[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34864-34869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15036]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

27 CFR Part 9

[Docket No. TTB-2015-0008; Notice No. 152]
RIN 1513-AC21


Proposed Expansion of the Willamette Valley Viticultural Area

AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to 
expand the approximately 5,360-square mile ``Willamette Valley'' 
viticultural area in northwestern Oregon by approximately 29 square 
miles. The established Willamette Valley viticultural area and the 
proposed expansion area do not lie within any other viticultural area. 
TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe 
the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify 
wines they may purchase. TTB invites comments on this proposed addition 
to its regulations.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 17, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comments on this notice of proposed 
rulemaking to one of the following addresses:
     Internet: http://www.regulations.gov (via the online 
comment form for this notice of proposed rulemaking as posted within 
Docket No. TTB-2015-0008 at ``Regulations.gov,'' the Federal e-
rulemaking portal);
     U.S. Mail: Director, Regulations and Rulings Division, 
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street NW., Box 12, 
Washington, DC 20005; or
     Hand delivery/courier in lieu of mail: Alcohol and Tobacco 
Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 
20005.
    See the Public Participation section of this notice of proposed 
rulemaking for specific instructions and requirements for submitting 
comments, and for information on how to request a public hearing or 
view or obtain copies of the petition and supporting materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen A. Thornton, Regulations and 
Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G 
Street NW., Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; phone 202-453-1039, ext. 175.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background on Viticultural Areas

TTB Authority

    Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act), 
27 U.S.C. 205(e), authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe 
regulations for the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, and malt 
beverages. The FAA Act provides that these regulations should, among 
other things, prohibit consumer deception and the use of misleading 
statements on labels and ensure that labels provide the consumer with 
adequate information as to the identity and quality of the product. The 
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) administers the FAA Act 
pursuant to section 1111(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
codified at 6 U.S.C. 531(d). The Secretary has delegated various 
authorities through Treasury Department Order 120-01, dated December 
10, 2013, to the TTB Administrator to perform the functions and duties 
in the administration and enforcement of this law.
    Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 4) authorizes TTB to 
establish definitive viticultural areas and regulate the use of their 
names as appellations of origin on wine labels and in wine 
advertisements. Part 9 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 9) sets 
forth the standards for the preparation and submission of petitions for 
the establishment or modification of American viticultural areas (AVAs) 
and lists the approved American viticultural areas.

Definition

    Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(1)(i)) 
defines a viticultural area for American wine as a delimited grape-
growing region having distinguishing features, as described in part 9 
of the regulations, and a name and a delineated boundary, as 
established in part 9 of the regulations. These designations allow 
vintners and consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation, or 
other characteristic of a wine made from grapes grown in an area to the 
wine's geographic origin. The establishment of AVAs allows vintners to 
describe more accurately the origin of their wines to consumers and 
helps consumers to identify wines they may purchase. Establishment of 
an AVA is neither an approval nor an endorsement by TTB of the wine 
produced in that area.

Requirements

    Section 4.25(e)(2) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(2)) 
outlines the procedure for proposing the establishment of an AVA and 
provides that any interested party may petition TTB to establish a 
grape-growing region as an AVA. Petitioners may use the same procedures 
to request changes involving existing AVAs. Section 9.12(c) of the TTB 
regulations (27 CFR 9.12(c)) prescribes standards for petitions for 
modifying established AVAs. Petitions to expand an established AVA must 
include the following:
     Evidence that the region within the proposed expansion 
area boundary is nationally or locally known by the name of the 
established AVA;
     An explanation of the basis for defining the boundary of 
the proposed expansion area;
     A narrative description of the features of the proposed 
expansion area affecting viticulture, including climate, geology, 
soils, physical features, and elevation, that make the proposed 
expansion area similar to the established AVA and distinguish it from 
adjacent areas outside the established AVA boundary;
     The appropriate United States Geological Survey (USGS) 
map(s) showing the location of the proposed expansion area, with the 
boundary of the proposed expansion area clearly drawn thereon; and
     A detailed narrative description of the proposed expansion 
area boundary based on USGS map markings.

