[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 31, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41611-41615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14622]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 985

[Docket Nos. AMS-FV-07-0039; FV07-985-2 FIR]


Marketing Order Regulating the Handling of Spearmint Oil Produced 
in the Far West; Revision of the Salable Quantity and Allotment 
Percentage for Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3 (Native) Spearmint Oil for 
the 2006-2007 Marketing Year

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final 
rule, without change, an interim final rule that revised the quantity 
of Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil that handlers 
may have purchased from, or handled for, producers during the 2006-2007 
marketing year. This rule continues in effect the action that increased 
the Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity from 878,205 pounds to 
2,984,817 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 45 percent to 153 
percent. In addition, this rule continues in effect the action that 
increased the Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 1,161,260 
pounds to 1,205,208 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 53 
percent to 55 percent. The marketing order regulates the handling of 
spearmint oil produced in the Far West and is administered locally by 
the Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee). The Committee 
recommended this rule for the purpose of avoiding extreme fluctuations 
in supplies and prices and to help maintain stability in the Far West 
spearmint oil market.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 30, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan M. Hiller, Marketing Specialist, 
or Gary D. Olson, Regional Manager, Northwest Marketing Field Office, 
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
AMS, USDA; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503) 326-7440, or E-mail:

[[Page 41612]]

[email protected] or [email protected].
    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: This rule is issued under Marketing Order 
No. 985 (7 CFR part 985), as amended, regulating the handling of 
spearmint oil produced in the Far West (Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and 
designated parts of Nevada and Utah), hereinafter referred to as the 
``order.'' The order is effective under the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter 
referred to as the ``Act.''
    USDA is issuing this rule in conformance with Executive Order 
12866.
    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. Under the provisions of the marketing order now in 
effect, salable quantities and allotment percentages may be established 
for classes of spearmint oil produced in the Far West. This rule 
continues in effect the action that increased the quantity of Scotch 
and Native spearmint oil produced in the Far West that may be purchased 
from or handled for producers by handlers during the 2006-2007 
marketing year, which ended on May 31, 2007. This rule will not preempt 
any State or local laws, regulations, or policies, unless they present 
an irreconcilable conflict with this rule.
    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 USDA 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. 
After the hearing USDA would rule 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 USDA'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 original salable quantity and allotment percentages for Scotch 
and Native spearmint oil for the 2006-2007 marketing year were 
recommended by the Committee at its October 5, 2005, meeting. The 
Committee recommended salable quantities of 878,205 pounds and 
1,007,886 pounds, and allotment percentages of 45 percent and 46 
percent, respectively, for Scotch and Native spearmint oil. A proposed 
rule was published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2006 (71 FR 
5183). Comments on the proposed rule were solicited from interested 
persons until March 3, 2006. No comments were received. Subsequently, a 
final rule establishing the salable quantities and allotment 
percentages for Scotch and Native spearmint oil for the 2006-2007 
marketing year was published in the Federal Register on April 5, 2006 
