Onions Grown in South Texas; Hearing on Proposed Amendment of Marketing Agreement No. 143 and Order No. 959, 30629-30631 [E6-8208]
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30629
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 71, No. 103
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains notices to the public of the proposed
issuance of rules and regulations. The
purpose of these notices is to give interested
persons an opportunity to participate in the
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
rules.
and to improve the operation and
administration of the order.
DATES: The hearing will be held on June
15, 2006, in Mission, Texas, beginning
at 8:30 a.m. and continuing until
completed.
The hearing location is: 901
Business Park Drive, Texas Sweet
Conference Room, Mission, Texas
78572.
ADDRESSES:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
7 CFR Part 959
[Docket No. AO–322–A4; FV06–959–1]
Onions Grown in South Texas; Hearing
on Proposed Amendment of Marketing
Agreement No. 143 and Order No. 959
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of hearing on proposed
rulemaking.
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with PROPOSALS
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a
public hearing to receive evidence on
proposed amendments to Marketing
Agreement No. 143 and Order No. 959
(order), which regulate the handling of
onions grown in South Texas. Four
amendments are proposed by the South
Texas Onion Committee (committee),
which is responsible for local
administration of the order. These
proposed amendments would: Add
authority to the order to establish
supplemental assessment rates on
specified containers; authorize interest
and late payment charges on
assessments not paid within a
prescribed time period; add authority
for the committee to engage in
marketing promotion and paid
advertising activities; and authorize
container marking requirements on
containers of onions prior to shipment.
Three additional amendments are
proposed by the Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS). These amendments
would: (1) Require that a continuance
referendum be conducted every six
years to determine grower support for
the order; (2) limit the number of
consecutive terms of office a member
can serve on the committee; and (3)
make such changes as may be necessary
to the order to conform with any
amendment thereto that may result from
the hearing. The proposals are intended
to provide the industry with additional
tools to aid in the marketing of onions
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:53 May 26, 2006
Jkt 208001
Martin Engeler, Marketing Order
Administration Branch, Fruit and
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 2202
Monterey Street, Fresno, California
93721; telephone: (559) 487–5110, Fax:
(559) 487–5906; or Kathleen M. Finn,
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 this proceeding by
contacting Jay Guerber, 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
administrative action is instituted
pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7
U.S.C. 601–674), hereinafter referred to
as the ‘‘Act.’’ This action is governed by
the provisions of sections 556 and 557
of title 5 of the United States Code and,
therefore, is excluded from the
requirements of Executive Order 12866.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) seeks to ensure that
within the statutory authority of a
program, the regulatory and
informational requirements are tailored
to the size and nature of small
businesses. Interested persons are
invited to present evidence at the
hearing on the possible regulatory and
informational impacts of the proposals
on small businesses.
The amendments proposed herein
have been reviewed under Executive
Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. They
are not intended to have retroactive
effect. If adopted, the proposed
amendments would not preempt any
State or local laws, regulations, or
policies, unless they present an
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
irreconcilable conflict with the
proposals.
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. 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 the USDA’s ruling on the
petition, provided an action is filed not
later than 20 days after the date of the
entry of the ruling.
The hearing is called pursuant to the
provisions of the Act and the applicable
rules of practice and procedure
governing the formulation of marketing
agreements and orders (7 CFR part 900).
The proposed amendments were
recommended by the committee and
initially submitted to USDA on March
15, 2005. Additional information was
submitted in October 2005 at the request
of USDA and a determination was
subsequently made to schedule this
matter for hearing.
The proposed amendments to the
order recommended by the committee
are summarized as follows:
1. Amend § 959.42 of the order to
authorize establishment of
supplemental assessment rates for
onions packed in specified containers.
2. Amend § 959.42 of the order to
authorize charging interest and/or late
payment fees for assessments not paid
within a prescribed time period.
3. Amend § 959.48 of the order to
authorize the committee to engage in
marketing promotion activities,
including paid advertising.
4. Amend § 959.52 of the order to
authorize establishment of marking
requirements to be placed on containers
of onions prior to shipping.