Petition To Expand the Willamette Valley AVA

    TTB received a petition from Steve Thomson, the executive vice 
president of King Estate Winery in Eugene, Oregon, proposing to expand 
the established ``Willamette Valley'' AVA in northwestern Oregon. The 
Willamette Valley AVA (27 CFR 9.90) was established by T.D. ATF-162, 
which published in the Federal Register on December 1, 1983 (48 FR 
54221). The Willamette Valley AVA covers approximately 5,360 square 
miles in Benton, Lane, Linn, Clackamas, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, 
Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Counties. The Willamette 
Valley AVA is not located within any other AVA, but it does contain six 
smaller AVAs: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, 
McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge, and Yamhill-Carlton.
    The proposed expansion area is located in Lane County adjacent to 
the

[[Page 34865]]

southern tip of the existing Willamette Valley AVA boundary and covers 
approximately 29 square miles. The King Estate Winery operates one of 
the two commercial vineyards covering a total of 508 acres located 
within the proposed expansion area, and has provided information that 
the second vineyard affected is also in favor of the proposed 
expansion. King Estate Winery and the second vineyard each have a 
winery within the proposed expansion area. A third winery would also be 
included; however, it does not operate a vineyard within the proposed 
expansion area. The vineyards and the wineries did not exist when the 
Willamette Valley AVA was established in 1983 and currently are not 
located within any AVA. The petition included letters from the 
president of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association and the 
president of the Oregon Winegrowers Association in support of the 
proposed expansion. According to the petition, the soils, climate, and 
topography of the proposed expansion area are consistent with those of 
the established AVA. Unless otherwise noted, all information and data 
pertaining to the proposed expansion area contained in this document 
come from the petition and its supporting exhibits.

Name Evidence

    The petition provides evidence that the proposed expansion area is 
associated with the established Willamette Valley AVA. King Estate 
Winery, where the petitioner is the executive vice president, is 
located within the proposed expansion area and has a ``Eugene, Oregon'' 
mailing address. The city of Eugene is located within the current 
boundaries of the Willamette Valley AVA. The petition also states that 
the two vineyards located within the proposed expansion area are 
included in the National Agricultural Statistics Service's annual 
compilation of vineyard statistics within the region called the ``South 
Willamette Valley.''
    Finally, the petition includes excerpts from wine lists from 11 
different restaurants across the United States and one in Denmark that 
offer wines from the King Estate Winery. Although wines from the King 
Estate Winery use ``Oregon'' as the appellation of origin on their 
labels, the restaurant wine lists all describe the wine as coming from 
``Willamette,'' ``Willamette Valley,'' or ``Willamette, Oregon.'' The 
petition states that these wine lists demonstrate that sellers and 
consumers currently associate the wines made in the proposed expansion 
area with the Willamette Valley AVA, even though the King Estate Winery 
does not market or label the wines as such.

Boundary Evidence

    The Willamette Valley AVA is a long, narrow region encompassing the 
Willamette River basin. The AVA is approximately 120 miles long and 60 
miles wide. The current AVA boundary begins at the intersection of the 
Multnomah-Columbia County line and the Oregon-Washington boundary. The 
current boundary then proceeds southward, primarily following the 
meandering 1,000-foot elevation contour, into Lane County. South of the 
city of Eugene and north of the Siuslaw River, the current AVA boundary 
briefly leaves the 1,000-foot elevation contour near Panther Creek and 
follows a series of straight lines drawn between marked features on the 
USGS maps before reconnecting with the 1,000-foot elevation contour 
near the community of Lorane. The current boundary then follows the 
elevation contour as it meanders southward to Sharps Creek, to a point 
near the Lane-Douglas County line. The current boundary then follows 
the 1,000-foot elevation contour as it turns northward and returns to 
the Oregon-Washington boundary. According to T.D. ATF-162, the 1,000-
foot elevation contour was chosen to form the majority of the AVA 
boundary because 1,000 feet is the maximum elevation for successful 
viticulture in this region of Oregon.
    The boundary of the proposed expansion area would modify the 
portion of the current AVA boundary that follows the straight lines 
drawn between marked features on the USGS maps near Panther Creek, in 
the southwestern portion of the AVA. The proposed expansion boundary 
would not use straight lines between points but instead would continue 
to follow the 1,000-foot elevation contour to the Lane-Douglas county 
line. The proposed expansion area boundary would then proceed east 
along the Lane-Douglas county line until it rejoins the 1,000-foot 
elevation contour, and then proceed north-northeasterly along the 
elevation contour until it joins the current Willamette Valley AVA 
boundary near Lorane. The proposed expansion area would not extend 
south into Douglas County because the Douglas County line forms the 
northern boundary of the Umpqua River Valley AVA (27 CFR 9.89), which 
has features that are distinctive from those of the Willamette Valley 
AVA.
    Both the established Willamette Valley AVA and the proposed 
expansion area are surrounded to the west, east, and immediate south by 
high, steep mountains. To the east are the Cascade Mountains, and to 
the west are the Coast Range Mountains. To the south are the Calapooya 
Mountains, as well as the Umpqua River Valley.