(71 FR 16986).
    Pursuant to authority contained in Sec. Sec.  985.50, 985.51, and 
985.52 of the order, the Committee has made recommendations to increase 
the quantity of Scotch and Native spearmint oil that handlers may have 
purchased from, or handled for, producers during the 2006-2007 
marketing year, which ended on May 31, 2007. An interim final rule was 
published in the Federal Register on May 26, 2006 (71 FR 30266), which 
increased the 2006-2007 salable quantity and allotment percentage for 
Native spearmint oil to 1,161,260 pounds and 53 percent, respectively. 
Comments on the interim final rule were solicited from interested 
persons until July 25, 2006. No comments were received. Subsequently, a 
final rule establishing the salable quantity and allotment percentage 
for Native spearmint oil was published in the Federal Register on 
September 7, 2006 (71 FR 52735).
    This rule continues in effect the action that further revised the 
quantity of Scotch and Native spearmint oil that handlers may have 
purchased from, or handled for, producers during the 2006-2007 
marketing year, which ended on May 31, 2007. The Committee, with all 
eight members present, met on February 21, 2007, and in two separate 
motions, recommended that the 2006-2007 Scotch and Native spearmint oil 
allotment percentages be increased by 108 percent and 2 percent, 
respectively. The motion to increase the allotment percentage for 
Scotch was unanimous and the motion to increase the allotment 
percentage for Native passed with seven members in favor and one member 
opposed. The member opposing was concerned that there was not enough 
demand to warrant the 2 percent increase.
    Thus, taking into consideration the following discussion on 
adjustments to the Scotch and Native spearmint oil salable quantities, 
this rule continues in effect the action that increased the 2006-2007 
marketing year salable quantities and allotment percentages for Scotch 
and Native spearmint oil to 2,984,817 pounds and 153 percent, and 
1,205,208 pounds and 55 percent, respectively.
    The total industry allotment base for Scotch spearmint oil for the 
2006-2007 marketing year was estimated by the Committee at the October 
5, 2005 meeting at 1,951,567 pounds. This was later revised at the 
beginning of the 2006-2007 marketing year to 1,950,861 pounds to 
reflect a 2005-2006 marketing year loss of 706 pounds of base due to 
non-production of some producers' total annual allotments. When the 
revised total allotment base of 1,950,861 pounds is applied to the 
originally established allotment percentage of 45 percent, the 
initially established 2006-2007 marketing year salable quantity of 
878,205 pounds is effectively modified to 877,887 pounds.
    The same situation applies to Native spearmint oil where the 
Committee estimated that the total industry allotment base for the 
2006-2007 marketing year was established at 2,191,056 pounds and was 
revised at the beginning of the 2006-2007 marketing year to 2,191,287 
pounds to reflect a 2005-2006 marketing year gain of 231 pounds of base 
for new and existing producers. When the revised total allotment base 
of 2,191,287 pounds is applied to the originally established allotment 
percentage of 46 percent, the initially established 2006-2007 marketing 
year salable quantity of 1,007,886 pounds is effectively modified to 
1,007,992 pounds.
    Each producer is allotted a share of the salable quantity by 
applying the allotment percentage to the producer's individual 
allotment base for the applicable class of spearmint oil. By increasing 
the salable quantities and allotment percentages, this final rule made 
an additional amount of Scotch and Native spearmint oil available by 
releasing oil from the reserve pool. When applied to each individual 
producer, the allotment percentage increase allows each producer to 
take up to an amount equal to their allotment base from their reserve 
for this respective class of oil. In addition, pursuant to Sec. Sec.  
985.56 and 985.156, producers with excess oil are not able to transfer 
such excess oil to other producers to fill deficiencies in annual 
allotments after October 31 of each marketing year.

[[Page 41613]]

    The following table summarizes the Committee recommendations:

