[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-477]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 11, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Part 9

[Notice No. 787 and 93F-022P]
RIN 1512-AA07

 

Seiad Valley Viticultural Area

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Department of 
the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is 
considering the establishment of a viticultural area located in 
Siskiyou County, California, to be known as ``Seiad Valley.'' This 
proposal is the result of a petition filed by Brian J. Helsaple of 
Seiad Valley Vineyards. ATF believes that the establishment of 
viticultural areas and the subsequent use of viticultural area names as 
appellations of origin in wine labeling and advertising allows wineries 
to designate the specific areas where the grapes used to make the wine 
were grown and enables consumers to better identify the wines they 
purchase.

DATES: Written comments must be received by March 14, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Chief, Wine and Beer Branch, 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, P.O. Box 50221, Washington, DC 
20091-0221, Attn: Notice No. 787. Copies of written comments received 
in response to this notice of proposed rulemaking will be available for 
public inspection during normal business hours at: ATF Reference 
Library, Office of Public Affairs and Disclosure, room 6300, 650 
Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20226.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marjorie D. Ruhf, Wine and Beer 
Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20226 (202-927-8230).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 23, 1978, ATF published Treasury Decision ATF-53 (43 FR 
37672, 54624) revising regulations in 27 CFR part 4. These regulations 
allow the establishment of definite American viticultural areas. The 
regulations also allow the name of an approved viticultural area to be 
used as an appellation of origin in the labeling and advertising of 
wine.
    On October 2, 1979, ATF published Treasury Decision ATF-60 (44 FR 
56692) which added a new part 9 to 27 CFR, providing for the listing of 
approved American viticultural areas. Section 4.25a(e)(1), title 27, 
CFR, defines an American viticultural area as a delimited grape-growing 
region distinguishable by geographical features, the boundaries of 
which have been delineated in Subpart C of part 9. Section 4.25a(e)(2) 
outlines the procedure for proposing an American viticultural area. Any 
interested person may petition ATF to establish a grape-growing region 
as a viticultural area. The petition should include:
    (a) Evidence that the name of the proposed viticultural area is 
locally and/or nationally known as referring to the area specified in 
the petition;
    (b) Historical or current evidence that the boundaries of the 
viticultural area are as specified in the petition;
    (c) Evidence relating to the geographical features (climate, soil, 
elevation, physical features, etc.) which distinguish the viticultural 
features of the proposed area from surrounding areas;
    (d) A description of the specific boundaries of the viticultural 
area, based on features which can be found on United States Geological 
Survey (U.S.G.S.) maps of the largest applicable scale; and
    (e) A copy of the appropriate U.S.G.S. map(s) with the boundaries 
prominently marked.

Petition

    ATF has received a petition from Brian J. Helsaple of Seiad Valley 
Vineyards proposing to establish a viticultural area in Siskiyou 
County, California, to be known as ``Seiad Valley.'' The proposed 
viticultural area is located in northwestern California, about 15 miles 
south of the Oregon border. It contains approximately 2160 acres, of 
which approximately 2.5 acres are planted to vineyards. Seiad Valley 
Vineyards is the only commercial grower and the only wine producer 
currently active within the proposed viticultural area.

Evidence of Name

    Evidence that the name of the proposed area is locally and/or 
nationally known as referring to the area specified in the petition 
includes:
    (a) The U.S.G.S. map used to show the boundaries of the proposed 
area (the Seiad Valley Quadrangle 7.5 minute series map) uses the name 
``Seiad Valley'' to describe the area immediately surrounding Seiad 
Creek, corresponding to the portion of the proposed area which is north 
of the Klamath River. The map also shows the town of Seiad Valley 
within this area. The map shows no separate designation for the portion 
of the proposed area south of the Klamath River, which is drained by 
Grider Creek.
    (b) The petitioner provided excerpts from the 1957 issue of 
Siskiyou Pioneer, an annual publication of the Siskiyou County 
Historical Society, which discuss the history of the name Seiad Valley, 
and local understanding of the extent of the area known as Seiad, or 
Seiad Valley. ``Sciad,'' by Betty Livingston and Hazel Davis, states 
the name Seiad was originally spelled Sciad, and the creek and valley 
were called that by the trappers ``before the prospectors came in 
1850.'' Sometime after 1871, the spelling of the name changed to Seiad. 
In ``Gold Mining from Scott Bar to Happy Camp,'' by J.B. Grider, the 
following description appears:

    Seiad is a small valley two miles long and one mile wide * * * 
There are two large creeks in Seiad, Grider Creek and Seiad Creek. 
Grider Creek flows north into the Klamath from the Marble Mountain 
territory. Seiad creek flows south into the Klamath from the 
Siskiyous and Red Mountain.''

