[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 230 (Friday, December 1, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56922-56926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25965]


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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. 82, No. 230 / Friday, December 1, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 56922]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 985

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-16-0107; SC17-985-1A PR]


Marketing Order Regulating the Handling of Spearmint Oil Produced 
in the Far West; Revision of the Salable Quantity and Allotment 
Percentage for Class 3 (Native) Spearmint Oil for the 2017-2018 
Marketing Year

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the 
Far West Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee) to revise 
the quantity of Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil that handlers may 
purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers during the 2017-2018 
marketing year, which began on June 1, 2017. This proposal would 
increase the Native spearmint oil salable quantity and the allotment 
percentage. The Committee recommended this action for the purpose of 
avoiding extreme fluctuations in supplies and prices and to help 
maintain stability in the Far West spearmint oil market. This proposal 
also contains a formatting change to subpart references to bring the 
language into conformance with the Office of the Federal Register 
requirements.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 18, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposed rule. Comments must 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 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: Dale Novotny, Marketing Specialist, or 
Gary D. Olson, Regional Director, Northwest Marketing Field Office, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503) 326-7440, or Email: 
[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: This action, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, 
proposes an amendment to regulations issued to carry out a marketing 
order as defined in 7 CFR 900.2(j). This proposed 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). Part 985 (referred to 
as ``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 Committee locally administers the 
Marketing Order and is comprised of spearmint oil producers operating 
within the area of production, and a public member.
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing this proposed rule 
in conformance with Executive Orders 13563 and 13175. This action falls 
within a category of regulatory actions that the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) exempted from Executive Order 12866 review. 
Additionally, because this proposed rule does not meet the definition 
of a significant regulatory action it does not trigger the requirements 
contained in Executive Order 13771. See OMB's Memorandum titled 
``Interim Guidance Implementing Section 2 of the Executive Order of 
January 30, 2017, titled `Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs'[thinsp]'' (February 2, 2017).
    This proposal has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. Under the provisions of the Order now in effect, 
salable quantities and allotment percentages may be established for 
classes of spearmint oil produced in the Far West. This proposed rule 
would increase the quantity of Native spearmint oil produced in the Far 
West that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers 
during the 2017-2018 marketing year, which ends on May 31, 2018.
    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.
    This proposal invites comments on revisions to the quantity of 
Native spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on 
behalf of, producers during the 2017-2018 marketing year under the 
Order. Prior to this proposed rule, the salable quantity and allotment 
percentage for Native spearmint oil was initially established at 
1,075,051 pounds and 44 percent, respectively, in a final rule 
published May 25, 2017 (82 FR 24001). This proposed rule would increase 
the Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 1,075,051 pounds to 
1,514,902 pounds

[[Page 56923]]