Scotch Spearmint Oil Recommendation

    (A) Estimated 2006-2007 Allotment Base--1,951,567 pounds. This is 
the estimate on which the original 2006-2007 Scotch spearmint oil 
salable quantity and allotment percentage was based.
    (B) Revised 2006-2007 Allotment Base--1,950,861 pounds. This is 706 
pounds less than the estimated allotment base of 1,951,567 pounds. This 
is less because some producers failed to produce all of their 2005-2006 
allotment.
    (C) Original 2006-2007 Allotment Percentage--45 percent. This was 
unanimously recommended by the Committee on October 5, 2005.
    (D) Original 2006-2007 Salable Quantity--878,205 pounds. This 
figure is 45 percent of the estimated 2006-2007 allotment base of 
1,951,567 pounds.
    (E) Adjustment to the Original 2006-2007 Salable Quantity--877,887 
pounds. This figure reflects the salable quantity initially available 
after the beginning of the 2005-2006 marketing year due to the 706 
pound reduction in the industry allotment base to 1,950,861 pounds.
    (F) First Revision to the 2006-2007 Salable Quantity and Allotment 
Percentage:
    (1) Increase in Allotment Percentage--108 percent. The Committee 
recommended a 108 percent increase at its February 21, 2007, meeting.
    (2) 2006-2007 Allotment Percentage--153 percent. This figure is 
derived by adding the increase of 108 percent to the original 2006-2007 
allotment percentage of 45 percent.
    (3) Calculated Revised 2006-2007 Salable Quantity--2,984,817 
pounds. This figure is 153 percent of the adjusted 2006-2007 allotment 
base of 1,950,861 pounds.
    (4) Computed Increase in the 2006-2007 Salable Quantity--2,106,930 
pounds. This figure is 108 percent of the adjusted 2006-2007 allotment 
base of 1,950,861 pounds.
    (G) No Second Revision to the 2006-2007 Salable Quantity and 
Allotment Percentage.
    The 2006-2007 marketing year began on June 1, 2006, with an 
estimated carry-in of 43,057 pounds of salable oil. Of the original 
2006-2007 salable quantity of 877,887 pounds, only 708,768 pounds was 
actually produced. This resulted in an available supply of 751,825 
pounds for the 2006-2007 marketing year. Of this amount, 736,904 pounds 
of Scotch spearmint oil has already been sold or committed for the 
2006-2007 marketing year, which left 14,921 pounds available for sale. 
As of February 15, 2007, the reserve pool was estimated at 13,529 
pounds.
    In making this recommendation, the Committee considered all 
available information on price, supply, and demand. The Committee also 
considered reports and other information from handlers and producers in 
attendance at the meeting and reports given by the Committee Manager 
from handlers who were not in attendance. Handlers expressed concern 
about the limited supply of Scotch spearmint oil remaining and that a 
significant quantity of this oil is of less than desirable quality. An 
additional concern was that the remaining spearmint oil was in the 
possession of only a few producers with minimal allotment base. An 
example of this would be a producer who has 4,000 pounds of reserve 
pool oil and only 3,700 pounds of allotment base. The only way a 
handler could purchase all of this producer's oil was if the allotment 
percentage was increased to at least 108 percent. Without this 
increase, the industry may not have been able to meet market demand 
based on past history and current conditions. Additionally, when the 
Committee made its original recommendation for the establishment of the 
Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity and allotment percentage for the 
2006-2007 marketing year, it had anticipated that the year would end 
with an ample available supply.