Distinguishing Features

    As justification of the expansion area, which is based on 
similarities in distinguishing features, the expansion petition quotes 
the original Willamette Valley AVA petition, which stated, ``[I]t is 
the intention of the Oregon Winegrowers Association to define this area 
as broadly as geographical data and viticultural experience will allow, 
so as not to stifle experimentation in new sites. * * * If any such 
sites come to light during the evaluation of this petition, we would 
urge they be included in the final description of the viticultural 
area.'' According to the petition, the proposed expansion area contains 
the same climate, soils, and topography as the established Willamette 
Valley AVA. The expansion petition concludes that, had the two 
vineyards in the proposed expansion area existed at the time the 
Willamette Valley AVA was established, the proposed expansion area 
would have been included because the region shares characteristics 
similar to those of the established AVA. Those characteristics are 
discussed in detail below.
Climate
    The petition compared the climate of the proposed expansion area to 
that of the established Willamette Valley AVA and the surrounding 
regions. The petition included a map generated using the PRISM mapping 
system \1\ that showed the growing degree day \2\ (GDD) accumulations 
and average growing season temperatures throughout the proposed 
expansion area, the

[[Page 34866]]

established AVAs within the Willamette Valley AVA, and the surrounding 
regions. The following tables summarize the data from the map:
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    \1\ The PRISM climate data mapping system combined climate 
normals gathered from weather stations, along with other factors 
such as elevation, longitude, slope angles, and solar aspect to 
estimate the general climate patterns for the proposed AVA and the 
surrounding regions. Climate normals are only calculated every 10 
years, using 30 years of data, and at the time the petition was 
submitted, the most recent climate normals available were from the 
period of 1971-2000. (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, 
http://prism.oregonstate.edu, created 4 February 2004.)
    \2\ In the Winkler climate classification system, annual heat 
accumulation during the growing season, measured in annual growing 
degree days (GDD), defines climatic regions. One GDD accumulates for 
each degree Fahrenheit that a day's mean temperature is above 50 
degrees, the minimum temperature required for grapevine growth 
(``General Viticulture,'' by Albert J. Winkler, University of 
California Press, 1974, pages 61-64).

