United States Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes, 2014-2015 [E6-223]

Download as PDF erjones on PROD1PC68 with NOTICES 2014 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 8 / Thursday, January 12, 2006 / Notices to skin defects such as sap burn, abrasions, freckling, pitting, or other discolorations that do not affect the eating quality of the fruit. The commenter went on to state, ‘‘At the same time, we must not allow normal levels of minor skin defects to cause the fruit to fall completely out of grade and destroy any commercial value the fruit would otherwise have without the grade standard.’’ Another commenter stated, ‘‘In the Ataulfo variety, some resin spots on the skin vanish while reaching yellow color.’’ However, one commenter felt that the scoring guides were too loose. Based upon the comments received, AMS believes it is appropriate to increase the percentage of the surface affected before scoring of certain skin defects. Therefore, external (surface) discoloration was increased from ten and fifteen percent to aggregate areas of more than fifteen and twenty-five percent for damage and serious damage respectively in the classification of defects table. The skin defect shriveling was changed from scored when present in any amount, when affecting an aggregate are more than five percent of the surface, and when affecting an aggregate area more than ten percent of the surface to five, fifteen, and twentyfive percent respectively for injury, damage, and serious damage in the classification of defects table. AMS believes that the sunken discolored areas category does not need adjustment because it is a combination defect and combination defects affect the marketing of mangos more than surface discoloration or sunken areas alone. Additionally, AMS believes the defect Anthracnose should also be removed from the classification of defects table. There may be difficulty in identifying this defect. This defect has various symptoms such as superficial black spots and streaks or fruit staining that then may become sunken and eventually lead to fruit rot. However, this defect will be scored according to the general definitions of injury, damage, and serious damage. The adoption of these standards will provide the rapidly growing mango industry with grade standards similar to those extensively in use by the fresh produce industry to assist in orderly marketing of other commodities. The official grade of a lot of mangos covered by these standards will be determined by the procedures set forth in the Regulations Governing Inspection, Certification, and Standards of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Other Products (Sec. 51.1 to 51.61). The United States Standards for Grades of Mangos will become effective VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:02 Jan 11, 2006 Jkt 208001 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. Dated: January 6, 2006. Lloyd C. Day, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 06–281 Filed 1–11–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Docket Number FV–05–311] United States Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is establishing a voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes. AMS received a request from an industry group representing muscadine grape growers to develop a standard that will provide a common language for trade and a means of measuring value in the marketing of muscadine grapes, thus promoting orderly and efficient marketing of muscadine grapes. DATES: Effective Date: February 13, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri Emery, Standardization Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1661 South Building, STOP 0240, Washington, DC 20250–0240, Fax (202) 720–8871 or call (202) 720–2185; E-mail Cheri.Emery@usda.gov. The United States Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes will be available either through the address cited above or by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/ stanfrfv.htm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), as amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture ‘‘To develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 in commercial practices.’’ AMS is committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of agricultural commodities. AMS makes copies of official standards available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of Fruits and Vegetables not connected with Federal Marketing Orders or U.S. Import Requirements no longer appear in the Code of Federal Regulations, but are maintained by USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable Programs. AMS is establishing the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes using procedures that appear in part 36, Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). Background AMS received a request from an industry group representing muscadine grape growers to develop a standard that will provide a common language for trade and a means of measuring value in the marketing of muscadine grapes. Based on information gathered and comments rendered by the industry, AMS developed a proposed U.S. Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes. The proposal would establish the following grades as well as a tolerance for each grade: U.S. Extra No. 1 and U.S. No. 1. In addition, proposed ‘‘Application of Tolerances’’ and ‘‘Size Classifications’’ sections would be established. This proposal also defines ‘‘Damage,’’ ‘‘Serious Damage,’’ specific basic requirements and other defects. On August 8, 2005, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register (69 FR 58879) soliciting comments on the proposed United States Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes. In response to our request for comments, AMS received one comment from an industry group representing growers that was in favor of the proposed standard, and requested the standard be published with no further changes. Based on the comment received and information gathered, AMS believes that the standard, as proposed, is beneficial to the industry and provides a common language for trade. The official grade of a lot of muscadine grapes covered by these standards is determined by the procedures set forth in the Regulations Governing Inspection, Certification, and Standards of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Other Products (Sec. 51.1 to 51.61). The United States Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes will become E:\FR\FM\12JAN1.SGM 12JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 8 / Thursday, January 12, 2006 / Notices effective 30 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. Dated: January 6, 2006. Lloyd C. Day, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. E6–223 Filed 1–11–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Miller West Fisher Project, Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, MT Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: erjones on PROD1PC68 with NOTICES ACTION: SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of vegetation management through commercial timber harvest, precommercial thinning and prescribed fire; access management changes; trail construction and improvement; treatment of fuels in campgrounds; and watershed rehabilitation activities. The project is located in the Silverfish planning subunit on the Libby Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Montana, and south of Libby, Montana. Scoping Comment Date: The scoping period will close and comments will be due 30 days following publication of this notice. ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions concerning the scope of the analysis should be sent to Malcolm R. Edwards, District Ranger, Libby Ranger District, 12557 Hwy 37, Libby, MT 59923. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Leslie Ferguson, Team Leader, Libby Ranger District, 12557 Hwy 37, Libby, MT 59923. Phone: (406) 293– 7773. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project area is approximately 20 air miles south of Libby, Montana, within all or portions of T27N, R29W–R31W, T26N, R29W–R31W, and T25N, R29W– R31W, PMM, Lincoln County, Montana. The area contains the Miller, West Fisher and Silver Butte Creek watersheds. The purpose and need for this project is to (1) Maintain ecosystem function and vegetative health; (2) Reduce hazardous fuels and restore natural fire regimes; (3) Provide commodities; (4) Provide appropriate levels and types of VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:02 Jan 11, 2006 Jkt 208001 access while minimizing impacts to resources; (5) Maintain or improve watershed condition; (6) Maintain or improve wildlife habitat; and (7) Improve recreational opportunities through several segments of trial reconstruction, and fuels treatment in Lake Creek campground. To meet this purpose and need this project proposes: (1) Vegetation treatments, including commercial timber harvest and associated fuel treatments, precommercial thinning, and prescribed burning without associated timber harvest. Vegetation treatments total 5,800 acres of treated area. (2) Road and access management, including access changes new road construction, and road storage and decommissioning. Access changes would occur over approximately 8.72 miles. Approximately 1.2 miles of new road construction if proposed. Approximately 12.1 miles of road storage and 0.87 of road decommissioning are also proposed. (3) Improvement, construction and reconstruction of trail tread for a total of 5.5 miles in the project area. (4) Fuels and hazardous tree removal in Lake Creek Campground. (5) Watershed condition improvement in the form of best management practices (BMP) implementation, including installation of ditch relief culverts, culvert replacement, surface water deflectors and cleaning ditches is proposed for all haul routes. Additional BMP work on roads not used for timber haul is proposed and will be performed as funding becomes available. Stream stabilization projects are also proposed. (6) Design features and mitigations to maintain and protect resource values. Range of Alternatives: The Forest Service will consider a range of alternatives. One of these will be the ‘‘no action’’ alternative in which none of the proposed activities will implemented. Additional alternatives will examine varying levels and locations for the proposed activities to achieve the proposal’s purposes, as well as to respond to the issues and other resource values. Public Involvement and Scoping: The public is encouraged to take part in the process and to visit with Forest Service officials at any time during the analysis and prior to the decision. The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribal governments, and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in, or affected by, the proposed action. This input will be used in preparation of the PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2015 draft and final EIS. The scoping process will include: 1. Identifying potential issues. 2. Identifying major issues to be analyzed in depth. 3. Identifying alternatives to the proposed action. 4. Exploring additional alternatives that will be derived from issues recognized during scoping activities. 5. Identifying potential environmental effects of this proposal (i.e. direct, indirect, and cumulative effects and connected actions). Estimated Dates For Filing: The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review in April of 2006. At that time EPA will publish a Notice of Availability of the draft EIS in the Federal Register. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. It is very important that those interested in the management of this area participate at that time. The final EIS is scheduled to be completed in July 2006. In the final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to comments and responses received during the comment period that pertain to the environmental consequences discussed in the draft EIS and to applicable laws, regulations, and policies considered in making a decision regarding the proposal. Reviewer’s Obligations: The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer’s position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the draft environmental impact statement stage may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 45 day comment period so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider and respond to them in the final EIS. To be most helpful, comments on the draft EIS should be as specific as possible and may address the adequacy E:\FR\FM\12JAN1.SGM 12JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2014-2015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-223]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-05-311]