The committee works with USDA in
administering the order. These
proposals submitted by the committee
have not received the approval of
USDA. The committee believes that its
proposed changes would provide
additional tools to assist in the
E:\FR\FM\30MYP1.SGM
30MYP1
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with PROPOSALS
30630
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 30, 2006 / Proposed Rules
marketing of South Texas onions and
that they would improve the
administration and operation of the
order.
In addition to the committee
proposals, AMS proposes three
amendments to the order which are
summarized as follows:
5. Amend § 959.84 of the order to
require that a continuance referendum
be conducted every six years to
determine grower support for the order.
6. Amend § 959.23 of the order to
limit the number of consecutive terms of
office a member can serve on the
committee.
7. Make such changes as may be
necessary to the order to conform with
any amendment thereto that may result
from the hearing.
The AMS proposals are intended to
increase industry participation and
experience with the order, and to
provide a means to measure grower
support for the order on a periodic
basis, consistent with current USDA
policy. The final AMS proposal would
allow such changes to the order as may
be necessary to conform to any
amendment that may result from the
hearing.
The public hearing is held for the
purpose of: (i) Receiving evidence about
the economic and marketing conditions
which relate to the proposed
amendments of the order; (ii)
determining whether there is a need for
the proposed amendments to the order;
and (iii) determining whether the
proposed amendments or appropriate
modifications thereof will tend to
effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
Testimony is invited at the hearing on
all the proposals and recommendations
contained in this notice, as well as any
appropriate modifications or
alternatives.
All persons wishing to submit written
material as evidence at the hearing
should be prepared to submit four
copies of such material at the hearing
and should have prepared testimony
available for presentation at the hearing.
From the time the notice of hearing is
issued and until the issuance of a final
decision in this proceeding, USDA
employees involved in the decisional
process are prohibited from discussing
the merits of the hearing issues on an ex
parte basis with any person having an
interest in the proceeding. The
prohibition applies to employees in the
following organizational units: Office of
the Secretary of Agriculture; Office of
the Administrator, AMS; Office of the
General Counsel, except any designated
employee of the General Counsel
assigned to represent the committee in
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15:53 May 26, 2006
Jkt 208001
this proceeding; and the Fruit and
Vegetable Programs, AMS.
Procedural matters are not subject to
the above prohibition and may be
discussed at any time.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 959
Marketing agreements, Onions,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
PART 959—ONIONS GROWN IN
SOUTH TEXAS
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR
part 959 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674.
2. Testimony is invited on the
following proposals or appropriate
alternatives or modifications to such
proposals.
Proposals submitted by the South
Texas Onion Committee:
Proposal Number 1
3. Revise paragraph (b) of § 959.42 to
read as follows:
§ 959.42
Assessments.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Based upon the recommendation
of the committee or other available data,
the Secretary shall fix a base rate of
assessment that handlers shall pay on
all onions handled during each fiscal
period. Upon recommendation of the
committee, the Secretary may also fix
supplemental rates on specified
containers, including premium
containers, identified by the committee
and used in the production area.
*
*
*
*
*
Proposal Number 2
4. Add a new paragraph (e) to § 959.42
to read as follows:
§ 959.42
Assessments.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) If a handler does not pay
assessments within the time prescribed
by the committee, the assessment may
be increased by a late payment charge
or an interest rate charge at amounts
prescribed by the committee with
approval of the Secretary.
Proposal Number 3
5. Revise § 959.48 to read as follows:
§ 959.48
Research and Development.
The committee, with approval of the
Secretary, may establish or provide for
the establishment of production
research, marketing research,
development projects, and marketing
promotion, including paid advertising,
designed to assist, improve, or promote
the marketing, distribution,
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
consumption, or efficient production of
onions. The expenses of such projects
shall be paid from funds collected
pursuant to § 959.42.
