83_FR_10874 83 FR 10825 - Strengthening Civil Rights Management

83 FR 10825 - Strengthening Civil Rights Management

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 49 (March 13, 2018)

Page Range10825-10826
FR Document2018-05051

Consistent with Executive Order 13781, ``Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch,'' and using the authority of the Secretary to reorganize the Department under section 4(a) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting public comment on a proposed realignment of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR), which will improve customer service, better align functions within the organization, and ensure improved consistency, resource management, and strategic decision-making.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10825-10826]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05051]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Strengthening Civil Rights Management

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Request for Information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: Consistent with Executive Order 13781, ``Comprehensive Plan 
for Reorganizing the Executive Branch,'' and using the authority of the 
Secretary to reorganize the Department under section 4(a) of 
Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) is soliciting public comment on a proposed realignment of the 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR), which will 
improve customer service, better align functions within the 
organization, and ensure improved consistency, resource management, and 
strategic decision-making.

DATES: Comments and information are requested on or before March 25, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this notice. All submissions must refer to ``Improving Civil Rights'' 
to ensure proper delivery.
     Electronic Submission of Comments. Interested persons may 
submit comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
http://www.regulations.gov. USDA strongly encourages commenters to 
submit comments electronically. Electronic submission of comments 
allows the commenter maximum time to prepare and submit a comment, and 
ensures timely receipt by USDA. Commenters should follow the 
instructions provided on that site to submit comments electronically.
     Submission of Comments by Mail, Hand Delivery, or Courier. 
Paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to the Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, USDA, Jamie L. Whitten 
Building, Room 507-W, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Winona Lake Scott, Telephone 
Number: (202) 720-3808, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA is committed to operating efficiently, 
effectively, and with integrity, and minimizing the burdens on 
individuals, businesses, and communities for participation in and 
compliance with USDA programs. USDA works to support the American 
agricultural economy to strengthen rural communities; to protect and 
conserve our natural resources; and to provide a safe, sufficient, and 
nutritious food supply for the American people. The Department's wide 
range of programs and responsibilities touches the lives of every 
American every day.

I. Executive Order 13781

    Executive Order 13781, ``Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the 
Executive Branch'', is intended to improve the efficiency, 
effectiveness, and accountability of the executive branch. The 
principles in the Executive Order provide the basis for taking actions 
to enhance and strengthen the delivery of USDA programs.

II. Reorganization Actions

    On March 9, 2018, Secretary Perdue will be announcing his intent to 
take actions to strengthen civil rights and customer service at USDA by 
taking the following actions to ensure integrity, consistency, and 
fairness:
     USDA will eliminate inefficiencies in delivering civil 
rights services at the agency and staff office level, thereby resulting 
in improved civil rights management. Under the realignment, a Civil 
Rights Director and appropriate Equal Opportunity staff will be aligned 
as follows:
    (1) Departmental Administration, staff offices, and Trade and 
Foreign Agricultural Affairs will share civil rights resources;
    (2) Each remaining Departmental Mission Area will consolidate its 
sub-

[[Page 10826]]