United States Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis 
Rotundifolia) Grapes

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is establishing a voluntary United States Standards 
for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes. AMS received a 
request from an industry group representing muscadine grape growers to 
develop a standard that will provide a common language for trade and a 
means of measuring value in the marketing of muscadine grapes, thus 
promoting orderly and efficient marketing of muscadine grapes.

DATES: Effective Date: February 13, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri Emery, Standardization Section, 
Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Room 1661 South Building, STOP 0240, Washington, DC 20250-
0240, Fax (202) 720-8871 or call (202) 720-2185; E-mail 
Cheri.Emery@usda.gov. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes will be available either through 
the address cited above or by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch 
Web site at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as amended, directs and authorizes 
the Secretary of Agriculture ``To develop and improve standards of 
quality, condition, quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and 
demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices.'' AMS is committed to carrying out 
this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of 
agricultural commodities. AMS makes copies of official standards 
available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Fruits and Vegetables not connected with Federal Marketing Orders or 
U.S. Import Requirements no longer appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations, but are maintained by USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs.
    AMS is establishing the voluntary United States Standards for 
Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes using procedures that 
appear in part 36, Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR 
part 36).

Background

    AMS received a request from an industry group representing 
muscadine grape growers to develop a standard that will provide a 
common language for trade and a means of measuring value in the 
marketing of muscadine grapes. Based on information gathered and 
comments rendered by the industry, AMS developed a proposed U.S. 
Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes. The 
proposal would establish the following grades as well as a tolerance 
for each grade: U.S. Extra No. 1 and U.S. No. 1. In addition, proposed 
``Application of Tolerances'' and ``Size Classifications'' sections 
would be established. This proposal also defines ``Damage,'' ``Serious 
Damage,'' specific basic requirements and other defects.
    On August 8, 2005, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register 
(69 FR 58879) soliciting comments on the proposed United States 
Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes.
    In response to our request for comments, AMS received one comment 
from an industry group representing growers that was in favor of the 
proposed standard, and requested the standard be published with no 
further changes.
    Based on the comment received and information gathered, AMS 
believes that the standard, as proposed, is beneficial to the industry 
and provides a common language for trade.
    The official grade of a lot of muscadine grapes covered by these 
standards is determined by the procedures set forth in the Regulations 
Governing Inspection, Certification, and Standards of Fresh Fruits, 
Vegetables and Other Products (Sec. 51.1 to 51.61).
    The United States Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis 
Rotundifolia) Grapes will become

[[Page 2015]]

effective 30 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

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

    Dated: January 6, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-223 Filed 1-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.