This part describes the organization of the United States Department of Transportation and provides for the performance of duties imposed upon, and the exercise of powers vested in, the Secretary of Transportation by law.

(a) The Secretary of Transportation is the head of the Department.

(b) The Department comprises the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and the following Operating Administrations, each headed by an Administrator who reports directly to the Secretary:

(1) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

(2) The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

(3) The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

(4) The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

(5) The Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

(6) The Maritime Administration (MARAD).

(7) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

(8) The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

(9) The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).

(10) The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC).

(a) In exercising powers and performing duties delegated by this part or redelegated pursuant thereto, officials of the Department of Transportation are governed by applicable laws, Executive Orders and regulations and by policies, objectives, plans, standards, procedures, and limitations as may be issued from time to time by or on behalf of the Secretary, or, with respect to matters under their jurisdictions, by or on behalf of the Deputy Secretary, the Under Secretary, the General Counsel, an Assistant Secretary, the Inspector General, or an Administrator. This includes, wherever specified, the requirement for advance notice to, prior coordination with, or prior approval by an authority other than that of the official proposing to act.

(b) Subject to the reservations of authority to the Secretary of Transportation in § 1.21, the Deputy Secretary, the Under Secretary, the General Counsel, the Assistant Secretaries, the Inspector General, and the Administrators exercise the powers and perform the duties delegated to them under this part.

(c) For delegations of authority vested in the Secretary by Executive Order 13526 (see also Executive Orders 12958 and 12065) originally to classify documents as secret and confidential, see § 8.11 of this subtitle. Previous delegations of authority to Department of Transportation officials to originally classify information as secret and confidential are hereby rescinded.

For the purposes of this part:

(a) “Federal Aviation Administrator” is synonymous with “Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.”

(b) “Federal Highway Administrator” is synonymous with “Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.”

(c) “Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator” is synonymous with “Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.”

(d) “Federal Railroad Administrator” is synonymous with “Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration.”

(e) “Federal Transit Administrator” is synonymous with “Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration.”

(f) “Maritime Administrator” is synonymous with “Administrator of the Maritime Administration.”

(g) “National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator” is synonymous with “Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

(h) “Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrator” is synonymous with “Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.”

(i) “Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Administrator” is synonymous with “Administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.”