[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 52 (Friday, March 15, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18797-18802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05476]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

27 CFR Part 9

[Docket No. TTB-2023-0004; T.D. TTB-191; Ref: Notice No. 223]
RIN 1513-AC97


Establishment of the Contra Costa Viticultural Area and 
Modification of the San Francisco Bay and Central Coast Viticultural 
Areas

AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule; Treasury decision.

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SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) establishes 
the approximately 167,146-acre ``Contra Costa'' American viticultural 
area in Contra Costa County, California. Additionally, TTB is expanding 
the boundaries of the established San Francisco Bay and Central Coast 
viticultural areas to avoid a partial overlap with the Contra Costa 
viticultural area and instead encompass the entire Contra Costa AVA. 
TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe 
the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify 
wines they may purchase.

DATES: This final rule is effective April 15, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen A. Thornton, Regulations and 
Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G 
Street NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; phone 202-453-1039, ext. 175.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background on Viticultural Areas

TTB Authority

    Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act), 
27 U.S.C. 205(e), authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe 
regulations for the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, and malt 
beverages. The FAA Act provides that these regulations should, among 
other things, prohibit consumer deception and the use of misleading 
statements on labels, and ensure that labels provide the consumer with 
adequate information as to the identity and quality of the product. The 
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) administers the FAA Act 
pursuant to section 1111(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
codified at 6 U.S.C. 531(d). In addition, the Secretary of the Treasury 
has delegated certain administration and enforcement authorities to TTB 
through Treasury Order 120-01.
    Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 4) authorizes TTB to 
establish definitive viticultural areas and regulate the use of their 
names as appellations of origin on wine labels and in wine 
advertisements. Part 9 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 9) sets 
forth standards for the preparation and submission of petitions for the 
establishment or modification of American viticultural areas (AVAs) and 
lists the approved AVAs.

Definition

    Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(1)(i)) 
defines a viticultural area for American wine as a delimited grape-
growing region having distinguishing features as described in part 9 of 
the regulations and, once approved, a name and a delineated boundary 
codified in part 9 of the regulations. These designations allow 
vintners and consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation, or 
other characteristic of a wine made from grapes grown in an area to the 
wine's geographic origin. The establishment of AVAs allows vintners to 
describe more accurately the origin of their wines to consumers and 
helps consumers to identify wines they may purchase. Establishment of 
an AVA is neither an

[[Page 18798]]

approval nor an endorsement by TTB of the wine produced in that area.

Requirements

    Section 4.25(e)(2) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(2)) 
outlines the procedure for proposing an AVA and allows any interested 
party to petition TTB to establish a grape-growing region as an AVA. 
Section 9.12 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 9.12) prescribes standards 
for petitions to establish or modify AVAs. Petitions to establish an 
AVA must include the following:
     Evidence that the area within the proposed AVA boundary is 
nationally or locally known by the AVA name specified in the petition;
     An explanation of the basis for defining the boundary of 
the proposed AVA;
     A narrative description of the features of the proposed 
AVA affecting viticulture, such as climate, geology, soils, physical 
features, and elevation, that make the proposed AVA distinctive and 
distinguish it from adjacent areas outside the proposed AVA;
     If the proposed AVA is to be established within, or 
overlapping, an existing AVA, an explanation that both identifies the 
attributes of the proposed AVA that are consistent with the existing 
AVA and explains how the proposed AVA is sufficiently distinct from the 
existing AVA and therefore appropriate for separate recognition;
     The appropriate United States Geological Survey (USGS) 
map(s) showing the location of the proposed AVA, with the boundary of 
the proposed AVA clearly drawn thereon; and
     A detailed narrative description of the proposed AVA 
boundary based on USGS map markings.

