of source documents to facilitate the conversion of data from source documents to machine media.

(5) Reviewing and evaluating existing systems and computer programs and implementing improvements.

(6) Planning, managing and/or coordinating agency policies, methods, and procedures for telecommunications, records management, micrographics and correspondence management.

(e) Resource Management Systems and Evaluation Staff. (1) Participating with the Deputy Administrator for M&B in the overall formulation of administrative and management policies, programs, and activities of APHIS.

(2) Developing, implementing, coordinating, and directing a Resource Management Evaluation System, including on-site reviews of domestic and international programs, with the objective of determining the use of resources in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with

appropriate laws,

rules, regulations, and agreements. Assessing delivery of administrative services to APHIS programs to determine their impact on program mission accomplishment.

(3) Collecting, analyzing, evaluating, and reviewing management information and data, including critical incidents, to assist management in formulating current and long-range policies, procedures, and systems and providing staff assistance to the Deputy Administrator in the management of OIG and GAO liaison activities and the analysis of OIG and GAO reports.

(4) Carrying out these and related projects or studies with the assistance of functional or program specialists from other organizations in order to assure adequate staffing, a proper mix of expertise, and acceptance of work products.

(f) Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights. (1) Participating with the Deputy Administrator for M&B in the overall formulation of administrative policies and programs.

(2) Providing leadership in the overall development and planning of all policies, programs, and activities of equal employment opportunity.

(3) Developing and implementing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

plans of action for APHIS, FGIS, ACS, P&SA, and OT.

(4) Establishing statistical information systems and reporting procedures for agency accomplishments.

(5) Representing the agency in negotiations and at meetings on EEO, both within and outside the Department.

(6) Establishing guidelines for EEO action plans. Evaluating and approving EEO action plans prior to their implementation.

(7) Examining programs to ensure that programs or interpretations of programs tending to discriminate are eliminated. Reviewing current and proposed legislation and recommending changes to remove any discriminatory elements.

(8) Coordinating civil rights programs.

(g) Equal Opportunity Counseling. (1) Participating with the Deputy Administrator for M&B in the overall formulation of administrative policies and programs.

(2) Developing and maintaining a comprehensive Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor Program and complaint processing and adjudication program designed to prevent prohibited discrimination and to attempt settlement of complaints based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, and physical and mental handicaps for employees and applicants for employment.

(h) Field Servicing Office. (1) Participating with the Deputy Administrator for M&B in the overall formulation of personnel, financial and administrative services policies and programs for APHIS, FGIS, ACS, P&SA, and OT.

(2) Within the provisions of applicable policies, procedures and laws, providing personnel, financial and administrative services to personnel in AMS, APHIS, FGIS, ACS, P&SA, and OT.

(3) Participating in planned management reviews. Providing assistance and advice to program officials and supervisory personnel concerning personnel, financial, and administrative problems. Providing guidance on the implementation of policies, procedures, and regulations.

1

§371.6 Animal Damage Control.

The ADC Operational Support unit and the ADC Regional offices, under the administrative direction of the Administrator and the functional and technical direction of the Deputy Administrator, ADC, are responsible for:

(a) ADC Operational Support. (1) Coordinating the development of annual operational plans for national program activities that are compatible with APHIS and ADC strategic long-range plans.

(2) Developing and maintaining an ADC operating policy manual for use at State and local levels.

(3) Participating in program evaluations of field activities. Assuring that identified deficiencies are corrected in an appropriate and timely manner.

(4) Developing and maintaining ADC programmatic data systems. Working with ADC Regional Directors and other APHIS units to ensure that the data base meets field and headquarters data needs.

(5) Preparing briefing and issue papers involving ADC activities. Ensuring that appropriate solutions to field problems are attained.

(6) Preparing routine correspondence on ADC activities requiring signature by the Deputy Administrator for ADC or the APHIS Administrator. Participating with Regional and State Directors in obtaining appropriate information for this correspondence.

(7) Coordinating technical and nontechnical training activities of ADC headquarters and field units. Facilitating the identification of training needs.

(8) Obtaining information and preparing routine reports regarding operational activities.

(9) Identifying research and methods development needs of field operations units.

(10) Identifying, analyzing, and resolving operational needs associated with pesticide registration and use, both nationally and within a State.

(11) Coordinating environmental issues related to operational activities; collecting and assembling data required for environmental documents as requested; ensuring compliance with environmental policy in carrying out operational activities; and ensuring

that an ongoing monitoring program is in place to assess the impact of operational activities on the environment.

(12) Acting as liaison with internal and external organizations regarding ADC program operations.

(13) Providing representation and liaison with all industry groups and other agencies having an interest in wildlife management issues related to ADC operational program activities.

(14) Providing committee representation to all agency, intra-agency, and industry groups on issues involving national and State ADC operational activities. Representing the Deputy Administrator on committees involving ADC operational issues and interests.