and the allotment percentage from 44 percent to 62 percent.
    Under the volume regulation provisions of the Order, the Committee 
meets each year to adopt a marketing policy for the ensuing year. When 
the Committee's marketing policy considerations indicate a need for 
limiting the quantity of spearmint oil available to the market to 
establish or maintain orderly marketing conditions, the Committee 
submits a recommendation to the Secretary of Agriculture for volume 
regulation.
    Volume regulation under the Order is effectuated through the 
establishment of a salable quantity and allotment percentage applicable 
to each class of spearmint oil handled in the production area during a 
marketing year. The salable quantity is the total quantity of each 
class of oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, 
producers during a given marketing year. The allotment percentage for 
each class of oil is derived by dividing the salable quantity by the 
total industry allotment base for that same class of oil. The total 
industry allotment base is the aggregate of all allotment base held 
individually by producers. Producer allotment base is the quantity of 
each class of spearmint oil that the Committee has determined is 
representative of a producer's spearmint oil production. Each producer 
is allotted a pro rata share of the total salable quantity of each 
class of spearmint oil each marketing year. Each producer's annual 
allotment is determined by applying the allotment percentage to the 
producer's individual allotment base for each applicable class of 
spearmint oil.
    The full Committee met on October 19, 2016, to consider its 
marketing policy for the 2017-2018 marketing year. At that meeting, the 
Committee determined that marketing conditions indicated a need for 
volume regulation of both classes of spearmint oil for the 2017-2018 
marketing year. The Committee recommended salable quantities of 774,645 
pounds and 1,075,051 pounds, and allotment percentages of 36 percent 
and 44 percent, respectively, for Scotch and Native spearmint oil. A 
proposed rule to that effect was published in the Federal Register on 
March 31, 2017 (82 FR 16001). Comments on the proposed rule were 
solicited from interested persons until May 1, 2017. No comments were 
received. Subsequently, a final rule establishing the salable 
quantities and allotment percentages for Scotch and Native spearmint 
oil for the 2017-2018 marketing year was published in the Federal 
Register on May 25, 2017 (82 FR 24001).
    Pursuant to authority contained in Sec. Sec.  985.50, 985.51, and 
985.52, the full eight-member Committee met again on September 25, 
2017, and October 25, 2017, to evaluate the current year's volume 
control regulation. At the meetings, the Committee assessed the current 
market conditions for spearmint oil in relation to the salable 
quantities and allotment percentages established for the 2017-2018 
marketing year. The Committee considered a number of factors, including 
the current and projected supply, estimated future demand, production 
costs, and producer prices for all classes of spearmint oil. The 
Committee determined that the established salable quantity and 
allotment percentage in effect for Native spearmint oil for the 2017-
2018 marketing year should be increased to take into account the 
unanticipated rise in market demand for that class of spearmint oil.
    At the September 25, 2017, meeting, the Committee recommended 
increasing the 2017-2018 marketing year Native spearmint oil salable 
quantity from 1,075,051 pounds to 1,221,696 pounds and the allotment 
percentage from 44 percent to 50 percent. The recommendation to 
increase the salable quantity and allotment percentage passed with a 
vote of seven members in favor and one opposed. The member opposed to 
the recommendation favored increasing the Native spearmint oil salable 
quantity and allotment percentage for the 2017-2018 marketing year, but 
at an undetermined level lower than what was recommended.
    At the October 25, 2017, meeting, the Committee met again to 
consider an additional increase to the 2017-2018 marketing year salable 
quantity and allotment percentage for Native spearmint oil. The 
Committee recommended further increasing the 2017-2018 marketing year 
Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 1,221,696 pounds to 
1,514,902 pounds and the allotment percentage from 50 percent to 62 
percent. The recommendation to further increase the salable quantity 
and allotment percentage passed with a unanimous vote.
    Thus, this proposal would make additional amounts of Native 
spearmint oil available to the market by increasing the salable 
quantity and allotment percentage previously established under the 
Order for the 2017-2018 marketing year. This proposed rule would 
increase the Native spearmint oil salable quantity by 439,851 pounds, 
to 1,514,902 pounds, and would raise the allotment percentage 18 
percentage points, to 62 percent. Such additional oil would come from 
releasing Native spearmint oil held by producers in the reserve pool. 
As of May 31, 2017, the Committee records show that the reserve pool 
for Native spearmint oil contained 996,050 pounds of oil, an amount 
considered excessive relative to market conditions.
    At both the September and October 2017 meetings, the Committee 
staff reported that demand for Native spearmint oil has been greater 
than previously anticipated. Committee records indicate that 2017-2018 
marketing year sales to date (945,683 pounds) are tracking fairly 
closely to sales for the same period in the 2016-2017 marketing year 
(1,095,112 pounds). However, handlers reported to the Committee that an 
additional 345,446 pounds of Native spearmint oil are committed to be 
sold, which would leave a deficit of 216,078 pounds of oil (1,075,051 
pounds salable quantity minus 945,683 pounds sold to date and 345,446 
pounds committed) to supply the market until May 31, 2018. Another 
factor that contributed to the short supply was that only 143,011 
pounds of salable product carried over from the 2016-2017 marketing 
year into the 2017-2018 marketing year, which was 46,809 pounds less 
than expected. The Committee initially estimated in October 2016 that 
the total available supply of Native spearmint oil for the 2017-2018 
marketing year would be 1,264,871 pounds, but that amount was reduced 
to 1,218,158 when the smaller carry-in quantity is accounted for.
    The Committee initially estimated the trade demand for Native 
spearmint oil for the 2017-2018 marketing year to be 1,250,000. At the 
September 25, 2017, meeting, the Committee revised the expected trade 
demand for the 2017-2018 marketing year to be 1,338,820. At the October 
25, 2017, meeting, the Committee further revised the expected trade 
demand for the 2017-2018 marketing year to 1,600,000 pounds. If 
realized, trade demand would be 381,842 pounds above the quantity of 
Native spearmint oil available under the volume control levels 
implemented in May 2017 (1,218,158 pounds available prior to this rule 
minus 1,600,000 pounds estimated demand equals a deficit of 381,842 
pounds). Without increasing the salable quantity and allotment 
percentage, the market for Native spearmint oil may be shorted. The 
increased quantity of Native spearmint oil (439,851 pounds) that would 
be made available to the market as a result of this rulemaking would 
ensure that market demand is fully satisfied in the current year and 
that there would be approximately 20,171