Petition To Establish the Contra Costa AVA and To Expand the Boundaries 
of the San Francisco Bay and Central Coast AVAs

    TTB received a petition on behalf of the Contra Costa Winegrowers 
Association proposing to establish the ``Contra Costa'' AVA and expand 
the boundaries of the established San Francisco Bay (27 CFR 9.157) and 
Central Coast (27 CFR 9.75) AVAs. The proposed Contra Costa AVA is 
within Contra Costa County, California. The proposed AVA covers 
approximately 167,146 acres and currently contains at least 60 
commercial vineyards covering a total of approximately 1,700 acres, as 
well as at least 14 wineries. According to the petition, the 
distinguishing features of the proposed AVA are its topography and 
climate.
    The proposed Contra Costa AVA consists of relatively flat terrain 
interrupted in places by rolling hills. All elevations within the 
proposed AVA are below 1,000 feet, and most elevations are below 100 
feet. Over 71 percent of the slope angles within the proposed AVA are 
less than 5 percent, but along the western and southern boundary and in 
the ridgeline that runs north-south between Concord and Bay Point, 
slope angles can reach 30 percent. The petition states that cool, heavy 
marine air stays at lower elevations, leading to diurnal cooling that 
can cause differences in grape development, the timing of harvest, and 
sugar accumulation and acidity in the grapes when compared to the same 
varietals grown at higher elevations.
    East of the proposed AVA, the terrain is generally flat as one 
moves into the California Delta and the San Joaquin Valley. To the 
south and west of the proposed AVA, the terrain becomes steeper, with 
slope angles generally exceeding 20 percent and commonly above 30 
percent. Elevations to the west and south of the proposed AVA are also 
generally higher than within the proposed AVA, exceeding 1,300 feet in 
the region to the west and reaching 3,849 feet at the summit of Mt. 
Diablo to the south of the proposed AVA.
    The petition also includes climate data in the form of growing 
degree day (GDD) accumulations \1\ and average annual precipitation 
amounts. Within the proposed Contra Costa AVA, annual GDD accumulations 
between 2014 and 2019 ranged from 3,008 to 4,275, indicating a 
generally warm climate. The petition states that the proposed AVA's 
climate is suitable for growing a variety of grapes, including 
Zinfandel, petite sirah, mourvedre, chardonnay, and cabernet sauvignon.
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    \1\ See Albert J. Winkler et al., General Viticulture (Berkeley: 
University of California Press), pp. 61-64 (1974). In the Winkler 
climate classification system, annual heat accumulation during the 
growing season, measured in annual GDDs, defines climatic regions. 
One GDD accumulates for each degree Fahrenheit that a day's mean 
temperature is above 50 degrees F, the minimum temperature required 
for grapevine growth.
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    To the northeast of the proposed AVA, at Jersey Island, GDD 
accumulations from 2014 to 2019 were similar to those found in the 
proposed AVA, but the petitioner chose to exclude this region from the 
proposed AVA because of its mucky soils that are unlikely to support 
viticulture. To the south, in Walnut Creek, GDD accumulations were also 
similar to those within the proposed AVA, although the petitioner 
excluded this region from the proposed AVA because it is a largely 
residential area that is not suited for commercial viticulture. Farther 
south, in Byron, GDD accumulations were significantly higher than those 
within the proposed AVA. To the east, within the San Joaquin Valley, 
GDD accumulations were generally warmer than within the proposed AVA, 
as the marine influence decreases as one moves farther inland. West of 
the proposed AVA, as one moves closer to San Francisco Bay and the 
Pacific Ocean, GDD accumulations were lower than within the proposed 
AVA.
    Within the proposed Contra Costa AVA, annual precipitation amounts 
from 2013 to 2018 ranged from a low of 232 millimeters (mm) to a high 
of 565 mm. During the same time period, annual precipitation amounts to 
the west and southwest of the proposed AVA were generally higher, 
ranging from a low of 374 mm to a high of 1,712 mm. Although the 
petition included precipitation data for regions to the northeast, 
east, and southeast of the proposed AVA, TTB excluded the data from the 
proposed rule document because the data was collected from a period of 
two years or less and therefore TTB was unable to determine whether 
precipitation was a distinguishing feature of the proposed AVA in 
relation to those regions.

