and analysis on national rural and agricultural conditions and trends, and identifying and assessing the potential impact of public and private sector actions and policies that affect rural areas and the agricultural sector. General functions are:

(1) Analyzing and reporting on current economic and demographic issues facing rural areas and agricultural, especially how changes in the national and global economies affect rural areas and the agriculture sector.

(2) Determining the effects of economic, social, and governmental events and actions on the demand for and supply of rural local government services, the quality of such services, and the relationships between local services and the viability of rural communities.

(3) Developing and disseminating information on current trends in the non-metropolitan and farm populations, the number, location and characteristics of such people, and the factors associated with these trends.

(4) Developing estimates and analyzing labor force trends in rural labor markets, including analyses of unemployment and employment by industry and occupational groups, including farm labor.

(5) Developing data on the income situation of rural people and evaluating the effectiveness of alternative public policies and programs in improving incomes of rural people, especially people in disadvantaged groups.

(6) Monitoring information on and analyzing the development of rural portions of geographic regions of the United States, including changes in industry mix, impacts of energy costs, credit availability, and other economic activities.

(7) Analyzing and reporting on developments in rural and agricultural financial markets and in Federal tax laws, and their consequences for agriculture and rural economies.

(8) Collecting and disseminating financial information on farms and farm enterprises, and developing techniques necessary to measure and describe the financial condition of the agriculture sector and its components.

(g) Director, Office of Energy and New Uses. The Director, Office of Energy and New Uses, is responsible for assist

and

(iv) Developing agricultural rural components of national energy policy plans;

(v) Preparing reports on energy and energy-related policies and programs required under Act of Congress and Executive Orders, including those involving testimony and reports on legislative proposals.

(2) Providing Departmental oversight and coordination with respect to resources available for energy and energy-related activities, including funds transferred to USDA from departments and agencies of the Federal Government pursuant to interagency agreements.

(3) Representing the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics at conferences, meetings, and other contacts where energy matters are discussed, including liaison with the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other governmental departments and agen

cies.

(4) Providing the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics with such assistance as requested to perform the duties delegated to him concerning energy and new uses.

(5) Working with the Office of Congressional Relations to maintain Congressional and public contacts in energy matters, including development of legislative proposals, preparation of reports on legislation pending in Congress, appearances before Congressional committees, and related activities.

(6) These delegations exclude the energy management actions related to

$3701.2 Public inspection, copying, and indexing.

5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) requires that certain materials be made available for public inspection and copying and that a current index of these materials be published quarterly or otherwise be made available. Members of the public may request access to such materials maintained by ERS at the following office: Information Staff, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 6303 Ivy Lane, Room 456, Greenbelt, MD 20770; Telephone (301) 344-2207. Office Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

$3701.3 Request for records.

Requests for records of ERS shall be made in accordance with §1.6 (a) and (b) of this title and submitted to the FOIA Coordinator, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 6303 Ivy Lane, Room 456, Greenbelt, MD 20770; Telephone (301) 344-2207, Facsimile (301) 3442325, TDD (301) 344-2425. The FOIA Coordinator is delegated authority to make determinations regarding such requests in accordance with §1.3(a)(3) of this title.

§3701.4 Denials.

If the FOIA Coordinator determines that a requested record is exempt from mandatory disclosure and that discretionary release would be improper, the FOIA Coordinator shall give written notice of denial in accordance with §1.8(a) of this title.

$3701.5 Appeals.

Any person whose request is denied shall have the right to appeal such denial. Appeals shall be made in accordance with Section 1.6(e) of this title and should be addressed as follows: Administrator, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.

$3701.6 Requests for published data and information.

Information on published data from ERS programs is contained in the ERS "Reports" newsletter, available without cost from the Economic Research Service, Information Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1301 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20005.

The World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) was established on June 3, 1977, by Secretary's Memorandum 1920, entitled "World Food and Agricultural Outlook and Situation Board." The primary responsibility of WAOB is to coordinate and review all commodity and aggregate agricultural and food data and analyses used to develop outlook and situation material within the Department of Agriculture.

$3800.2 Organization.

The central and only office of WAOB is located in Washington, DC, and consists of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and supporting staff.

§3800.3 Functions.

The WAOB has four major areas of responsibility:

(a) Agricultural outlook and situation. (1) Coordinate and review all crop and commodity data used to develop outlook and situation material within the Department of Agriculture.

(2) Oversee and clear for consistency of analytical assumptions and results, all estimates and analyses which significantly relate to international and domestic commodity supply and demand. This includes such estimates and analyses prepared for public distribution by the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Economic Research Service, or by any other agency or office of the Department.

(3) Participate in planning and developing research programs relating to improving the Department's forecasting and estimating capabilities.

(4) Provide liaison between the Department and Commodity Futures Trading Commission to assure that the

futures market serves the best interest of agriculture and the public.

(5) Plan and participate in Departmental, interdepartmental, regional and international outlook conferences and briefings, to maintain an awareness of current and upcoming economic issues significant to the food and agricultural system.

(b) Interagency commodity estimates. (1) Establish Interagency Commodity Estimates Committees to bring together estimates and analyses from supporting agencies and to develop official estimates of supply, utilization, and prices for commodities.

(2) Review for consistency of analytical assumptions and results, all proposed decisions made by the Interagency Commodity Estimates Committee prior to any release outside the Department.

(c) Weather and climate. (1) Serve as a focal point within the Department for coordination of weather, climate, and related crop monitoring activities.

(d) Remote sensing. (1) Provide technical assistance, coordination, and guidance to Department agencies in planning, developing, and carrying out satellite remote sensing activities to assure full consideration and evaluation of advanced technology.

(2) Coordinate administrative, management, and budget information relating to Department's remote sensing activities.