June 21, 2006; 71 FR 51421 , Aug. 30, 2006; 74 FR 3406 , Jan. 21, 2009; 75 FR 43380 , July 23, 2010; 78 FR 40938 , July 9, 2013; 79 FR 44112 , July 30, 2014; 80 FR 58338 , Sept. 29, 2015; 83 FR 22184 , May 14, 2018; 83 FR 61313 , Nov. 29, 2018; 85 FR 65514 , Oct. 15, 2020; 87 FR 44269 , July 26, 2022; 89 FR 80075 , Oct. 2, 2024 83 FR 22184, 5/14/2018; 83 FR 61313, 11/29/2018; 85 FR 65514, 10/15/2020; 87 FR 44269, 7/26/2022; 89 FR 80075 , 10/2/2024