Modification of the San Francisco Bay AVA Boundary

    The San Francisco Bay AVA was established by T.D. ATF-407 on 
January 20, 1999 (64 FR 3015). T.D. ATF-407 describes the 
distinguishing feature of the San Francisco Bay AVA as ``a marine 
climate which is heavily influenced by the proximity of the San 
Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.'' T.D. ATF-407 also notes that the 
eastern boundary of the AVA was chosen, in part, as a way of separating 
the AVA from the drier, warmer inland region of the Central Valley, 
which lacks a strong marine influence. Only the western portion of the 
proposed Contra Costa AVA lies within the existing San Francisco Bay 
AVA. To eliminate the partial overlap, the petitioner also proposed 
expanding the boundary of the San Francisco Bay AVA to encompass the 
entire Contra Costa AVA. The proposed expansion would increase the size 
of the San Francisco Bay AVA by approximately 109,955 acres. The 
proposed Contra Costa AVA shares some of the characteristics of the 
larger established AVA. For example, similar to other locations in the 
San Francisco Bay AVA, information provided in the petition to 
establish the Contra Costa AVA showed that the proposed AVA is

[[Page 18799]]

affected by cool, moist air from the Pacific Ocean and the San 
Francisco Bay. The proposed AVA is also generally cooler and wetter 
than the inland region to the east. However, the proposed Contra Costa 
AVA has some characteristics that distinguish it from the larger San 
Francisco Bay AVA. For instance, although the proposed Contra Costa AVA 
is influenced by marine air from the San Francisco Bay, the proposed 
AVA is not adjacent to San Francisco Bay, the air travelling through 
Suisun Bay instead. Additionally, while T.D. ATF-407 describes the San 
Francisco Bay AVA as having a cool Mediterranean climate 
classification, the proposed Contra Costa AVA also includes regions 
with a warm Mediterranean climate classification.

Modification of the Central Coast AVA Boundary

    The petition also proposes to expand the boundary of the 
established Central Coast AVA. The Central Coast AVA was established by 
T.D. ATF-216 on October 24, 1985 (50 FR 43128). T.D. ATF-216 describes 
the Central Coast AVA as a region between the Pacific Ocean and the 
Coast Ranges of California. The Central Coast AVA has a climate that is 
greatly affected by the marine influence, with the region to the east 
of the AVA having a more arid climate.
    Only the western portion of the proposed Contra Costa AVA lies 
within the existing Central Coast AVA. To eliminate the partial 
overlap, the petitioner also proposed modifying the boundary of the 
Central Coast AVA to encompass the entire Contra Costa AVA. The 
proposed modification would increase the size of the Central Coast AVA 
by approximately 109,955 acres. Information provided in the petition to 
establish the Contra Costa AVA showed that the proposed Contra Costa 
AVA shares some of the characteristics of the larger established AVA. 
For example, similar to other locations in the Central Coast AVA, the 
proposed AVA is affected by cool, moist air from the Pacific Ocean, 
which enters the region from San Francisco Bay via Suisun Bay. The 
proposed AVA is also generally cooler and wetter than the region to the 
east. However, the proposed Contra Costa AVA has some characteristics 
that distinguish it from the larger Central Coast AVA. For instance, 
being a smaller region, the proposed AVA has less topographic variety 
than the Central Coast AVA. Additionally, being adjacent to the 
shoreline of Suisun Bay, the proposed AVA is more directly exposed to 
cool marine air than other regions of the Central Coast AVA, such as 
the Paso Robles AVA (27 CFR 9.84), which is farther inland and, 
according to T.D. ATF-216, receives its marine air via the Salinas 
River, which empties into Monterey Bay.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Comments Received

