[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 185 (Monday, September 23, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49653-49654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24237]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
7 CFR Part 920

[Docket No. FV96-920-1 FIR]


Kiwifruit Grown in California; 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 Kiwifruit Administrative 
Committee (Committee) under Marketing Order No. 920 for the 1996-97 and 
subsequent fiscal periods. The Committee is responsible for local 
administration of the marketing order which regulates the handling of 
kiwifruit grown in California. Authorization to assess kiwifruit 
handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable 
and necessary to administer the program.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Kate Nelson, Marketing Assistant, 
California Marketing Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, 
USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721, 
telephone (209) 487-5901, FAX# (209) 487-5906, or Charles L. Rush, 
Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 2523-S, Washington, 
DC 20090-6456, telephone (202) 720-5127, FAX# (202) 720-5698. 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 Order 
No. 920, as amended (7 CFR part 920), regulating the handling of 
kiwifruit grown in California, 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 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, California 
kiwifruit 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 
kiwifruit beginning August 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 500 producers of kiwifruit in the 
production area and approximately 65 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 kiwifruit producers and handlers may be 
classified as small entities.
    The kiwifruit 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 California 
kiwifruit and one non-industry member. 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 June 12, 1996, and unanimously recommended 
1996-97 expenditures of $178,598 and an assessment rate of $0.0175 per 
tray or tray equivalent of kiwifruit. In comparison, last year's 
budgeted expenditures were $172,683. The assessment rate of $0.0175 per 
tray or tray equivalent is $0.0025 higher than last year's established 
rate. Major expenditures recommended by the Committee for the 1996-97 
year include $108,500 for administrative staff and field salaries, 
$20,398 for travel, food and lodging and $13,000 for accident and 
health insurance. Budgeted expenses for these items in 1995-96 were 
$102,850, $19,798 and $13,050, respectively.
    In the interim final rule, an expense of $650 for management/staff 
food & lodging, was inadvertently omitted. This would modify the total 
amount for travel, food and lodging to be $20,398.
    The assessment rate recommended by the Committee was derived by 
dividing

[[Page 49654]]

anticipated expenses by expected shipments of California kiwifruit. 
Kiwifruit shipments for the year are estimated at 10.5 million trays or 
tray equivalents of kiwifruit which should provide $183,750 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 
August 5, 1996, issue of the Federal Register (61 FR 40506). 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 rate is needed. 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.
    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 
August 1, 1996, and the marketing order requires that the rate of 
assessment for each fiscal period apply to all assessable kiwifruit 
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, 
providing a 30-day comment period, and no comments were received.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 920

    Kiwifruit, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

PART 920--KIWIFRUIT GROWN IN CALIFORNIA

    Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 7 CFR part 920 which 
was published at 61 FR 40506 on August 5, 1996, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

    Dated: September 17, 1996.
Robert C. Keeney,
Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 96-24237 Filed 9-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P