                                  Table 1--Average Growing Season Temperatures
                                            [Degrees Fahrenheit (F)]
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                                                                      Average         Average
                            Location                                  minimum         maximum      Average mean
                                                                    temperature     temperature     temperature
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Proposed Expansion Area.........................................            58.2            59.1            58.6
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                                    Temperatures Within Willamette Valley AVA
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Chehalem Mountains AVA..........................................            55.9            59.8            58.7
Eola-Amity Hills AVA............................................            57.6            59.5            58.8
McMinnville AVA.................................................            57.1            59.6            58.9
Yamhill-Carlton AVA.............................................            56.8            59.9            59.0
Ribbon Ridge AVA................................................            58.5            59.4            59.0
Dundee Hills AVA................................................            57.7            59.7            59.1
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                     Temperatures South of Willamette Valley AVA and Proposed Expansion Area
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Umpqua Valley AVA...............................................            55.9            61.5            59.3
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                                    Table 2--Growing Degree Day Accumulations
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                                                                      Average         Average
                            Location                                  minimum         maximum      Average mean
                                                                   accumulations   accumulations   accumulations
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Proposed Expansion Area.........................................            1780            1935            1862
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                                 GDD Accumulations Within Willamette Valley AVA
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Chehalem Mountains AVA..........................................            1382            2093            1885
Eola-Amity Hills AVA............................................            1683            2048            1906
McMinnville AVA.................................................            1597            2059            1919
Yamhill-Carlton AVA.............................................            1544            2124            1930
Ribbon Ridge AVA................................................            1843            2016            1931
Dundee Hills AVA................................................            1692            2077            1946
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                  GDD Accumulations South of Willamette Valley AVA and Proposed Expansion Area
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Umpqua Valley AVA...............................................            1415            2468            2007
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    The PRISM data shows that during the growing season, the proposed 
expansion area and the six established AVAs within the larger 
Willamette Valley AVA all have lower average mean temperatures and 
average maximum temperatures and higher average minimum temperatures 
than the Umpqua Valley AVA. Growing season temperatures within the 
proposed expansion area are most similar to those in the Chehalem 
Mountains, Eola-Amity Hills, and McMinnville AVAs. Although the average 
GDD accumulations within the proposed expansion area are lower than 
those of the six established AVAs within the Willamette Valley AVA, 
they are more similar to those accumulations than to the higher GDD 
accumulations of the Umpqua Valley AVA.
    The petition also included information on the growing season 
temperatures, rainfall amounts, and GDD accumulations from a private 
weather station at the King Estate Vineyard, within the proposed 
expansion area, and from regional weather stations located in Cottage 
Grove, Eugene, and Drain, Oregon. According to the petition, Cottage 
Grove is approximately 11 miles east of the King Estate Vineyard, 
Eugene is approximately 18 miles northeast of the vineyard, and Drain 
is just over 15 miles south of the vineyard. The data was collected 
from each station from April 1 through October 31 from 2008 through 
2012. Although data from Eugene was included in the petition, the 
petitioner states that the data from that location is not a good 
representative of temperatures within the nearby portions of the 
Willamette Valley AVA because the weather station is located at the 
Eugene airport and represents a warmer urban-biased climate. Therefore, 
although all the climate data provided in the petition is available for 
viewing in Docket No. TTB-2015-0008, the Eugene data has been omitted 
from the following table:

                                      Table 3--Growing Season Climate Data
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               Description                   2008        2009        2010        2011        2012       Average
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                              King Estate Vineyard (within proposed expansion area)
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Average Mean Temperature (degrees F)....       57.2        58.4        57.0        56.8        58.5        57.6