    TTB published Notice No. 223 in the Federal Register on March 29, 
2023 (88 FR 18471), proposing to establish the Contra Costa AVA and 
expand the boundaries of the San Francisco Bay and Central Coast AVAs. 
In the notice, TTB summarized the evidence from the petition regarding 
the name, boundary, and distinguishing features for the proposed 
viticultural area. The notice also compared the distinguishing features 
of the proposed viticultural area to the surrounding areas. For a 
description of the evidence relating to the name, boundary, and 
distinguishing features of the proposed viticultural area, and for a 
comparison of the distinguishing features of the proposed viticultural 
area to the surrounding areas, see Notice No. 223.
    In Notice No. 223, TTB solicited comments on the accuracy of the 
name, boundary, distinguishing features, and other required information 
submitted in support of the petition. In addition, TTB solicited 
comments on the proposed modifications of the established Central Coast 
and San Francisco Bay AVAs and whether the evidence presented in the 
proposed Contra Costa AVA petition sufficiently supported the 
modifications. The comment period for Notice No. 223 closed on May 30, 
2023. In response to Notice No. 223, TTB received seven comments. 
Commenters include local wine industry members, the Contra Costa 
Winegrowers Association, the Downtown Brentwood Coalition, the mayor of 
the city of Brentwood, and the original petitioner. All seven comments 
support the establishment of the proposed Contra Costa AVA. None of the 
comments specifically addressed the proposed expansion of the San 
Francisco Bay or Central Coast AVAs.
    Additionally, the comment from the petitioner (comment 1) clarified 
that Viano Vineyards is within both the proposed Contra Costa AVA and 
the unmodified Central Coast AVA. The petitioner states that TTB's 
description of Viano Vineyards on page 18476 of the proposed rule 
document made it seem as if the vineyard was not within the unmodified 
boundary of the Central Coast AVA. TTB agrees with the commenter that 
Viano Vineyards is within both the proposed Contra Costa AVA and the 
unmodified Central Coast AVA boundary. Comment 2 also noted that the 
second page of Exhibit I to the petition, which is marked as a list of 
members of the Contra Costa Winegrowers Association, includes persons 
who are members of the Lamorinda AVA association, not the Contra Costa 
Winegrowers Association. Exhibit I is not a TTB document, but TTB notes 
that winegrowers associations may accept members from neighboring 
regions outside of the particular AVA, and that members listed in the 
exhibit may be members of both associations. Because TTB did not 
receive any additional clarification from the petitioner regarding this 
exhibit, TTB is not amending the exhibit in the docket.

TTB Determination

    After careful review of the petition and of the comments received 
in response to Notice No. 223, TTB finds that the evidence provided by 
the petitioner supports the establishment of the approximately 167,146-
acre Contra Costa AVA and the expansion of the boundaries of the San 
Francisco Bay and Central Coast AVAs. Accordingly, under the authority 
of the FAA Act, section 1111(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
and parts 4 and 9 of the TTB regulations, TTB establishes the ``Contra 
Costa'' AVA in Contra Costa County, California.
    Furthermore, TTB expands the boundaries of the San Francisco Bay 
and Central Coast AVAs to entirely encompass the Contra Costa AVA, 
after finding that the evidence provided by the petitioner shows that 
the features of the expansion areas described in Notice No. 223 are 
consistent with the features of the established AVAs. These changes are 
effective April 15, 2024.

Boundary Description

    See the narrative boundary description of the Contra Costa AVA and 
the expanded boundaries of the San Francisco Bay and Central Coast AVAs 
in the regulatory text published at the end of this final rule.

Maps

    The petitioner provided the required maps, and they are listed 
below in the regulatory text. The Contra Costa AVA boundary and the 
expanded San Francisco Bay and Central Coast AVA boundaries may also be 
viewed on the AVA Map Explorer on the TTB website, at https://www.ttb.gov/wine/ava-map-explorer.

Impact on Current Wine Labels

    Part 4 of the TTB regulations prohibits any label reference on a 
wine that indicates or implies an origin other than the wine's true 
place of origin. For a

[[Page 18800]]

