[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 108 (Monday, June 5, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 35590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13979]


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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. 65, No. 108 / Monday, June 5, 2000 / Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 35590]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 928

[Docket No. FV00-928-1 PR]


Papayas Grown in Hawaii; Reopening of Comment Period on Removal 
of Suspension Regarding Grade, Inspection, and Related Reporting 
Requirements and Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reopening of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the proposed 
removal of the suspension of grade, inspection, and related reporting 
requirements for Hawaiian papayas is reopened.

DATES: Comments must be received by June 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposal. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, 
Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, room 2525-S, PO Box 96456, 
Washington, DC 20090-6456; Fax: (202) 720-5698; or E-mail: 
[email protected]. All comments should reference the docket 
number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register and will be made available for public inspection in the Office 
of the Docket Clerk during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Kelhart, Technical Advisor, 
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
AMS, USDA, room 2525-S, PO Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; 
telephone: (202) 720-2491, 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 Programs, AMS, USDA, room 2525-S, P.O. Box 
96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 
720-5698, or E-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was issued on February 14, 
2000, and published in the Federal Register (65 FR 8313; February 18, 
2000). The proposed rule invited comments on removing the suspension of 
grade, inspection, inspection waiver procedure, and related exempt 
shipment reporting requirements under the marketing order regulating 
papayas grown in Hawaii. The proposal specified that papayas shipped to 
any destination had to be at least Hawaii No. 1, except that the weight 
requirements specified in this grade shall not apply. These 
requirements were the same as previously applied except that the 5 
percent tolerance for immature papayas was proposed to be removed. The 
comment period ended April 18, 2000.
    One comment signed by eight persons was received. In evaluating 
that comment, the Department further reviewed the Papaya Administrative 
Committee's (Committee) recommendation to remove the 5 percent 
tolerance for immature fruit under Hawaii No. 1. The rationale provided 
by the Committee for removing that tolerance was to improve the quality 
of papayas shipped into the fresh market. A further review of the 
requirements under Hawaii No. 1, however, revealed that the removal of 
that tolerance could have the effect of permitting more immature fruit 
in shipments of Hawaii papayas than was permitted before the 
requirements were suspended in 1994. For instance, under the inspection 
shipping point plan in Table IIA of the Standards for Hawaii Grown 
Papaya, the removal of the 5 percent tolerance could permit a lot of 
papayas to include a maximum of 7 percent immature papayas. This would 
not be an improvement in quality as contemplated by the Committee.
    Before proceeding further on this recommendation, the Department 
needs more information to clarify the basis of the recommendation to 
remove the 5 percent tolerance. Reopening the comment period to June 
20, 2000, would allow the Committee and other interested persons more 
time to review the proposed rule and submit information to clarify the 
matter.
    This delay should not substantially add to the time required to 
complete this rulemaking action. Accordingly, the period in which to 
file written comments is reopened until June 20, 2000. This notice is 
issued pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

    Dated: May 30, 2000.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-13979 Filed 6-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-U