Native Spearmint Oil Recommendation

    (A) Estimated 2006-2007 Allotment Base--2,191,056 pounds. This is 
the estimate on which the original 2006-2007 Native spearmint oil 
salable quantity and allotment percentage was based.
    (B) Revised 2006-2007 Allotment Base--2,191,287 pounds. This is 231 
pounds more than the estimated allotment base of 2,191,056 pounds. This 
is more because some producers over-produced their 2005-2006 allotment.
    (C) Original 2006-2007 Allotment Percentage--46 percent. This was 
unanimously recommended by the Committee on October 5, 2005.
    (D) Original 2006-2007 Salable Quantity--1,007,886 pounds. This 
figure is 46 percent of the estimated 2006-2007 allotment base of 
2,191,056 pounds.
    (E) Adjustment to the Original 2006-2007 Salable Quantity--
1,007,992 pounds. This figure reflects the salable quantity initially 
available after the beginning of the 2006-2007 marketing year due to 
the 231 pound gain in the industry allotment base to 2,191,287 pounds.
    (F) First Revision to the 2006-2007 Salable Quantity and Allotment 
Percentage:
    (1) Increase in Allotment Percentage--7 percent. The Committee 
recommended a 7 percent increase at its April 18, 2006, meeting.
    (2) 2006-2007 Allotment Percentage--53 percent. This figure is 
derived by adding the increase of 7 percent to the original 2006-2007 
allotment percentage of 46 percent.
    (3) Calculated Revised 2006-2007 Salable Quantity--1,161,382 
pounds. This figure is 53 percent of the adjusted 2006-2007 allotment 
base of 2,191,287 pounds.
    (4) Computed Increase in the 2006-2007 Salable Quantity--153,390 
pounds. This figure is 7 percent of the adjusted 2006-2007 allotment 
base of 2,191,287 pounds.
    (G) Second Revision to the 2006-2007 Salable Quantity and Allotment 
Percentage:
    (1) Increase in Allotment Percentage--2 percent. The Committee 
recommended a 2 percent increase at its February 21, 2007 meeting.
    (2) 2006-2007 Allotment Percentage--55 percent. This figure is 
derived by adding the increase of 2 percent to the first revised 2006-
2007 allotment percentage of 53 percent.
    (3) Calculated Revised 2006-2007 Salable Quantity--1,205,208 
pounds. This figure is 55 percent of the adjusted 2006-2007 allotment 
base of 2,191,287 pounds.
    (4) Computed Increase in the 2006-2007 Salable Quantity--43,826 
pounds. This figure is 2 percent of the adjusted 2006-2007 allotment 
base of 2,191,287 pounds.
    The 2006-2007 marketing year began on June 1, 2006, with an 
estimated carry-in of 82,675 pounds of salable oil. When the estimated 
carry-in was added to the revised 2006-2007 salable quantity of 
1,161,382 pounds, a total estimated available supply for the 2006-2007 
marketing year of 1,244,057 pounds resulted. Of this amount, 1,130,872 
pounds of oil has already been sold or committed for the 2006-2007 
marketing year, which left 113,185 pounds available for sale. As of 
February 15, 2007, the reserve pool was estimated at 223,880 pounds.
    In making this recommendation, the Committee considered all 
available information on price, supply, and demand. The Committee also 
considered reports and other information from handlers and

[[Page 41614]]