wine to be labeled with an AVA name or with a brand name that includes 
an AVA name, at least 85 percent of the wine must be derived from 
grapes grown within the area represented by that name, and the wine 
must meet the other conditions listed in 27 CFR 4.25(e)(3). If the wine 
is not eligible for labeling with an AVA name and that name appears in 
the brand name, then the label is not in compliance and the bottler 
must change the brand name and obtain approval of a new label. 
Similarly, if the AVA name appears in another reference on the label in 
a misleading manner, the bottler would have to obtain approval of a new 
label. Different rules apply if a wine has a brand name containing an 
AVA name that was used as a brand name on a label approved before July 
7, 1986. See 27 CFR 4.39(i)(2) for details.
    With the establishment of the Contra Costa AVA, its name, ``Contra 
Costa,'' will be recognized as a name of viticultural significance 
under Sec.  4.39(i)(3) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.39(i)(3)). The 
text of the regulations clarifies this point. Consequently, wine 
bottlers using the name ``Contra Costa'' in a brand name, including a 
trademark, or in another label reference to the origin of the wine, 
will have to ensure that the product is eligible to use the AVA name as 
an appellation of origin. The establishment of the AVA will not affect 
the use of ``Contra Costa County'' as a county appellation of origin on 
wine labels.
    The establishment of the Contra Costa AVA will allow vintners to 
use ``Contra Costa'' as an AVA appellation of origin for wines made 
primarily from grapes grown within the Contra Costa AVA if the wines 
meet the eligibility requirements for the appellation. The expansion of 
the Central Coast and San Francisco Bay AVAs will also allow vintners 
to use ``Central Coast,'' ``San Francisco Bay,'' or both, as 
appellations of origin for wines made primarily from grapes grown 
anywhere in the Contra Costa AVA if the wines meet the eligibility 
requirements for the appellation.
    Bottlers who wish to label their wines with ``Contra Costa'' as an 
AVA appellation of origin must obtain a new Certificate of Label 
Approval (COLA) for the label, even if the currently approved label 
already contains another AVA appellation of origin. Please do not 
submit COLA requests to TTB before the effective date shown in the 
Dates section of this document, or your request will be rejected.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    TTB certifies that this regulation will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The 
regulation imposes no new reporting, recordkeeping, or other 
administrative requirement. Any benefit derived from the use of an AVA 
name would be the result of a proprietor's efforts and consumer 
acceptance of wines from that area. Therefore, no regulatory 
flexibility analysis is required.

Executive Order 12866

    It has been determined that this final rule is not a significant 
regulatory action as defined by Executive Order 12866, as amended. 
Therefore, no regulatory assessment is required.

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9

    Wine.

The Regulatory Amendment

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, TTB amends title 27, 
chapter I, part 9, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 9--AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 9 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  27 U.S.C. 205.

0
2. Amend Sec.  9.75 by:
0
a. Removing the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (b)(42);
0
b. Removing the ``.'' at the end of paragraph (b)(43) and adding a 
``;'' in its place;
0
c. Adding paragraphs (b)(44) through (55);
0
d. Revising paragraphs (c)(4) through (c)(6);
0
e. Redesignating paragraphs (c)(7) through (c)(43) as paragraphs 
(c)(23) through (c)(59); and
0
f. Adding new paragraphs (c)(7) through (c)(22).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  9.75   Central Coast.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (44) Benicia, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018;
    (45) Vine Hill, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018;
    (46) Honker Bay, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018;
    (47) Antioch North, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018;
    (48) Jersey Island, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018;
    (49) Bouldin Island, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018;
    (50) Woodward Island, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018;
    (51) Clifton Court Forebay, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018;
    (52) Byron Hot Springs, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018;
    (53) Tassajara, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018;
    (54) Antioch South, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018; and
    (55) Clayton, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 2018.
    (c) * * *
    (4) From this point, the boundary proceeds east along the shoreline 
of Alameda County and Contra Costa County across the Richmond, San 
Quentin, Mare Island, Benicia (2018 edition), Vine Hill (2018 edition), 
Honker Bay (2018 edition), and Antioch North maps and onto the Jersey 
Island map to the intersection of the shoreline with Bethel Island 
Road.
    (5) Proceed southeast in a straight line 0.7 mile to the 
intersection of Wells Road and Sandmound Road.
    (6) Proceed northeast in a straight line 2.7 miles, crossing onto 
the Bouldin Island map, to the northernmost point of Holland Tract 
Road.
    (7) Proceed south 1.9 miles along Holland Tract Road, crossing onto 
the Woodward Island map, to the road's intersection with the 10-foot 
elevation contour.
    (8) Proceed south-southeast in a straight line 4.1 miles to the 
intersection of Orwood Road and the Mokelumne Aqueduct.
    (9) Proceed south-southwest 5.5 miles, crossing onto the Clifton 
Court Forebay map, to the stream gauging station on Italian Slough, 
just west of Widdows Island and the shared Contra Costa-San Joaquin 
County line.
    (10) Proceed due west in a straight line to the western shore of 
Italian Slough, then proceed southwesterly along the shore of Italian 
Slough to its confluence with Brushy Creek.
    (11) Proceed westerly along Brushy Creek, crossing onto the Byron 
Hot Springs (2018 edition) map and continuing southwesterly along the 
creek to its intersection with Vasco Road.
    (12) Proceed northwest in a straight line 4.3 miles to the 
intersection of Kellogg Creek and Walnut Boulevard.
    (13) Proceed west-southwest in a straight line 2.9 miles, crossing 
onto the Tassajara (2018 edition) map, to the intersection of Marsh 
Creek and Miwok Trail.
    (14) Proceed northwesterly along Marsh Creek 2.4 miles, crossing 
onto the Antioch South map, to the creek's intersection with Deer 
Valley Road.

