[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 176 (Monday, September 12, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 62668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21851]


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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. 176 / Monday, September 12, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 62668]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 981

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-16-0045; SC16-981-2 PR]


Almonds Grown in California; Increased Assessment Rate

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the proposed 
rule to increase the assessment rate for California almonds under 
Marketing Order No. 981 (order) is reopened until October 12, 2016. The 
proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Almond Board of 
California (Board) to increase the assessment rate established for the 
2016-17 through the 2018-19 crop years from $0.03 to $0.04 per pound of 
almonds handled under the marketing order (order). Of the $0.04 per 
pound assessment, 60 percent (or $0.024 per pound) would be available 
as credit-back for handlers who conduct their own promotional 
activities.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the proposal. Comments should be sent to the Docket Clerk, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, 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 and the July 18, 2016, issue of the Federal 
Register and will be 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 the 
proposed 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: Andrea Ricci, Marketing Specialist or 
Jeffrey Smutny, Regional Director, California Marketing Field Office, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA; Telephone: (559) 487-5901, Fax: (559) 487-5906, or Email: with 
[email protected] or [email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on complying with this 
regulation by contacting Richard Lower, Marketing Order and Agreement 
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, 
Fax: (202) 720-8938, or Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was published in the Federal 
Register on July 18, 2016 (81 FR 46616). The proposed rule would 
increase the assessment rate for the 2016-17 through 2018-19 crop years 
from $0.03 to $0.04 per pound of almonds received. Of the $0.04 per 
pound assessment, 60 percent (or $0.024 per pound) would be available 
as credit-back for handlers who conduct their own promotional 
activities. The assessment rate would return to $0.03 for the 2019-20 
and subsequent crop years, and the amount available for handler credit-
back would return to $0.018 per pound (60 percent).
    USDA received a comment from an affected industry member requesting 
that the comment period be reopened to allow more time to comment on 
the proposed rule. This industry member expressed concern that while 
the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on July 18, 
2016, industry members did not receive the notification until July 28, 
2016, which did not allow adequate time for interested persons to 
comment by the August 2, 2016, deadline.
    After reviewing the request, USDA is reopening the comment period 
for 30 additional days. This will provide interested persons more time 
to review the proposed rule, perform a complete analysis, and submit 
written comments.

    Authority: This notice is issued pursuant to the Agricultural 
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (7 U.S.C. 601-674).

    Dated: September 7, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-21851 Filed 9-9-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P