[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 194 (Thursday, October 6, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61933-61937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25812]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 194 / Thursday, October 6, 2011 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 61933]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 985

[Doc. Nos. AMS-FV-10-0094; FV11-985-1A IR]


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 2011-2012 Marketing Year

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This rule revises the quantity of Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3 
(Native) spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on 
behalf of, producers during the 2011-2012 marketing year. This rule 
increases the Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity from 693,141 pounds 
to 733,913 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 34 percent to 36 
percent. In addition, this rule increases the Native spearmint oil 
salable quantity from 1,012,949 pounds to 1,266,161 pounds, and the 
allotment percentage from 44 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.

DATES: Effective June 1, 2011, through May 31, 2012; comments received 
by December 5, 2011 will be considered prior to issuance of a final 
rule.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposal. Comments must 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; or Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference the document number 
and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and 
will be made available for public inspection in the Office of the 
Docket Clerk during regular business hours, or can be viewed at: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments submitted in response to this rule 
will be included in the record and will be made available to the 
public. Please be advised that the identity of the individuals or 
entities submitting the comments will be made public on the Internet at 
the address provided above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Broadbent, Marketing Specialist 
or Gary 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: 
[email protected] or [email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on complying with this 
regulation by contacting Laurel May, 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.''
    The Department of Agriculture (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 
increases the quantity of Scotch and Native spearmint oil produced in 
the Far West that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, 
producers during the 2011-2012 marketing year, which began on June 1, 
2011, and ends on May 31, 2012.
    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 2011-2012 marketing year were 
recommended by the Committee at its October 13, 2010, meeting. The 
Committee recommended salable quantities of 694,774 pounds and 
1,012,983 pounds, and allotment percentages of 34 percent and 44 
percent, respectively, for Scotch and Native spearmint oil. A proposed 
rule was published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2011 (76 FR 
11971). Comments on the proposed rule were solicited from interested 
persons until April 4, 2011. No comments were received. Subsequently, a 
final rule establishing the salable quantities and allotment 
percentages for Scotch and Native spearmint oil for the 2011-2012 
marketing year was published in the Federal Register on May 13, 2011 
(76 FR 27852).
    This rule revises the quantity of Scotch and Native spearmint oil 
that handlers may purchase from, or handle

[[Page 61934]]

