[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14379-14381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06877]


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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. 65 / Wednesday, April 4, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 14379]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 932

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-18-0001; SC18-932-1 PR]


Olives Grown in California; Decreased Assessment Rate

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the 
California Olive Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate 
established for the 2018 fiscal year and subsequent fiscal years. The 
assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, 
suspended, or terminated.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 4, 2018.

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. Comments should reference the document number and 
the date and page number of this 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 this 
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: Peter Sommers, 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: 
[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 Agreement and Order No. 932, as amended (7 CFR part 932), 
regulating the handling of olives grown in California. Part 932 
(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 Order and is comprised of producers and handlers of 
olives operating within the area of production.
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing this 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 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' '' (February 2, 2017).
    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. Under the Order now in effect, California olive 
handlers are subject to assessments. Funds to administer the Order are 
derived from such assessments. It is intended that the proposed 
assessment rate would be applicable to all assessable olives beginning 
on January 1, 2018, and continue until amended, suspended, or 
terminated.
    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. Such 
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 proposed rule would decrease the assessment rate for the 2018 
and subsequent fiscal years from $26.00 to $24.00 per ton of assessed 
olives.
    The Order provides authority for the Committee, with the approval 
of USDA, to formulate an annual budget of expenses and collect 
assessments from handlers to administer the program. The members of the 
Committee are producers and handlers of olives in California. They are 
familiar with the Committee's needs and with the costs for goods and 
services in their local area and are thus in a position to formulate an 
appropriate budget and assessment rate. The assessment rate is 
formulated in a public meeting where all directly affected persons have 
an opportunity to participate and provide input in budget matters.
    For the 2015 and subsequent fiscal years, the Committee 
recommended, and USDA approved, an assessment rate of $26.00 per ton of 
assessed olives. That rate would continue in effect unless modified, 
suspended, or terminated by USDA upon recommendation and information 
submitted by the Committee, or other information available to USDA.
    The Committee met on December 13, 2017, and unanimously recommended 
2018 expenditures of $1,940,477, and an assessment rate of $24.00 per 
ton of assessed olives. In comparison, last

[[Page 14380]]

year's budgeted expenditures were $1,752,366. The proposed assessment 
rate of $24.00 is $2.00 lower than the rate currently in effect. 
Producer receipts show a yield of 83,799 tons of assessable olives from 
the 2017 crop year. This is higher than the 2016 crop year, which 
yielded 63,000 tons of assessable olives. The 2018 fiscal year 
assessment rate decrease is necessary to ensure the Committee has 
sufficient revenue to fund the recommended 2018 budgeted expenditures 
while ensuring the funds in the financial reserve would be kept within 
the maximum permitted by Sec.  932.40.
    The Order has a fiscal year and a crop year that are independent of 
each other. The crop year is a 12-month period that begins on August 1 
of each year and ends on July 31 of the following year. The fiscal year 
is the 12-month period that begins on January 1 and ends on December 31 
of each year. Olives are an alternate-bearing crop, with a small crop 
followed by a large crop. For this assessment rate proposed rule, the 
actual 2017 crop year receipts are used to determine the assessment 
rate for the 2018 fiscal year.
    The major expenditures recommended by the Committee for 2018 
includes $401,200 for program administration, $973,500 for marketing 
activities, and $297,777 for research. Budgeted expenses for these 
items during the 2017 fiscal year were $513,100 for program 
administration, $823,500 for marketing activities, and $317,766 for 
research. The assessment rate recommended by the Committee resulted 
from consideration of anticipated fiscal year expenses, actual olive 
tonnage received by handers during the 2017 crop year, and the amount 
in the Committee's financial reserve.
    Income derived from handler assessments, along with interest income 
and funds from the Committee's authorized reserve will be adequate to 
cover budgeted expenses. Funds in the reserve will be kept within the 
maximum permitted by the Order of approximately one fiscal year's 
expenses.
    The proposed assessment rate would continue in effect indefinitely 
unless modified, suspended, or terminated by USDA upon recommendation 
and information submitted by the Committee or other available 
information.
    Although this assessment rate would be in effect for an indefinite 
period, the Committee would continue to meet prior to or during each 
fiscal year to recommend a budget of expenses and consider 
recommendations for modification of the assessment rate. The dates and 
times of Committee meetings are available from the Committee or USDA. 
Committee meetings are open to the public and interested persons may 
express their views at these meetings. USDA would evaluate Committee 
recommendations and other available information to determine whether 
modification of the assessment rate is needed. Further rulemaking would 
be undertaken as necessary. The Committee's budget for subsequent 
fiscal years would be reviewed and, as appropriate, approved by USDA.