(15) Identifying, analyzing, and resolving all national and State issues requiring technical policy interpretation.

(16) Developing, reviewing, and approving publications and presentations about national and State operational activities involving headquarters, regional, and State personnel.

(17) Determining national and States' needs relative to ADC public education and information program activities. Acting on these needs by establishing priorities and ensuring that these needs are met through assisting in the development of appropriate information documents and by coordinating with other units in APHIS with specific public information responsibilities.

(b) ADC Eastern Regional Office. (1) Managing Federal-cooperative ADC programs in the Eastern Region, comprised of 31 Eastern States and the District of Columbia. Through supervision of the State Directors, ensuring that all program activities in the Eastern Region are conducted in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

(2) Assisting in providing administrative direction to ADC programs in the Eastern Region.

(3) Advising the Deputy Administrator, ADC, and other agency officials on policies, programs, and resources needed to manage vertebrate animal conflicts with agriculture, industry, natural resources, public health and safety, and other human activities.

(4) Providing recommendations for research needed to develop or improve techniques for the control of wildlife damage and nuisance problems.

(5) Assisting the Deputy Administrator, ADC, in initiating, evaluating, and improving Federal-cooperative ADC programs in the Eastern Region. (6) Managing resources allocated to the Eastern Region.

(c) ADC Western Regional Office. (1) Managing Federal-cooperative ADC programs in the ADC Western Region, comprised of 19 Western States. Though supervision of the State Directors, ensuring that all program activities in the Western Region are conducted in accordance with applicable law, regulations, and policies.

(2) Assisting in providing administrative direction to ADC programs in each Western State.

(3) Advising the Deputy Administrator and other agency officials on policies, programs, and resources needed to manage vertebrate animal conflicts with agriculture, industry, natural resources, public health and safety, and other human activities.

(4) Providing recommendations for research needed to develop or improve techniques for the control of wildlife damage and nuisance problems.

(5) Assisting the Deputy Administrator, ADC, in initiating, evaluating, and improving Federal-cooperative ADC programs in the Western Region.

(6) Managing resources allocated to the Western States.

(7) Managing aircraft operations for the aerial hunting activities carried out in the Western States.

(8) Managing the activities of the Pocatello Supply Depot, which procures or manufactures control materials and devices used nation-wide, maintaining quality control of these items, and assisting in the preparation of labels for registered products.

§371.7 Regulatory Enforcement and Animal Care.

The units of REAC, under the administrative direction of the Administrator and the functional and technical direction of the Deputy Administrator, REAC, are responsible for:

(a) Regulatory enforcement. (1) Supervising and conducting investigations of

(4) Developing procedural guidelines for the conduct of APHIS field enforcement activities.

(5) Maintaining liaison and coordination among program line and staff entities, OGC, OIG, the USDA Hearing Clerk, and other organizations that may be involved in the enforcement of regulations.

(6) Reviewing investigative case reports and determining appropriate disposition.

(7) Analyzing violation case data to identify trends in noncompliance patterns, highlighting the possible need for changes in APHIS regulations, and identifying needed changes in enforcement resources and/or priorities.

(b) Animal Care. (1) Inspecting and reinspecting USDA licensed and registered facilities under the Animal Welfare Act.

(2) Performing inspections at horse shows, sales and auctions. Monitoring Designated Qualified Person programs under the Horse Protection Act.

(3) Maintaining liasion with the regulated industries and with humane organizations, other Federal agencies, and State and local governments.

(4) Responding to complaints and inquiries from industry, humane groups, and private citizens.

(5) Developing operational plans and procedures for the national animal care programs; performing analyses, assessments, and reviews of animal care activities; and providing necessary reports and recommendations.

§371.8 International Services.

The IS Operational Support unit and the IS Regional offices, under the administrative direction of the Administrator and the functional and technical direction of the Deputy Administrator, IS, are responsible for:

(a) IS Operational Support. (1) Developing specific plans and providing technical backup for IS programs that prevent, control, or eradicate animal and plant diseases and pests that threaten American agriculture.

(2) Developing and evaluating programs in foreign countries designed to enhance the export of U.S. plants and animals, and their products.

(3) Providing technical consultants to APHIS international personnel as well as to other Federal international agencies and foreign governments.

(4) Providing operational planning and internal review capability as needed to support plant and animal health activities as carried out by APHIS international services personnel.

(5) Coordinating the development and planning activities necessary for APHIS to initiate new programs or special projects as determined appropriate by APHIS, other Departmental agencies, or other international organizations and countries.

(6) Maintaining liaison with the Agricultural Research Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Office of International Cooperation and Development, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, and military officials with regard to APHIS international services activities.

(7) Working with foreign governments on scientific and technical exchanges when deemed mutually beneficial.