    (c) The petitioner also provided a copy of a claim document dated 
August 26, 1942, which states the Grider Creek mining claim is 
``situate in the Seiad Mining District.''

Evidence of Boundaries

    The petitioner has defined the proposed area primarily by its 
elevation, using the 1600 and 1800 foot contour lines. As evidence that 
the proposed boundaries for the area are as specified in the petition, 
the petitioner states that the vegetation within and outside the area 
provides a dramatic contrast. Within the proposed area, cottonwood, oak 
and willow trees and wild blackberries and grapes grow in addition to 
the cultivated crops. Outside the proposed area, on the higher slopes 
of the surrounding mountains, conifers such as cedar, Douglas fir and 
Ponderossa pine predominate in the thin, eroded soils with scant summer 
moisture.

Geographical Features

    The proposed viticultural area consists of the valleys drained by 
Seiad Creek and Grider Creek, which both flow into the Klamath River in 
northwestern California. According to the petitioner, these valleys and 
an expanse of land along the Klamath River which connects them share 
characteristics of topography, soil composition and climate which 
distinguish the proposed viticultural area from the surrounding areas. 
The petitioner provided the following evidence to support his claims:

Topography

    The U.S.G.S. topographic map submitted by the petitioner shows the 
proposed area is a relatively flat area varying in elevation from 1,400 
to 1,600 feet, with a small portion as high as 1,800 feet, surrounded 
by steeply rising terrain. Outside the area, the elevation ranges from 
2,000 to 2,800 feet, with peaks exceeding 3,000 feet on all sides, and 
some peaks as high as 3,900 feet. The petitioner explains that snow 
melt, runoff, and erosion from these higher areas into the valley 
create a contrast in both the quality of soils and the availability of 
water within and outside the proposed area. The lower elevation within 
the proposed area also contributes to more moderate temperatures there.

Soil

    The petitioner states that the valley floor ``is composed of deep 
fertile soil mixtures of loam, sand, clay and rocks eroded from the 
surrounding mountain slopes.'' According to a draft environmental 
impact report prepared in 1975 by the California Department of 
Transportation, the valley floor is ``mostly alluvium deposits which 
were widely dredged and hydraulically mined for gold. Chromite was also 
mined within the Seiad Valley area.'' Dredging left ``tailings,'' or 
piles of rounded rocks, wherever the dredge operated. The petitioner 
states that these granite-dominated rock tailings store heat during the 
day and provide protection against frost in spring and fall.

Climate

    The petitioner provided the following material related to the 
climate in the area:
    (a) An article in the Pioneer Press of September 16, 1992, titled 
``Rock-pile grapevines surprising all experts,'' contrasted Siskiyou 
County growing conditions with those in Seiad Valley vineyard: ``What's 
stopped the area from becoming a wine-producing area are the erratic 
late spring freezes in the zone where elevations are low enough to even 
make it possible. And in some of the county's lowest elevation areas, 
the precipitation levels are too high.'' The article stated the rock 
tailings in his vineyard ``may give Helsaple just the edge he needs to 
be the county's first successful longterm wine grape grower.''
    (b) The Sunset New Western Garden Book, 1979 edition, climate map 
of northern California and western Nevada showed Seiad Valley as Zone 
7, and characterizes a Zone 7 climate as having hot summers and mild 
but pronounced winters, favorable for deciduous fruit that requires a 
marked seasonal pattern.

Proposed Boundary

    The boundary of the proposed Seiad Valley viticultural area may be 
found on one United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) map with a 
scale of 1:24000. The boundary is described in Sec. 9.148.

