[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 7, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40959-40960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20034]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
7 CFR Part 985

[Docket No. FV96-985-2 FIR]


Spearmint Oil Produced in the Far West; Assessment Rate

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting as a 
final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule 
establishing an assessment rate for the Spearmint Oil Administrative 
Committee (Committee) under Marketing Order No. 985 for the 1996-97 and 
subsequent fiscal periods. The Committee is responsible for the local 
administration of the marketing order which regulates the handling of 
spearmint oil produced in the Far West. Authorization to assess 
spearmint oil 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: Robert J. Curry, Northwest Marketing 
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, 1220 SW Third Avenue, room 369, 
Portland, Oregon 97204-2807; telephone (503) 326-2724; or Tershirra T. 
Yeager, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Division, AMS, USDA, room 2525, South Building, P.O. Box 96456, 
Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; telephone: (202) 720-5127. 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, D.C. 20090-6456; telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax (202) 720-
5698.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing Order 
No. 985 (7 CFR part 985), regulating the handling of spearmint oil 
produced in the Far West (Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and designated 
parts of California, Nevada, Montana, and Utah), hereinafter referred 
to as the ``order.'' The marketing 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 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. Under the marketing order now in effect, Far West 
spearmint oil 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 
spearmint oil 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

[[Page 40960]]

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 260 producers of spearmint oil in the 
production area and 8 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 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 spearmint oil producers and handlers may be classified as 
small entities.
    The spearmint oil 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 of Far West 
spearmint oil. 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 February 27, 1996, and unanimously recommended 
1996-97 expenditures of $230,752 and an assessment rate of $0.10 per 
pound of spearmint oil. In comparison, last year's budgeted 
expenditures were $233,272. The assessment rate of $.10 is the same as 
last year's established rate. Major expenditures recommended by the 
Committee for 1996-97 include $96,200 for administrative expenses, 
$113,552 for salaries, and $21,000 for committee travel. Budgeted 
expenses for these items in 1995-96 were $102,900, $107,372, and 
$23,009, respectively.
    The assessment rate recommended by the Committee was derived by 
dividing anticipated expenses by expected shipments of Far West 
spearmint oil. Spearmint oil shipments for the year are estimated at 
2,081,610 pounds which should provide $208,161 in assessment income. 
Income derived from handler assessments, along with interest income and 
funds from the committee's authorized reserve, will be adequate to 
cover budgeted expenses. Funds in the reserve will be kept within the 
maximum permitted by the order.
    An interim final rule regarding this action was published in the 
May 6, 1996, issue of the Federal Register (61 FR 20122). That rule 
provided for a 30-day comment period. 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 is needed. The 
Committee's 1996-97 budget and those for subsequent fiscal years 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.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also found and determined that good 
cause exists for not postponing the effective date of the 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 begins on 
June 1, 1996, and the marketing order requires that the rate of 
assessment for each fiscal period apply to all assessable spearmint oil 
handled during such fiscal period; (3) handlers are aware of this 
action which was unanimously recommended by the Committee at a public 
meeting and is similar to other assessment rate actions issued in past 
years; and (4) an interim final rule was published on this action and 
provided for a 30-day comment period, no comments were received.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 985

    Spearmint Oil, Marketing agreements, Oils and fats, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

PART 985--SPEARMINT OIL PRODUCED IN THE FAR WEST

    Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 7 CFR 900 which was 
published at 61 FR 20122 on May 6, 1996, is adopted as a final rule 
without change.

    Dated: August 1, 1996.
Robert C. Keeney,
Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 96-20034 Filed 8-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P