(b) IS Regional Offices. IS regional offices are responsible for:

(1) Participating with the Deputy Administrator for IS and other agency officials in the overall planning and formulation of all policies, programs, and activities as they relate to foreign plant programs in which APHIS has an interest.

(2) Planning, providing leadership and coordinating Cooperative Plant Health programs and activities within a Region (comprised of several countries). Developing and maintaining a system for monitoring and reporting on foreign pest situations and evaluating their significance and potential hazard to U.S. agriculture.

(3) Maintaining contact and exchanging plant pest and disease information with research and regulatory officials

of foreign countries and with staffs of the Foreign Agricultural Service, the State Department and its Agency for International Development, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and similar international organizations.

(4) Implementing and evaluating programs in foreign countries designed to facilitate the export of U.S. plants and plant products.

$371.9 Policy and Program Development.

The units of Planning and Evaluation, Policy Analysis and Development, Regulatory Analysis and Development, Plant Protection Management Systems, and Animal Health and Depredation Management Systems, under the administrative direction of the Administrator and the functional and technical direction of the Director, PPD, are responsible for:

(a) Planning and evaluation. (1) Sharing with the Director the responsibility for advising the APHIS Administrator and his top staff on strategic planning, operational planning, and agency evaluations.

(2) Designing, implementing, and managing the agency's strategic planning processes that establish the basic framework for overall planning and formulation of all policies and critical agency programs. Ensuring that operational and multi-year plans conform to the strategic plan.

(3) Providing a system that monitors and analyzes world events and trends that may effect the future of the organization. Assessing the APHIS organizational environment to identify strengths that might help, and weaknesses that might hinder, the accomplishment of agency goals.

(4) Designing, implementing, and coordinating the agency evaluation system; developing an annual evaluation plan; monitoring performance of the system; and establishing a mechanism for follow-up and for ensuring that results are fed into the decisionmaking process.

(5) Conducting and coordinating studies and analyses of present programs and support functions and estimating their potential and expected results.

Evaluating results against established goals and objectives and evaluating program effectiveness and progress.

(6) Representing APHIS in maintaining liaison with the various planning and evaluation staffs of the Department. Maintaining close cooperation with program staffs and serving as a consultant on the application of planning and evaluating analytical measures and techniques.

(7) Providing advice and assistance in the development, review, modification, and updating of the APHIS component of the Department's multi-year program and financial planning system.

(8) Providing guidance and expertise for training in planning and evaluating techniques and analytical methods.

(b) Policy analysis and development. (1) Designing, implementing, and managing an agency decisionmaking process that provides for timely identification and analysis of emerging issues. Providing guidelines for the identification and prioritization of critical issues. Organizing and coordinating interdisciplinary committees to identify desired outcomes and to develop proposed options for achieving them. Conducting and coordinating timely analysis of potential impacts; providing recommendations, and when requested, action plans for the Administrator; and tracking the progress of each critical issue.

(2) Conducting short- and long-term analyses of agency issues, programs, and policies using benefit cost analysis, econometric analysis, decisionmaking under uncertainty and other analytical techniques to provide top management with estimates of the impacts of alternative policy options.

(3) Conducting regulatory analyses in support of the critical issues management system; analyzing the impacts of APHIS regulations on affected industries, consumers and the economy as a whole. Conducting regulatory flexibility analyses to determine the impact of regulations on small businesses and to analyze alternatives to minimize the impact.

as well as working papers and research done for APHIS by outside contractors.

(5) Providing expertise for training in analytical techniques and developments in quantitative methods, economic analysis and other topics relevant to bringing a modern analytical approach to APHIS program and policy issues.

(c) Regulatory analysis and development. (1) Advising the Administrator and other key officials on matters pertaining to APHIS regulatory policy, including matters relating to FEDERAL REGISTER documents.

(2) Developing and drafting proposed/ final regulations and other documents for publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER (dockets). Reviewing dockets for adequacy, clarity, and compliance with APHIS program policies, USDA policies, and applicable laws and regulations.

(3) Coordinating, as appropriate, intra- and inter-agency review of FEDERAL REGISTER dockets. Establishing and maintaining an agency-wide clearance and control system for FEDERAL REGISTER documents, and related documents.

(4) Maintaining a system for monitoring existing regulations to determine their need, enforceability, and burdens consistent with Departmental policies and statutory requirements.

(5) Maintaining the official administrative record for APHIS FEDERAL REGISTER documents.

(6) Serving as focal point for analysis of agency and public comments on proposed APHIS rules.

(7) Conducting public hearings concerning proposed APHIS regulatory actions.

(8) Maintaining liaison with the OGC and with other Government agencies, including the Office of the Federal Register, and Office of Management and Budget, the Small Business Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of the Interior concerning APHIS FEDERAL REGISTER documents.

(9) Providing advice to agency personnel in the preparation of various materials for agency or public distribution concerning APHIS FEDERAL REGISTER documents, such as press releases, economic analyses, regulatory