[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 141 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41740-41741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11739]


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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. 71, No. 141 / Monday, July 24, 2006 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 41740]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 915

[Docket No. AO-254-A10; FV06-915-2]


Avocados Grown in South Florida; Hearing on Proposed Amendments 
to Marketing Agreement and Order No. 915

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of hearing on proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence 
on proposed amendments to Marketing Order No. 915 (order), which 
regulates the handling of avocados grown in south Florida. The 
amendments are proposed by the Florida Avocado Administrative Committee 
(Committee), which is responsible for local administration of the 
order. The proposed amendments would: Provide the Committee authority 
to borrow funds, revise the voting requirements for changing the 
assessment rate, allow District I nominations to be conducted by mail, 
and provide the Committee authority to accept voluntary contributions. 
The proposed amendments are intended to improve the operation and 
functioning of marketing order program.

DATES: The hearing will be held on August 16, 2006, in Homestead, 
Florida, beginning at 8:30 a.m. until completed.

ADDRESSES: The hearing location is: University of Florida, IFAS 
Conference Room, 18905 SW. 280 Street, Homestead, Florida 33031-3314; 
telephone: (305) 246-7001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Schmaedick, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, P.O. 
Box 1035, Moab, Utah; telephone: (435) 259-7988, Fax: (435) 259-4945; 
or Kathleen M. Finn, 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.
    Small businesses may request information on this proceeding 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This administrative action is instituted 
pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the ``Act.'' 
This action is governed by the provisions of sections 556 and 557 of 
Title 5 of the United States Code and, therefore, is excluded from the 
requirements of Executive Order 12866.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) seeks to 
ensure that within the statutory authority of a program, the regulatory 
and informational requirements are tailored to the size and nature of 
small businesses. Interested persons are invited to present evidence at 
the hearing on the possible regulatory and informational impacts of the 
proposals on small businesses.
    The amendments proposed herein have been reviewed under Executive 
Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. They are not intended to have 
retroactive effect. If adopted, the proposed amendments would not 
preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or policies, unless they 
present an irreconcilable conflict with the proposals.
    The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be exhausted 
before parties may file suit in court. Under section 608c(15)(A) of the 
Act, any handler subject to an order may file with the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture (Department) a petition stating that the order, any 
provision of the order, or any obligation imposed in connection with 
the order is not in accordance with law and request a modification of 
the order or to be exempted therefrom. A handler is afforded the 
opportunity for a hearing on the petition. The Act provides that the 
district court of the United States in any district in which the 
handler is an inhabitant, or has his or her principal place of 
business, has jurisdiction to review the Department's ruling on the 
petition, provided an action is filed not later than 20 days after the 
date of the entry of the ruling.
    The public hearing is called pursuant to the provisions of the Act 
and the applicable rules of practice and procedure governing the 
formulation of marketing agreements and orders (7 CFR part 900).
    The proposed amendments are the result of the Committee's review of 
the order. The Committee met several times in 2005, and drafted 
proposed amendments to the order and presented them at industry 
meetings. The proposed amendments were then unanimously approved by the 
Committee.
    The Committee's request for a public hearing was submitted to the 
Department on May 1, 2006. The Committee's proposed amendments to the 
order are summarized below.
    1. Amend the order to provide the Committee authority to borrow 
funds. This proposal would amend Sec.  915.41, Assessments.
    2. Amend the order by revising the voting requirements for 
Committee recommendations for assessment rate changes from eight 
concurring votes to a two-thirds majority vote of those Committee 
members or alternate Committee members in attendance at meetings. This 
proposal would amend Sec.  915.30, Procedure.
    3. Amend the order to allow District 1 nominations, in addition to 
District 2 nominations, to be conducted by mail. This proposal would 
amend Sec.  915.22, Nomination.
    4. Add authority to the order for the Committee to accept voluntary 
contributions. This proposal would add a new Sec.  915.43, 
Contributions.
    The Committee works with the Department in administering the order. 
The Committee's proposed amendments have not received the approval of 
the Department. The Committee believes that the proposed changes would 
improve the functioning of the order.
    The Department proposes to make any changes to the order as may be 
necessary to conform with any amendments thereto that may result from 
the hearing.
    The public hearing is being held for the purpose of:
    (i) Receiving evidence about the economic and marketing conditions 
which relate to the proposed amendments of the order;