on behalf of, producers during the 2011-2012 marketing year, which ends 
on May 31, 2012. Pursuant to authority contained in Sec. Sec.  985.50, 
985.51, and 985.52 of the order, the full eight member Committee met on 
August 17, 2011, to consider pertinent market information on the 
current supply, demand, and price of spearmint oil. The Committee, in 
two separate motions, recommended that the 2011-2012 marketing year 
Scotch and Native spearmint oil allotment percentages be increased by 2 
percent and 11 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 opposed to the motion 
agreed that an increase was necessary for the industry to respond to 
increasing demand, but based his vote on the opinion that an 11 percent 
increase was too high this early in the marketing year.
    Thus, taking into consideration the following discussion, this rule 
increases the 2011-2012 marketing year salable quantities and allotment 
percentages for Scotch and Native spearmint oil to 733,913 pounds and 
36 percent, and 1,266,161 pounds and 55 percent, respectively.
    The salable quantity is the total quantity of each class of oil 
that handlers may purchase from, or handle for, producers during the 
marketing year. The total salable quantity is divided by the total 
industry allotment base to determine an allotment percentage. 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.
    The total industry allotment base for Scotch spearmint oil for the 
2011-2012 marketing year was estimated by the Committee at the October 
13, 2010, meeting at 2,043,453 pounds. This was later revised at the 
beginning of the 2011-2012 marketing year to 2,038,595 pounds to 
reflect the loss of 4,858 pounds of base due to non-production of some 
producers' total annual allotments during the 2010-2011 marketing year.
    Section 985.53(e) of the order requires that producers make a bona 
fide effort to produce all of their respective allotment base each 
year. Failure to do so results in a reduction in the producer's 
allotment base equivalent to such unproduced portion. The 4,858 pound 
reduction in allotment base for Scotch spearmint oil reflects the total 
base surrendered by all producers due to the non-production of those 
producers' total annual allotments during the 2010-2011 marketing year.
    When the revised total Scotch allotment base of 2,038,595 pounds is 
applied to the originally established allotment percentage of 34 
percent, the initially established 2011-2012 marketing year salable 
quantity of 694,774 pounds is effectively modified to 693,122 pounds. 
After accounting for a rounding adjustment of 19 pounds, the actual 
2011-2012 marketing year annual allotment for Scotch spearmint oil 
prior to this increase is 693,141 pounds.
    The same situation applies to Native spearmint oil where the 
Committee estimated at the October 13, 2010, meeting that the total 
industry allotment base for Native spearmint oil for the 2011-2012 
marketing year was 2,302,233 pounds. This number was later revised at 
the beginning of the 2011-2012 marketing year to 2,301,926 pounds to 
reflect the bona fide effort reduction of 307 pounds. Just as with 
Scotch spearmint oil, the 307 pound reduction in Native allotment base 
reflects the total base surrendered by all producers due to the non-
production of such producers' total annual allotments during the 2010-
2011 marketing year.
    When the revised total Native allotment base of 2,301,926 pounds is 
applied to the originally established allotment percentage of 44 
percent, the initially established 2011-2012 marketing year Native 
salable quantity of 1,012,983 pounds is effectively modified to 
1,012,847 pounds. After accounting for 102 pounds of rounding 
adjustments when calculating each producer's annual allotment, the 
actual 2011-2012 total annual allotment of Native spearmint oil prior 
to this increase is 1,012,949 pounds.
    By increasing the salable quantity and allotment percentage, this 
rule makes additional amounts of Scotch and Native spearmint oil 
available to the market. Such additional oil may come from spearmint 
oil produced in the current marketing year or by releasing oil from the 
reserve pool. As of May 31, 2011, the Committee estimated the Scotch 
reserve pool to contain 454,715 pounds of spearmint oil and the Native 
reserve pool to contain 606,942 pounds of spearmint oil.
    When the allotment percentage increases established by this rule 
are applied to each individual producer, each such producer may deliver 
up to an amount equal to such allotment from their 2011-2012 marketing 
year's production, from spearmint oil transferred from another 
producer's 2011-2012 marketing year production, or from the respective 
class of oil held in reserve. However, pursuant to Sec. Sec.  985.56 
and 985.156, producers with excess oil are only able to transfer such 
excess oil to other producers to fill deficiencies in annual allotments 
prior to October 31 of each marketing year. The Committee expects that 
all individuals entitled to a pro rata increase in the salable quantity 
allotment for each class of spearmint oil will be able to exercise the 
full marketing rights associated with such an increase.
    Therefore, the 2 percent increase in the Scotch spearmint oil 
allotment percentage established by this rule is expected to result in 
a 2011-2012 marketing year salable quantity of 733,913 pounds. 
Likewise, the 11 percent increase in the Native spearmint oil allotment 
percentage established by this rule is expected to result in a 2011-
2012 marketing year salable quantity of 1,266,161 pounds. This reflects 
an additional 40,772 pounds of Scotch spearmint oil and 253,212 pounds 
of Native spearmint oil being made available to the market by this 
rule.
    The following summarizes the Committee recommendations:

