[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 246 (Friday, December 20, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67179-67181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32286]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
7 CFR Part 955
[Docket No. FV96-955-1 FIR]
Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia; 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 Vidalia Onion Committee
(Committee) under Marketing Order No. 955 for the 1996-97 and
subsequent fiscal periods. The Committee is responsible for local
administration of the marketing order which regulates the handling of
Vidalia onions grown in Georgia. Authorization to assess Vidalia onion
handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable
and necessary to administer the program.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 15, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Jamieson, Marketing Assistant,
Southeast Marketing Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS,
USDA, P.O. Box 2276, Winter Haven, FL 33883-2276, telephone 941-299-
4770; FAX 941-299-5169, or Martha Sue Clark, Program Assistant,
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division,
AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 2525-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456,
telephone 202-720-9918; 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 2525-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. 955, both as amended (7 CFR part 955),
regulating the handling of Vidalia onions grown in Georgia, hereinafter
referred to as the ``order.'' The marketing agreement and order are
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, Vidalia 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 Vidalia onions
beginning September 15, 1996, and continuing until amended, suspended,
or terminated. This rule will not preempt any State or local laws,
[[Page 67180]]
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 250 producers of Vidalia onions in the
production area and approximately 145 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 Vidalia onion producers and handlers may be
classified as small entities.
The Vidalia 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
Vidalia 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 August 1, 1996, and unanimously recommended
1996-97 expenditures of $370,000 and an assessment rate of $0.10 per
50-pound bag or equivalent of Vidalia onions. In comparison, last
year's budgeted expenditures were $343,000. The assessment rate of
$0.10 is the same as last year's established rate. Major expenditures
recommended by the Committee for the 1996-97 fiscal period include
$110,000 for marketing, $95,000 for research, $139,000 for program
administration, and $26,000 for compliance. Budgeted expenses for these
items in 1995-96 were $146,500, $48,500, $122,600, and $25,400,
respectively.
The assessment rate recommended by the Committee was derived by
dividing anticipated expenses by expected shipments of Vidalia onions.
Vidalia onion shipments for the year are estimated at 3,614,000 which
should provide $361,400 in assessment income. The Committee also
anticipates shipments of 70,000 50-pound bags of previously unassessed
Vidalia onions which have been in storage, which will yield an
additional $7,000 in assessment income. Income derived from handler
assessments, along with interest income, 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
September 24, 1996, issue of the Federal Register (61 FR 49952). 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.
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.
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
September 15, 1996, and the marketing order requires that the rate of
assessment for each fiscal period apply to all assessable Vidalia
onions 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 955
Marketing agreements, Onions, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Note: This section will appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 955 is
amended as follows:
PART 955--VIDALIA ONIONS GROWN IN GEORGIA
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 7 CFR part 955 which
was published at 61 FR 49952 on September 24, 1996, is adopted as a
final rule without change.
[[Page 67181]]
Dated: December 16, 1996.
Robert C. Keeney,
Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 96-32286 Filed 12-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P