Proposal Number 4
6. In § 959.52, redesignate paragraphs
(b)(5) and (b)(6) as paragraphs (b)(6) and
(b)(7) and add a new paragraph (b)(5) to
read as follows:
§ 959.52
Issuance of Regulations.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(5) Provide a method, through rules
and regulations issued pursuant to this
part, for fixing markings on the
container or containers, which may be
used in the packaging or handling of
onions, including appropriate logos or
other container markings to identify the
contents thereof.
*
*
*
*
*
Proposals submitted by USDA:
Proposal Number 5
7. Revise paragraph (a) of § 959.23 to
read as follows:
§ 959.23
Term of Office.
(a) The term of office of committee
members and their respective alternates
shall be for two years and shall begin as
of August 1 and end as of July 31. The
terms shall be so determined that about
one-half of the total committee
membership shall terminate each year.
Committee members shall not serve
more than three consecutive terms.
Members who have served for three
consecutive terms may not serve as
members for at least one year before
becoming eligible to serve again. A
person who has served less than six
consecutive years on the committee may
not be nominated to a new two-year
term if his or her total consecutive years
on the committee at the end of that new
term would exceed six years. This
limitation does not apply to service on
the committee prior to the enactment of
this provision and does not apply to
alternates.
*
*
*
*
*
Proposal Number 6
8. In § 959.84, redesignate paragraph
(d) as paragraph (e) and add a new
paragraph (d) to read as follows:
§ 959.84
Termination.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) The Secretary shall conduct a
referendum within six years after the
effective date of this paragraph and
every sixth year thereafter to ascertain
whether continuance is favored by
producers.
*
*
*
*
*
E:\FR\FM\30MYP1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 30, 2006 / Proposed Rules
Proposal Number 7
9. Make such changes as may be
necessary to the order to conform with
any amendment thereto that may result
from the hearing.
Dated: May 23, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. E6–8208 Filed 5–26–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage,
AK 99513–7587.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary
Rolf, Federal Aviation Administration,
222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14,
Anchorage, AK 99513–7587; telephone
number (907) 271–5898; fax: (907) 271–
2850; e-mail: gary.ctr.rolf@faa.gov.
Internet address: https://
www.alaska.faa.gov/at.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA–2006–23709; Airspace
Docket No. 06–AAL–02]
Proposed Revision of Class E
Airspace; Willow, AK
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with PROPOSALS
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This action proposes to
establish Class E airspace at Willow,
AK. Two Standard Instrument
Approach Procedures (SIAPs) along
with one Standard Instrument Departure
(SID) and a published departure
procedure (DP) are being developed for
the Willow Airport. Adoption of this
proposal would result in the
establishment of Class E airspace
upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft.
above the surface at Willow, AK.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before July 14, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on the
proposal to the Docket Management
System, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC
20590–0001. You must identify the
docket number FAA–2006–23709/
Airspace Docket No. 06–AAL–02, at the
beginning of your comments. You may
also submit comments on the Internet at
https://dms.dot.gov. You may review the
public docket containing the proposal,
any comments received, and any final
disposition in person in the Dockets
Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone
1–800–647–5527) is on the plaza level
of the Department of Transportation
NASSIF Building at the above address.
An informal docket may also be
examined during normal business hours
at the Office of the Manager, Safety,
Alaska Flight Service Operations,
Federal Aviation Administration, 222
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:53 May 26, 2006
Jkt 208001
Interested parties are invited to
participate in this proposed rulemaking
by submitting such written data, views,
or arguments as they may desire.
Comments that provide the factual basis
supporting the views and suggestions
presented are particularly helpful in
developing reasoned regulatory
decisions on the proposal. Comments
are specifically invited on the overall
regulatory, aeronautical, economic,
environmental, and energy-related
aspects of the proposal.
Communications should identify both
docket numbers and be submitted in
triplicate to the address listed above.
Commenters wishing the FAA to
acknowledge receipt of their comments
on this notice must submit with those
comments a self-addressed, stamped
postcard on which the following
statement is made: ‘‘Comments to
Docket No. FAA–2006–23709/Airspace
Docket No. 06–AAL–02.’’ The postcard
will be date/time stamped and returned
to the commenter.
