[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 173 (Monday, September 8, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 47156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23575]


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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. 173 / Monday, September 8, 1997 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 47156]]


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NORTHEAST DAIRY COMPACT COMMISSION

7 CFR Chapter XIII


Compact Over-Order Price Regulation

AGENCY: Northeast Dairy Compact Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Northeast Diary Compact Commission proposes to extend and 
to amend generally the current Compact Over-order Price Regulation, 7 
CFR Chapter XIII, for the period January 1 through December 31, 1998. 
The current price regulation is in effect through December 31, 1997, 
applying to all Class I, fluid milk route distributions in the 
territorial region of the six New England states. The price regulation 
establishes a floor price of $16.94, which represents the monthly 
Federal Milk Market Order #1 Class I, Zone 1, price and the resulting 
compact ``over-order'' amount. The Commission submits the terms and 
substance of the Final rule which established the current price 
regulation as its proposed rule for purposes of public review and 
comment. (See 62 FR 29626, May 30, 1997.) A public hearing to take 
testimony and receive documentary evidence relevant to extending and 
amending generally the Compact Over-order Price Regulation will be 
held.

DATES: Written comments and exhibits may be submitted until 5:00 pm, 
October 8, 1997. The hearing will be held on September 24, 1997 at 
10:00 a.m.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Northeast Dairy Compact Commission, 43 
State Street, P.O. Box 1058, Montpelier, VT 05601. The hearing will be 
held at the Bektash Shrine Club Hall, 189 Pembroke Road, Concord, New 
Hampshire.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Smith, Executive Director, 
Northeast Dairy Compact Commission at the above address or by telephone 
at (802) 229-1941 or by facsimile at (802) 229-2028.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Northeast Dairy Compact Commission (the ``Commission'') was 
established under authority of the Northeast Interstate Diary Compact 
(the ``Compact''). The Compact was enacted into law by each of the six 
participating New England states as follows: Connecticut--Pub. L. 93-
320; Maine--Pub. L. 89-437, as amended, Pub. L. 93-247; Massachusetts--
Pub. L. 93-370; New Hampshire--Pub. L. 93-336; Rhode Island--Pub. L. 
93-106; Vermont--Pub. L. 89-95, as amended 93-57. In accordance with 
Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution, Congress 
consented to the Compact in Pub. L. 104-127 (FAIR Act), Section 147, 
codified at 7 U.S.C. 7156. Subsequently, the United States Secretary of 
Agriculture, pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 7256(1), authorized the 
implementation of the Compact.
    Pursuant to its authority under Article V, Section 11 of the 
Compact, the Commission conducted an informal rulemaking proceeding to 
decide whether to adopt a Compact Over-order Price Regulation. See 62 
FR 23032 (Apr. 28, 1997) (proposed rule). The Commission subsequently 
adopted a Compact Over-order Price Regulation effective July 1, 1997. 
See 62 FR 29696 (May 30, 1997). Pursuant to Section 12 and 13 of the 
Compact, the Commission conducted a producer referendum, which was 
approved. See 62 FR 29646 (May 30, 1997).
    Pursuant to Article V, Section 11, the Commission is proposing to 
extend and amend generally the current Compact Over-order Price 
Regulation for a one year period beyond its current effective date of 
December 31, 1997. The current Compact Over-order Price Regulation is 
codified at 7 CFR Secs. 1300 through 1308.1 The Commission submits the 
terms and substance of the final rule which established the current 
price regulation as its proposed rule for purposes of public review and 
comments. (See 62 FR 29626, May 30, 1997.)

II. Date, Time and Location of the Public Hearing

    The Northeast Dairy Compact Commission will hold a public hearing 
on:
    Wednesday, September 24, 1997 at 10:00 am at the Bektash Shrine 
Club Hall, 189 Pembroke Road, Concord, New Hampshire.

III. Request for Written Comments

    Pursuant to Article VI(D) of the Commission's Bylaws, any person 
may participate in the rulemaking proceeding independent of the hearing 
process by submitting written comments and exhibits to the Commission. 
Comments and exhibits may be submitted at any time until 5:00 pm, 
October 8, 1997. Comments and exhibits will be made part of the record 
of the rulemaking proceeding if they identify the author's name, 
address and occupation, and if they include a sworn notarized statement 
indicating that the comment and/or exhibit is presented based upon the 
author's personal knowledge and belief. Facsimile copies will be 
accepted up until the 5:00 pm, October 8, 1997 deadline but the 
original copies must then be sent by ordinary mail.
    Comments and exhibits should be sent to: Northeast Dairy Compact 
Commission, 43 State Street, P.O. Box 1058, Montpelier, VT 05601, (802) 
229-2028 (fax).
    For more information, contact a New England state department of 
agriculture or the Compact Commission offices--(802) 229-1941.

    Dated September 2, 1997.

    By authority of the Commission.

    For the Commission.
Daniel Smith,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 97-23575 Filed 9-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1650-01-P-M