Scotch Spearmint Oil Recommendation

    (A) Estimated 2011-2012 Scotch Allotment Base--2,043,453 pounds. 
This is the estimate on which the original 2011-2012 salable quantity 
and allotment percentage was based.
    (B) Revised 2011-2012 Scotch Allotment Base--2,038,595 pounds. This 
is 4,858 pounds less than the estimated allotment base of 2,043,453 
pounds. The difference is the result of some producers failing to 
produce all of their 2010-2011 allotment.
    (C) Original 2011-2012 Scotch Allotment Percentage--34 percent. 
This was unanimously recommended by the Committee on October 13, 2010.
    (D) Original 2011-2012 Scotch Salable Quantity--694,774 pounds. 
This figure is 34 percent of the estimated 2011-2012 allotment base of 
2,043,453 pounds.
    (E) Adjusted 2011-2012 Scotch Salable Quantity--693,141 pounds. 
This figure reflects the salable quantity actually available at the 
beginning of the 2011-2012 marketing year. This quantity is derived by 
applying the 34 percent allotment percentage to the revised allotment 
base of 2,038,595. This adjusted salable quantity also accounts for a 
19 pound increase due to rounding.
    (F) Current Revision to the 2011-2012 Scotch Salable Quantity and 
Allotment Percentage:
    (1) Increase in Scotch Allotment Percentage--2 percent. The 
Committee

[[Page 61935]]

recommended a 2 percent increase at its August 17, 2011, meeting.
    (2) 2011-2012 Scotch Allotment Percentage--36 percent. This figure 
is derived by adding the increase of 2 percent to the original 2011-
2012 allotment percentage of 34 percent.
    (3) Calculated Revised 2011-2012 Scotch Salable Quantity--733,913 
pounds. This figure is 36 percent of the revised 2011-2012 allotment 
base of 2,038,595 pounds plus the 19 pound rounding adjustment.
    (4) Computed Increase in the 2011-2012 Scotch Salable Quantity--
40,772 pounds. This figure is 2 percent of the revised 2011-2012 
allotment base of 2,038,595 pounds.
    The 2011-2012 marketing year began on June 1, 2011, with an 
estimated carry-in of 227,241 pounds of salable Scotch spearmint oil. 
When the estimated carry-in is added to the revised 2011-2012 salable 
quantity of 693,141 pounds, the result is a total estimated available 
supply of Scotch spearmint oil for the 2011-2012 marketing year of 
920,382 pounds. Of this amount, 733,877 pounds of Scotch spearmint oil 
have already been sold or committed, which leaves just 186,505 pounds 
available for sale for the remainder of the 2011-2012 marketing year.
    In making this recommendation to increase the available supply of 
Scotch spearmint oil, 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 
and producers who were not in attendance. By increasing the 2011-2012 
Scotch spearmint oil salable percentage by 2 percent, an estimated 
additional 40,772 pounds will be made available to the market. This 
amount combined with the 186,505 pounds currently available, will make 
a total of 227,277 pounds available to the market and bring the total 
available supply of Scotch spearmint oil for the marketing year to 
961,154 pounds.
    When the original 2011-2012 marketing policy statement was drafted, 
handlers estimated that the demand for Scotch spearmint oil for the 
2011-2012 marketing year may be 800,000 pounds. However, when the 
Committee made its original recommendation for the establishment of the 
Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity and allotment percentage for the 
2011-2012 marketing year, it had not anticipated the increase in demand 
for Scotch spearmint oil that the market is currently experiencing. The 
Committee believes that the supply of Scotch spearmint oil available to 
the market, without an increase in the salable quantity, would be 
insufficient to satisfy the current demand for oil at reasonable price 
levels. Therefore, it is the opinion of the industry that this action 
is essential to ensuring an adequate supply of Scotch spearmint oil to 
the market.