[[Page 56924]]

pounds of Native spearmint oil salable inventory available to the 
market for the start of the 2018-2019 marketing year, which begins on 
June 1, 2018.
    In making the recommendation to increase the salable quantity and 
allotment percentage of Native spearmint oil, the Committee considered 
all currently available information on the price, supply, and demand of 
Native spearmint oil. The Committee also considered reports and other 
information from handlers and producers in attendance at the meeting. 
Lastly, the Committee manager presented information and reports that 
were provided to the Committee staff by handlers and producers.
    This proposal would increase the 2017-2018 marketing year Native 
spearmint oil salable quantity by 439,851 pounds, to a total of 
1,514,902 pounds. However, the Committee expects that not all producers 
have Native spearmint oil held in reserve. As such, the Committee 
calculates that 37,796 pounds of the Native spearmint oil salable 
quantity will go unfulfilled. Therefore, the total supply of Native 
spearmint oil that the Committee anticipates actually being available 
to the market over the course of the 2017-2018 marketing year would be 
increased to 1,620,117 pounds (2017-2018 marketing year salable 
quantity plus salable carry-in of 143,011 pounds from the 2016-2017 
marketing year minus an unused allotment of 37,796 pounds due to lack 
of pool oil). Actual sales of Native spearmint oil for the 2016-2017 
marketing year totaled 1,287,691 pounds. The 5-year average of Native 
spearmint oil sales is 1,309,793 pounds.
    The Committee estimates that this action would result in 20,171 
pounds of salable Native spearmint oil being carried into the 2018-2019 
marketing year. While 20,171 pounds is a relatively low quantity of 
salable Native spearmint oil to end the marketing year, reserve pool 
oil could be released into the market under a future relaxation of the 
volume regulation should it be necessary to adequately supply the 
market prior to the beginning of the 2018-2019 marketing year. The 
Committee estimates that a total of 1,237,237 pounds of Native 
spearmint oil would be available from the reserve pool if needed.
    As mentioned previously, when the original 2017-2018 marketing 
policy statement was drafted, handlers estimated the demand for Native 
spearmint oil for the 2017-2018 marketing year to be 1,250,000 pounds. 
The Committee's initial recommendation for the establishment of the 
Native spearmint oil salable quantity and allotment percentage for the 
2017-2018 marketing year was based on that estimate. The Committee did 
not anticipate the increase in demand for Native spearmint oil that the 
market is currently experiencing and did not make allowances for it 
when the marketing policy was initially adopted.
    At the September 25, 2017, meeting, the Committee revised its 
estimate of the current trade demand to 1,338,820 pounds, and further 
increased that estimate to 1,600,000 pounds at the October 25, 2017, 
meeting. The Committee now believes that the supply of Native spearmint 
oil available to the market under the initially established salable 
quantity and allotment percentage would be insufficient to satisfy the 
current level of demand for oil at reasonable price levels. The 
Committee further believes that the increase in the salable quantity 
and allotment percentage proposed in this action is vital to ensuring 
an adequate supply of Native spearmint oil is available to the market 
moving forward.
    The Committee's stated intent in the use of the Order's volume 
control regulation is to keep adequate supplies available to meet 
market needs and to maintain orderly marketing conditions. With that in 