[[Page 18801]]

    (15) Proceed northerly along Deer Valley Road 3.1 miles to its 
intersection with Chadbourne Road.
    (16) Proceed northwest in a straight line 0.6 mile to the 
southwestern terminus of Tour Way.
    (17) Proceed northwest in a straight line 3 miles to the 
intersection of Oil Canyon Trail, Stewartville Trail, and Chadbourne 
Road.
    (18) Proceed northeasterly along the Stewartville Trail 1.9 miles 
to its intersection with the Contra Loma Trail.
    (19) Proceed northwest in a straight line 2.5 miles to the 
intersection of Somersville Road and Donlan Boulevard.
    (20) Proceed west-southwest in a straight line 2.5 miles, crossing 
onto the Clayton (2018 edition) map, to the intersection of Nortonville 
Road and Kirker Pass Road.
    (21) Proceed southwesterly along Kirker Pass Road approximately 2.5 
miles to its intersection with Hess Road.
    (22) Proceed southeasterly in a straight line to the 3,849-foot 
summit of Mt. Diablo.
* * * * *

0
3. Amend Sec.  9.157 by:
0
a. Removing the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (b)(46);
0
b. Removing the ``.'' at the end of paragraph (b)(47) and adding a 
``;'' in its place;
0
c. Adding paragraphs (b)(48) through (b)(58);
0
d. Revising paragraphs (c)(22) through (c)(24);
0
e. Redesignating paragraphs (c)(25) through (c)(44) as paragraphs 
(c)(40) through (c)(59); and
0
f. Adding new paragraphs (c)(25) through (c)(39).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  9.157   San Francisco Bay.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (48) Clayton, California, scale 1:24,000, 2018;
    (49) Antioch South, California, scale 1:24,000, 2018;
    (50) Tassajara, California, scale 1:24,000, 2018;
    (51) Byron Hot Springs, California, scale 1:24,000, 2018;
    (52) Clifton Court Forebay, California, scale 1:24,000, 2018;
    (53) Woodward Island, California, scale 1:24,000; 2018;
    (54) Bouldin Island, California, scale 1:24,000, 2018;
    (55) Jersey Island, California, scale 1:24,000, 2018;
    (56) Antioch North, California, scale 1:24,000, 2018;
    (57) Honker Bay, California, scale 1:24,000, 2018; and
    (58) Vine Hill, California, scale 1:24,000, 2018.
    (c) * * *
    (22) Then proceed in a northwesterly direction in a straight line 
to the intersection of Kirker Pass Road and Hess Road on the Clayton 
(2018 edition) map.
    (23) Proceed northeasterly along Kirker Pass Road to its 
intersection with Nortonville Road.
    (24) Proceed east-northeast in a straight line for 2.5 miles, 
crossing onto the Antioch South map, to the intersection of Somersville 
Road and Donlan Boulevard.
    (25) Proceed southeasterly in a straight line for 2.5 miles to the 
intersection of the Stewartville Trail and the Contra Loma Trail.
    (26) Proceed southwesterly along Stewartville Trail for 1.9 miles 
to the intersection of Oil Canyon Trail, Stewartville Trail, and 
Chadbourne Road.
    (27) Proceed southeast in a straight line for 3 miles to the 
southern terminus of Tour Way.
    (28) Proceed southeast in a straight line for 0.6 miles to the 
intersection of Chadbourne Road and Deer Valley Road.
    (29) Proceed southerly along Deer Valley Road for 3.1 miles to its 
intersection with Marsh Creek.
    (30) Proceed southeasterly along Marsh Creek for 2.4 miles, 
crossing onto the Tassajara (2018 edition) map, to the creek's 
intersection with Miwok Trail.
    (31) Proceed north-northeast in a straight line for 2.9 miles, 
crossing onto the Byron Hot Springs (2018 edition) map, to the 
intersection of Kellogg Creek and Walnut Boulevard.
    (32) Proceed southeast in a straight line for 4.3 miles to the 
intersection of Brushy Creek and Vasco Road.
    (33) Proceed northeasterly along Brushy Creek, crossing onto the 
Clifton Court Forebay map, to the confluence of Brushy Creek with the 
western shore of Italian Slough to a point due west of the stream 
gauging station on Italian Slough, just west of Widdows Island and the 
shared Contra Costa-San Joaquin County line.
    (34) Proceed due east to the stream gauging station, then proceed 
northeast for 5.5 miles, crossing onto the Woodward Island map, to the 
intersection of the Mokelumne Aqueduct and Orwood Road.
    (35) Proceed north-northwest in a straight line for 4.1 miles to 
the intersection of Holland Tract Road and the 10-foot elevation 
contour.
    (36) Proceed north for 1.9 miles along Holland Tract Road, crossing 
onto the Bouldin Island map, and continuing to the northernmost point 
of Holland Tract Road.
    (37) Proceed southeast in a straight line for 2.7 miles, crossing 
onto the Jersey Island map, to the intersection of Wells Road and 
Sandmound Road.
    (38) Proceed northwest in a straight line for 0.7 mile to the 
intersection of Bethel Island Road and the shoreline of Dutch Slough 
Road.
    (39) Proceed westerly along the shoreline of Dutch Slough and Big 
Break, crossing onto the Antioch North map, and continuing westerly 
along the shoreline of New York Slough, crossing onto the Honker Bay 
(2018 edition) map, and continuing westerly along the shoreline and 
onto the Vine Hill (2018 edition) map to the intersection of the 
shoreline and Interstate 680 at the Benicia-Martinez Bridge.
* * * * *

