(a) Delegations. Pursuant to §§2.17(a)(14) and (a)(16) through (a)(20), and subject to policy guidance and direction by the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, the following delegations of authority are made by the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development to the Administrator, Rural Utilities Service:

(1) Administer the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901, et seq.) except for rural economic development loan and grant programs (7 U.S.C. 940c and 950aa, et seq.): Provided, however, that the Administrator may utilize consultants and attorneys for the provision of legal services pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 918, with the concurrence of the General Counsel.

(2) Administer the Rural Electrification Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 903 note).

(3) The Administrator, Rural Utilities Service is designated to serve as the chief executive officer of the Rural Telephone Bank.

(4) Administer the following sections of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921, et seq.):

(i) Section 306 (7 U.S.C. 1926), related to water and waste facilities.

(ii) Section 306A (7 U.S.C. 1926a).

(iii) Section 306B (7 U.S.C. 1926b).

(iv) Section 306C (7 U.S.C. 1926c).

(v) Section 306D (7 U.S.C. 1926d).

(vii) Section 306E (7 U.S.C. 1926e).

(vii) Sections 309 (7 U.S.C. 1929 and 309A (7 U.S.C. 1929a), relating to assets and programs related to watershed facilities, resource and conservation facilities, and water and waste facilities.

(viii) Section 305 (7 U.S.C. 1926) relating to hazardous weather early warning systems.

(ix) Section 310A (7 U.S.C. 1931), relating to watershed and resource conservation and development.

(x) Section 310B(b) (7 U.S.C. 1932(b)).

(xi)-(xii) [Reserved]

(xiii) Administrative Provisions of subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act relating to Rural Utilities Service activities.

(xiv) Section 379B (7 U.S.C. 2009;).

(5) Administer section 8, and those functions with respect to repayment of obligations under section 4, of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1006a, 1004) and administer the Resource Conservation and Development Program to assist in carrying out resource conservation and development projects in rural areas under section 32(e) of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1011(e)).

(6) Administer the Water and Waste Loan Program (7 U.S.C. 1926-1).

(7) Administer the Rural Wastewater Treatment Circuit Rider Program (7 U.S.C. 1926 note).

(8) Collect, service, and liquidate loans made, insured, or guaranteed by the Rural Utilities Service or its predecessor agencies.

(9) [Reserved]

(10) Administer responsibilities and function assigned under the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.) and title VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5195 et seq.), relating to rural development credit and financial assistance.

(11)-(12) [Reserved]

(13) Administer the Distance Learning and Medical Link Programs (7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq.).

(14) Administer water and waste facility programs and activities (7 U.S.C. 1926-1).

(15) [Reserved]

(16) In coordination with the Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach, issue receipts under section 2501A(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279-1(e)).

(17) Administer section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107a), relating to a rural energy savings program.

(18) Administer section 6210 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, Public Law 113-79, relating to funding of pending rural development loan and grant applications.

(19) Administer the authority under Sec. 746 of Division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-141), and any successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts, to issue waivers to the U.S. iron and steel requirements for the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public water or wastewater system.

(b) Reservations. The following authority is reserved to the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development:

(1) Making and issuing notes to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purposes of the Rural Development Insurance Fund as authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1929a).

(2) Administering loans for rural telephone facilities and service in rural areas as authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.).

[60 FR 56393, Nov. 8, 1995, as amended at 66 FR 16593, Mar. 27, 2001; 68 FR 27443, May 20, 2003; 74 FR 3407, Jan. 21, 2009; 75 FR 43380, July 23, 2010; 78 FR 40938, July 9, 2013; 79 FR 44113, July 30, 2014; 83 FR 22188, May 14, 2018; 83 FR 61314, Nov. 29, 2018]