Fresh Prunes Grown in Designated Counties in Washington and in Umatilla County, OR; Suspension of Handling Regulations, Establishment of Reporting Requirements, and Suspension of the Fresh Prune Import Regulation, 26817-26821 [06-4315]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 9, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26817-26821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4315]



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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 9, 2006 / Rules and 
Regulations

[[Page 26817]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 924 and 944

[Docket No. FV06-924-1 IFR]


Fresh Prunes Grown in Designated Counties in Washington and in 
Umatilla County, OR; Suspension of Handling Regulations, Establishment 
of Reporting Requirements, and Suspension of the Fresh Prune Import 
Regulation

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This rule suspends the minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, 
and inspection requirements prescribed under the Washington-Oregon 
fresh prune marketing order for the 2006 and future seasons. The 
marketing order regulates the handling of fresh prunes grown in 
designated Counties in Washington and in Umatilla County, Oregon, and 
is administered locally by the Washington-Oregon Prune Marketing 
Committee (Committee). During the suspension of the handling 
regulations, reports from handlers will be required to obtain 
information necessary to administer the marketing order. This rule also 
suspends fresh prune import inspection and minimum quality, grade, 
size, and maturity requirements. This rule is expected to reduce 
overall industry expenses and increase net returns to producers and 
handlers. This rulemaking action must be effective as soon as possible 
to ensure that the suspensions are in effect for the 2006 shipping 
season, expected to begin in early July.

DATES: Effective May 10, 2006; comments received by July 10, 2006 will 
be considered prior to the issuance of a final rule. Pursuant to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on the information collection burden 
must be received by July 10, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this rule. 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 
20250-0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938; E-mail: moab.docketclerk@usda.gov, or 
Internet: https://www.regulations.gov. All 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: 
https://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Broadbent, Northwest Marketing 
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1220 SW., Third Avenue, Suite 385, 
Portland, OR 97204; Telephone: (503) 326-2724; Fax: (503) 326-7440; or 
George J. Kelhart, Technical Advisor, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 
720-2491; Fax: (202) 720-8938.
    Small businesses may request information on complying with this 
regulation by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence, 
SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, 
Fax: (202) 720-8938, or E-mail: Jay.Guerber@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing 
Agreement and Order No. 924, as amended (7 CFR 924), regulating the 
handling of fresh prunes grown in designated counties in Washington and 
in Umatilla County, Oregon, hereinafter referred to as the ``order.'' 
The order is effective under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act 
of 1937, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the 
``Act.'' This rule also is issued under section 8e of the Act regarding 
the establishment of inspection and quality, grade, size, or maturity 
requirements on imports of commodities that are similarly regulated 
under Federal marketing orders.
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing this rule in 
conformance with Executive Order 12866.
    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule is not intended to have retroactive effect. 
This rule will not preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or 
policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
rule.
    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 an order may file with USDA a petition 
stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any obligation 
imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance with law and 
request a modification of the order or to be exempted therefrom. A 
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 date of the 
entry of the ruling.
    There are no administrative procedures that must be exhausted prior 
to any judicial challenge to the provisions of import regulations 
issued under section 8e of the Act.
    This rule indefinitely suspends the handling regulations prescribed 
under the order for the 2006 and future seasons. Specifically, this 
rule suspends the minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, and 
inspection requirements under the order. In addition, the regulation of 
fresh prune imports under section 8e of the Act is suspended 
indefinitely.
    Furthermore, this rule establishes a new handler reporting 
requirement. The new handler report provides the Committee with 
information that was previously available from the Federal-State 
Inspection Service (Inspection Service). As previously noted, the 
handling regulations include mandatory inspection. As a result of the 
handling

