[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14586]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 922

[Docket No. FV94-922-11FR]

 

Apricots Grown in Designated Counties in Washington; Revision in 
Container Regulations

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This rule revises container regulations for apricots shipped 
to fresh market outlets under Marketing Order No. 922. This rule gives 
handlers greater flexibility in selecting containers to meet their 
packaging needs by eliminating the inside dimension requirements on 
each type of container that has a minimum apricot net weight 
requirement. The rule eliminates reference to the obsolete lidded four-
basket crate, and replaces the term ``closed L.A. lugs and equivalent 
cartons'' with the term ``closed containers'' to simplify wording and 
improve clarity. This rule also includes a correction to the container 
regulations which had previously appeared in the Federal Register as a 
final rule, but did not appear in the annual Code of Federal 
Regulations.

DATES: This interim final rule becomes effective: June 15, 1994. 
Comments which are received by July 15, 1994, will be considered prior 
to any finalization of the interim final rule.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this rule. Comments must be sent in triplicate to the Docket 
Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, room 2525-S, P.O. Box 
96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456 or by FAX at (202) 720-5698. All 
comments should reference the docket number and the date and page 
number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made available 
for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular 
business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark J. Kreaggor, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, room 2523-S, P.O. 
Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone: (202) 720-5127; or 
Teresa Hutchinson, Northwest Marketing Field Office, Fruit and 
Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, 1220 SW. Third Avenue, room 369, 
Portland, OR 97204; telephone: (503) 326-2724.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This interim final rule is issued under 
Marketing Order No. 922 [7 CFR part 922], regulating the handling of 
apricots grown in designated counties in Washington, hereinafter 
referred to as the order. The order is effective under the Agricultural 
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended [7 U.S.C. 601-674], 
hereinafter referred to as the Act.
    The Department of Agriculture (Department) is issuing this rule in 
conformance with Executive Order 12866.
    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule is not intended to have retroactive effect. 
This rule will not preempt any state or local laws, regulations, or 
policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
rule.
    The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be exhausted 
before parties may file suit in court. Under section 608c(15)(A) of the 
Act, any handler subject to an order may file with the Secretary a 
petition stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any 
obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance 
with law and request a modification of the order or to be exempted 
therefrom. A handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the 
petition. After the hearing the Secretary will rule on the petition. 
The Act provides that the district court of the United States in any 
district in which the handler is an inhabitant, or has a principal 
place of business, has jurisdiction in equity to review the Secretary's 
ruling on the petition, provided a bill in equity is filed not later 
than 20 days after the date of the entry of the ruling.
    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA), the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS) has considered the economic impact of this action on small 
entities.
    The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of 
business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will 
not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued 
pursuant to the Act, and rules issued thereunder, are unique in that 
they are brought about through group action of essentially small 
entities acting on their own behalf. Thus, both statutes have small 
entity orientation and compatibility.
    There are approximately 55 handlers of Washington apricots that are 
subject to regulation under the marketing order. In addition, there are 
approximately 400 producers in the regulated area. Small agricultural 
service firms, which include producers of Washington apricots, have 
been defined by the Small Business Administration [13 CFR 121.601] as 
those whose annual receipts are less than $3,500,000, and small 
agricultural producers are defined as those whose annual receipts are 
less than $500,000. A majority of these handlers and producers may be 
classified as small entities.
    Section 922.52 [7 CFR 922.52] authorizes the issuance of 
regulations for grade, size, quality, maturity, pack, markings, and 
container for any variety or varieties of apricots grown in any 
district or districts of the production area. Section 922.53 [7 CFR 
922.53] authorizes the modification, suspension, or termination of 
regulations issued under section 922.52.
    Container regulations are currently in effect under section 
922.306. This rule eliminates references to inside dimensions for each 
type of container that has a minimum apricot net weight requirement. 
This rule also removes references to the obsolete lidded four-basket 
crate and replaces the term ``closed L.A. lugs and equivalent cartons'' 
with the term ``closed containers.''
    This rule was recommended by the Washington Apricot Marketing 
Committee (committee), which works with the Department in administering 
the marketing order.
    The committee met on December 15, 1993, and unanimously recommended 
elimination of inside dimension requirements for each type of container 
that has a minimum apricot net weight requirement. The committee also 
unanimously recommended deleting reference in the container regulation 
to the lidded four-basket crate, and that the term ``closed L.A. lugs 
and equivalent cartons'' be replaced with the term ``closed 
containers.''
    Handlers have experienced difficulty in packing many of the new, 
larger varieties of apricots, particularly in row-faced and tray-packed 
containers because of the inside dimension requirements in effect. 
Container height limits, for example, can cause a higher incidence of 
compression damage in large apricots that are row-faced or tray-packed. 
In addition, the inside dimension requirements have prevented handlers 
from using many generic containers used in other fruit and vegetable 
industries.
    This rule deletes references to designated container dimensions for 
each type of container that has a minimum apricot net weight 
requirement. The committee believes that continued standardization of 
the minimum net weight requirements of the authorized containers is 
needed to prevent market confusion resulting from the use of deceptive 
containers.
    This rule will allow handlers greater flexibility in packaging. By 
allowing different container dimensions, as long as the minimum weight 
requirements are met, handlers will have the flexibility to use 
containers commonly used in other fruit and vegetable industries, to 
use different containers for different varieties of apricots, and to 
develop new containers.
    This rule will remove authority for the use of the obsolete lidded 
four-basket crate. The rule will also remove reference in the 
regulation to the term ``closed L.A. lugs and equivalent cartons'' 
replacing it with the term, ``closed containers.'' This change is 
intended only to simplify wording and improve clarity.
    This rule also corrects the container regulations in the Code of 
Federal Regulations for Apricots Grown in Designated Counties in 
Washington [7 CFR Part 922]. Changes to the container requirements 
appeared in the Federal Register [44 FR 37598, June 28, 1979] [Apricot 
Regulation 6, Amendment 4], but did not correspondingly appear in the 
annual Code of Federal Regulations.
    Based on the above information, the Administrator of the AMS has 
determined that this interim final rule will not have a significant 
impact on a substantial number of small entities and that the action 
set forth herein will benefit producers and handlers of apricots grown 
in designated counties in Washington State.
    After consideration of all available information, it is found that 
the revision of the container regulations, as hereinafter set forth, 
will tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also found and determined, upon 
good cause, that it is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the 
public interest to give preliminary notice prior to putting this rule 
into effect, and that good cause exists for not postponing the 
effective date of this rule until 30 days after publication in the 
Federal Register because: (1) The 1993-94 marketing year begins June 1, 
1994, and the container regulations established herein should apply to 
all apricots produced in the production area and need to be in place 
before the beginning of the marketing year; (2) handlers are aware of 
this rule, which was recommended at an open committee meeting, and need 
no additional time to comply with these regulations which are a 
relaxation; and (3) the rule provides a 30-day comment period, and any 
comments timely received will be considered prior to finalization of 
this interim final rule.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 922

