[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 66578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27765]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 956

[Docket No. FV02-956-1 PR]


Sweet Onions Grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast 
Washington and Northeast Oregon; Reopening of Comment Period on 
Establishment of Grade and Inspection Requirements

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reopening of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the 
establishment of grade and inspection requirements for Walla Walla 
sweet onions is reopened.

DATES: Comments must be received by November 22, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposal. 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 
20090-0237, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or e-mail: [email protected]. 
Comments should reference the docket number and the date and page 
number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be available for 
public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular 
business hours, or can be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Kelhart, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20090-0237; 
Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938.
    Small businesses may request information on compliance with this 
proposed regulation by contacting: Jay Guerber, Marketing Order 
Information Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20090-0237; 
Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-5698, or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was published in the Federal 
Register on July 22, 2002 (67 FR 47741). The proposed rule invited 
comments on the establishment of grade and inspection requirements for 
Walla Walla sweet onions. The rule would require that all Walla Walla 
sweet onions handled prior to June 10 of each marketing season be 
inspected and be at least U.S. Commercial grade. By establishing 
minimum standards early in the season, the rule is expected to improve 
producer returns by ensuring that early-season sweet onions are mature 
and marketable. The cost of the required inspection would be fully 
funded by the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee (Committee), 
the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order 
regulating sweet onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast 
Washington and Northeast Oregon. The rule also proposed that there 
would be no minimum quantity exemption from inspection requirements 
prior to June 10. The comment period ended September 20, 2002.
    One comment was received. After evaluating that comment, USDA 
determined that additional information could clarify certain aspects of 
the proposal and provide further guidance to USDA in making a final 
decision on the proposal. The commenter's primary objection with the 
proposal is that the June 10 date is too early. The commenter stated 
that inspections should be required on all sweet onions shipped prior 
to June 15, at the earliest, because, contrary to the proposal's 
premise, any earlier date would not prevent immature onions from being 
marketed.
    The commenter noted that there were no shipments of Walla Walla 
sweet onions during the 2002 season prior to June 10, and that this 
indicates the proposal could be ineffective. Further analysis of the 
impact the proposed June 10 date would have on early-season immature 
onion shipments would be useful to the USDA in making a final 
determination on this matter.
    Further, regarding the higher potential cost of inspections to the 
Committee if a later date were to be used rather than June 10, the 
commenter suggested some alternatives, including not requiring all 
sweet onions shipped prior to an established date to be inspected. 
These alternatives were not discussed by the Committee prior to its 
submission of the proposed rule and further information regarding such 
alternatives also would be useful to USDA in making a final 
determination on this matter.
    Although providing an additional period of time for comments would 
delay the final decision on this proposal, it would not delay the 
decision so as to negatively affect its effectiveness for the 2003 
marketing season. Therefore, before proceeding further on the 
recommendation to establish grade and inspection requirements, USDA is 
reopening the comment period to allow the Committee, as well as other 
interested persons, more time to review the proposed rule and to submit 
additional information. Accordingly, the period in which to file 
written comments is reopened until November 22, 2002. This notice is 
issued pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.

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

    Dated: October 28, 2002.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-27765 Filed 10-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P