mind, the Committee developed its recommendation for increasing the 
Native spearmint oil salable quantity and allotment percentage for the 
2017-2018 marketing year based on the information discussed above, as 
well as the summary data outlined below.
    (A) Initial estimated 2017-2018 Native Allotment Base--2,443,297 
pounds. This is the allotment base estimate on which the original 2017-
2018 salable quantity and allotment percentage was based.
    (B) Revised 2017-2018 Native Allotment Base--2,443,391 pounds. This 
is 94 pounds more than the initial estimated allotment base of 
2,443,297 pounds. The difference is the result of annual adjustments 
made to the allotment base according to the provisions of the Order.
    (C) Initial 2017-2018 Native Allotment Percentage--44 percent. This 
was unanimously recommended by the Committee on October 19, 2016.
    (D) Initial 2017-2018 Native Salable Quantity--1,075,051 pounds. 
This figure is 44 percent of the original estimated 2017-2018 allotment 
base of 2,443,297 pounds.
    (E) Adjusted Initial 2017-2018 Native Salable Quantity--1,075,092 
pounds. This figure reflects the salable quantity actually available at 
the beginning of the 2017-2018 marketing year. This quantity is derived 
by applying the initial 44-percent allotment percentage to the revised 
allotment base of 2,443,391.
    (F) Proposed Revision to the 2017-2018 Native Salable Quantity and 
Allotment Percentage:
    (1) Proposed Increase in the Native Allotment Percentage--18 
percent. The Committee recommended an increase of six percentage points 
at its September 25, 2017, meeting, and a further 12 percentage points 
at its October 25, 2017, meeting for a total increase of 18 percentage 
points over the initial Native allotment percentage.
    (2) Proposed Revised 2017-2018 Native Allotment Percentage--62 
percent. This number was derived by adding the increase of 18 
percentage points to the initially established 2017-2018 allotment 
percentage of 44 percent.
    (3) Proposed Revised 2017-2018 Native Salable Quantity--1,514,902 
pounds. This amount is 62 percent of the revised 2017-2018 allotment 
base of 2,443,391 pounds.
    (4) Computed Increase in the 2017-2018 Native Salable Quantity as a 
Result of the Proposed Revision--439,851 pounds. This figure represents 
18 percent of the 2017-2018 revised allotment base.
    (5) Expected Actual Increase in the Native Spearmint Oil Available 
to the Market for the 2017-2018 Marketing Year--402,055 pounds. This 
amount is based on the Committee's estimation of Native spearmint oil 
that is actually held by producers in the reserve pool that may enter 
the market as a result of this proposal. The Committee estimates that 
approximately 37,796 pounds of the computed increase would go 
unfulfilled due to producers who do not have sufficient Native 
spearmint oil in reserve to utilize their full allotted salable 
quantity.
    Scotch spearmint oil is also regulated by the Order. As mentioned 
previously, a salable quantity and allotment percentage for Scotch 
spearmint oil was established in a final rule published in the Federal 
Register on May 25, 2017 (82 FR 24001). At the September 25, 2017, 
meeting, the Committee considered the current production, inventory, 
and marketing conditions for Scotch spearmint oil. After receiving 
reports from the Committee staff and comments from the industry, the 
consensus of the Committee was that the previously established salable 
quantity and allotment percentage for Scotch spearmint oil was 
appropriate for the current market conditions. As such, the Committee 
took no further action with regards to Scotch spearmint oil for the 
2017-2018 marketing year.

