[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 16, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33827-33829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15061]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 932

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-18-0105; SC19-932-1 FR]


Olives Grown in California; Increased Assessment Rate

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule implements a recommendation from the California 
Olive Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate for 
California olives handled under Marketing Order No. 932. The assessment 
rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or 
terminated.

DATES: Effective August 15, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathie Notoro, Marketing Specialist or 
Terry Vawter, Regional Director, California Marketing Field Office, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA; Telephone: (559) 538-1672, 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, 
amends regulations issued to carry out a marketing order as defined in 
7 CFR 900.2(j). This rule is issued under Marketing Order No. 932, as 
amended (7 CFR part 932), regulating the handling of olives grown in 
California. Part 932 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 producers and handlers of olives 
operating within the area of production.
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing this final rule in

[[Page 33828]]

conformance with Executive Orders 13563 and 13175. This 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 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 rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. Under the marketing order now in effect, California 
olive handlers are subject to assessments. Funds to administer the 
marketing order are derived from such assessments. It is intended that 
the assessment rate will be applicable to all assessable olives 
beginning on January 1, 2019, 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 a marketing order may file with USDA a 
petition stating that the marketing order, any provision of the 
marketing order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the 
marketing order is not in accordance with law and request a 
modification of the marketing 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.
    The marketing 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 are 
familiar with the Committee's needs and with the costs of goods and 
services in their local area and are in a position to formulate an 
appropriate budget and assessment rate. The assessment rate is 
formulated and discussed in a public meeting and all directly affected 
persons have an opportunity to participate and provide input.
    This rule increases the assessment rate from $24.00 to $44.00 per 
ton of assessed olives for the 2019 and subsequent fiscal years. The 
higher rate is a result of a significantly reduced crop size, a late 
season freeze, and the need to cover Committee expenses.
    The Committee met on December 11, 2018, and unanimously recommended 
2019 expenditures of $1,628,923, and an assessment rate of $44.00 per 
ton of assessed olives. In comparison, last year's budgeted 
expenditures were $1,749,477. The assessment rate of $44.00 is $20.00 
higher than the rate currently in effect. Producer receipts show a 
yield of 17,953 tons of assessable olives from the 2018 crop year. This 
is substantially less than the 2017 crop year, which yielded 90,188 
tons of assessable olives. The 2019 fiscal year assessment rate 
increase is necessary to ensure the Committee has enough revenue to 
fund the recommended 2019 budgeted expenditures while ensuring the 
funds in the financial reserve would be kept within the maximum 
permitted by the marketing order.
    The marketing 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. Olives are an alternate-bearing crop, with a 
small crop followed by a large crop. For this assessment rate rule, the 
2018 crop year receipts were used to determine the assessment rate for 
the 2019 fiscal year.
    The major expenditures recommended by the Committee for the 2019 
fiscal year includes $713,900 for program administration, $513,500 for 
marketing activities, $343,523 for research, and $58,000 for inspection 
equipment. Budgeted expenses for these items during the 2018 fiscal 
year were $401,200 for program administration, $973,500 for marketing 
activities, $297,777 for research, and $77,000 inspection equipment.
    The assessment rate recommended by the Committee were based on the 
anticipated fiscal year expenses, olive tonnage received by handlers 
during the 2018 crop year, and the amount of funds 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 marketing order of 
approximately one fiscal year's expenses.
    The assessment rate established in this rule will continue in 
effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated by USDA 
upon recommendation and information submitted by the Committee or other 
available information. The Committee will 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. Dates and 
times of Committee meetings are available from the Committee or USDA. 
The meetings are open to the public and interested persons may express 
their views at these meetings. Further rulemaking would be undertaken 
as necessary.

Final 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 rule on small entities. 
Accordingly, AMS has prepared this final 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 marketing order. 
The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines small agricultural 
producers as those having annual receipts of less than $750,000, and 
small agricultural service firms as those whose annual receipts are 
less than $7,500,000 (13 CFR 121.201).
    According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 
data as of June 2018, the average price to producers for the 2017 crop 
year was $974.00 per ton, and total assessable volume for the 2018 crop 
year was 17,953 tons. Based on production, the total number of 
California olive producers, and price paid to those producers, the 
average annual producer revenue is less than $750,000 ($974.00 times 
17,953 tons equals $17,486,222 divided by 1,100 producers equals an 
average annual producer revenue of $15,896.57). Therefore, most olive 
producers may be classified as small entities. Both handlers may be 
classified as large entities under the SBA's definitions because their 
annual receipts are greater than $7,500,000.
    This rule increases the assessment rate collected from handlers for 
the 2019 and subsequent fiscal years from $24.00

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to $44.00 per ton of assessable olives. The Committee unanimously 
recommended 2019 expenditures of $1,628,923 and an assessment rate of 
$44.00 per ton of assessable olives. The recommended assessment rate of 
$44.00 is $20.00 higher than the 2018 rate. The quantity of assessable 
olives for the 2019 Fiscal year is 17,953 tons. The $44.00 rate should 
provide $789,932 in assessment revenue. The higher assessment rate is 
needed because annual receipts for the 2018 crop year are 17,953 tons 
compared to 90,188 tons for the 2017 crop year. Olives are an 
alternate-bearing crop, with a small crop followed by a large crop. 
Income derived from the $44.00 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 2019 
fiscal year include $713,900 for program administration, $513,500 for 
marketing activities, $343,523 for research, and $58,000 for inspection 
equipment. Budgeted expenses for these items during the 2018 fiscal 
year were $401,200 for program administration, $973,500 for marketing 
activities, $297,777 for research, and $77,000 for inspection 
equipment. 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.
    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. The 
assessment rate of $44.00 per ton of assessable olives was derived by 
considering anticipated expenses, the low volume of assessable olives, 
and a late season freeze.
    A review of NASS information indicates that the average producer 
price for the 2017 crop year was $974.00 per ton. Therefore, utilizing 
the assessment rate of $44.00 per ton, the assessment revenue for the 
2019 fiscal year as a percentage of total producer revenue would be 
approximately 4.52 percent.
    This action increases the assessment obligation imposed on handlers 
which are minimal and uniform on all handlers. Some of the additional 
costs may be passed on to producers. However, these costs would be 
offset by the benefits derived by the operation of the marketing order. 
In addition, the Committee's December 11, 2018 meeting was widely 
publicized throughout the production area and all interested persons 
were invited to attend the meeting and participate in Committee 
deliberations on all issues.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35), the marketing order's information collection requirements 
have been previously approved by OMB and assigned OMB No. 0581-0178 
Vegetable and Specialty Crops. No changes in those requirements because 
of this action are necessary. Should any changes become necessary, they 
would be submitted to OMB for approval.
    This final rule imposes 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. USDA has not 
identified any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or 
conflict with this final rule.
    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.
    A proposed rule concerning this action was published in the Federal 
Register on April 24, 2019 (84 FR 17089). Copies of the proposed rule 
were provided to all California olive handlers. The proposal was also 
made available through the internet by USDA and the Office of the 
Federal Register. A 30-day comment period ending May 24, 2019, was 
provided for interested persons to respond to the proposal. No comments 
were received. Accordingly, no changes will be made to the rule as 
proposed.
    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.
    After consideration of all relevant material presented, including 
the information and recommendation submitted by the Committee and other 
available information, it is hereby found that this rule will tend to 
effectuate the declared policy of the Act.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 932

    Olives, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 932 is 
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, 2019, an assessment rate of $44.00 per ton 
is established for California olives.

    Dated: July 11, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-15061 Filed 7-15-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P