0
4. Add Sec.  9.291 to read as follows:


Sec.  9.291  Contra Costa.

    (a) Name. The name of the viticultural area described in this 
section is ``Contra Costa''. For purposes of part 4 of this chapter, 
``Contra Costa'' is a term of viticultural significance.
    (b) Approved maps. The 15 United States Geological Survey (USGS) 
1:24,000 scale topographic maps used to determine the boundary of the 
Contra Costa viticultural area are titled:
    (1) Antioch North, California, 2018;
    (2) Antioch South, California, 2018;
    (3) Benicia, California, 2018;
    (4) Bouldin Island, California, 2018;
    (5) Briones Valley, California, 2018;
    (6) Byron Hot Springs, California, 2018;
    (7) Clayton, California, 2018;
    (8) Clifton Court Forebay, California, 2018;
    (9) Jersey Island, California, 2018;
    (10) Honker Bay, California, 2018;
    (11) Tassajara, California, 2018;
    (12) Vine Hill, California, 2018;
    (13) Walnut Creek, California, 1995;
    (14) Walnut Creek, California, 2018; and
    (15) Woodward Island, California, 2018.
    (c) Boundary. The Contra Costa viticultural area is located in 
Contra Costa County, California. The boundary of the Contra Costa 
viticultural area is as described as follows:
    (1) The beginning point is on the Bouldin Island map at the 
northernmost point of Holland Tract Road. From the beginning point, 
proceed south 1.9 miles along Holland Tract Road, crossing onto the 
Woodward Island map, to the intersection of the road with the 10-foot 
elevation contour; then

[[Page 18802]]