agency resources at the Mission Area level; and
    (3) The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) shall have an 
independent Civil Rights Director.
     OASCR will direct all Departmental civil rights 
activities, including those of the Mission Areas, Departmental 
Administration, staff offices, and to the extent appropriate and 
lawful, OIG. The delegations for the Assistant Secretary for Civil 
Rights shall be revised as necessary to reflect OASCR's direct 
responsibility in providing civil rights policy direction to Mission 
Area and other Civil Rights Directors and Civil Rights staff and 
conveying the clear guidance of the Office of the Secretary on all 
civil rights issues.
     OASCR will implement a timely, fair, transparent, and 
consistent approach to addressing all Equal Employment Opportunity or 
program complaints, including those based on discrimination, 
harassment, and retaliation that shall be adopted by all Mission Areas, 
Departmental Administration, staff offices and, to the extent 
appropriate and lawful, OIG.
     OASCR will direct an effective, robust, and compliant 
mandatory civil rights training program for all staff, including 
Mission Areas, Departmental Administration, staff offices and, to the 
extent appropriate and lawful, OIG.
     OASCR will monitor and evaluate the implementation of the 
reasonable accommodation process by the Mission Areas, Departmental 
Management, staff offices and, to the extent appropriate and lawful, 
OIG.
     OASCR will not address matters that Office of Human 
Resource Management (OHRM) handles exclusively, such as setting human 
resources policy, investigating and evaluating harassment allegations 
for misconduct, and reviewing and advising on requests for reasonable 
accommodations, but will serve as a collaborative partner with OHRM on 
all appropriate issues affecting civil rights policy, implementation, 
and compliance.
     OASCR will request the Mission Areas to provide a list of 
all civil rights positions on-board (full-time, part-time, or 
collateral duty) within 30 days from issuance of this Memorandum to 
determine staff needs to effectuate the purpose of this Memorandum.
     Mission Areas, Departmental Administration, and the Staff 
Offices will implement all organizational changes necessary to 
effectuate the civil rights staff realignments indicated above based 
upon the direction of OASCR. When conducting any reorganizations, the 
Mission Areas, Departmental Administration, and Staff Offices will 
adhere to all relevant Departmental Directives, including Departmental 
Regulation 1010 and the corresponding Congressional notification 
requirements.
     OASCR will eliminate the position of Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR), so as to flatten the organization 
with the Associate Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights assuming the 
responsibilities of the Deputy ASCR.
     OASCR will eliminate its Policy Division, which is no 
longer necessary in an era of decreased regulations, and will perform 
reduced policy functions with staff from other areas of the 
organization.
     OASCR will eliminate its Training and Cultural 
Transformation Division and will develop training with staff from other 
areas of the organization.
     OASCR will eliminate its Early Resolution and Complaint 
Division, and the Department will carry out informal counseling within 
each Mission Area, with coordination from a Mission Area Liaison within 
OASCR.
     OASCR's career Senior Executive Service (SES) Director for 
the Office of Compliance, Policy, Training and Cultural Transformation 
will be reclassified as the career SES Executive Director for Civil 
Rights Operations, a position responsible for managing the Mission Area 
Liaison, the Compliance Division, and the Data and Records Management 
Division over customer service, data, and information technology. The 
largest component in this part of the OASCR organization is the 
Compliance Division, which will continue addressing compliance 
reporting to oversight entities as well as limited regulatory and 
policy review.
     OASCR's career SES Director for the Office of Adjudication 
will be reclassified as the career SES Executive Director for Civil 
Rights Enforcement, a position responsible for leading not only the 
Office of Adjudication, but also the Program Planning, and 
Accountability Division over budget, contracting and procurement, human 
resources management, facilities management, strategic planning, and 
Continuity of Operations for OASCR. The largest component of this part 
of the OASCR organization is the Office of Adjudication is responsible 
for intake, investigation, and adjudication of employment 
discrimination complaints from USDA employees and program complaints of 
discrimination arising within any program conducted or assisted by 
USDA.