    Apricots, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 922 is 
amended as follows:

PART 922--APRICOTS GROWN IN DESIGNATED COUNTIES IN WASHINGTON

    1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 922 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

    2. Section 922.306 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 922.306  Apricot Regulation 6.

    (a) No handler shall handle any apricots unless such apricots are:
    (1) In open containers or telescope fiberboard cartons and the net 
weight of the apricots is not less than 28 pounds; or
    (2) In closed containers containing not less than 14 pounds, net 
weight, of apricots: Provided, That when the apricots are packed in 
such containers they are row-faced or tray-packed; or
    (3) In closed containers that are marked ``12 pounds net weight'' 
and contain not less than 12 pounds, net weight, of apricots which are 
of random size and are not row-faced; or
    (4) In closed containers in which the apricots are row-faced or 
tray-packed: Provided, That apricots may be packed loose in such 
containers if a top pad is used and the net weight of the apricots 
therein is not less than 24 pounds; or
    (5) If exported to Canada, in any of the containers specified in 
this paragraph (a) or in containers having inside dimensions of 16\1/8\ 
x 11\1/2\ inches with 4\3/4\-inch end pieces and 3\3/4\-inch side 
pieces.
    (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, any 
individual shipment of apricots which, in the aggregate, does not 
exceed 500 pounds, net weight, may be handled without regard to the 
requirements specified in this section or in Secs. 922.41 or 922.55.
    (c) All apricots handled are also subject to all applicable grade, 
size, quality, maturity and pack regulations which are in effect 
pursuant to this part.
    (d) The terms ``handler'', ``handle'' and ``apricots'' shall have 
the same meaning as when used in the amended marketing agreement and 
order.

    Dated: June 9, 1994.
Eric M. Forman,
Deputy Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 94-14586 Filed 6-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P