[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 145 (Friday, July 26, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 39050-39052] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-18997] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Part 956 [Docket No. FV96-956-2 FIR] Sweet Onions Grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon; Assessment Rate AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting as a final rule, with change, the provisions of an interim final rule that established an assessment rate for the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Committee (Committee) under Marketing Order No. 956 for the 1996-97 and subsequent fiscal periods. The Committee is responsible for local administration of the marketing order which regulates the handling of Sweet Onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. Authorization to assess onion handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective on June 1, 1996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha Sue Clark, Program Assistant, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 2523-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456, telephone 202-720-9918, FAX 202-720-5698, or Robert J. Curry, Marketing Specialist, Northwest Marketing Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, Green-Wyatt Federal Building, room 369, 1220 Southwest Third Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, telephone 503-326-2724, FAX 503-326-7440. Small businesses may request information on compliance with this regulation by contacting: Jay Guerber, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 2523-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456, telephone 202-720- 2491, FAX 202-720-5698. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing Agreement and Order No. 956 (7 CFR part 956) [[Page 39051]] regulating the handling of Sweet Onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon, 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 is issuing this rule in conformance with Executive Order 12866. This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. Under the marketing order now in effect, Walla Walla Sweet Onion handlers are subject to assessments. Funds to administer the order are derived from such assessments. It is intended that the assessment rate as issued herein will be applicable to all assessable onions beginning June 1, 1996, and continuing until amended, suspended, or terminated. 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. Such handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the petition. After the hearing the Secretary would 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 his or her principal place of business, has jurisdiction to review the Secretary's ruling on the petition, provided an action 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 Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the economic impact of this rule 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 the 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 50 producers of Walla Walla Sweet Onions in the production area and approximately 30 handlers subject to regulation under the marketing order. Small agricultural producers have been defined by the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.601) as those having annual receipts of less than $500,000, and small agricultural service firms are defined as those whose annual receipts are less than $5,000,000. The majority of Walla Walla Sweet Onion producers and handlers may be classified as small entities. The Walla Walla Sweet Onion marketing order provides authority for the Committee, with the approval of the Department, to formulate an annual budget of expenses and collect assessments from handlers to administer the program. The members of the Committee are producers and handlers of Walla Walla Sweet Onions. They are familiar with the Committee's needs and with the costs for goods and services in their local area and are thus in a position to formulate an appropriate budget and assessment rate. The assessment rate is formulated and discussed in a public meeting. Thus, all directly affected persons have an opportunity to participate and provide input. The Committee met on March 12, 1996, and unanimously recommended 1996-97 expenditures of $114,000 and an assessment rate of $0.19 per 50-pound bag or equivalent of onions. In comparison, last year's budgeted expenditures were $72,000. The assessment rate of $0.19 is $0.07 higher than last year's established rate. Major expenditures recommended by the Committee for the 1996-97 year include $34,000 for administrative expenses, $62,000 for research and promotion, and $9,000 for compliance. Budgeted expenses for these items in 1995-96 were $28,000, $22,000, and $9,000, respectively. The assessment rate recommended by the Committee was derived by dividing anticipated expenses by expected shipments of Walla Walla Sweet Onions. Onion shipments for the year are estimated at 600,000 50- pound bags which should provide $114,000 in assessment income, which will be adequate to cover budgeted expenses. An interim final rule regarding this action was published in the May 6, 1996, issue of the Federal Register (61 FR 20121). That interim final rule added Sec. 956.202 to establish an assessment rate for the Committee. That rule provided that interested persons could file comments through June 5, 1996. No comments were received. While this rule will impose some additional costs on handlers, the costs are in the form of uniform assessments on all handlers. Some of the additional costs may be passed on to producers. However, these costs will be offset by the benefits derived by the operation of the marketing order. Therefore, the AMS has determined that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The assessment rate established in this rule will continue in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated by the Secretary upon recommendation and information submitted by the Committee or other available information. Although this assessment rate is effective for an indefinite period, the Committee will continue to meet prior to or during each fiscal period to recommend a budget of expenses and consider recommendations for modification of the assessment rate. The dates and times of Committee meetings are available from the Committee or the Department. Committee meetings are open to the public and interested persons may express their views at these meetings. The Department will evaluate Committee recommendations and other available information to determine whether modification of the assessment rate is needed. Further rulemaking will be undertaken as necessary. The Committee's 1996-97 budget and those for subsequent fiscal periods will be reviewed and, as appropriate, approved by the Department. After consideration of all relevant material presented, including the information and recommendation submitted by the Committee and other available information, it is hereby found that this rule, as hereinafter set forth, will tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act. This final rule also corrects an error in the interim final rule published May 6, 1996 (61 FR 20121). On page 20122, the note immediately following amendatory instruction 2 incorrectly states that Sec. 956.202 will not appear in the annual Code of Federal Regulations. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also found and determined 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 Committee needs to have sufficient funds to pay its expenses which are incurred on a continuous basis; (2) the 1996-97 fiscal period began on June 1, 1996, and the marketing order requires that the rate of assessment for each fiscal period apply to all assessable onions handled during such fiscal period; (3) handlers are aware of this action which was [[Page 39052]] unanimously recommended by the Committee at a public meeting and is similar to the assessment rate action issued last year; and (4) an interim final rule was published on this action and provided for a 30- day comment period, and no comments were received. List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 956 Marketing agreements, Onions, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. PART 956--SWEET ONIONS GROWN IN THE WALLA WALLA VALLEY OF SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON AND NORTHEAST OREGON The authority citation for 7 CFR part 956 continues to read as follows: Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674. Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 7 CFR part 956 which was published at 61 FR 20122 on May 6, 1996, is adopted with the following correction to the note immediately following amendatory instruction 2. The note should read: This section will appear in the annual Code of Federal Regulations. Dated: July 22, 1996. Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, Deputy Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division. [FR Doc. 96-18997 Filed 7-25-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-P