[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 240 (Friday, December 14, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64294-64296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27140]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 240 / Friday, December 14, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 64294]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 927

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-18-0078; SC19-927-1 PR]


Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Change in Committee 
Structure for Processed Pears

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This proposed rule invites comments on a recommendation from 
the Processed Pear Committee (Committee) to change the Committee's 
membership structure. This action would remove the second alternate 
member position from the Committee structure, leaving ten member 
positions and one alternate position for each respective member.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 14, 2019.

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 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 comments will be made public on the internet at 
the address provided above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Novotny, Marketing Specialist, or 
Gary 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. 927, as amended (7 CFR part 927), regulating the 
handling of pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Part 927, 
(hereinafter 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 growers, handlers and 
processors 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 proposed 
rule 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 proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. This rule is not intended to have retroactive 
effect.
    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.
    Under the provisions of the Order, the Processed Pear Committee 
consists of ten members; three grower members, three handler members, 
three processor members, and one member representing the public. Under 
the current provisions, for each member there are two alternate members 
designated as the ``first alternate'' and the ``second alternate.'' 
This proposed rule would change the membership structure of the 
Processed Pear Committee by removing the second alternate position for 
all members. The Committee unanimously recommended this change at a 
meeting held on May 30, 2018.
    The membership structure of the Processed Pear Committee is 
established in Sec.  927.20(b) of the Order. In addition, Sec.  
927.20(c) provides that the Secretary, upon recommendation of the 
Committee, may reapportion members among districts, may change the 
number of members and alternate members, and may change the composition 
of the Committee by changing the ratio of members, including their 
alternates. The Committee structure was reapportioned in 2013; section 
927.150 specifies the current reapportioned Committee membership 
structure.
    At its May 30, 2018, meeting, the Committee unanimously recommended 
changing the Committee structure by removing the second alternate 
position. In recent years, the Committee has experienced difficulties 
in finding enough eligible nominees to fill the second alternate 
positions. It is the Committee's belief that continuing to fill the 
second alternate positions carries limited benefit to their operation 
and

[[Page 64295]]

has become a burdensome task. Further, the second alternate position 
has rarely been called upon to serve on the Committee to conduct 
business. As such, this rule would amend Sec.  927.150 of the Order's 
administrative rules and regulations by removing the second alternate 
position. The ten member positions would remain with one alternate 
member position assigned to each. This change should result in more 
efficiency in filling the Committee's membership positions, while still 
maintaining adequate representation of the processed pear industry.

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 
business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will 
not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued 
pursuant to the Act are unique in that they are brought about through 
group action of essentially small entities acting on their own behalf.
    There are approximately 1,500 growers of processed pears in the 
regulated production area and approximately 43 handlers of processed 
pears subject to regulation under the Order. Small agricultural 
producers are defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) (13 
CFR 121.201) as those having annual receipts of 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).
    According to data compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) for 2017, the state of Oregon produced 32,300 tons of 
pears for processing at a market year average price of $388 per ton for 
an estimated total value of $12,532,400. The state of Washington 
produced 85,900 tons at a market year average price of $344 per ton for 
an estimated total value of $29,549,600. Therefore, the total value of 
production of processed pears assessed under the Order for the last 
year was $42,082,000 ($12,532,400 plus $29,549,600). Based on the 
number of processed pear growers in Oregon and Washington (1,500), and 
assuming a normal distribution, the average gross revenue for each 
producer can be estimated at approximately $28,055 ($42,082,000 divided 
by 1,500 growers). Furthermore, based on Committee records, it is 
reported that all Oregon and Washington processed pear handlers 
currently ship less than $7,500,000 worth of processed pears annually. 
From this information, USDA concludes that the majority of growers and 
handlers of Oregon and Washington processed pears may be classified as 
small entities.
    There are three pear processing plants in the production area, all 
currently located in Washington. According to Committee records, all 
three pear processors would be considered large entities under the 
SBA's definition of a small business.
    This rule would amend Sec.  927.150 of the Order's administrative 
rules and regulations to change the Committee's membership structure by 
removing the second alternate position. Authority for the modification 
of the Committee structure is provided in Sec.  927.20(c) of the Order.
    The Committee believes that the proposed change would not 
negatively impact growers, handlers, or processors. The benefits for 
this rule are not expected to be disproportionately greater or lesser 
for small growers, handlers, or processors than for larger entities. 
The proposed change is expected to benefit the industry as a whole 
through more efficient selection of Committee members and alternates.
    The Committee did not discuss other alternatives to this proposed 
change at its May 30, 2018, meeting. The only other option was to leave 
the Order unchanged and maintain the status quo, which would have 
required the Committee to continue to fill the second alternate 
positions moving forward. By eliminating the second alternate position 
from the Committee structure, the industry would only have to nominate 
and put forward for selection two-thirds of the qualified candidates 
that are currently required.
    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. 0581-0189, Fruit, 
Vegetable and Specialty Crops. No changes in those requirements would 
be necessary as a result of this action. Should any changes become 
necessary, they would be submitted to OMB for approval.
    This proposed rule would not impose any additional reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements on either small or large Oregon and 
Washington processed pear 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 proposed rule.
    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 proposal. All written comments timely received will be 
considered before a final determination is made on this matter.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 927

    Marketing agreements, Pears, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 927 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 927--PEARS GROWN IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON

0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 927 continues to read as 
follows:

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

0
2. Revise Sec.  927.150 to read as follows:


Sec.  927.150   Reapportionment of the Processed Pear Committee.

    Pursuant to Sec.  927.20(c), on or after July 1, 2019, the 10-
member Processed Pear Committee is reapportioned and shall consist of 
three grower members, three handler members, three processor members, 
and one member representing the public. For each member there shall be 
an alternate. District 1, the State of Washington, shall be represented 
by two grower members and two handler members. District 2, the State of 
Oregon, shall be represented by one grower member and one handler 
member. Processor members may be from District 1, District 2, or from 
both districts.


[[Page 64296]]


    Dated: December 11, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-27140 Filed 12-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P