    (2) Proceed south-southeast in a straight line 4.1 miles to the 
intersection of Orwood Road and the Mokelumne Aqueduct; then
    (3) Proceed south-southwest in a straight line 5.5 miles, crossing 
onto the Clifton Court Forebay map, to the stream gauging station on 
Italian Slough, just west of the Widdows Island and the shared Contra 
Costa-San Joaquin County line; then
    (4) Proceed due west in a straight line to the western shore of 
Italian Slough, then proceed southwesterly along the western shore 
Italian Slough to its confluence with Brushy Creek; then
    (5) Proceed westerly along Brushy Creek, crossing onto the Byron 
Hot Springs map and continuing southwesterly along the creek to its 
intersection with Vasco Road; then
    (6) Proceed northwest in a straight line 4.3 miles to the 
intersection of Kellogg Creek and Walnut Boulevard; then
    (7) Proceed west-southwest in a straight line 2.9 miles, crossing 
onto the Tassajara map, to the intersection of Marsh Creek and Miwok 
Trail; then
    (8) Proceed northwesterly along Marsh Creek 2.4 miles, crossing 
onto the Antioch South map, to the creek's intersection with Deer 
Valley Road; then
    (9) Proceed northerly along Deer Valley Road 3.1 miles to its 
intersection with Chadbourne Road; then
    (10) Proceed northwest in a straight line 0.6 mile to the 
southwestern terminus of Tour Way; then
    (11) Proceed northwest in a straight line 3 miles to the 
intersection of Oil Canyon Trail, Stewartville Trail, and Chadbourne 
Road; then
    (12) Proceed northeasterly along Stewartville Trail 1.9 miles to 
its intersection with the Contra Loma Trail; then
    (13) Proceed northwest in a straight line 2.5 miles to the 
intersection of Somersville Road and Donlan Boulevard; then
    (14) Proceed west-southwest in a straight line 2.5 miles, crossing 
onto the Clayton map, to the intersection of Nortonville Road and 
Kirker Pass Road; then
    (15) Proceed southwesterly along Kirker Pass Road 5 miles to its 
intersection with Alberta Way; then
    (16) Proceed southwest in a straight line 1.5 miles to the 
intersection of Buckeye Trail, Blue Oak Trail, and Lime Ridge Trail; 
then
    (17) Proceed south-southeast in a straight line 2.6 miles to the 
intersection of Arroyo Cerro Del and the 400-foot elevation contour 
just east of North Gate Road; then
    (18) Proceed northwest in a straight line 2.5 miles, crossing onto 
the Walnut Creek map (2018 edition), to the intersection of Brodia Way 
and La Casa Via; then
    (19) Proceed west-northwest in a straight line, crossing onto the 
Walnut Creek (1995 edition) map, and continue 3.1 miles on the 1995 
edition map to the marked 781-foot peak south of the shared Lafayette-
Walnut Creek corporate boundary line and north of an unnamed light-duty 
road known locally as Peaceful Lane; then
    (20) Proceed northwest in a straight line 1.7 miles to the 833-foot 
peak marked ``Hump 2''; then
    (21) Proceed north-northwest 0.5 mile to the water tank (known 
locally as the Withers Reservoir) at the end of an unnamed light-duty 
road known locally as Kim Road, in the Ca[ntilde]ada del Hambre y Las 
Bolsas Land Grant; then
    (22) Proceed northwest in a straight line 3 miles, crossing onto 
the Briones Valley map, to the intersection of Alhambra Creek Road and 
Alhambra Valley Road; then
    (23) Proceed northwest in a straight line 4.1 miles, crossing onto 
the Benicia map, to the intersection of Highway 4 and Cummings Skyway; 
then
    (24) Proceed north-northwest in a straight line 1.8 miles to the 
intersection of Carquinez Scenic Drive and an unnamed road known 
locally as Canyon Lake Drive; then
    (25) Proceed northeasterly in a straight line 0.6 mile to the 
marked post office in Port Costa; then
    (26) Proceed southeast in a straight line 0.9 mile to the first 
unnamed road that crosses the railroad tracks and intersects with the 
shoreline at Little Bull Valley; then
    (27) Proceed easterly along the shoreline approximately 38.3 miles, 
crossing over the Vine Hill, Honker Bay, and Antioch North maps and 
onto the Jersey Island map to Bethel Island Road; then
    (28) Proceed southeast in a straight line 0.7 mile to the 
intersection of Wells Road and Sandmound Boulevard; then
    (29) Proceed northeast in a straight line 2.7 miles, crossing onto 
the Bouldin Island map and returning to the beginning point.

    Signed: March 8, 2024.
Mary G. Ryan,
Administrator.
    Approved: March 8, 2024.
Aviva R. Aron-Dine,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024-05476 Filed 3-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P