[[Page 26818]]

regulation suspension, information from the Inspection Service will no 
longer be available to the Committee to compile industry statistics and 
to assess handlers. The new handler reporting requirement will allow 
the Committee to obtain information directly from handlers similar to 
the information that was obtained previously from the Inspection 
Service.
    Section 924.52 of the order authorizes the issuance of regulations 
for grade, size, quality, maturity, and pack for fresh prunes grown in 
the production area. Section 924.53 authorizes the modification, 
suspension, or termination of regulations issued under Sec.  924.52.
    Section 924.55 provides that whenever the handling of any variety 
of fresh prunes is regulated pursuant to Sec.  924.52 or Sec.  924.53, 
such prunes must be inspected by the Inspection Service, and certified 
as meeting the applicable requirements. The cost of the inspection and 
certification is borne by handlers.
    Section 924.60 authorizes the Committee, with the approval of USDA, 
to require reports and other information from handlers that are 
necessary for the Committee to perform its duties.
    Minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, and inspection requirements 
for fresh prunes regulated under the order are specified in Sec.  
924.319 (the section being suspended by this rule). When effective, 
Sec.  924.319, with exemptions for certain varieties and types of 
shipments, provides that all fresh prunes grade at least U.S. No. 1, 
except that at least two-thirds of the surface of the prune is required 
to be purplish in color, and such prunes measure not less than 1\1/4\ 
inches in diameter as measured by a rigid ring. The regulation includes 
a minimum quantity exemption, as well as specific tolerances for prunes 
that fail to meet color, minimum diameter, and quality requirements.
    Regulation regarding the importation of fresh prunes into the 
United States under Section 8e of the Act is set forth in Sec.  
944.700.
    The Committee meets regularly to consider recommendations for 
modification, suspension, or termination of the regulatory requirements 
for Washington-Oregon fresh prunes which have been issued on a 
continuing basis. Committee meetings are open to the public and 
interested persons may express their views at these meetings. The USDA 
reviews Committee recommendations, information submitted by the 
Committee, and other available information, and determines whether 
modification, suspension, or termination of the regulatory requirements 
would tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
    At its February 16, 2006, meeting, the Committee unanimously 
recommended suspending the handling regulations and establishing 
handler reporting requirements for the 2006 and future seasons. The 
Committee requested that this rule be effective by the beginning of the 
2006 regulatory period (July 15, 2006), which is also the approximate 
date shipments of the 2006 Washington-Oregon fresh prune crop are 
expected to begin.
    The objective of the handling regulation has been to ensure that 
only acceptable quality fresh prunes enter fresh market channels, 
thereby ensuring consumer satisfaction, increasing sales, and improving 
returns to producers. While the industry continues to believe that 
quality is an important factor in maintaining sales, the Committee 
believes the cost of inspection and certification (mandated when the 
handling regulations are in effect) may exceed the benefits derived.
    Fresh prune prices have been at low levels in recent seasons, and 
many producers have faced difficulty covering their production costs. 
As a consequence, the Committee has been exploring the possibility of 