All communications received on or
before the specified closing date for
comments will be considered before
taking action on the proposed rule. The
proposal contained in this notice may
be changed in light of comments
received. All comments submitted will
be available for examination in the
public docket both before and after the
closing date for comments. A report
summarizing each substantive public
contact with FAA personnel concerned
with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.
Availability of Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking’s (NPRM’s)
An electronic copy of this document
may be downloaded through the
Internet at https://dms.dot.gov. Recently
published rulemaking documents can
also be accessed through the FAA’s Web
page at https://www.faa.gov or the
Superintendent of Document’s Web
page at https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
Additionally, any person may obtain
a copy of this notice by submitting a
request to the Federal Aviation
Administration, Office of Air Traffic
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Frm 00003
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
30631
Airspace Management, ATA–400, 800
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591 or by calling
(202) 267–8783. Communications must
identify both docket numbers for this
notice. Persons interested in being
placed on a mailing list for future
NPRM’s should contact the FAA’s
Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267–9677,
to request a copy of Advisory Circular
No. 11–2A, Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking Distribution System, which
describes the application procedure.
The Proposal
The FAA is considering an
amendment to the Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR part 71), which
would establish Class E airspace at
Willow, AK. The intended effect of this
proposal is to create Class E airspace
upward from 700 ft. and 1,200 ft. above
the surface to contain Instrument Flight
Rules (IFR) operations at Willow, AK.
The FAA Instrument Flight
Procedures Production and
Maintenance Branch has developed two
new SIAPs, one SID and a DP
(published in the front of the U.S.
Terminal Procedures publication) for
the Willow Airport. The new
approaches are (1) Area Navigation
(Global Positioning System) (RNAV
(GPS)) RWY 13, Original and (2) RNAV
(GPS) RWY 31, Original. The SID will
be named the Big Lake One Departure.
The DP is unnamed and will be listed
in the front of the U.S. Terminal
Procedures publication for Alaska. This
action would create Class E controlled
airspace extending upward from 700 ft.
and 1,200 ft. above the surface near the
Willow Airport. The proposed airspace
is sufficient in size to contain aircraft
executing instrument procedures at the
Willow Airport.
The area would be depicted on
aeronautical charts for pilot reference.
The coordinates for this airspace docket
are based on North American Datum 83.
The Class E airspace areas designated as
700/1200 foot transition areas are
published in paragraph 6005 in FAA
Order 7400.9N, Airspace Designations
and Reporting Points, dated September
1, 2005, and effective September 15,
2005, which is incorporated by
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E
airspace designations listed in this
document would be published
subsequently in the Order.
The FAA has determined that this
proposed regulation only involves an
established body of technical
regulations for which frequent and
routine amendments are necessary to
keep them operationally current. It,
therefore —(1) Is not a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ under Executive
E:\FR\FM\30MYP1.SGM
30MYP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30629-30631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8208]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 30, 2006 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 30629]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 959
[Docket No. AO-322-A4; FV06-959-1]
Onions Grown in South Texas; Hearing on Proposed Amendment of
Marketing Agreement No. 143 and Order No. 959
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of hearing on proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence
on proposed amendments to Marketing Agreement No. 143 and Order No. 959
(order), which regulate the handling of onions grown in South Texas.
Four amendments are proposed by the South Texas Onion Committee
(committee), which is responsible for local administration of the
order. These proposed amendments would: Add authority to the order to
establish supplemental assessment rates on specified containers;
authorize interest and late payment charges on assessments not paid
within a prescribed time period; add authority for the committee to
engage in marketing promotion and paid advertising activities; and
authorize container marking requirements on containers of onions prior
to shipment. Three additional amendments are proposed by the
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). These amendments would: (1)
Require that a continuance referendum be conducted every six years to
determine grower support for the order; (2) limit the number of
consecutive terms of office a member can serve on the committee; and
(3) make such changes as may be necessary to the order to conform with
any amendment thereto that may result from the hearing. The proposals
are intended to provide the industry with additional tools to aid in
the marketing of onions and to improve the operation and administration
of the order.