Executive Order 12866

    It has been determined that this proposed regulation is not a 
significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. 
Accordingly, this proposal is not subject to the analysis required by 
this Executive Order.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    It is hereby certified that this regulation will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Any benefit derived from the use of a viticultural area name is the 
result of the proprietor's own efforts and consumer acceptance of wines 
from a particular area. No new requirements are proposed. Accordingly, 
a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Public Law 
96-511, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR 
part 1320, do not apply to this notice of proposed rulemaking because 
no requirement to collect information is proposed.

Public Participation

    ATF requests comments from all interested parties. We are 
particularly interested in comments concerning application of the name 
``Seiad Valley'' to the area south of the Klamath River, which is 
drained by Grider Creek. Comments received on or before the closing 
date will be carefully considered. Comments received after that date 
will be given the same consideration if it is practical to do so, but 
assurance of consideration cannot be given except as to comments 
received on or before the closing date.
    ATF will not recognize any comment as confidential. Comments may be 
disclosed to the public. Any material which a commenter considers to be 
confidential or inappropriate for disclosure to the public should not 
be included in the comment. The name of the person submitting a comment 
is not exempt from disclosure. During the comment period, any person 
may request an opportunity to present oral testimony at a public 
hearing. However, the Director reserves the right to determine, in 
light of all circumstances, whether a public hearing will be held.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of this document is Marjorie D. Ruhf, Wine and 
Beer Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9

    Administrative practices and procedures, Consumer protection, 
Viticultural areas, and Wine.

Authority and Issuance

    Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations, part 9, American 
Viticultural Areas, is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 9--AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREAS

    Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 9 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 27 U.S.C. 205.

    Par. 2. Subpart C is amended by adding Sec. 9.148 to read as 
follows:

Subpart C--Approved American Viticultural Areas

* * * * *


Sec. 9.148  Seiad Valley.

    (a) Name. The name of the viticultural area described in this 
section is ``Seiad Valley.''
    (b) Approved map. The appropriate map for determining the boundary 
of the Seiad Valley viticultural area is a U.S.G.S. 7.5 minute series 
topographical map of the 1:24000 scale, titled ``Seiad Valley, 
Calif.,'' 1980.
    (c) Boundary. The Seiad Valley viticultural area is located in 
Siskiyou County, California. The boundary is as follows:
    (1) The beginning point is the intersection of the 1600 foot 
contour line with the power transmission line north of the Klamath 
River, near Mile 130;
    (2) From the beginning point, the boundary follows the 1600' 
contour line in a generally northeasterly direction until it reaches 
the intersection of an unnamed light duty road and an unimproved road 
just west of Canyon Creek;
    (3) The boundary then follows the unimproved road north to its end, 
then goes east in a straight line until it reaches the 1800' contour 
line;
    (4) The boundary then follows the 1800' contour line in a 
northeasterly direction to the point, near Sawmill Gulch, where the 
contour line crosses Seiad Creek and turns south and west;
    (5) The boundary continues to follow the 1800' contour line as it 
proceeds southwest for approximately 4.5 miles, then turns sharply 
south-southeast for approximately 0.3 miles, until the contour line 
turns sharply east at a point just north of the Klamath River;
    (6) The boundary then diverges from the 1800' contour line and 
proceeds south-southeast in a straight line, across the Klamath River 
and State route 96, until it intersects with the 1600' contour line;
    (7) The boundary then follows the 1600' contour line south and 
west, then north and west, roughly following the course of the Klamath 
River, until it reaches an unnamed peak 1744 feet high;
    (8) The boundary continues along the 1600' contour line as it 
diverges from the Klamath River and proceeds south, just to the east of 
an unnamed light duty road, to the point where that road crosses Grider 
Creek;
    (9) The boundary diverges from the contour line and proceeds west 
in a straight line across the road and Grider Creek until it intersects 
with the 1600' contour line on the west side of Grider Creek;
    (10) The boundary then follows the 1600' contour line north, west 
and north again until it reaches a point where the contour line turns 
west, just south of the Klamath River;
    (11) The boundary diverges from the 1600' contour line and proceeds 
in a straight line in a northeasterly direction, back to the point of 
beginning.

    Approved: December 28, 1993.
Daniel R. Black
Acting Director
[FR Doc. 94-477 Filed 01-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-U