reducing costs through the elimination of mandatory inspection for a 
number of years. The Committee is concerned, however, that the 
elimination of current handling and inspection requirements could 
possibly result in lower quality fresh prunes being shipped to fresh 
markets, thereby affecting consumer demand. Also, there is some concern 
that, should overall quality decline, the Washington-Oregon fresh prune 
industry could lose sales to other prune producing regions.
    After much consideration, the Committee recommended the suspension 
of the handling regulations for the 2006 and future seasons, but 
stipulated that the Committee would assess marketing conditions 
annually to determine if lifting the suspension is warranted. This 
suspension action will enable the industry to realize needed cost 
savings while the impact of the suspension is evaluated by the 
Committee. Should the market situation so dictate, the Committee may 
take appropriate action to recommend reinstating regulation.
    This rule enables Washington-Oregon fresh prune handlers to ship 
prunes without regard to minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, and 
inspection requirements. This allows handlers to decrease their total 
costs by eliminating the expenses associated with mandatory inspection. 
This rule does not restrict handlers from seeking product inspection on 
a voluntary basis if they find inspection desirable. The Committee will 
evaluate the effect the suspension of the handling regulations has on 
market conditions and on producer returns each year the suspension is 
in effect, and, if necessary, make recommendations to USDA for changes.
    The suspension of the handling regulations will result in the 
elimination of the inspection certificates being generated and 
forwarded to the Committee office by the Inspection Service. The 
Committee used these certificates as the basis for the collection of 
assessments from handlers and for compiling prune industry statistics. 
During the period handling regulations are suspended, inspection 
certificates will not be generated by the Inspection Service and 
provided to the Committee. As a consequence, handlers will need to 
submit reports directly to the Committee to facilitate the collection 
of assessments and the compilation of industry statistics.
    Therefore, a new Sec.  924.160 Reports is added which requires each 
handler to submit to the Committee, on or before October 30 of each 
year, a ``Handler Statement for Washington-Oregon Fresh Prunes'' 
containing the following information: (a) The handler's name and 
address; (b) the name and address of each producer; (c) the quantity, 
in field run tons, of early and late fresh prunes handled by each 
handler; (d) the assessment due and enclosed; (e) the name, telephone 
number, and signature of the authorized person completing the form; and 
(f) the date the form is signed.
    Authorization to assess handlers enables the Committee to incur 
expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. 
This reporting requirement will facilitate the Committee's ability to 
collect assessments needed to cover necessary program costs. Even 
though reporting requirements are increased, this rule, through the 
elimination of inspection and certification requirements, is expected 
to reduce overall industry expenses.
    Consistent with the suspension of Sec.  924.319, this rule also 
suspends Sec.  924.110 of the rules and regulations in effect under the 
order. Section 924.110 contains provisions for handlers to apply for 
waivers from mandatory inspection when such inspection is not readily 
available from the Inspection Service. With the suspension of 
regulation, such waivers are no longer necessary.

