[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51759-51760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26216]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

7 CFR Part 0


Employee Responsibilities and Conduct

AGENCY: Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (Department) is repealing its 
internal standards of conduct regulations as part of the National 
Performance Review (NPR) program to eliminate unnecessary regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These regulations are effective October 3, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David L. Spradlin, Program Manager for Employee Relations, Office of 
Human Resources Management, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 18-W--
Stop 9601, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20250-9601, 
telephone (202) 720-3327.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Removal of 7 CFR Part 0 promotes the goal of the NPR to reduce the 
number of Federal regulations. Also, the Department employee 
responsibilities and conduct regulations largely have been superseded 
by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) executive branch financial 
disclosure regulations at 5 CFR Part 2634, ``Executive Branch Financial 
Disclosure, Qualified Trusts, and Certificates of Divestiture,'' and by 
the executive branch-wide standards at 5 CFR Part 2635, ``Standards of 
Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch.'' Therefore, the 
Department is repealing all of existing 7 CFR Part 0.

II. Matters of Regulatory Procedure

Administrative Procedure Act

    The Department has found that good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553 
for waiving, as unnecessary and contrary to public interest, the 
general notice of proposed rulemaking and the 30-day delay in 
effectiveness as to this final rule. This rulemaking is related to 
Department personnel.

[[Page 51760]]

Congressional Review

    The Department has found that this rulemaking is not a rule as 
defined in 5 U.S.C. 804 and does not require review by Congress. This 
rulemaking is related to Department personnel.

Executive Order 12866

    Since this rule relates to Personnel, it is exempt from the 
provision of Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department has determined under the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(5 U.S.C. Chapter 6) that this regulation will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because it 
affects only Department employees.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Department has determined that the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35) does not apply because this regulation does not 
contain any information collection requirements that require the 
approval of the Office of Management and Budget.

Environmental Impact

    This decision will not have a significant impact upon the quality 
of the human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Dated: September 24, 1997.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department is 
amending Title 7, Subtitle A, of the Code of Federal Regulations as 
follows:

TITLE 7--[AMENDED]

SUBTITLE A--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

PART 0--[REMOVED]

    Part 0 of 7 CFR Subtitle A is removed.

[FR Doc. 97-26216 Filed 10-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M