[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 11773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6265]


      
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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 49 / Thursday, March 13, 1997 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 11773]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 29

[Docket No. TB-97-01]


Tobacco Inspection--Growers Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of referendum.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that a referendum will be conducted by 
mail during the period of March 24-28, 1997, for producers of flue-
cured tobacco who sell their tobacco at auction in Tabor City and 
Whiteville, North Carolina, to determine producer approval of the 
designation of the Tabor City and Whiteville tobacco markets as one 
consolidated auction market.

DATES: The referendum will be held March 24-28, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Coats, Deputy Director, 
Tobacco Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, United States 
Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; 
telephone number (202) 205-0508.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given of a mail referendum 
on the designation of a consolidated auction market at Tabor City and 
Whiteville, North Carolina. Tabor City and Whiteville were designated 
on June 26, 1942, (7 CFR 29.8001) as flue-cured tobacco auction markets 
under the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 511 et seq.). Under this Act 
those markets have been receiving mandatory grading services from USDA.
    On August 6, 1996, an application was made to the Secretary of 
Agriculture to consolidate the designated markets of Tabor City and 
Whiteville, North Carolina. The application, filed by warehouse 
operators on those markets, was made pursuant to the regulations 
promulgated under the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 CFR Part 29.1-29.3). On 
November 6, 1996, a public hearing was held in Tabor City, North 
Carolina, pursuant to the regulations. A Review Committee, established 
pursuant to Sec. 29.3(h) of the regulations 7 CFR 29.3(h)), has 
reviewed and considered the application, the testimony presented at the 
hearing, the exhibits received in evidence, and other available 
information. The Committee recommended to the Secretary that the 
application be granted and the Secretary approved the application on 
February 19, 1997.
    Before a new market can be officially designated, a referendum must 
be held to determine that a two-thirds majority of producers favor the 
designation. It is hereby determined that the referendum will be held 
by mail during the period of March 24-28, 1997. The purpose of the 
referendum is to determine whether farmers who sold their tobacco on 
the designated markets at Tabor City and Whiteville are in favor of, or 
opposed to, the designation of the consolidated market for the 1997 and 
succeeding crop years. Accordingly, if a two-thirds majority of those 
tobacco producers voting in the referendum favor this consolidation, a 
new market will be designated as and will be called Tabor City-
Whiteville.
    To be eligible to vote in the referendum a tobacco producer must 
have sold flue-cured tobacco on either the Tabor City or Whiteville, 
North Carolina, auction markets during the 1996 marketing season. Any 
farmer who believes he or she is eligible to vote in the referendum but 
has not received a mail ballot by March 24, 1997, should immediately 
contact William Coats at (202) 205-0508.
    The referendum will be held in accordance with the provisions for 
referenda of the Tobacco Inspection Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 511d) and 
the regulations for such referendum set forth in 7 CFR 29.74.

    Dated: March 7, 1997.
Lon Hatamiya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-6265 Filed 3-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P