[[Page 26819]]

    Contained within the handling regulations (Sec.  924.319(b)) is a 
provision allowing the handling of any individual shipment which, in 
the aggregate, does not exceed 500 pounds net weight of Stanley or 
Merton variety prunes, or 350 pounds net weight of any other variety of 
prunes, without regard to the inspection and assessment requirements 
issued under the order. Regardless of the suspension of handling 
regulations, the Committee desires that this provision remain effective 
for the purpose of providing a minimum quantity exemption from 
assessments. Thus, a new Sec.  924.121 Minimum quantity exemption is 
established. This section essentially continues the provision with the 
same minimum quantity exemptions as in 924.319(b), but in regards to 
the assessment requirements contained Sec.  924.41 only.
    Section 8e of the Act requires that whenever grade, size, quality, 
or maturity requirements are in effect for certain commodities under a 
domestic marketing order, including fresh prunes, imports of that 
commodity must meet the same or comparable requirements. Section 
944.700 contains the regulations for fresh prune imports. Since this 
rule indefinitely suspends the handling regulation for domestic fresh 
prunes, including grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements, the 
regulation of imported fresh prunes is suspended indefinitely as well.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the 
economic impact of this action on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has 
prepared this initial regulatory flexibility analysis.
    The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of 
business 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. Thus, both statutes have small 
entity orientation and compatibility.
    Currently, there are 7 handlers of Washington-Oregon fresh prunes 
who are subject to regulation under the marketing order and 
approximately 100 fresh prune producers in the regulated area. Small 
agricultural service firms are defined by the Small Business 
Administration (13 CFR 121.201) as those having annual receipts of less 
than $6,500,000, and small agricultural producers are defined as those 
having annual receipts of less than $750,000.
    Fresh prune production has been approximately 5,000 to 7,000 tons 
per year for the past several years. The Committee estimates that all 
Washington-Oregon fresh prune handlers combined ship less that 
$6,500,000 worth of prunes on an annual basis. In addition, based on 
acreage, production, and producer prices reported by the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service, and the total number of Washington-
Oregon fresh prune producers, average annual producer receipts are 
approximately $13,000, which is considerably less than the $750,000 
threshold. In view of the foregoing, it can be concluded that all of 
the handlers and producers of Washington-Oregon fresh prunes may be 
classified as small entities.
    At its February 16, 2006, meeting, the Committee unanimously 
recommended suspending the handling regulations and establishing 
reporting requirements for the 2006 and future seasons.
    This rule suspends the handling regulations specified in Sec.  
924.319, as well as the fresh prune import regulations specified in 
Sec.  944.700. Furthermore, this rule implements a modified minimum 
quantity exemption as a new Sec.  924.121, and adds a new reporting 
requirement as Sec.  924.160. The suspension of the handling regulation 
will allow the Washington-Oregon fresh prune industry to market fresh 
prunes without regard to minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, and 
inspection requirements. Authority for this action is provided in 
Sec. Sec.  924.53 and 924.60.
    The handling regulations help ensure that only acceptable quality 
fresh prunes enter fresh market channels, thereby ensuring consumer 
satisfaction, increasing sales, and improving returns to producers. 
While the industry continues to believe that quality is an important 
factor in maintaining sales, the Committee believes the cost of 
inspection and certification exceeds the benefits derived. The 
Committee believes that the demands of wholesale buyers and consumers 
will drive handlers and producers to maintain a high level of product 
quality without the necessity of minimum quality standards and 
mandatory inspections. The Committee will review the suspension of 
handling regulations and all relevant related issues on an annual 
basis. The handling regulations can be reinstated by way of Committee 
recommendation and USDA approval through the informal rulemaking 
process.
    Fresh prune prices have been at low levels in recent years, and 
many producers have faced difficulty covering their production costs. 
In response to the adverse economic conditions being experienced by the 
industry, the Committee discussed the possibility of reducing costs 
through the elimination of mandatory inspection. The Committee is 
concerned, however, that the elimination of current handling and 
inspection requirements could possibly result in lower quality fresh 
prunes being shipped to fresh markets. Also, should fruit quality 
decline, there is some concern among Committee members that the 
Washington-Oregon fresh prune industry could lose sales to other prune 
producing regions.
    While acknowledging these concerns, the Committee believes that the 
benefits derived from suspending the regulations outweigh the potential 
costs. The Committee also believes that the current marketing situation 
makes regulation unnecessary, that the cost of regulation outweighs the 
benefits, and that the conditions leading to the suspension will 
perpetuate well into the future. Therefore, the Committee recommended 
that the suspension of the handling regulations be effective not only 
for the upcoming season, but for future seasons as well. The indefinite 
suspension will alleviate the need for annual rulemaking to maintain 
the suspension while allowing the Committee to monitor the impacts of 
the suspension and consider appropriate actions for ensuing seasons. If 
and when the industry experiences changes in the marketing environment 
that would make reinstating the handling regulations necessary, the 
Committee has the ability to quickly respond.
    This rule enables handlers to ship prunes without regard to the 
minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, and inspection requirements for 
the 2006 and future seasons. This rule allows handlers to decrease 
costs by eliminating the costs associated with mandatory inspection. 
This rule, however, does not restrict handlers from seeking inspection 
on a voluntary basis if they find inspection desirable. The Committee 
will evaluate the effect that suspension of the handling regulations 
has on marketing conditions and on producer returns at their annual 
meeting each spring.
    The suspension of the handling regulations results in the 
elimination of mandatory inspections and, in turn, the inspection 
certificates generated by the Inspection Service and provided to the 
Committee. The Committee has used such certificates for assessment 
billing purposes and for compiling industry statistics. As a result of 
this suspension of the handling regulations, the

[[Page 26820]]

