[Federal Register: November 1, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 212)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 66578]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01no02-28]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 956
[Docket No. FV02-956-1 PR]
Sweet Onions Grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast
Washington and Northeast Oregon; Reopening of Comment Period on
Establishment of Grade and Inspection Requirements
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Reopening of the comment period.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the
establishment of grade and inspection requirements for Walla Walla
sweet onions is reopened.
DATES: Comments must be received by November 22, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning this proposal. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk,
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs,
AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC
20090-0237, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or e-mail: moab.docketclerk@usda.gov.
Comments should reference the docket 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.ams.usda.gov/fv/
moab.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Kelhart, Marketing Order
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20090-0237;
Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938.
Small businesses may request information on compliance with this
proposed regulation by contacting: Jay Guerber, Marketing Order
Information Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20090-0237;
Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-5698, or e-mail:
Jay.Guerber@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was published in the Federal
Register on July 22, 2002 (67 FR 47741). The proposed rule invited
comments on the establishment of grade and inspection requirements for
Walla Walla sweet onions. The rule would require that all Walla Walla
sweet onions handled prior to June 10 of each marketing season be
inspected and be at least U.S. Commercial grade. By establishing
minimum standards early in the season, the rule is expected to improve
producer returns by ensuring that early-season sweet onions are mature
and marketable. The cost of the required inspection would be fully
funded by the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee (Committee),
the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order
regulating sweet onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast
Washington and Northeast Oregon. The rule also proposed that there
would be no minimum quantity exemption from inspection requirements
prior to June 10. The comment period ended September 20, 2002.
One comment was received. After evaluating that comment, USDA
determined that additional information could clarify certain aspects of
the proposal and provide further guidance to USDA in making a final
decision on the proposal. The commenter's primary objection with the
proposal is that the June 10 date is too early. The commenter stated
that inspections should be required on all sweet onions shipped prior
to June 15, at the earliest, because, contrary to the proposal's
premise, any earlier date would not prevent immature onions from being
marketed.
The commenter noted that there were no shipments of Walla Walla
sweet onions during the 2002 season prior to June 10, and that this
indicates the proposal could be ineffective. Further analysis of the
impact the proposed June 10 date would have on early-season immature
onion shipments would be useful to the USDA in making a final
determination on this matter.
Further, regarding the higher potential cost of inspections to the
Committee if a later date were to be used rather than June 10, the
commenter suggested some alternatives, including not requiring all
sweet onions shipped prior to an established date to be inspected.
These alternatives were not discussed by the Committee prior to its
submission of the proposed rule and further information regarding such
alternatives also would be useful to USDA in making a final
determination on this matter.
Although providing an additional period of time for comments would
delay the final decision on this proposal, it would not delay the
decision so as to negatively affect its effectiveness for the 2003
marketing season. Therefore, before proceeding further on the
recommendation to establish grade and inspection requirements, USDA is
reopening the comment period to allow the Committee, as well as other
interested persons, more time to review the proposed rule and to submit
additional information. Accordingly, the period in which to file
written comments is reopened until November 22, 2002. This notice is
issued pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
Dated: October 28, 2002.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-27765 Filed 10-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P