[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 61574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24904]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc.  CN-02-004]


Recommendations of Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton 
Standards

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) held a meeting of the 
Universal Cotton Standards Advisory Committee in Memphis, Tennessee on 
June 13 and 14, 2002. This notice announces that the Advisory Committee 
recommended the creation and addition of two Universal Micronaire 
Cotton Standards that represent the high and low ends of the American 
Upland micronaire range. Also, the Advisory Committee recommended that 
``Guidelines for HVI Testing'' should be referenced to provide accepted 
procedures for standardized HVI testing. These guidelines can be 
obtained on the Internet from the USDA, AMS, Cotton Program's Web site 
at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cotton/cnpubs.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 2, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the Advisory Committee's recommendations to Norma McDill, 
Deputy Administrator, Cotton Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
USDA, Washington, DC 20250-0224. Comments should be submitted in 
triplicate. Comments may also be submitted electronically to: 
[email protected]. All comments should reference the docket 
number and the date and page number of the issue of the Federal 
Register. All comments received will be made available for public 
inspection at Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, Room 2641-S, 1400 Independence 
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0224 during regular business hours. A 
copy of this notice may be found at: www.ams.usda.gov/cotton/
rulemaking.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norma McDill, Deputy Administrator, 
Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, Stop 0224, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0224, telephone (202) 720-3193, facsimile (202) 
690-1718, or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Universal Cotton Standards Advisory 
Committee meets triennially to consider any necessary changes to the 
Universal Cotton Standards and to review freshly prepared sets of 
Universal Cotton Standards for conformity with the existing standards.
    At its June 13-14, 2002 meeting, the committee recommended the 
creation and addition of two Universal Micronaire Calibration Cotton 
Standards that represent the high and low ends of the American Upland 
micronaire range. The committee also recommended that ``HVI Guidelines 
for HVI Testing'' should be referenced to provide accepted procedures 
and practices for standardized HVI testing. These guidelines can be 
obtained on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cotton/cnpubs.
    High Volume Instrument (HVI) Classing of cotton has been available 
on an optional basis since 1980. Since 1991, HVI classification has 
been provided on all cotton classed by USDA along with the classer 
color grade and leaf grade, which conform to the Universal Grade 
Standards. HVI systems provide the most scientific and reliable sources 
of cotton quality information available. The advisory committee 
includes representatives of all segments of the U.S. cotton industry 
and the 23 overseas cotton associations that are signatories to the 
Universal Cotton Standards Agreement. Adoption of these recommendations 
will continue to facilitate establishing a universal language for the 
marketing of U.S. cotton under the HVI classification system.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 51-65.

    Dated: September 25, 2002
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-24904 Filed 9-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P