[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03806]


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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. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 8860]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1218

[Document No. AMS-SC-15-0076]


Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information Order; Continuance 
Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible producers and importers of highbush blueberries to determine 
whether they favor continuance of the Blueberry Promotion, Research and 
Information Order (Order).

DATES: The referendum will be conducted by mail ballot from July 5 
through July 28, 2016. To be eligible to vote, blueberry producers and 
importers must have produced or imported 2,000 pounds or more of 
highbush blueberries during the representative period of January 1 
through December 31, 2015, paid assessments during that period, and 
must currently be producers or importers of highbush blueberries 
subject to assessment under the Order. Ballots must be received by the 
referendum agents no later than the close of business on July 28, 2016, 
to be counted.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Order may be obtained from: Referendum Agent, 
Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 
20250-0244, telephone: (202) 720-9915; facsimile: (202) 205-2800; or 
contact Maureen Pello at (503) 632-8848 or via electronic mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist, 
PED, SC, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 1406-S, Stop 
0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-9915, (503) 632-
8848 (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 (7 CFR part 1218) is favored by eligible 
producers and importers of highbush blueberries. 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, 
2015. Persons who produced or imported 2,000 pounds or more of highbush 
blueberries during the representative period, paid assessments during 
that period, and are currently highbush blueberry producers or 
importers subject to assessment under the Order are eligible to vote. 
Persons who received an exemption from assessments for the entire 
representative period are ineligible to vote. The referendum will be 
conducted by mail ballot from July 5 through July 28, 2016.
    Section 518 of the Act authorizes continuance referenda. Under 
Sec.  1218.71(b) of the Order, the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) must conduct a referendum every 5 years to determine whether 
persons subject to assessment favor continuance of the Order. The last 
referendum was held in 2011. USDA would continue the Order if 
continuance is favored by a majority of the producers and importers 
voting in the referendum, who also represent a majority of the volume 
of blueberries represented 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 1,860 producers and 180 
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

    Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist, and Heather Pichelman, 
Director, PED, SC, 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 
1218.100 through 1218.107, which were issued pursuant to the Act, shall 
be used to conduct the referendum.
    The referendum agent will mail the ballots to be cast in the 
referendum and voting instructions to all known, eligible highbush 
blueberry producers and importers prior to the first day of the voting 
period. Persons who produced or imported 2,000 more pounds of highbush 
blueberries during the representative period, paid assessments during 
that period, and are currently highbush blueberry producer or importers 
subject to assessment under the Order are eligible to vote. Persons who 
received an exemption from assessments during the entire representative 
period are ineligible to vote. Any eligible producer or importer who 
does not receive a ballot should contact the referendum agent no later 
than one week before the end of the voting period. Ballots must be 
received by the referendum agent by 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, July 28, 
2016, in order to be counted.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1218

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

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

    Dated: February 18, 2016.
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-03806 Filed 2-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P