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GDD Accumulations.......................     1827        2001        1709        1697        1957        1838
Total Precipitation (inches)............        6.84       12.06       21.36       14.09       11.84       13.24
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                Cottage Grove, OR (east of proposed expansion area, within Willamette Valley AVA)
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Average Mean Temperature (degrees F)....       58.3        59.8        58.2        57.8        58.8        58.6
GDD Accumulations.......................     2037        2277        1945        1864        2033        2031
Total Precipitation (inches)............       10.32       14.84       22.85       17.47       17.07       16.51
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                       Drain, OR (south of proposed expansion area, in Umpqua Valley AVA)
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Average Mean Temperature (Degrees F)....       59.9        60.8        60.0        59.8        60.9        60.3
GDD Accumulations.......................     2302        2467        2280        2238        2419        2341
Total Precipitation (inches)............        7.63       12.96       23.06       14.04       15.04       14.55
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    The data shows that although precipitation amounts within the 
proposed expansion area are similar to the precipitation amounts for 
Cottage Grove (located within the Willamette Valley AVA) and Drain 
(located within the Umpqua Valley AVA), the proposed expansion area's 
GDD accumulations are more similar to those of the Willamette Valley 
location. Additionally, the proposed expansion area's average mean 
temperatures are more similar to that of the Willamette Valley 
location. The data from the King Estate Winery weather station, within 
the proposed expansion area, is also similar to that generated by the 
PRISM mapping system for the entire proposed expansion area, which is 
summarized in tables 1 and 2.
Soils
    The petition included an analysis of the soils of the proposed 
expansion area. According to the analysis, the five most common soil 
series within the proposed expansion area are, from most to least 
common, the Bellpine, Willakenzie, Dupee, Jory, and Peavine series. 
These five soils cover approximately 74 percent of the proposed 
expansion area. These soils are also considered to be in the ``xeric'' 
moisture regime of soil classification. Xeric soils are common in 
regions with a ``Mediterranean'' climate, which consists of cool, moist 
winters and warm, dry summers. As a result of the warm, dry summers, 
xeric soils typically retain little water by the end of the growing 
season.
    According to the petition, there are 23 soil series present within 
the Willamette Valley AVA, including all five of the most common soil 
series found within the proposed expansion area. The most common soils 
within the Willamette Valley AVA are from the Jory series, followed by 
soils of the Willakenzie series. Soils of the Bellpine, Dupee, and 
Peavine series are the ninth, eleventh, and twelfth most common soils 
within the Willamette Valley, respectively.
    T.D. ATF-162, which established the Willamette Valley AVA, did not 
describe the soils of the AVA or the surrounding regions in great 
detail, only noting that the soils within the AVA were silty loams and 
clay loams, while the surrounding regions contained ``mountain soils.'' 
The proposed expansion petition describes the soils outside both the 
proposed expansion area and the Willamette Valley AVA in more detail. 
According to the petition, the Peavine soils that are found both in the 
proposed expansion area and the Willamette Valley AVA are also present 
in the surrounding regions outside the AVA and the proposed expansion 
area. However, the region outside the AVA also contains Blanchley, 
Honeygrove Complex, Bohanon, Preacher, Klickitat, Kirney, and Digger 
Complex soils, which are not found in either the proposed expansion 
region or the Willamette Valley AVA. Additionally, the petition notes 
that, with the exception of the Peavine soils, the soils outside the 
proposed expansion area and the Willamette Valley AVA are all in the 
``udic'' moisture regime of soil classification. Udic soils are common 
in humid climates where rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the 
year. As a result, udic soils typically retain even amounts of moisture 
throughout the year, unlike the drier xeric soils of the proposed 
expansion area and the Willamette Valley AVA.
Topography
    The proposed expansion area is located on the leeward side of the 
Coast Range Mountains, which shelter the proposed expansion area from 
most of the cool, moist marine air that flows inward from the Pacific 
Ocean. The terrain of the proposed expansion area is comprised of 
foothills and valleys. Elevations within the area range from 
approximately 500 to 1,200 feet. Vineyards within the proposed 
expansion area are planted on hillsides at elevations between 
approximately 600 feet and 1,050 feet.
    The topography of the proposed expansion area is similar to that of 
the established Willamette Valley AVA. The established AVA is composed 
of rolling hills and valleys between the Coast Range Mountains, which 
are to the west of the established AVA, and the Cascade Mountains, 
which are to its east. The Coast Range Mountains shelter the AVA from 
much of the marine air. Elevations within the AVA are between 
approximately 115 feet and 1,630 feet. Vineyards are planted on 
hillsides at elevations between 200 feet and 1,300 feet. Both the 
Willamette Valley AVA and the proposed expansion area are surrounded by 
the higher, more mountainous Cascade Mountains to the east of the two 
areas, the Calapooya Mountains to their south, and the Coast Range 
Mountains to their west.
    Much of the land within the Willamette Valley AVA is part of the 
Willamette Valley watershed. However, the petition notes that there are 
portions of the AVA that drain into other rivers, including 
``significant acres of land'' in the northern portion of the AVA that 
drain into the Columbia River. Other portions of the AVA drain into the 
Sandy River and the Siuslaw River. The proposed expansion area drains 
into both the Willamette River and the Siuslaw River. By contrast, the 
region south of the proposed expansion area and the Willamette Valley 
AVA drains exclusively into the Umpqua River.

