[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02485]


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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. 83, No. 29 / Monday, February 12, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 5955]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1217

[Document No. AMS-SC-17-0072]


Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and 
Industry Information Order; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notification of referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible domestic (U.S.) manufacturers and importers of softwood lumber 
to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural 
Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding a national softwood 
lumber research and promotion program.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted by mail ballot from April 17 
through May 14, 2018. Ballots must be received by the referendum agents 
no later than the close of business on May 14, 2018, to be counted.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the softwood lumber program 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, 
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, (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) (1996 Act), 
it is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain 
whether continuance of the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, 
Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (7 CFR part 1217) is 
favored by eligible domestic manufacturers and importers of softwood 
lumber. The program is authorized under the 1996 Act.
    The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for 
the referendum shall be the period from January 1 through December 31, 
2017. Persons who domestically manufactured and shipped or imported 15 
million board feet or more of softwood lumber during the representative 
period, were subject to assessments during that period, and are 
currently softwood lumber manufacturers or importers subject to 
assessment under the part are eligible to vote. Persons who received an 
exemption from assessments pursuant to Sec.  1217.53 for the entire 
representative period are ineligible to vote. The referendum will be 
conducted by mail ballot from April 17 through May 14, 2018.
    Section 518 of the 1996 Act (7 U.S.C. 7417) authorizes continuance 
referenda. Under Sec.  1217.81(b), the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) must conduct a referendum seven years after the program became 
effective to determine whether persons subject to assessment favor 
continuance of the program. The program took effect in 2011. USDA would 
continue the program if continuance is favored by a majority of the 
domestic manufacturers and importers voting in the referendum, who also 
represent a majority of the volume of softwood lumber 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 approximately 210 entities 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, Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, 
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 1217.100 
through 1217.108, which were issued pursuant to the 1996 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, eligible domestic 
manufacturers and importers prior to the first day of the voting 
period. Persons who domestically manufactured and shipped or imported 
15 million board feet or more of softwood lumber during the 
representative period, were subject to assessment during that period, 
and are currently softwood lumber domestic manufacturers or importers 
subject to assessment under the part are eligible to vote. Persons who 
received an exemption from assessments pursuant to Sec.  1217.53 during 
the entire representative period are ineligible to vote. Any eligible 
domestic manufacturer 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 the referendum agent by 4:30 
p.m. Eastern time, May 14, 2018, in order to be counted.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1217

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer 
information, Marketing agreements, Promotion, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Softwood lumber.

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

    Dated: February 2, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-02485 Filed 2-9-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P