Native Spearmint Oil Recommendation

    (A) Estimated 2011-2012 Native Allotment Base--2,302,233 pounds. 
This is the estimate on which the original 2011-2012 Native spearmint 
oil salable quantity and allotment percentage was based.
    (B) Revised 2011-2012 Native Allotment Base--2,301,926 pounds. This 
is 307 pounds less than the estimated allotment base of 2,302,233 
pounds. The difference is the result of some producers failing to 
produce all of their 2010-2011 allotment.
    (C) Original 2011-2012 Native Allotment Percentage--44 percent. 
This was unanimously recommended by the Committee at its October 13, 
2010 meeting.
    (D) Original 2011-2012 Native Salable Quantity--1,012,983 pounds. 
This figure is 44 percent of the estimated 2011-2012 allotment base of 
2,302,233.
    (E) Adjusted 2011-2012 Native Salable Quantity--1,012,949 pounds. 
This figure reflects the salable quantity actually available at the 
beginning of the 2011-2012 marketing year. This quantity is derived by 
applying the 44 percent allotment percentage to the revised allotment 
base of 2,301,926. The adjusted salable quantity also accounts for a 
101 pound increase due to rounding.
    (F) Current Revision to the 2011-2012 Native Salable Quantity and 
Allotment Percentage:
    (1) Increase in Native Allotment Percentage--11 percent. The 
Committee recommended an 11 percent increase at its August 17, 2011, 
meeting.
    (2) 2011-2012 Native Allotment Percentage--55 percent. This figure 
is derived by adding the increase of 11 percent to the original 2011-
2012 allotment percentage of 44 percent.
    (3) Calculated Revised 2011-2012 Native Salable Quantity--1,266,161 
pounds. This figure is 55 percent of the revised 2011-2012 allotment 
base of 2,301,926 pounds, plus the 101 pound increase due to rounding.
    (4) Computed Increase in the 2011-2012 Native Salable Quantity--
253,212 pounds. This figure is 11 percent of the revised 2011-2012 
allotment base of 2,301,926 pounds.
    The 2011-2012 marketing year began on June 1, 2011, with an 
estimated carry-in of 164,809 pounds of salable Native spearmint oil. 
When the estimated carry-in is added to the revised 2011-2012 salable 
quantity of 1,012,949 pounds, the result is a total estimated available 
supply of Native spearmint oil for the 2011-2012 marketing year of 
1,177,758 pounds. Of this amount, 1,076,114 pounds of oil have already 
been sold or committed for the 2011-2012 marketing year, which leaves 
just 101,644 pounds available for sale.
    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 and producers who were not in attendance. By increasing 
the 2011-2012 Native spearmint oil salable percentage by 11 percent, an 
estimated additional 253,212 pounds will be made available to the 
market. This amount combined with the 101,644 pounds currently 
available, will make a total of 354,856 pounds available to the market 
and bring the total available supply of Native spearmint oil for the 
year to 1,430,970 pounds.
    When the original 2011-2012 marketing policy statement was drafted, 
handlers estimated that the demand for Native spearmint oil for the 
2011-2012 marketing year may be 1,130,000 pounds. However, when the 
Committee made its original recommendation for the establishment of the 
Native spearmint oil salable quantity and allotment percentage for the 
2011-2012 marketing year, it had not anticipated the increase in demand 
for Native spearmint oil that the market is currently experiencing. The 
Committee believes that the supply of Native spearmint oil available to 
the market, without an increase in the salable quantity, would be 
insufficient to satisfy the current demand for oil at reasonable price 
levels. Therefore, it is the opinion of the industry that this action 
is essential to ensuring an adequate supply of Native spearmint oil to 
the market.
    Based on its analysis of available information, USDA has determined 
that the salable quantity and allotment percentage for Scotch spearmint 
oil for the 2011-2012 marketing year should be increased to 733,913 
pounds and 36 percent, respectively. In addition, USDA has determined 
that the salable quantity and allotment percentage for Native spearmint 
oil for the 2011-2012

[[Page 61936]]

marketing year should be increased to 1,266,161 pounds and 55 percent, 
respectively.
    This rule relaxes the regulation of Scotch and Native spearmint oil 
and will allow 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 2011-2012 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 2011-2012 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 allows 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.