TTB Determination

    TTB concludes that the petition to expand the boundaries of the 
established Willamette Valley AVA merits consideration and public

[[Page 34868]]

comment, as invited in this notice of proposed rulemaking.

Boundary Description

    See the narrative description of the boundary of the petitioned-for 
expansion area in the proposed regulatory text published at the end of 
this proposed rule.

Maps

    To document the existing and proposed boundaries of the Willamette 
Valley AVA, the petitioner provided a copy of the required map, and it 
is listed below in the proposed regulatory text.

Impact on Current Wine Labels

    For a wine to be labeled with a viticultural area name or with a 
brand name that includes an AVA name, at least 85 percent of the wine 
must be derived from grapes grown within the area represented by that 
name, and the wine must meet the other conditions listed in Sec.  
4.25(e)(3) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(3)). If the wine is 
not eligible for labeling with an AVA name and that name appears in the 
brand name, then the label is not in compliance and the bottler must 
change the brand name and obtain approval of a new label. Similarly, if 
the AVA name appears in another reference on the label in a misleading 
manner, the bottler would have to obtain approval of a new label. 
Different rules apply if a wine has a brand name containing an AVA name 
or other viticulturally significant term that was used as a brand name 
on a label approved before July 7, 1986. See Sec.  4.39(i)(2) of the 
TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.39(i)(2)) for details.
    The approval of the proposed expansion of the Willamette Valley AVA 
would not affect any other existing viticultural area. The expansion of 
the Willamette Valley AVA would allow vintners to use ``Willamette 
Valley'' as an appellation of origin for wines made primarily from 
grapes grown within the proposed expansion area if the wines meet the 
eligibility requirements for the appellation.

Public Participation

Comments Invited

    TTB invites comments from interested members of the public on 
whether it should expand the Willamette Valley AVA as proposed. TTB is 
specifically interested in receiving comments on the similarity of the 
proposed expansion area to the established Willamette Valley AVA, as 
well as the differences between the proposed expansion area and the 
areas outside the Willamette Valley AVA. Please provide specific 
information in support of your comments.

Submitting Comments

    You may submit comments on this notice of proposed rulemaking by 
using one of the following three methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: You may send comments via the 
online comment form posted with this notice of proposed rulemaking 
within Docket No. TTB-2015-0008 on ``Regulations.gov,'' the Federal e-
rulemaking portal, at http://www.regulations.gov. A direct link to that 
docket is available under Notice No. 152 on the TTB Web site at http://www.ttb.gov/wine/wine_rulemaking.shtml">http://www.ttb.gov/wine/wine_rulemaking.shtml. Supplemental files may be 
attached to comments submitted via Regulations.gov. For complete 
instructions on how to use Regulations.gov, visit the site and click on 
the ``Help'' tab.
     U.S. Mail: You may send comments via postal mail to the 
Director, Regulations and Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and 
Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street NW., Box 12, Washington, DC 20005.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: You may hand-carry your comments or 
have them hand-carried to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 
1310 G Street NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005.
    Please submit your comments by the closing date shown above in this 
notice of proposed rulemaking. Your comments must reference Notice No. 
152 and include your name and mailing address. Your comments also must 
be made in English, be legible, and be written in language acceptable 
for public disclosure. TTB does not acknowledge receipt of comments, 
and TTB considers all comments as originals.
    In your comment, please clearly state if you are commenting for 
yourself or on behalf of an association, business, or other entity. If 
you are commenting on behalf of an entity, your comment must include 
the entity's name, as well as your name and position title. If you 
comment via Regulations.gov, please enter the entity's name in the 
``Organization'' blank of the online comment form. If you comment via 
postal mail or hand delivery/courier, please submit your entity's 
comment on letterhead.
    You may also write to the Administrator before the comment closing 
date to ask for a public hearing. The Administrator reserves the right 
to determine whether to hold a public hearing.

Confidentiality

    All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public 
record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your 
comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for 
public disclosure.

