[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 20, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42988-42989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21118]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 922
[Docket No. FV96-922-1FIR]
Apricots Grown in Designated Counties in Washington; Temporary
Suspension of Grade Requirements
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
suspending for the 1996 season only, the minimum grade requirements
(Washington No. 1), for fresh shipments of apricots grown in
Washington. This change was recommended by the Washington Apricot
Marketing Committee (committee), which works with the Department in
administering the marketing order covering apricots grown in designated
counties in Washington. This rule enables handlers to ship more fruit
in fresh market channels, taking into consideration the damage caused
to Washington apricots by freezing temperatures during the growing
season. This change is expected to increase returns to producers and to
make more fresh apricots available to consumers.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 19, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teresa L. Hutchinson, Northwest
Marketing Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, 1220
SW Third Avenue, room 369, Portland, OR 97204; telephone: (503) 326-
2724; or Caroline C. Thorpe, 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) 720-5331. 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 No. 132 and Marketing Order No. 922 (7 CFR Part 922), both as
amended, regulating the handling of apricots grown in designated
counties in Washington, hereinafter referred to as the ``order.'' The
order is authorized by 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. 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 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 action on small entities.
The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of
[[Page 42989]]
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 75 handlers of Washington apricots who are
subject to regulation under the order and approximately 400 producers
in the regulated area. Small agricultural service firms, which includes
handlers of Washington apricots, have been defined by the Small
Business Administration [13 CFR 121.601] as those having annual
receipts of less than $5,000,000, and small agricultural producers are
defined as those whose annual receipts are less than $500,000. The
majority of Washington apricot handlers and producers may be classified
as small entities.
This rule finalizes an interim final rule suspending minimum grade
requirements and therefore is a relaxation in regulations which should
result in reduced costs and increased returns to handlers and
producers. This will lower inspection costs and also enable handlers to
ship a larger portion of their crop to the fresh market to meet
consumer needs. Therefore, AMS has determined that this action will not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
The interim final rule was issued on June 12, 1996, and published
in the Federal Register (61 FR 30495, June 17, 1996), with an effective
date of June 15, 1996. That rule amended Sec. 922.321 of the rules and
regulations in effect under the order. That rule provided a 30-day
comment period which ended July 17, 1996. No comments were received.
Section 922.52 of the order authorizes the issuance of grade, size,
quality, maturity, container markings, pack, and container regulations
for any variety or varieties of apricots grown in any district or
districts of the production area. Section 922.53 further authorizes the
modification, suspension, or termination of regulations issued under
Sec. 922.52. Section 922.55 provides that whenever apricots are
regulated pursuant to Secs. 922.52 or 922.53, such apricots must be
inspected by the Federal-State Inspection Service, and certified as
meeting the applicable requirements of such regulations.
The minimum grade, maturity, color, and size requirements for
Washington apricots regulated under the order are specified in
Sec. 922.321 Apricot Regulation 21 [7 CFR 922.321]. This final rule
finalizes the interim final rule to temporarily suspend the minimum
grade requirement in Sec. 922.321. This provides that no handler shall
handle any container of apricots unless such apricots grade not less
than Washington No. 1, except for shipments subject to exemption under
the regulation. Other parts of Sec. 922.321 that remain in effect,
provide that the Moorpark variety in open containers must be generally
well matured. Also remaining in effect is the provision that with the
exception of exempt shipments, apricots must be at least reasonably
uniform in color, and be at least 1\5/8\ inches in diameter, except for
the Blenheim, Blenril, and Tilton varieties which must be at least 1\1/
4\ inches in diameter. Individual shipments of apricots are also exempt
from all these requirements if sold for home use only, do not exceed
500 pounds net weight, and containers are stamped or marked with the
words ``not for resale.''
This rule finalizes the interim final rule that amended paragraph
(a)(1) of Sec. 922.321 by continuing temporary suspension of the
minimum grade requirements for fresh shipments of apricots for the 1996
season only. The grade requirements currently specified in Sec. 922.321
will resume April 1, 1997, for 1997 and future seasons.
At its May 16, 1996, meeting, the committee unanimously recommended
suspending the grade requirements for the 1996 season. The committee
requested that this suspension be effective by June 15, the date
shipments of the 1996 Washington apricot crop are expected to begin.
The committee meets prior to and during each season to consider
recommendations for modification, suspension, or termination of the
regulatory requirements for Washington apricots which have been issued
on a continuing basis. Committee meetings are open to the public and
interested persons may express their views at these meetings. The
Department reviews committee recommendations and information submitted
by the committee and other available information, and determines
whether modification, suspension, or termination of the regulatory
requirements would tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
The committee reports that the apricot crop was severely damaged by
several freezes last winter and early this spring. The severe weather
conditions resulted in a high percentage of damage from russeting, scab
spots, and other grade defects making it difficult for apricots to meet
the minimum grade requirements of Washington No. 1. The committee
estimates that only 2,300 tons of apricots will be shipped fresh during
the 1996 season, even with the grade requirements suspended as
requested. This amount is 52 percent of last season's fresh shipments
of 4,452 tons and 46 percent of the five-year average of 4,965 tons.
This final rule continues the suspension of the grade requirements
specified in Sec. 922.321. Thus, the color and minimum size
requirements for all varieties and the well matured requirements for
the Moorpark variety will remain unchanged.
This final rule enables handlers to continue to ship a larger
portion of their crop to the fresh market this season, taking into
account the abnormal growing conditions, than they would be allowed if
the minimum grade requirements were not suspended. Continued suspension
of the grade requirements for Washington apricots is intended to
increase fresh shipments to meet consumer needs and improve returns to
producers. It is the Department's view that the impact of this action
upon producers and handlers, both large and small, will be beneficial
because it will enable handlers to provide apricots consistent with
1996 season growing conditions.
After consideration of all relevant material presented, the
information and recommendations submitted by the committee, and other
information, it is found that finalizing the interim final rule,
without change, as published in the Federal Register (61 FR 30495, June
17, 1996) will tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 922
Marketing agreements, Apricots, 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
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 7 CFR part 922 which
was published at 61 FR 30495 on June 17, 1996, is adopted as a final
rule without change.
Dated: August 13, 1996.
Robert C. Keeney,
Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 96-21118 Filed 8-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P