1.25—Implementing regulations for the Office of the Secretary and the Office of Communications.
(a)
For the Office of the Secretary and for the Office of Communications, the regulations required by § 1.3 are as follows:
(1)
Records available for public inspection and copying may be obtained in Room 536-A, Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, USDA, Washington, DC 20250 during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by prior appointment;
(2)
Any indexes and supplements which are maintained in accordance with the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) and § 1.5(b) will also be available in Room 536-A, Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, USDA, Washington, DC 20250 during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
(3)
The person authorized to receive Freedom of Information Act requests and to determine whether to grant or deny such requests is the FOIA Officer, Office of Communications, USDA, Washington, DC 20250;
(4)
The official authorized to receive appeals from denial of FOIA requests and to determine whether to grant or deny such appeals is the Director of Communications, Office of Communications, USDA, Washington, DC 20250.
(b)
The organization and functions of the Office of the Secretary and the Office of Communications is as follows:
(1)
The Office of the Secretary provides the overall policy guidance and direction of the activities of the Department of Agriculture. Department-wide policy statements and announcements are made from this office.
(2)
The Office of the Secretary consists of the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and other staff members.
(3)
In the absence of the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary, responsibility for the operation of the Department of Agriculture is as delegated at part 2, subpart A, of this title.
(4)
The Office of Communications provides policy direction, review, and coordination of public information programs of the Department of Agriculture. The Office of Communications has responsibility for maintaining the flow of information to the mass communications media, various constituency groups, and the general public.
(5)
The Office of Communications is headed by the Director of Communications. In the Director's absence, the Office of Communications is headed by the Deputy Director.