[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44290-44291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21957]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[DA-96-06]


Announcement of Implementation of the Northeast Interstate Dairy 
Compact

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Secretary of Agriculture has 
authorized the implementation of the Northeast Interstate Dairy 
Compact. The Secretary has determined that a compelling public interest 
exists in the Compact region and has authorized the

[[Page 44291]]

Compact States of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 
Rhode Island, and Vermont to implement the Northeast Interstate Dairy 
Compact, effective August 8, 1996.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 8, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard M. McKee, Director, USDA/AMS/
Dairy Division, Room 2968, South Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, 
DC 20090-6456 (202) 720-4392.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 147 of the 1996 Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act (Pub. L. 104-127) establishes 
Congressional consent for the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact (the 
Compact) entered into by the States of Connecticut, Maine, 
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont subject to 
several conditions. The FAIR Act provides that ``Based upon a finding 
by the Secretary of a compelling public interest in the Compact region, 
the Secretary may grant the States that have ratified the Northeast 
Interstate Dairy Compact, as of the date of enactment of this title, 
the authority to implement the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact.'' 
The Secretary issued the following on August 8, 1996:

Finding and Authorization of Secretary Dan Glickman on the Northeast 
Interstate Dairy Compact

    Whereas the State legislatures in Connecticut, Maine, 
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont have 
approved the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact, the governor of 
each Compact State has signed a resolution supporting the Compact, 
the Congress has consented to the Compact in the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act of 1996, and approximately ninety-
five percent of the comments the Department of Agriculture received 
regarding the Compact supported its implementation, I hereby find 
that a compelling public interest in the Compact region exists and 
authorize the Compact States to implement the Northeast Interstate 
Dairy Compact. This finding and authorization shall be effective 
immediately and shall be published in the Federal Register.

    On August 9, 1996, Secretary Glickman issued the following press 
statement concerning the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact:

    The State legislatures in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New 
Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont have approved the Northeast 
Interstate Dairy Compact, the governor of each Compact State has 
signed a resolution supporting the Compact, and the Congress has 
consented to the Compact in the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform (FAIR) Act of 1996. In addition, approximately 95 percent of 
the comments the Department of Agriculture received regarding the 
Compact supported its implementation. For these reasons, I have 
found that a compelling public interest in the Compact region exists 
and have authorized the Compact States to implement the Northeast 
Interstate Dairy Compact. This finding and authorization became 
effective today and will be published in the Federal Register.
    While it is unclear what specific actions the Compact Commission 
will take to implement the Compact, I am concerned about the 
potential effects of the Compact in several respects. I intend, 
therefore, to monitor closely its implementation. I also encourage 
Congress to exercise its oversight function and monitor the 
implementation of the Compact. If my expectations are not met, or if 
conditions otherwise warrant, I will revoke this authorization to 
implement the Compact.
    I expect that the Compact Commission will implement the Compact 
in a way that does not burden other regions of the country, 
consistent with the provisions of the FAIR Act and the Compact. I 
would be greatly concerned if the Commission restricts in any way 
the ability of producers to ship milk into the Compact region. I 
will monitor whether the Compact has any adverse effects on the 
income of dairy producers outside the Compact region as well as the 
extent to which the Commission utilizes its authority to impose 
production controls to minimize the effect of the Compact on other 
dairy producing regions. I also expect the Commission to ensure that 
its actions are flexible and responsive to changing supply, demand 
and price conditions in milk markets.
    Perhaps most significantly, I am deeply concerned about and will 
closely monitor the effect of the Compact on consumers, especially 
low-income families, within the Compact region. I expect that the 
Commission will pay close attention to and monitor the effects of 
its decisions on consumers before and after it takes any action. I 
also expect the Commission and the Compact States to provide 
assistance to offset any increased burden on low-income families in 
the Compact region. I am also concerned about the effect of the 
Compact on the Department of Agriculture's nutrition programs, and I 
expect the Commission to exercise its authority to reimburse 
participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for 
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and to fulfill its obligation to 
reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation, as provided in the 
Compact and in the FAIR Act.
    The Compact is a transitional milk marketing system for the 
region and will expire when a new nationwide Federal milk marketing 
order structure is implemented. I believe the approach outlined in 
this statement offers the best opportunity to strengthen the dairy 
industry in the Compact region during the transition to the reformed 
milk marketing order structure required by the FAIR Act.

    Dated: August 22, 1996.
Shirley R. Watkins,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-21957 Filed 8-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P