producers in attendance at the meeting and reports given by the 
Committee Manager from handlers and producers who were not in 
attendance. On average, handlers estimated that there was a demand for 
an additional 30,000 pounds to 50,000 pounds of Native spearmint oil 
for the 2006-2007 marketing year. The Committee was reluctant to 
increase the salable quantity any more due to the relatively low 
demand; however the Committee believed that an increase was necessary 
since handlers expressed their difficulty in finding spearmint oil 
available for sale. It was also reported that approximately 30,000 
pounds to 80,000 pounds of Native spearmint oil was poor quality or re-
distilled to improve its chemical composition. Therefore, the industry 
may not have been able to meet market demand without this increase. In 
addition, when the Committee made its original recommendation for the 
establishment of the Native spearmint oil salable quantity and 
allotment percentage for the 2006-2007 marketing year, it had 
anticipated that the year would end with an ample available supply.
    Based on its analysis of available information, USDA has determined 
that the salable quantity and allotment percentage for Scotch spearmint 
oil for the 2006-2007 marketing year should be increased to 2,984,817 
pounds and 153 percent, respectively. In addition, USDA has determined 
that the salable quantity and allotment percentage for Native spearmint 
oil for the 2006-2007 marketing year should be increased to 1,205,208 
pounds and 55 percent, respectively.
    This rule finalizes an interim final rule that relaxed the 
regulation of Scotch and Native spearmint oil and allowed producers to 
meet market demand while improving producer returns. In conjunction 
with the issuance of this rule, the Committee's revised marketing 
policy statement for the 2006-2007 marketing year has been reviewed by 
USDA. The Committee's marketing policy statement, a requirement 
whenever the Committee recommends implementing volume regulations or 
recommends revisions to existing volume regulations, meets the intent 
of Sec.  985.50 of the order. During its discussion of revising the 
2006-2007 salable quantities and allotment percentages, the Committee 
considered: (1) The estimated quantity of salable oil of each class 
held by producers and handlers; (2) the estimated demand for each class 
of oil; (3) prospective production of each class of oil; (4) total of 
allotment bases of each class of oil for the current marketing year and 
the estimated total of allotment bases of each class for the ensuing 
marketing year; (5) the quantity of reserve oil, by class, in storage; 
(6) producer prices of oil, including prices for each class of oil; and 
(7) general market conditions for each class of oil, including whether 
the estimated season average price to producers is likely to exceed 
parity. Conformity with USDA's ``Guidelines for Fruit, Vegetable, and 
Specialty Crop Marketing Orders'' has also been reviewed and confirmed.
    The increases in the Scotch and Native spearmint oil salable 
quantity and allotment percentage allowed for anticipated market needs 
for both classes of oil. In determining anticipated market needs, 
consideration by the Committee was given to historical sales, and 
changes and trends in production and demand.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the 
economic impact of this action on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has 
prepared this final regulatory flexibility analysis.
    The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of 
business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will 
not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued 
pursuant to the Act, and the rules issued thereunder, are unique in 
that they are brought about through group action of essentially small 
entities acting on their own behalf.
    There are eight spearmint oil handlers subject to regulation under 
the order, and approximately 58 producers of Scotch spearmint oil and 
approximately 90 producers of Native spearmint oil in the regulated 
production area. Small agricultural service firms are defined by the 
Small Business Administration (SBA) (13 CFR 121.201) as those having 
annual receipts of less than $6,500,000, and small agricultural 
producers are defined as those having annual receipts of less than 
$750,000.
    Based on the SBA's definition of small entities, the Committee 
estimates that two of the eight handlers regulated by the order could 
be considered small entities. Most of the handlers are large 
corporations involved in the international trading of essential oils 
and the products of essential oils. In addition, the Committee 
estimates that 19 of the 58 Scotch spearmint oil producers and 21 of 
the 90 Native spearmint oil producers could be classified as small 
entities under the SBA definition. Thus, a majority of handlers and 
producers of Far West spearmint oil may not be classified as small 
entities.
    The Far West spearmint oil industry is characterized by producers 
whose farming operations generally involve more than one commodity, and 
whose income from farming operations is not exclusively dependent on 
the production of spearmint oil. A typical spearmint oil-producing 
operation has enough acreage for rotation such that the total acreage 
required to produce the crop is about one-third spearmint and two-
thirds rotational crops. Thus, the typical spearmint oil producer has 
to have considerably more acreage than is planted to spearmint during 
any given season. Crop rotation is an essential cultural practice in 
the production of spearmint oil for weed, insect, and disease control. 
To remain economically viable with the added costs associated with 
spearmint oil production, most spearmint oil-producing farms fall into 
the SBA category of large businesses.
    Small spearmint oil producers generally are not as extensively 
diversified as larger ones and as such are more at risk to market 
fluctuations. Such small producers generally need to market their 
entire salable quantity of spearmint oil and do not have the luxury of 
having other crops to cushion seasons with poor spearmint oil returns. 
Conversely, large diversified producers have the potential to endure 
one or more seasons of poor spearmint oil markets because income from 
other crops could support the operation for a period of time. Being 
reasonably assured of a stable price and market provides small 
producing entities with the ability to maintain proper cash flow and to 
meet annual expenses. Thus, the market and price stability provided by 
the order potentially benefit the small producer more than such 
provisions benefit large producers. Even though a majority of handlers 
and producers of spearmint oil may not be classified as small entities, 
the volume control feature of this order has small entity orientation.
    This rule continues in effect the action that further increased the 
quantity of Scotch and Native spearmint oil that handlers may have 
purchased from, or handled for, producers during the 2006-2007 
marketing year, which ended on May 31, 2007. This rule continues in 
effect the action that increased the 2006-2007 marketing year salable 
quantities and allotment percentages for Scotch and Native spearmint 
oil to 2,984,817 and 153 percent, and 1,205,208 pounds and 55 percent, 
respectively.
    An econometric model was used to assess the impact that volume 
control