Public Disclosure

    TTB will post, and you may view, copies of this notice of proposed 
rulemaking, selected supporting materials, and any online or mailed 
comments received about this proposal within Docket No. TTB-2015-0008 
on the Federal e-rulemaking portal, Regulations.gov, at http://www.regulations.gov. A direct link to that docket is available on the 
TTB Web site at http://www.ttb.gov/wine/wine_rulemaking.shtml under 
Notice No. 152. You may also reach the relevant docket through the 
Regulations.gov search page at http://www.regulations.gov. For 
information on how to use Regulations.gov, click on the Web site's 
``Help'' tab.
    All posted comments will display the commenter's name, organization 
(if any), city, and State, and, in the case of mailed comments, all 
address information, including email addresses. TTB may omit voluminous 
attachments or material that the Bureau considers unsuitable for 
posting.
    You may also view copies of this notice of proposed rulemaking, all 
related petitions, maps and other supporting materials, and any 
electronic or mailed comments that TTB receives about this proposal by 
appointment at the TTB Information Resource Center, 1310 G Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20005. You may also obtain copies at 20 cents per 8.5- x 
11-inch page. Please note that TTB is unable to provide copies of USGS 
maps or other similarly-sized documents that may be included as part of 
the AVA petition. Contact TTB's information specialist at the above 
address or by telephone at 202-453-2270 to schedule an appointment or 
to request copies of comments or other materials.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    TTB certifies that this proposed regulation, if adopted, would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The proposed regulation imposes no new reporting, 
recordkeeping, or other administrative requirement. Any benefit derived 
from the use of an AVA name would be the result of a proprietor's 
efforts and consumer acceptance of wines from that area. Therefore, no 
regulatory flexibility analysis is required.

[[Page 34869]]

Executive Order 12866

    It has been determined that this proposed rule is not a significant 
regulatory action as defined by Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 
1993. Therefore, no regulatory assessment is required.

Drafting Information

    Karen A. Thornton of the Regulations and Rulings Division drafted 
this notice of proposed rulemaking.

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9

    Wine.

Proposed Regulatory Amendment

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, TTB proposes to amend 
title 27, chapter I, part 9, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 9--AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 9 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  27 U.S.C. 205.

Subpart C--Approved American Viticultural Areas

0
2. Section 9.90 is amended by revising paragraph (b) introductory text, 
adding new paragraph (b)(4), removing paragraphs (c)(11) through 
(c)(13), redesignating paragraphs (c)(14) through (c)(32) as paragraphs 
(c)(18) through (c)(36), and adding new paragraphs (c)(11) through 
(c)(17) to read as follows:


Sec.  9.90  Willamette Valley.

* * * * *
    (b) Approved maps. The approved maps for determining the boundaries 
of the Willamette Valley viticultural area are three U.S.G.S. Oregon 
maps scaled 1:250,000 and one U.S.G.S. Oregon map scaled 1:24,000. They 
are entitled:
* * * * *
    (4) ``Letz Creek, OR'' (revised 1984).
    (c) * * *
    (11) Northeast, then southeast along the 1,000 foot contour line 
approximately 12 miles to its intersection with the R5W/R6W range line;
    (12) South along the R5W/R6W range line approximately 0.25 mile to 
the intersection with the 1,000 foot contour line;
    (13) Generally southeast along the meandering 1,000 foot contour 
line, crossing onto the Letz Creek map, to a point on the 1,000 foot 
contour line located due north of the intersection of Siuslaw River 
Road and Fire Road;
    (14) South in a straight line approximately 0.55 mile, crossing 
over the Siuslaw River and the intersection of Siuslaw River Road and 
Fire Road, to the 1,000 foot contour line;
    (15) Generally southeast along the meandering 1,000 foot contour 
line, crossing onto the Roseburg, Oregon map, to the intersection of 
the 1,000 foot contour line with the Lane/Douglas County line;
    (16) East along the Lane/Douglas County line approximately 3.8 
miles to the intersection with the 1,000 foot contour line just east of 
the South Fork of the Siuslaw River;
    (17) Generally north, then northeast along the 1,000 foot contour 
line around Spencer Butte, and then generally south to a point along 
the Lane/Douglas County line 0.5 mile north of Interstate Highway 99;
* * * * *

    Signed: June 11, 2015.
John J. Manfreda,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-15036 Filed 6-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-31-P