[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 161 (Monday, August 22, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48903-48904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16570]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 948

[Docket No. FV05-948-1 PR]


Irish Potatoes Grown in Colorado; Reopening of Comment Period on 
Relaxation of Handling Regulation for Area No. 2 and Certain Imported 
Potatoes

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the proposed 
relaxation of minimum grade requirements for Colorado Area No. 2 
potatoes under Marketing Order No. 948 (order), and for imported red-
skinned round type potatoes under the potato import regulation is 
reopened until September 12, 2005.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 12, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposal. Comments should 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, E-mail: [email protected], or 
Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference the 
docket number and the date and page number of this issue and the May 6, 
2005, 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: Teresa Hutchinson, Northwest Marketing 
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503) 
326-7440; or George Kelhart, Marketing Order Administration Branch, 
Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, or 
Fax: (202) 720-8938.
    Small businesses may request information on complying with this 
regulation by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-
2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was issued on May 3, 2005, 
and published in the Federal Register on May 6, 2005 (70 FR 23942). The 
proposed rule would relax the minimum grade requirements from U.S. No. 
1 to U.S. Commercial for all Colorado Area No. 2 potato varieties 
measuring from 1\1/2\-inch minimum diameter to 2\1/4\-inch maximum 
diameter (size B), and from 1-inch minimum diameter to 1\3/4\-inch 
maximum diameter. Under the potato import regulation, the grade changes 
would only apply to all red-skinned round type imported potatoes of the 
same size categories during the months of October through June.
    Reopening of the comment period was requested on behalf of domestic 
potato growers by a potato shipper in Pennsylvania. This shipper 
expressed concern that the relaxation of minimum grade requirements for 
potatoes imported from Canada could negatively impact potato producers 
in the United States.
    After reviewing the request, USDA is reopening the comment period 
for 20

[[Page 48904]]

additional days. This will provide interested persons more time to 
review the proposed rule, perform a more complete analysis, and prepare 
information in writing to support their comments.
    Accordingly, the period in which to file written comments is 
reopened until September 12, 2005. This notice is issued pursuant to 
the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.

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

    Dated: August 17, 2005.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16570 Filed 8-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P