[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21742]


 ========================================================================
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 28, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 45188]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1219

[Docket Nos. FV-01-705 EXT and FV-01-706 EXT]


Subpart A--Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information 
Order and Subpart B--Referendum Procedures; Extension of Comment 
Periods

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of the comment periods.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the 45-day comment periods on the 
proposed Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Order and 
referendum procedures for the program are being extended for an 
additional 15 days.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 12, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposed rule to the Docket Clerk, Research and 
Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 2535 South Building, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0244. Comments should be submitted in 
triplicate and will be made available for public inspection at the 
above address during regular business hours. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically to: [email protected]. All comments 
should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register. A copy of this rule may be found at: 
www.ams.usda.gov/fv/rpdocketlist.htm. Pursuant to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA), send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden 
estimate, ways to minimize the burden, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, or any 
other aspect of this collection of information to the above address. 
Comments concerning the information collection under the PRA should 
also be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 
20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Morin, Research and Promotion 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2535 South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-0244; telephone (202) 720-9915 or fax (202) 205-2800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 13, 2001, a proposed rule containing 
proposals for the Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information 
Order (Order) (66 FR 36870) and a proposed rule containing referendum 
procedures for the program (66 FR 36886) were published in the Federal 
Register.
    Under the proposed Order, producers and importers would pay an 
assessment to the proposed Hass Avocado Board (Board). Assessments 
collected under the program, at the initial rate of 2.5 cents a pound, 
are expected to generate $10 million annually. The Board would use the 
assessments collected to conduct a promotion, research, and information 
program to maintain, develop, and expand markets for Hass avocados in 
the United States. The proposed referendum procedures would be used for 
a referendum to determine whether producers and importers favor 
implementation of the Order. The comment periods on both proposed rules 
end on August 27, 2001.
    Requests that additional time be provided for interested persons to 
comment were received from Ambassador James Bolger of New Zealand on 
August 3, 2001; Ambassador Andres Bianchi of Chile on August 8, 2001; 
Senators Joseph R. Biden, Jr., and Thomas R. Carper and Congressman 
Michael N. Castle on August 8, 2001; Senator Richard G. Lugar on August 
15, 2001, and Congressmen Rob Andrews and Robert Menendez on August 15, 
2001. The New Zealand Ambassador requested the extension due to the 
complexity of the rule. The other parties requested the extension due 
to the complexity of the rule and the recent Supreme Court decision on 
the mushroom program (United States et al. v. United Foods, Inc.; 533 
U.S.___(2001); 69 U.S.L.W. 4543, June 25, 2001).
    After reviewing the situation, the Department is extending the 
comment periods for 15 additional days. This will provide interested 
persons a total of 60 days to review the proposed rules, perform a more 
complete analysis, and submit any written comments.
    This delay should not substantially add to the time required to 
complete this rulemaking action. Accordingly, comments will be accepted 
until September 12, 2001. This notice is issued under the Hass Avocado 
Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act, (7 U.S.C. 7801-
7813), enacted on October 23, 2000.

    Dated: August 23, 2001.
Robert C. Keeney,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-21742 Filed 8-24-01; 9:36 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P