[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 50 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 11450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6108]


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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. 67, No. 50 / Thursday, March 14, 2002 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 11450]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 905

[Docket No. FV02-905-1]


Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida; 
Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible producers of Florida citrus fruit to determine whether they 
favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of 
oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos grown in the production 
area.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from April 4, 2002 through 
April 26, 2002. To vote in this referendum, growers must have been 
producing Florida citrus during the period August 31, 2000, through 
September 1, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
office of the referendum agent at 799 Overlook Drive, Suite A, Winter 
Haven, Florida 33884, or the Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing 
Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC, 20250-0237.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William G. Pimental, Southeast 
Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit 
and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of 
Agriculture, at 799 Overlook Drive, Suite A, Winter Haven, Florida 
33884; telephone (863) 324-3375; or Melissa Schmaedick, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit & Vegetable Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; telephone (202) 720-2491.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 905 (7 CFR 
part 905), hereinafter referred to as the ``order'' and the applicable 
provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the ``Act,'' it 
is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether 
continuance of the order is favored by producers. The referendum shall 
be conducted during the period April 4, 2002 through April 26, 2002 
among Florida citrus producers in the production area. Only producers 
that were engaged in the production of Florida citrus during the period 
of August 31, 2000, through September 1, 2001, may participate in the 
continuance referendum.
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that 
continuance referenda are an effective means for ascertaining whether 
producers favor continuation of marketing order programs. The USDA 
would consider termination of the order if less than two-thirds of the 
producers voting in the referendum and producers of less than two-
thirds of the volume of Florida citrus represented in the referendum 
favor continuance. In evaluating the merits of continuance versus 
termination, the USDA will consider the results of the referendum and 
other relevant information regarding operation of the order. USDA will 
evaluate the order's relative benefits and disadvantages to growers, 
handlers, and consumers to determine whether continuing the order would 
tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the ballot materials used in the referendum herein ordered 
have been submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0189 for Florida 
citrus. It has been estimated that it will take an average of 20 
minutes for each of the approximately 11,970 producers of Florida 
citrus to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked 
after May 6, 2002 will not be included in the vote tabulation.
    William G. Pimental and Christian D. Nissen of the Southeast 
Marketing Field Office, and Melissa Schmaedick of the Washington, DC 
Office, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
USDA, are hereby designated as the referendum agents of the USDA to 
conduct such referendum. The procedure applicable to the referendum 
shall be the ``Procedure for the Conduct of Referenda in Connection 
With Marketing Orders for Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Pursuant to the 
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as Amended'' (7 CFR part 
900.400 et seq).
    Ballots will be mailed to all producers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents and from their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 905

    Grapefruit, Marketing agreements, Oranges, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Tangelos, and Tangerines.

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

    Dated: March 8, 2002.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-6108 Filed 3-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-08-P