[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 69606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27400]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


United States Standards for Whole Dry Peas, Split Peas, and 
Lentils

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Final notice.

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SUMMARY: The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 
(GIPSA) is revising the U.S. Standards for Whole Dry Peas, Split Peas, 
and Lentils to provide applicants for service with an optional grade 
designation for pea and lentil certification and to remove the 
requirement that, in the case of Mixed Dry Peas, the percentage of each 
class in the mixture be shown on the grade line. These changes will 
facilitate use of the standards and better reflect current marketing 
practices.

DATES: Effective Date: December 19, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly A. Whalen at USDA, GIPSA, 
FGIS, Market and Program Analysis Staff, Beacon Facility, STOP 1404, 
P.O. Box 419205, Kansas City, Missouri, 64141; telephone (816) 823-
4648; fax number (816) 823-4644; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    GIPSA published a notice in the Federal Register on April 17, 2007 
(72 FR 19169), inviting comments regarding the revision of the U.S. 
Standards for Whole Dry Peas, Split Peas, and Lentils to provide 
applicants for service with an optional grade designation for pea and 
lentil certification and remove the requirement that, for Mixed Dry 
Peas, the percentage of each class in the mixture be shown on the grade 
line. The notice provided an opportunity for interested parties to 
forward written comments to GIPSA until May 17, 2007. Due to a 
continued high level of interest in the notice, on February 1, 2008 (73 
FR 6112), GIPSA reopened the comment period until April 1, 2008, to 
provide interested parties with additional time in which to comment.
    The U.S. Standards for Whole Dry Peas, Split Peas, and Lentils do 
not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations; the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture maintains the standards. The process for developing or 
revising these standards is specified in the regulations in 7 CFR 
868.102, Procedures for establishing and revising grade standards. You 
may view or print the U.S. Standards for Whole Dry Peas, Split Peas, 
and Lentils from the GIPSA Web site at http://www.gipsa.usda.gov or by 
contacting GIPSA by phone, fax, or e-mail using the information 
provided above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Comment Review

    GIPSA received one comment from the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council 
(USADPLC), a national organization of producers, processors, and 
exporters of U.S. dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas. The USADPLC comment 
supported the proposed changes.

Final Action

    Accordingly, GIPSA is revising the U.S. Standards for Whole Dry 
Peas, Split Peas, and Lentils to provide applicants for service with an 
optional grade designation for pea and lentil certification and to 
remove the requirement that, in the case of Mixed Dry Peas, the 
percentage of each class in the mixture be shown on the grade line. 
These changes will facilitate use of the standards and better reflect 
current marketing practices.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

Terry Van Doren,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-27400 Filed 11-18-08; 8:45 am]
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