[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 135 (Monday, July 15, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 46423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17615]


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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. 135 / Monday, July 15, 2002 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 46423]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 993

[Docket No. FV02-993-610 REVIEW]


Dried Prunes Produced in California; Section 610 Review

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of review and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice of review announces that the Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS) plans to review Marketing Order 993 for dried 
prunes produced in California, under the criteria contained in section 
610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by September 
13, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice of review. Comments must be sent to the Docket 
Clerk, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, 
Washington, DC 20250-0237; 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: Richard Van Diest, 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, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237, 
(202) 720-8938, or E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Marketing Order No. 993, as amended (7 CFR 
part 993), regulates the handling of dried prunes produced 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 initially published in the Federal Register (63 FR 8014; 
February 18, 1999), its plan to review certain regulations, including 
Marketing Order No. 993, under criteria contained in section 610 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; U.S.C. 601-612). An updated plan was 
published in the Federal Register on January 4, 2002 (67 FR 525). 
Because many AMS regulations impact small entities, AMS has 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 purpose of the review will be to determine whether the 
marketing order for dried prunes produced in California 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 dried prune marketing order's impact on small businesses are 
invited.

    Dated: July 9, 2002.
Barry L. Carpenter,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-17615 Filed 7-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P