[[Page 41741]]

    (ii) Determining whether there is a need for the proposed 
amendments to the order; and
    (iii) Determining whether the proposed amendments or appropriate 
modifications thereof will tend to effectuate the declared policy of 
the Act.
    Testimony is invited at the hearing on all the proposals and 
recommendations contained in this notice, as well as any appropriate 
modifications or alternatives.
    All persons wishing to submit written material as evidence at the 
hearing should be prepared to submit four copies of such material at 
the hearing and should have prepared testimony available for 
presentation at the hearing.
    From the time the notice of hearing is issued and until the 
issuance of a final decision in this proceeding, Department employees 
involved in the decisional process are prohibited from discussing the 
merits of the hearing issues on an ex parte basis with any person 
having an interest in the proceeding. The prohibition applies to 
employees in the following organizational units: Office of the 
Secretary of Agriculture; Office of the Administrator, AMS; Office of 
the General Counsel, except any designated employee of the General 
Counsel assigned to represent the Committee in this proceeding; and the 
Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS.
    Procedural matters are not subject to the above prohibition and may 
be discussed at any time.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 915

    Avocados, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

PART 915--AVOCADOS GROWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA

    1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 915 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. Testimony is invited on the following proposals or appropriate 
alternatives or modifications to such proposals.

Proposals Submitted by Florida Avocado Administrative Committee

Proposal Number 1

    3. Amend Sec.  915.41 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  915.41  Assessments.

* * * * *
    (b) The Secretary shall fix the rate of assessment per 55-pounds of 
fruit or equivalent in any container or in bulk, to be paid by each 
such handler. At any time during or after a fiscal year, the Secretary 
may increase the rate of assessment, in order to secure sufficient 
funds to cover any later finding by the Secretary relative to the 
expense which may be incurred. Such increase shall be applied to all 
fruit handled during the applicable fiscal year. In order to provide 
funds for the administration of the provisions of this part, the 
committee may accept the payment of assessments in advance, or borrow 
money on a short-term basis. The authority of the committee to borrow 
money may be used only to meet financial obligations as they occur and 
to allow the committee to adjust its reserve funds to meet any 
additional obligations.

Proposal Number 2

    4. Amend Sec.  915.30 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  915.30  Procedure.

* * * * *
    (c) For any recommendation of the committee for an assessment rate 
change, a two-thirds majority of those in attendance is required.

Proposal Number 3

    5. Amend Sec.  915.22 by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  915.22  Nomination.

* * * * *
    (b) Successor members. (1) The committee shall hold or cause to be 
held a meeting or meetings of growers and handlers in each district to 
designate nominees for successor members and alternate members of the 
committee; or the committee may conduct nominations Districts 1 and 2 
by mail in a manner recommended by the committee and approved by the 
Secretary. Such nominations shall be submitted to the Secretary by the 
committee not later than March 1 of each year. The committee shall 
prescribe procedural rules, not inconsistent with the provisions of 
this section, for the conduct of nomination.
* * * * *

Proposal Number 4

    6. Add a new Sec.  915.43 to read as follows:


Sec.  915.43  Contributions.

    The Committee may accept voluntary contributions. Such 
contributions shall be free from any encumbrances by the donor and the 
Committee shall retain complete control of their use.

Proposal by Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing 
Service

Proposal Number 5

    Make such changes as may be necessary to make the marketing 
agreement and the order conform with any amendments thereto that may 
result from the hearing.

    Dated: July 18, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-11739 Filed 7-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P