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 proposed rule 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 approximately 1,100 producers of olives in the production 
area and two handlers subject to regulation under the Order. Small 
agricultural producers are defined by the Small Business Administration 
(SBA) as those having annual receipts less than $750,000, and small 
agricultural service firms are defined as those whose annual receipts 
are less than $7,500,000 (13 CFR 121.201). Based upon National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) information, the average price 
to producers for the 2016 crop year was $865.00 per ton, and total 
assessable volume for the 2017 crop year was 83,799 tons. Based on 
production, price paid to producer, and the total number of California 
olive producers, the average annual producer revenue is less than 
$750,000 ($865.00 times 83,799 equals $72,486,135, divided by 1,100 
producers equals an average annual producer revenue of $65,896). Thus, 
the majority of olive producers may be classified as small entities. 
Both of the handlers may be classified as large entities under the 
SBA's definitions because of their annual receipts are greater than 
$7,500,000.
    This proposal would decrease the assessment rate collected from 
handlers for the 2018 and subsequent fiscal years from $26.00 to $24.00 
per ton of assessable olives. The Committee unanimously recommended 
2018 expenditures of $1,940,477 and an assessment rate of $24.00 per 
ton of assessable olives. The recommended assessment rate of $24.00 is 
$2.00 lower than the 2017 rate. The quantity of assessable olives for 
the 2017 crop year is 83,799 tons. Thus, the $24.00 rate should provide 
$2,011,176. The lower assessment rate is possible because annual 
receipts for the 2017 crop year are 83,799 tons compared to 63,000 tons 
for the 2016 crop year. Olives are an alternate-bearing crop, with a 
small crop followed by a large crop. Income derived from the $24.00 per 
ton assessment rate, along with funds from the authorized reserve and 
interest income, should be adequate to meet this fiscal year's 
expenses.
    The major expenditures recommended by the Committee for the 2018 
fiscal year include $401,200 for program administration, $973,500 for 
marketing activities, and $297,777 for research. Budgeted expenses for 
these items during the 2017 fiscal year were $513,100 for program 
administration, $823,500 for marketing activities, and $317,766 for 
research.
    The Committee deliberated on many of the expenses, weighed the 
relative value of various programs or projects, and increased their 
expenses for marketing and research activities. The Committee decreased 
their inspection costs because expenses incurred in previous years 
towards the development of electronic reporting and optical sizing 
projects have been completed and, as a result, the industry is able to 
utilize new, cost saving procedures.
    Prior to arriving at this budget and assessment rate, the Committee 
considered information from various sources including the Committee's 
Executive, Marketing, Inspection, and Research Subcommittees. Alternate 
expenditure levels were discussed by these groups, based upon the 
relative value of various projects to the olive industry and the 
increased olive production. The assessment rate of $24.00 per ton of 
assessable olives was derived by considering anticipated expenses, the 
volume of assessable olives, and additional pertinent factors.
    A review of NASS information indicates that the average producer 
price for the 2016 crop year was $865.00 per ton. Therefore, utilizing 
the assessment rate of $24.00 per ton, the assessment revenue for the 
2018 fiscal year as a percentage of total producer revenue would be 
approximately 2.77 percent.

[[Page 14381]]

    This action would decrease the assessment rate collected from 
handlers for the 2018 and subsequent fiscal years. Assessments are 
applied uniformly on all handlers, and some of the costs may be passed 
on to producers. However, decreasing the assessment rate would reduce 
the burden on handlers, and may reduce the burden on producers.
    In addition, the Committee's meeting was widely publicized 
throughout the production area. The olive industry and all interested 
persons were invited to attend the meeting and participate in Committee 
deliberations on all issues. Like all Committee meetings, the December 
13, 2017, meeting was a public meeting 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 information collection impacts of this action on 
small businesses.
    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. No changes 
in those requirements as a result of this action are necessary. Should 
any changes become necessary, they would be submitted to OMB for 
approval.
    This proposed rule would impose no additional reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements on either small or large California olive 
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.
    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 30-day comment period is provided to allow interested persons to 
respond to this proposed rule. All written comments timely received 
will be considered before a final determination is made on this rule.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 932

    Marketing agreements, Olives, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 932 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 932--OLIVES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA

0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 932 continues to read as 
follows:


    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 601-674.

0
2. Section 932.230 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  932.230  Assessment rate.

    On and after January 1, 2018, an assessment rate of $24.00 per ton 
is established for California olives.

    Dated: March 30, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-06877 Filed 4-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P