III. Request for Information

    USDA is seeking public comment on these actions and notes that this 
notice is issued solely for information and program-planning purposes. 
While responses to this notice do not bind USDA to any further actions, 
all submissions will be reviewed by the appropriate program office, and 
made publicly available on http://www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: March 8, 2018.
Winona Lake Scott,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
[FR Doc. 2018-05051 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Notices 10825 Rural Utility Service for the various servicing authorities. submission of comments allows the Title: 7 CFR 1780, Water and Waste Servicing actions become necessary due commenter maximum time to prepare Disposal Loan and Grant Program. to the development of financial or other and submit a comment, and ensures OMB Control Number: 0572–0121. problems and may be initiated by either timely receipt by USDA. Commenters Summary of Collection: Section 306 of a recipient which recognizes that a should follow the instructions provided the Consolidated Farm and Rural problem exists and wished to resolve it, on that site to submit comments Development Act (CONACT), 7 U.S.C. or by the Agency. If a problem exists, a electronically. 1926, authorizes Rural Utilities Service recipient must furnish financial • Submission of Comments by Mail, (RUS) to make loans and grants to information which is used to aid in Hand Delivery, or Courier. Paper, disk, public entities, federally-recognized resolving the problem through re- or CD–ROM submissions should be American Indian tribes, and nonprofit amortization, sale, transfer, debt submitted to the Office of the Assistant corporations. The loans and grants fund restructuring, liquidation, or other Secretary for Civil Rights, USDA, Jamie the development of drinking water means provided in the regulations. L. Whitten Building, Room 507–W, 1400 waste water, solid waste disposal, and Description of Respondents: Business Independence Ave. SW, Washington, storm wastewater disposal facilities in or other for-profit; non-profit DC 20250. rural areas with populations of up to institutions; State and local FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 10,000 residents. governments. Winona Lake Scott, Telephone Number: Need and Use of the Information: Number of Respondents: 62. (202) 720–3808, winona.scott@ Rural Development’s field offices will Frequency of Responses: Reporting: osec.usda.gov. collect information from applicants/ On occasion. Total Burden Hours: 729. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA is borrowers and consultants to determine committed to operating efficiently, eligibility and project feasibility. The Ruth Brown, effectively, and with integrity, and information will help to ensure Departmental Information Collection minimizing the burdens on individuals, borrowers operate on a sound basis and Clearance Officer. businesses, and communities for use loan funds for authorized purposes. [FR Doc. 2018–05026 Filed 3–12–18; 8:45 am] participation in and compliance with There are agency forms required as well BILLING CODE 3410–15–P USDA programs. USDA works to as other requirements that involve support the American agricultural certifications from the borrower, economy to strengthen rural lenders, and other parties. Failure to DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE communities; to protect and conserve collect proper information could result our natural resources; and to provide a in improper determinations of Office of the Secretary safe, sufficient, and nutritious food eligibility, use of funds and or unsound supply for the American people. The loans. Strengthening Civil Rights Department’s wide range of programs Description of Respondents: State, Management and responsibilities touches the lives of Local or Tribal Government; Not-for- AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA. every American every day. profit institutions. ACTION: Request for Information (RFI). I. Executive Order 13781 Number of Respondents: 865. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: SUMMARY: Consistent with Executive Executive Order 13781, On occasion. Order 13781, ‘‘Comprehensive Plan for ‘‘Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing Total Burden Hours: 150,339. Reorganizing the Executive Branch,’’ the Executive Branch’’, is intended to Rural Utility Service and using the authority of the Secretary improve the efficiency, effectiveness, to reorganize the Department under and accountability of the executive Title: Servicing of Water Programs section 4(a) of Reorganization Plan No. branch. The principles in the Executive Loans and Grants. 2 of 1953 the U.S. Department of Order provide the basis for taking OMB Control Number: 0572–0137. Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting public actions to enhance and strengthen the Summary of Collection: Authority for comment on a proposed realignment of delivery of USDA programs. servicing of Water Programs Loan and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Grants is contained in Section 306e of II. Reorganization Actions Civil Rights (OASCR), which will the Consolidated Farm and Rural improve customer service, better align On March 9, 2018, Secretary Perdue Development Act, as amended. The functions within the organization, and will be announcing his intent to take information collected covers loan and ensure improved consistency, resource actions to strengthen civil rights and grant servicing regulations, 7 CFR part management, and strategic decision- customer service at USDA by taking the 1782, which prescribes policies and making. following actions to ensure integrity, responsibilities for servicing actions consistency, and fairness: necessary in connection with Water and DATES : Comments and information are • USDA will eliminate inefficiencies Environmental Programs (WEP) loans requested on or before March 25, 2018. in delivering civil rights services at the and grants. WEP provides loans, ADDRESSES: Interested persons are agency and staff office level, thereby guaranteed loans and grants for water, invited to submit comments regarding resulting in improved civil rights sewer, storm water, and solid waste this notice. All submissions must refer management. Under the realignment, a disposal facilities in rural areas and to ‘‘Improving Civil Rights’’ to ensure Civil Rights Director and appropriate towns of up to 10,000 people. proper delivery. Equal Opportunity staff will be aligned • Electronic Submission of amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Need and Use of the Information: The as follows: Rural Utilities Service will collect Comments. Interested persons may (1) Departmental Administration, staff information using various forms. The submit comments electronically through offices, and Trade and Foreign collected information for the most part the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// Agricultural Affairs will share civil is financial in nature and needed by the www.regulations.gov. USDA strongly rights resources; Agency to determine if borrowers, based encourages commenters to submit (2) Each remaining Departmental on their individual situations, qualify comments electronically. Electronic Mission Area will consolidate its sub- VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:47 Mar 12, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM 13MRN1

