[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 223 (Monday, November 20, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 67072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19559]


 ========================================================================
 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. 223 / Monday, November 20, 2006 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 67072]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1205

[Docket Number CN-04-001]


Cotton Board Rules and Regulations: Adjusting Supplemental 
Assessment on Imports, (2004 Amendments); Withdrawal of a Proposed Rule

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This action withdraws a proposed rule published in the Federal 
Register on January 12, 2005, (70 FR 2034), to amend the Cotton Board 
Rules and Regulations by adjusting the total rate of assessment per 
kilogram for imported cotton for use by the Cotton Research and 
Promotion Program. Based on a stakeholder comment, the Agricultural 
Marketing Service believes that the proposed rule may not achieve its 
intended objectives of effectiveness and efficiency.

DATES: The proposed rule is withdrawn as of November 20, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shethir Riva, Chief, Research and 
Promotion Program, Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., 
SW., Stop 0224, Washington, DC 20250-0224, telephone (202) 720-2259, 
facsimile (202) 690-1718, or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 
proposed to amend the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations by adjusting 
the total rate of assessment per kilogram for imported cotton collected 
for use by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. The proposed rule 
would have reduced the total rate of assessment per kilogram for 
imported cotton products collected for use by the Cotton Research and 
Promotion Program.
    The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on January 
12, 2005, at 70 FR 2034. Comments were to be received on or before 
March 14, 2005. In response to the proposed rule, AMS received one 
comment from the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel 
(USA-ITA). USA-ITA made numerous assertions, some relevant and some 
outside the scope of the proposed rule. Among them, the commenter 
advised AMS to reconsider the proposed formulation and do further work 
necessary to develop an assessment formula that would more accurately 
identify the amount of U.S. cotton contained in imported cotton 
products. AMS believes that the commenter's request to do further work 
has merit, and, therefore, AMS is withdrawing the proposed rule to 
continue to evaluate the importer assessment issue and garner 
additional stakeholders' input and economic data. Accordingly, the 
proposed rule at 70 FR 2034 in the January 12, 2005, issue in the 
Federal Register is hereby withdrawn.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2101-2118 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.

    Dated: November 15, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-19559 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P