[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 31850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14832]


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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. 66, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 13, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 31850]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 981

[Docket No. FV01-981-610 Review]


California Almonds; Section 610 Review of Marketing Order

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of review and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action announces that the Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS) plans to review Marketing Order 981 for almonds grown in 
California, under the criteria contained in section 610 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).

DATES: Written comments on this action must be received by August 13, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice of review. Comments must be sent to the Docket 
Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, Room 2525-S, Box 96456, 
Washington, DC 20090-6456; Fax: (202) 720-8938; 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, or may be viewed at 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Engeler, California Marketing 
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, 
Fresno, California 93721; telephone: (209) 487-5901; Fax: (209) 487-
5906; E-mail: [email protected]; or George Kelhart, 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) 720-8938; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Marketing Order No. 981, as amended (7 CFR 
part 981), regulates the handling of almonds grown in California. The 
marketing order is effective under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement 
Act of 1937 (AMAA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674).
    AMS published in the Federal Register (63 FR 8014; February 18, 
1999), its plan to review certain regulations, including Marketing 
Order No. 981, under criteria contained in section 610 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601-612). Because many AMS 
regulations impact small entities, AMS decided, as a matter of policy, 
to review certain regulations which, although they may not meet the 
threshold requirement under section 610 of the RFA, warrant review. The 
February 18 notice stated that AMS would list the regulations to be 
reviewed in AMS' regulatory agenda which is published in the Federal 
Register as part of the Unified Agenda. However, after further 
consideration, AMS has decided to announce the reviews in the Federal 
Register separate from the Unified Agenda. Accordingly, this notice and 
request for comments is made for California almonds.
    The purpose of the review will be to determine whether the 
California marketing order for almonds should be continued without 
change, amended, or rescinded (consistent with the objectives of the 
AMAA) to minimize the impacts on small entities. In conducting this 
review, AMS will consider the following factors: (1) The continued need 
for the marketing order; (2) the nature of complaints or comments 
received from the public concerning the marketing order; (3) the 
complexity of the marketing order; (4) the extent to which the 
marketing order overlaps, duplicates, or conflicts with other Federal 
rules, and, to the extent feasible, with State and local governmental 
rules; and (5) the length of time since the marketing order has been 
evaluated or the degree to which technology, economic conditions, or 
other factors have changed in the area affected by the marketing order.
    Written comments, views, opinions, and other information regarding 
the almond marketing order's impact on small businesses are invited.

    Dated: June 7, 2001.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-14832 Filed 6-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P