10826 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Notices agency resources at the Mission Area Administration, and Staff Offices will III. Request for Information level; and adhere to all relevant Departmental USDA is seeking public comment on (3) The Office of the Inspector General Directives, including Departmental these actions and notes that this notice (OIG) shall have an independent Civil Regulation 1010 and the corresponding is issued solely for information and Rights Director. Congressional notification requirements. program-planning purposes. While • OASCR will direct all Departmental civil rights activities, including those of • OASCR will eliminate the position responses to this notice do not bind the Mission Areas, Departmental of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil USDA to any further actions, all Administration, staff offices, and to the Rights (ASCR), so as to flatten the submissions will be reviewed by the extent appropriate and lawful, OIG. The organization with the Associate appropriate program office, and made delegations for the Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights publicly available on http:// for Civil Rights shall be revised as assuming the responsibilities of the www.regulations.gov. necessary to reflect OASCR’s direct Deputy ASCR. Dated: March 8, 2018. responsibility in providing civil rights • OASCR will eliminate its Policy Winona Lake Scott, policy direction to Mission Area and Division, which is no longer necessary Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil other Civil Rights Directors and Civil in an era of decreased regulations, and Rights. Rights staff and conveying the clear will perform reduced policy functions [FR Doc. 2018–05051 Filed 3–12–18; 8:45 am] guidance of the Office of the Secretary with staff from other areas of the BILLING CODE 3410–01–P on all civil rights issues. organization. • OASCR will implement a timely, • OASCR will eliminate its Training fair, transparent, and consistent DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE and Cultural Transformation Division approach to addressing all Equal and will develop training with staff Employment Opportunity or program Forest Service from other areas of the organization. complaints, including those based on discrimination, harassment, and • OASCR will eliminate its Early Information Collection: Generic retaliation that shall be adopted by all Resolution and Complaint Division, and Clearance for Social Science and Mission Areas, Departmental the Department will carry out informal Economics Data Collections on Natural Administration, staff offices and, to the counseling within each Mission Area, Disasters and Disturbances extent appropriate and lawful, OIG. with coordination from a Mission Area AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. • OASCR will direct an effective, Liaison within OASCR. robust, and compliant mandatory civil ACTION: Notice; request for comment. • OASCR’s career Senior Executive rights training program for all staff, Service (SES) Director for the Office of SUMMARY: In accordance with the including Mission Areas, Departmental Compliance, Policy, Training and Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration, staff offices and, to the Cultural Transformation will be Forest Service is seeking comments extent appropriate and lawful, OIG. reclassified as the career SES Executive from all interested individuals and • OASCR will monitor and evaluate Director for Civil Rights Operations, a organizations on a new generic the implementation of the reasonable position responsible for managing the information collection request, Social accommodation process by the Mission Mission Area Liaison, the Compliance Science and Economics Data Collections Areas, Departmental Management, staff Division, and the Data and Records on Natural Disasters and Disturbances. offices and, to the extent appropriate Management Division over customer DATES: Comments must be received in and lawful, OIG. service, data, and information • OASCR will not address matters writing on or before May 14, 2018 to be technology. The largest component in assured of consideration. Comments that Office of Human Resource this part of the OASCR organization is received after that date will be Management (OHRM) handles the Compliance Division, which will considered to the extent practicable. exclusively, such as setting human continue addressing compliance ADDRESSES: Send written comments to resources policy, investigating and reporting to oversight entities as well as Kenli Kim, National Program Leader for evaluating harassment allegations for limited regulatory and policy review. Social Science Research, Forest Service, misconduct, and reviewing and advising on requests for reasonable • OASCR’s career SES Director for the 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Mailstop accommodations, but will serve as a Office of Adjudication will be 1114, Washington, DC 20250–1114, or collaborative partner with OHRM on all reclassified as the career SES Executive by electronic mail to PRAcomments@ appropriate issues affecting civil rights Director for Civil Rights Enforcement, a fs.fed.us, with ‘‘PRA comment on policy, implementation, and position responsible for leading not only natural disasters and disturbances’’ in compliance. the Office of Adjudication, but also the the subject line. If comments are sent by • OASCR will request the Mission Program Planning, and Accountability electronic mail, the public is requested Areas to provide a list of all civil rights Division over budget, contracting and not to send duplicate written comments positions on-board (full-time, part-time, procurement, human resources via regular mail. Please confine written or collateral duty) within 30 days from management, facilities management, comments to issues pertinent to the issuance of this Memorandum to strategic planning, and Continuity of information collection request, explain determine staff needs to effectuate the Operations for OASCR. The largest the reasons for any recommended purpose of this Memorandum. component of this part of the OASCR changes, and, where possible, reference • Mission Areas, Departmental organization is the Office of the specific section or paragraph being amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Administration, and the Staff Offices Adjudication is responsible for intake, addressed. will implement all organizational investigation, and adjudication of All timely submitted comments, changes necessary to effectuate the civil employment discrimination complaints including names and addresses when rights staff realignments indicated above from USDA employees and program provided, are placed in the record and based upon the direction of OASCR. complaints of discrimination arising are available for public inspection and When conducting any reorganizations, within any program conducted or copying. The public may inspect the Mission Areas, Departmental assisted by USDA. comments received on this information VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:47 Mar 12, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM 13MRN1


Document Created: 2018-03-13 01:56:53
Document Modified: 2018-03-13 01:56:53
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionRequest for Information (RFI).
DatesComments and information are requested on or before March 25, 2018.
ContactMs. Winona Lake Scott, Telephone Number: (202) 720-3808, [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 10825 
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