Initial 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 initial 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 8 spearmint oil handlers subject to regulation under the 
order, and approximately 32 producers of Scotch spearmint oil and 
approximately 88 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 $7,000,000, 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 8 of the 32 Scotch spearmint oil producers and 22 of the 
88 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 use of volume control regulation allows the industry to fully 
supply spearmint oil markets while avoiding the negative consequences 
of over-supplying these markets. Volume control is believed to have 
little or no effect on consumer prices of products containing spearmint 
oil and likely does not result in fewer retail sales of such products. 
Without volume control, producers would not be limited in the 
production and marketing of spearmint oil. Under those conditions, the 
spearmint oil market would likely fluctuate widely. Periods of 
oversupply could result in low producer prices and a large volume of 
oil stored and carried over to future crop years. Periods of 
undersupply could lead to excessive price spikes and could drive end 
users to source flavoring needs from other markets, potentially causing 
long term economic damage to the domestic spearmint oil industry. The 
marketing order's volume control provisions have been successfully 
implemented in the domestic spearmint oil industry for nearly three 
decades and provide benefits for producers, handlers, manufacturers, 
and consumers.
    This rule increases the quantity of Scotch and Native spearmint oil 
that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers 
during the 2011-2012 marketing year, which ends on May 31, 2012. This 
rule increases the Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 693,141 
pounds to 733,913 pounds and the allotment percentage from 34 percent 
to 36 percent. Additionally, this rule increases the Native spearmint 
oil salable quantity from 1,012,949 pounds to 1,266,161 pounds and the 
allotment percentage from 44 percent to 55 percent.
    Based on projections available at the meeting, the Committee 
considered a number of alternatives to this increase. The Committee not 
only considered leaving the salable quantity and allotment percentage 
unchanged, but also considered other potential levels of increase. The 
Committee reached its recommendation to increase the salable quantity 
and allotment percentage for both 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 
increase, the Committee believes the industry would not be able to 
satisfactorily meet market demand.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35), the order's information collection requirements have been 
previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and 
assigned OMB No. 0581-0178, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing 
Orders. No changes in those requirements as a result of this action are 
necessary. Should any changes become necessary, they would be submitted 
to OMB for approval.
    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.
    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.
    In addition, USDA has not identified any relevant Federal rules 
that duplicate, overlap or conflict with this rule.
    Further, 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 August 17, 2011, meeting was a public meeting 
and all entities, both large and small, were able to express their 
views on this issue. Finally, interested persons are invited to

[[Page 61937]]

submit information on the regulatory and informational impacts of this 
action on small businesses.
    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/MarketingOrdersSmallBusinessGuide. Any questions 
about the compliance guide should be sent to Laurel May at the 
previously mentioned address in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.
    This rule invites comments on a change to the salable quantity and 
allotment percentage for both Scotch and Native spearmint oil for the 
2011-2012 marketing year. Any comments received will be considered 
prior to finalization of this rule.
    After consideration of all relevant material presented, including 
the Committee's recommendation, and other information, it is found that 
this interim rule, as hereinafter set forth, will tend to effectuate 
the declared policy of the Act.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also found and determined upon good 
cause that it is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public 
interest to give preliminary notice prior to putting this rule into 
effect and that good cause exists for not postponing the effective date 
of this rule until 30 days after publication in the Federal Register 
because: (1) This rule increases the quantity of Scotch and Native 
spearmint oil that may be marketed during the marketing year, which 
ends on May 31, 2012; (2) the current quantity of Scotch and Native 
spearmint oil may be inadequate to meet demand for the 2011-2012 
marketing year, thus making the additional oil available as soon as is 
practicable will be beneficial to both handlers and producers; (3) the 
Committee recommended these changes at a public meeting and interested 
parties had an opportunity to provide input; and (4) this rule provides 
a 60-day comment period and any comments received will be considered 
prior to finalization of this rule.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 985

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

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 985 is 
amended as follows:

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

0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 985 continues to read as 
follows:

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


0
2. In Sec.  985.230, paragraphs (a) and (b) are revised to read as 
follows:

    Note:  This section will not appear in the annual Code of 
Federal Regulations.

Sec.  985.230  Salable quantities and allotment percentages--2011-2012 
marketing year.

* * * * *
    (a) Class 1 (Scotch) oil--a salable quantity of 733,913 pounds and 
an allotment percentage of 36 percent.
    (b) Class 3 (Native) oil--a salable quantity of 1,266,161 pounds 
and an allotment percentage of 55 percent.

    Dated: September 30, 2011.
Ellen King,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-25812 Filed 10-5-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P