[[Page 56925]]

    This proposed rule would relax the regulation of Native spearmint 
oil and would allow producers to meet market demand while improving 
producer returns. In conjunction with the issuance of this proposed 
rule, the Committee's revised marketing policy statement for the 2017-
2018 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. During 
its discussion of revisions to the 2017-2018 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) the estimated 
production of each class of oil; (4) the 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 proposed increase in the Native spearmint oil salable quantity 
and allotment percentage would account for the anticipated market needs 
for that class of oil. In determining anticipated market needs, the 
Committee considered changes and trends in historical sales, 
production, and demand.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-612), 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 
businesses 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 eight spearmint oil handlers subject to regulation under 
the Order, and approximately 41 producers of Scotch spearmint oil and 
approximately 94 producers of Native spearmint oil in the regulated 
production area. Small agricultural service firms are defined by the 
Small Business Administration (SBA) as those having annual receipts of 
less than $7,500,000, and small agricultural producers are defined as 
those having annual receipts of less than $750,000 (13 CFR 121.201).
    Based on the SBA's definition of small entities, the Committee 
estimates that only 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 12 of the 39 Scotch spearmint oil producers and 31 of 
the 94 Native spearmint oil producers could be classified as small 
entities under the SBA definition. Thus, the 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 spearmint oil 
industry to fully supply spearmint oil markets while avoiding the 
negative consequences of over-supplying these markets. Without volume 
control regulation, the supply and price of spearmint oil 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 
drive end users to source flavoring needs from other markets, 
potentially causing long-term economic damage to the domestic spearmint 
oil industry. The Order's volume control provisions have been 
successfully implemented in the domestic spearmint oil industry since 
1980 and provide benefits for producers, handlers, manufacturers, and 
consumers.
    This proposed rule would increase the quantity of Native spearmint 
oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers 
during the 2017-2018 marketing year, which ends May 31, 2018. The 2017-
2018 Native spearmint oil salable quantity was initially established at 
1,075,051 pounds and the allotment percentage initially set at 44 
percent. This proposed rule would increase the Native spearmint oil 
salable quantity to 1,514,902 pounds and the allotment percentage to 62 
percent.
    Based on the information and projections available at the September 
25, 2017, and October 25, 2017, meetings, the Committee considered 
several alternatives to this increase. The Committee considered leaving 
the salable quantity and allotment percentage unchanged, and also 
considered other potential levels of increase. The Committee reached 
its recommendation to increase the salable quantity and allotment 
percentage for Native spearmint oil after careful consideration of all 
available information and input from all interested industry 
participants, and believes that the levels recommended would achieve 
the desired objectives. 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 OMB and assigned OMB No. 0581-0178 (Generic 
Specialty Crops). No changes are necessary in those requirements as a 
result of this action. Should any changes become necessary, they would 
be submitted to OMB for approval.
    This proposed rule would relax the volume regulation requirements 
established under the Order. Accordingly, this action would 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.
    USDA has not identified any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, 
overlap or conflict with this action.
    In addition, the Committee's meeting was widely publicized 
throughout the Far West spearmint oil industry and all interested 
persons were invited to attend the meeting and participate in Committee 
deliberations on all issues. The September 25, 2017, and October 25, 
2017, meetings were public and all entities, both large and small, were 
able to express views on this issue. Finally, interested persons are 
invited to submit comments on this proposed rule, including the 
regulatory and

[[Page 56926]]

information collection 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/rules-regulations/moa/small-businesses. Any questions 
about the compliance guide should be sent to Richard Lower at the 
previously mentioned address in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.
    A 15-day comment period is provided to allow interested persons to 
respond to this proposal. Fifteen days is deemed appropriate because 
handlers are aware of this action, which was recommended by the 
Committee at a public meeting, and the subject matter of this proposal 
is not complex. All written comments timely received will be considered 
before a final determination is made on this matter.

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 
proposed to be 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.

[Subpart Redesignated as Subpart A]

0
2. Redesignate ``Subpart--Order Regulating Handling'' as ``Subpart A--
Order Regulating Handling''.

[Subpart Redesignated as Subpart B and Amended]

0
3. Redesignate ``Subpart--Administrative Rules and Regulations'' as 
subpart B and revise the heading to read as follows:

Subpart B--Administrative Requirements

0
4. In Sec.  985.236, revise paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  985.236   Salable quantities and allotment percentages--2017-2018 
marketing year.

* * * * *
    (b) Class 3 (Native) oil--a salable quantity of 1,514,902 pounds 
and an allotment percentage of 62 percent.

    Dated: November 28, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-25965 Filed 11-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P