Committee will require a report directly from each handler for the 
purpose of obtaining information on which to collect assessments and 
generate statistical information.
    The Committee anticipates that this rule will not negatively impact 
small handlers and producers because it suspends minimum grade, size, 
quality, maturity, and inspection requirements. The total cost of 
inspection and certification for fresh shipments of Washington-Oregon 
fresh prunes during the 2005 marketing season is estimated by the 
Committee to have been $0.23 per hundredweight, or approximately 
$27,000 total. This represents approximately $4,000 per handler. Since 
handlers may continue to have their prunes voluntarily inspected, the 
Committee expects that some handlers will continue to have at least a 
portion of their fresh prunes inspected and certified by the Inspection 
Service.
    Alternatives to the suspension of the handling regulations 
considered by the Committee included maintaining the status quo, 
suspending regulations for one season only, and terminating the 
marketing order in its entirety. However, the Committee believes that 
the continuation of regulation would be a financial burden on the 
industry given the current market situation and outlook. Thus, 
continuing to regulate was not a viable option to the Committee. The 
Committee also discussed suspending regulation one season at a time, 
but rejected that option as well. Finally, the Committee considered 
terminating the order in its entirety, but declined to take that 
action. The Committee continues to believe that the order has purpose, 
even without handling regulations. Further, with the suspension of 
handling regulations, the Committee believes handler reports are needed 
to ensure the collection of information needed by the Committee to 
administer the order.
    This action imposes some additional reporting and recordkeeping 
burden on handlers. However, any additional requirements on fresh prune 
handlers are expected to be offset by the elimination of the handling 
regulation and mandatory inspection. The elimination of inspection and 
certification requirements is expected to further reduce industry 
expenses, as well. In addition, USDA has not identified any relevant 
Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this rule.
    Further, the Committee's meeting was widely publicized throughout 
the Washington-Oregon fresh prune industry and all interested persons 
were invited to attend the meeting and participate in Committee 
deliberations. Like all Committee meetings, the February 16, 2005, 
meeting was a public meeting and all entities, both large and small, 
were able to express their views on this issue. Finally, interested 
persons are invited to submit information on the regulatory and 
informational impacts of this action on small businesses.
    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/fv/moab.html. Any questions about the compliance 
guide should be sent to Jay Guerber at the previously mentioned address 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35), this notice announces that AMS has received approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for the new information 
collection request for Fresh Prunes Grown in Designated Counties in 
Washington and in Umatilla County, Oregon--Marketing Order No. 924, 
under OMB No. 0581-XXXX. The additional burden will subsequently be 
merged into the information collection currently approved under OMB No. 
0581-0189, Generic OMB Fruit Crops.
    Title: Fresh Prunes Grown in Designated Counties in Washington and 
in Umatilla County, Oregon--Marketing Order No. 924.
    OMB Number: 0581-NEW.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The information collection requirements in this request 
are essential to carry out the intent of the Act, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
Washington-Oregon fresh prune order, which has been operating since 
1960.
    On February 16, 2006, the Committee unanimously recommended 
suspending the order's handling regulations. To ensure that the 
Committee obtains handler information that is necessary for operation 
of the order, the Committee also unanimously recommended establishing a 
new reporting requirement. Information will be reported on a new 
Committee form, Form No. 1, ``Handler Statement for Washington-Oregon 
Fresh Prunes,'' which requires handlers to report the total quantity of 
early and late fresh prunes handled during the season.
    The new report is needed by the Committee to compile information 
that is essential for the collection of handler assessments and to 
provide shipment statistics to the industry. The Committee previously 
used inspection certificates from the Inspection Service to obtain this 
information, but this source will no longer be available under the 
suspension of the handling regulations. This new report will help to 
ensure compliance with the order's provisions and assist the Committee 
and the USDA with oversight and planning.
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of USDA, including AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs 
regional and headquarters staff, and authorized Committee employees. 
Authorized Committee employees will be the primary users of the 
information and AMS would be the secondary user.
    The request for approval of the new information collections under 
the order is as follows:
    Form No. 1, ``Handler Statement for Washington-Oregon Fresh 
Prunes.''
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 25 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Washington-Oregon fresh prunes handlers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2.92 hours.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on those who are to 
respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    Comments should reference OMB No. 0581-NEW and the Washington-
Oregon fresh prune order (Marketing Order No. 924), and be sent to USDA 
in care of the Docket Clerk at the previously mentioned address. All 
comments received will be available for public inspection during 
regular business hours at the same address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record. As with all Federal marketing order programs, reports and forms 
are periodically reviewed to reduce

