[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02899]


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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. 80, No. 29 / Thursday, February 12, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 7811]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1206

[Document Number AMS-FV-14-0086]


Mango Promotion, Research and Information Order; Continuance 
Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service.

ACTION: Referendum Order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible first handlers and importers of mangos to determine whether 
they favor continuance of the Mango Promotion, Research and Information 
Order (Order).

DATES: This referendum will be conducted by mail ballot from April 6 
through April 17, 2015. First handlers receiving 500,000 or more pounds 
of mangos from producers and importers importing 500,000 or more pounds 
of mangos into the United States, during the representative period from 
January 1 through December 31, 2014, are eligible to vote. Ballots must 
be received by the close of business on April 17, 2015, to be counted.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Order may be obtained from: Referendum Agent, 
Promotion and Economics Division (PED), Fruit and Vegetable Program 
(FVP), AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-9915, (202) 720-5976 
(direct line); facsimile: (202) 205-2800.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette Palmer, Marketing Specialist, 
PED, FVP, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-9915, (202) 720-
5976 (direct line); facsimile: (202) 205-2800; or electronic mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion, 
Research and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) (Act), it is 
hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether 
continuance of the Order is favored by eligible first handlers and 
importers of mangos covered under the program. The Order is authorized 
under the Act.
    The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for 
the referendum shall be the period from January 1 through December 31, 
2014. First handlers receiving 500,000 or more pounds of mangos from 
producers and importers importing 500,000 or more pounds of mangos into 
the United States during the representative period are eligible to 
vote. Persons who received an exemption from assessments for the entire 
representative period are ineligible to vote. The referendum shall be 
conducted by mail ballot from April 6 through April 17, 2015.
    Section 518 of the Act authorizes continuance referenda. Under 
section 1206.71(b) of the Order, the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(Department) shall conduct a referendum every five years or when 10 
percent or more of the eligible voters petition the Secretary of 
Agriculture to hold a referendum to determine if persons subject to 
assessment favor continuance of the Order. The Department would 
continue the Order if approved by a majority of the first handlers and 
importers voting in the referendum.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35), the referendum ballot has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB No. 0581-0093. It has been 
estimated that there are approximately five first handlers and 120 
importers who will be eligible to vote in the referendum. It will take 
an average of 15 minutes for each voter to read the voting instructions 
and complete the referendum ballot.

Referendum Order

    Jeanette Palmer and Heather Pichelman, PED, FVP, AMS, USDA, Stop 
0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-
0244, are designated as the referendum agents to conduct this 
referendum. The referendum procedures at 7 CFR 1206.100 through 
1206.108, which were issued pursuant to the Act, shall be used to 
conduct the referendum.
    The referendum agents will mail the ballots to be cast in the 
referendum and voting instructions to all known first handlers 
receiving 500,000 or more pounds of mangos from producers and importers 
importing 500,000 or more pounds of mangos into the United States 
during the representative period, prior to the first day of the voting 
period. Persons who are eligible first handlers or importers during the 
representative period and are first handlers or importers at the time 
of the referendum are eligible to vote. Persons who received an 
exemption from assessments during the entire representative period are 
ineligible to vote. Any eligible first handler or importer who does not 
receive a ballot should contact a referendum agent no later than one 
week before the end of the voting period. Ballots must be received by a 
referendum agent, not later than close of business 4:30 p.m. Eastern 
time, April 17, 2015, in order to be counted.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1206

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer 
information, Marketing agreements, Mango promotion, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.

    Dated: February 6, 2015.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-02899 Filed 2-11-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P