[[Page 41615]]

has on the prices producers receive for their commodity. Without volume 
control, spearmint oil markets would likely be over-supplied, resulting 
in low producer prices and a large volume of oil stored and carried 
over to the next crop year. The model estimates how much lower producer 
prices would likely be in the absence of volume controls.
    The recommended allotment percentages, upon which 2006-2007 
producer allotments were based, are 153 percent for Scotch (a 108-
percentage point increase from the original allotment percentage of 45 
percent) and 55 percent for Native (a 9 percentage point increase from 
the original allotment percentage of 46 percent). Without volume 
controls, producers would not be limited to these allotment levels, and 
could produce and sell additional spearmint oil. The econometric model 
estimated a $1.37 decline in the season average producer price per 
pound of Far West spearmint oil (combining the two classes of spearmint 
oil) resulting from the higher quantities that would be produced and 
marketed if volume controls were not used.
    A previous price decline estimate of $1.49 per pound was based on 
the original 2006-2007 allotment percentages (45 percent for Scotch and 
46 percent for Native) published in the Federal Register on April 5, 
2006 (71 FR 16986). The revised estimate reflects the impact of the 
additional quantities that have been made available by this rule 
compared to the original allotment percentages. In actuality, this rule 
made available 13,026 additional pounds of Scotch and 21,624 additional 
pounds of Native spearmint oil, since not all producers have reserve 
pool oil. Loosening the volume control restriction resulted in the 
smaller price decline estimate of $1.37 per pound.
    The use of volume controls allows the industry to fully supply 
spearmint oil markets while avoiding the negative consequences of over-
supplying these markets. The use of volume controls is believed to have 
little or no effect on consumer prices of products containing spearmint 
oil and will not result in fewer retail sales of such products.
    Based on projections available at the meeting, the Committee 
considered alternatives to each of the increases. The Committee not 
only considered leaving the salable quantity and allotment percentage 
unchanged, but also looked at various increases. The Committee reached 
each of its recommendations to increase the salable quantity and 
allotment percentage for Scotch and Native spearmint oil after careful 
consideration of all available information, and believes that the 
levels recommended will achieve the objectives sought. Without the 
increases, the Committee believes the industry would not have been able 
to meet market needs.
    This rule will not impose any additional reporting or recordkeeping 
requirements on either small or large spearmint oil handlers. As with 
all Federal marketing order programs, reports and forms are 
periodically reviewed to reduce information requirements and 
duplication by industry and public sector agencies. In addition, as 
noted in the initial regulatory flexibility analysis, USDA has not 
identified any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, overlap or 
conflict with this rule.
    The AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, to 
promote the use of the Internet and other information technologies to 
provide increased opportunities for citizen access to Government 
information and services, and for other purposes.
    The Committee's meeting was widely publicized throughout the 
spearmint oil industry and all interested persons were invited to 
attend the meeting and participate in Committee deliberations. Like all 
Committee meetings, the February 21, 2007, meeting was a public meeting 
and all entities, both large and small, were able to express their 
views on this issue.
    An interim final rule concerning this action was published in the 
Federal Register on April 12, 2007. A notice of the rule was mailed by 
the Committee's staff to all committee members, producers, handlers, 
and other interested persons. In addition, the rule was made available 
through the Internet by USDA and the Office of the Federal Register. 
That rule provided for a 60-day comment period which ended June 11, 
2007. No comments were received.
    A small business guide on complying with fruit, vegetable, and 
specialty crop marketing agreements and orders may be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html. Any questions about the compliance 
guide should be sent to Jay Guerber at the previously mentioned address 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    After consideration of all relevant material presented, including 
the Committee's recommendation, and other information, it is found that 
finalizing the interim final rule, without change, as published in the 
Federal Register (72 FR 18345, April 12, 2007) will tend to effectuate 
the declared policy of the Act.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 985

    Marketing agreements, Oils and fats, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Spearmint oil.

PART 985--MARKETING ORDER REGULATING THE HANDLING OF SPEARMINT OIL 
PRODUCED IN THE FAR WEST

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 7 CFR part 985, which was 
published at 71 FR 18345 on April, 12, 2007, is adopted as a final rule 
without change.

    Dated: July 24, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-14622 Filed 7-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P