[[Page 26821]]

information requirements and duplication by industry and public sector 
agencies.

Government Paperwork Elimination Act Compliance

    AMS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies in general 
to provide the public the option of submitting information or 
transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible.
    The U.S. Trade Representative has reviewed this interim final rule 
and concurs with its issuance.
    This rule invites comments on the suspension of the handling 
regulations and changes to the reporting requirements prescribed under 
the order, as well as the suspension of the prune import regulation. 
Any comments timely received will be considered prior to finalization 
of this rule.
    After consideration of all relevant material presented, including 
the Committee's recommendation, and other information, it is found that 
suspension of the handling regulations and this interim final rule will 
tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also found and determined upon good 
cause that it is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public 
interest to give preliminary notice prior to putting this rule into 
effect and good cause exists for not postponing the effective date of 
this rule until 30 days after publication in the Federal Register 
because: (1) This interim final rule is a relaxation in the prune 
handling regulations and should be in place as soon as possible for the 
upcoming 2006 season; (2) handlers need to know as soon as possible 
that they are free to market their fresh prunes without regard to the 
handling regulations; (3) this issue has been widely discussed at 
various industry and association meetings and the Committee has kept 
the industry well informed; (4) handlers are aware of this rule, which 
was recommended at a public meeting; and (5) this rule provides a 60-
day comment period and any comments received will be considered prior 
to finalization of this rule.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Parts 924 and 944

    Plums, Prunes, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR parts 924 and 944 are 
amended as follows:

PART 924--FRESH PRUNES GROWN IN DESIGNATED COUNTIES IN WASHINGTON 
AND IN UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON

0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR parts 924 and 944 continues to read 
as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.


Sec. Sec.  924.110 and 924.319  [Suspended]

0
2. In part 924, Sec. Sec.  924.110 and 924.319 are suspended 
indefinitely.
0
3. In Subpart--Rules and Regulations, new Sec. Sec.  924.121 and 
924.160 are added to read as follows:


Sec.  924.121  Minimum quantity exemption.

    Any individual shipment which, in the aggregate, does not exceed 
500 pounds net weight of prunes of the Stanley or Merton varieties, or 
350 pounds net weight of prunes of any variety other than the Stanley 
or Merton varieties, and which meets each of the following requirements 
may be handled without regard to the assessment provisions in Sec.  
924.41:
    (a) The shipment consists of prunes sold for home use and not for 
resale, and
    (b) Each container is stamped or marked with the handler's name and 
address and with the words ``not for resale'' in letters at least one-
half inch in height.


Sec.  924.160  Reports.

    Each person handling prunes shall submit to the Committee, on or 
before October 30 of each year, a ``Handler Statement for Washington-
Oregon Fresh Prunes'' containing the following information:
    (a) The handler's name and address;
    (b) The name and address of each producer;
    (c) The quantity, in field run tons, of early and late fresh prunes 
handled by each handler;
    (d) The assessment due and enclosed;
    (e) The name, telephone number, and signature of the authorized 
person completing the form; and
    (f) The date the form is signed.

PART 944--FRUITS; IMPORT REGULATIONS


Sec.  944.700  [Suspended]

0
5. Section 944.700 is suspended indefinitely.

    Dated: May 3, 2006.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 06-4315 Filed 5-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P