204.3—Delegation of authority.
(a) Deputy Administrator.
Under the direction of the Administrator, the Deputy Administrator is hereby delegated authority to perform all the duties and exercise all the functions and powers which are now or which may hereafter be, vested in the Administrator (including the power of redelegation).
(b) Division Directors.
The Directors of the Industry Analysis Staff, the Livestock Marketing Division, and the Packer and Poultry Division, under administrative and technical direction of the Administrator and the Deputy Administrator, are hereby individually delegated authority, in connection with the respective functions assigned to each of said organizational units in § 204.2 to perform all the duties and to exercise all the functions and powers which are now, or which may hereafter be, vested in the Administrator (including the power of redelegation) except such authority as is reserved to the Administrator and Deputy Administrator under paragraph (g) of this section.
(c) Regional Supervisors.
(1)
The Regional Supervisors of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs) are hereby individually delegated authority under the provisions of section 402 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended (7 U.S.C. 222 ), to issue special orders pursuant to the provisions of section 6(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 46(b) ), and, with respect thereto, to issue notices of default provided for in section 10 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 50 ); to notify persons deemed to be subject to the bonding requirements in 7 U.S.C. 204 of their obligations to file bonds or trust fund agreements in conformity with regulations issued under this chapter including authority to determine that a bond is inadequate under § 201.30(f) of this chapter and to give notice to the person of the amount of bond required; to notify persons deemed to be subject to the reporting requirements in § 201.97 of this chapter of their obligations to file annual reports; and to grant reasonable requests for extensions of 30 days or less for the filing of such annual reports.
(2)
The Regional Supervisors are hereby individually delegated authority, when there is reason to believe that there is a question as to the true ownership of livestock sold by any person, to disclose information relating to such questionable ownership to any interested person.
(d) Investigative employees.
All employees of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs) assigned to or responsible for investigations in the enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended (7 U.S.C. 181
et seq. ), or the enforcement of the Truth-in-Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1601-166 5), with respect to any activities subject to the Packers and Stockyards Act, are hereby individually delegated authority under the Act of January 31, 1925, 43 Stat. 803, 7 U.S.C. 2217, to administer to or take from any person an oath, affirmation, or affidavit whenever such oath, affirmation, or affidavit is for use in any prosecution or proceeding under or in the enforcement of the aforementioned Acts. This authority may not be redelegated and will automatically expire upon the termination of the employment of such employees with the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs).
(e) Concurrent authority.
No delegation prescribed herein shall preclude the Administrator or Deputy Administrator from exercising any of the powers or functions or from performing any of the duties conferred upon them, and any such delegation is subject at all times to withdrawal or amendment by the Administrator or Deputy Administrator or the Division Director responsible for the function involved.
(f) Prior delegations.
All prior delegations and redelegations of authority relating to any function or activity covered by these delegations of authority shall remain in effect except as they are inconsistent herewith or are hereafter amended or revoked. Nothing herein shall affect the validity of any action heretofore taken under prior delegations or redelegations of authority or assignment of functions.
(g) Reservations of authority.
It is hereby reserved to the Administrator and Deputy Administrator authority with respect to proposed rulemaking and final action for the issuance of regulations ( § 201.1 of this chapteret seq. ), rules of practice governing proceedings ( § 202.1 of this chapteret seq. ), and statements of general policy ( § 203.1 of this chapteret seq. ), and the issuance of moving papers as prescribed in the rules of practice governing formal adjudicatory administrative proceedings instituted by the Secretary ( 7 CFR part 1, subpart H, § 1.133 ); and the authority to make final determinations in accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR part 1, subpart A, as to the availability of official records and information made or obtained in connection with the administration of the Packers and Stockyards Act which are considered exempt from disclosure under § 204.7 of this part. Further, authority to issue subpoenas (7 U.S.C. 222 and 15 U.S.C. 49) is reserved to the Administrator and Deputy Administrator.