[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 11648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05313]


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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. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 11648]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1214

[Document No. AMS-SC-17-0079]


Christmas Tree Promotion Research, and Information Order; 
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 producers and importers of Christmas trees to determine 
whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's 
(AMS) regulations regarding a national Christmas tree research and 
promotion program.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted by mail ballot from May 1 
through May 31, 2018. The Department will provide the option for 
ballots to be returned electronically. Further details will be provided 
in the ballot instructions. Ballots must be received by the referendum 
agents no later than the close of business on May 31, 2018, to be 
counted.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Christmas tree 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 Victoria Carpenter at (202) 720-6930 or via 
electronic mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Carpenter, 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, (202) 720-6930 
(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 Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and 
Information Order (7 CFR part 1214) is favored by eligible domestic 
producers and importers of Christmas trees. The program is authorized 
under the 1996 Act.
    The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for 
the referendum shall be the period from September 1, 2017 through March 
15, 2018. Persons who domestically produced or imported more than 500 
trees during the representative period, and were subject to assessments 
during that period are eligible to vote. Persons who received an 
exemption from assessments pursuant to Sec.  1214.53 for the entire 
representative period are ineligible to vote. The referendum will be 
conducted by mail ballot from May 1 through May 31, 2018. The 
Department will provide the option for ballots to be returned 
electronically. Further details will be provided in the ballot 
instructions.
    Section 518 of the 1996 Act (7 U.S.C. 7417) authorizes required 
referenda. Under Sec.  1214.81(a) of 7 CFR part 1214, the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) must conduct a referendum not later 
than three years after assessments first begin under the order to 
determine whether persons subject to assessment favor continuance of 
the program. Assessment collection began for the newly established 
program in 2015. USDA would continue the program if continuance is 
favored by a majority of producers and importers of Christmas trees 
voting 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 1,800 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

    Victoria Carpenter, 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 1214.100 
through 1214.108, which were issued pursuant to the 1996 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 domestic 
producers and importers prior to the first day of the voting period. 
Persons who domestically produced or imported 500 or more Christmas 
trees during the representative period, and were subject to assessment 
during that period, are eligible to vote. Persons who received an 
exemption from assessments pursuant to Sec.  1214.53 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, May 31, 2018, in order to be counted.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1214

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer 
information, Christmas trees, Marketing agreements, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

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

    Dated: March 12, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-05313 Filed 3-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P