[Federal Register: September 3, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 171)]
[Notices]               
[Page 48340]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03se99-43]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-98-305]

 
United States Standards for Grades of Oranges (California and 
Arizona), United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit (California 
and Arizona), United States Standards for Grades of Tangerines and the 
United States Standards for Grades of Lemons

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reopening and extension of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on proposed 
changes to the United States Standards for Grades of Oranges 
(California and Arizona), United States Standards for Grades of 
Grapefruit (California and Arizona), United States Standards for Grades 
of Tangerines and the United States Standards for Grades of Lemons is 
reopened and extended.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 20, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to Kenneth R. Mizelle, 
Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2065, South 
Building, STOP 0240, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; faxed 
to (202) 720-8871; or e-mailed to fpb.docketclerk@usda.gov.
    Comments should reference the date and page number of this issue of 
the Federal Register. All comments received will be made available for 
public inspection at the above address during regular business hours.
    The current grade standards for these citrus crops, along with 
proposed changes, are available either through the above addresses or 
by accessing AMS' Home Page on the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/
standards/frutmrkt.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Mizelle at (202) 720-2185.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A notice was published in the Federal 
Register (64 FR 32666; June 17, 1999) requesting comments on changes to 
the United States Standards for Grades of Oranges (California and 
Arizona), United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit (California 
and Arizona), United States Standards for Grades of Tangerines and the 
United States Standards for Grades of Lemons. The notice would change 
the standards to provide a minimum 25-count sample to be applied to 
tolerances for defects. Additionally, to promote greater uniformity and 
consistency in the standards, AMS proposed further revisions which will 
bring the standards into conformity with current cultural and marketing 
practices. The comment period ended August 16, 1999.
    A request from an industry association representing wholesale 
receivers requested that additional time be provided for interested 
persons to comment on the proposed changes. The association intended to 
comment but did not do so prior to the close of the comment period. The 
association believes that its response, on behalf of wholesale 
agricultural receivers, is critical to the evaluation of any proposed 
standards changes.
    After reviewing the request, the Department is reopening and 
extending the comment period in order to allow sufficient time for all 
interested persons, including the association, to file comments.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: August 30, 1999.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-23013 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P