Department of Agriculture, Commodity Credit Corporation, Farm Service Agency: Farm Reconstitutions and Market Assistance for Cottonseed, Tobacco, and Wool and Mohair
Highlights
GAO reviewed the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) new rule on provisions of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000. GAO noted that: (1) the rule would relate to market assistance programs for cottonseed, tobacco, and wool and mohair; and (2) FSA complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.
Department of Agriculture, Commodity Credit Corporation, Farm Service Agency: Farm Reconstitutions and Market Assistance for Cottonseed, Tobacco, and Wool and Mohair, OGC-01-12, November 16, 2000
The Honorable Richard G. Lugar
Chairman
The Honorable Tom Harkin
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
United States Senate
The Honorable Larry Combest
Chairman
The Honorable Charles W. Stenholm
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Agriculture
House of Representatives
Subject: Department of Agriculture, Commodity Credit Corporation, Farm Service Agency: Farm Reconstitutions and Market Assistance for Cottonseed, Tobacco, and Wool and Mohair
Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Department of Agriculture, Commodity Credit Corporation, Farm Service Agency, entitled "Farm Reconstitutions and Market Assistance for Cottonseed, Tobacco, and Wool and Mohair" (RIN: 0560-AG19). We received the rule on October 30, 2000. It was published in the Federal Register as a final rule on November 2, 2000. 65 Fed. Reg. 65718.
The final rule implements provisions of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (ARPA) related to the market assistance programs for cottonseed, tobacco, and wool and mohair.
Enclosed is our assessment of Agriculture's compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that Agriculture complied with the applicable requirements.
If you have any questions about this report, please contact James W. Vickers, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8210. The official responsible for GAO evaluation work relating to the subject matter of the rule is Larry Dyckman, Director, Natural Resources and Environment. Mr. Dyckman can be reached at (202) 512-3841.
Kathleen E. Wannisky
Managing Associate General Counsel
Enclosure
ENCLOSURE
ANALYSIS UNDER 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(B)(i)-(iv) OF A MAJOR RULE
ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION,
FARM SERVICE AGENCY
ENTITLED
"FARM RECONSTITUTIONS AND MARKET ASSISTANCE
FOR COTTONSEED, TOBACCO, AND WOOL AND MOHAIR"
(RIN: 0560-AG19)
(i) Cost-benefit analysis
Outlays under the programs implemented by this final rule will total approximately $450 million.
(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 603-605, 607, and 609
Since the final rule was not published as a proposed rule, it is not subject to the requirements of the act.
(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1532-1535
The final rule does not contain an intergovernmental or private sector mandate, as defined in title II, of over $100 million in any one year.
(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under acts and executive orders
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.
Section 263 of the ARPA permitted the final rule to be issued without regard to the notice and comment procedures contained in 5 U.S.C. 553.
Likewise, section 263 permitted the Farm Service Agency and the Commodity Credit Corporation to utilize the authority in 5 U.S.C. 808 to make the final rule effective when the agencies determined, thereby negating the 60-day delay in the effective date of a major rule required by 5 U.S.C. 801 to permit congressional review of the rulemaking.
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520
Section 263 of the ARPA provides that the final rule should be issued as soon as practicable and without regard to the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Statutory authorization for the rule
The final rule is issued pursuant to the authority contained in the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-224).
Executive Order No. 12866
The final rule was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget and determined to be an "economically significant" regulatory action under the order.
Executive Order No. 13132 (Federalism)
The final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.