DATES: The hearing will be held on June 15, 2006, in Mission, Texas,
beginning at 8:30 a.m. and continuing until completed.
ADDRESSES: The hearing location is: 901 Business Park Drive, Texas
Sweet Conference Room, Mission, Texas 78572.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Engeler, Marketing Order
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 2202
Monterey Street, Fresno, California 93721; telephone: (559) 487-5110,
Fax: (559) 487-5906; or Kathleen M. Finn, 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 this proceeding by
contacting Jay Guerber, 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This administrative action is instituted
pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the ``Act.''
This action is governed by the provisions of sections 556 and 557 of
title 5 of the United States Code and, therefore, is excluded from the
requirements of Executive Order 12866.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) seeks to
ensure that within the statutory authority of a program, the regulatory
and informational requirements are tailored to the size and nature of
small businesses. Interested persons are invited to present evidence at
the hearing on the possible regulatory and informational impacts of the
proposals on small businesses.
The amendments proposed herein have been reviewed under Executive
Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. They are not intended to have
retroactive effect. If adopted, the proposed amendments would not
preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or policies, unless they
present an irreconcilable conflict with the proposals.
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. 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 the USDA's
ruling on the petition, provided an action is filed not later than 20
days after the date of the entry of the ruling.
The hearing is called pursuant to the provisions of the Act and the
applicable rules of practice and procedure governing the formulation of
marketing agreements and orders (7 CFR part 900).
The proposed amendments were recommended by the committee and
initially submitted to USDA on March 15, 2005. Additional information
was submitted in October 2005 at the request of USDA and a
determination was subsequently made to schedule this matter for
hearing.
The proposed amendments to the order recommended by the committee
are summarized as follows:
1. Amend Sec. 959.42 of the order to authorize establishment of
supplemental assessment rates for onions packed in specified
containers.
2. Amend Sec. 959.42 of the order to authorize charging interest
and/or late payment fees for assessments not paid within a prescribed
time period.
3. Amend Sec. 959.48 of the order to authorize the committee to
engage in marketing promotion activities, including paid advertising.
4. Amend Sec. 959.52 of the order to authorize establishment of
marking requirements to be placed on containers of onions prior to
shipping.
The committee works with USDA in administering the order. These
proposals submitted by the committee have not received the approval of
USDA. The committee believes that its proposed changes would provide
additional tools to assist in the
[[Page 30630]]
marketing of South Texas onions and that they would improve the
administration and operation of the order.
In addition to the committee proposals, AMS proposes three
amendments to the order which are summarized as follows:
5. Amend Sec. 959.84 of the order to require that a continuance
referendum be conducted every six years to determine grower support for
the order.
6. Amend Sec. 959.23 of the order to limit the number of
consecutive terms of office a member can serve on the committee.
7. Make such changes as may be necessary to the order to conform
with any amendment thereto that may result from the hearing.
The AMS proposals are intended to increase industry participation
and experience with the order, and to provide a means to measure grower
support for the order on a periodic basis, consistent with current USDA
policy. The final AMS proposal would allow such changes to the order as
may be necessary to conform to any amendment that may result from the
hearing.
The public hearing is held for the purpose of: (i) Receiving
evidence about the economic and marketing conditions which relate to
the proposed amendments of the order; (ii) determining whether there is
a need for the proposed amendments to the order; and (iii) determining
whether the proposed amendments or appropriate modifications thereof
will tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
Testimony is invited at the hearing on all the proposals and
recommendations contained in this notice, as well as any appropriate
modifications or alternatives.
All persons wishing to submit written material as evidence at the
hearing should be prepared to submit four copies of such material at
the hearing and should have prepared testimony available for
presentation at the hearing.
From the time the notice of hearing is issued and until the
issuance of a final decision in this proceeding, USDA employees
involved in the decisional process are prohibited from discussing the
merits of the hearing issues on an ex parte basis with any person
having an interest in the proceeding. The prohibition applies to
employees in the following organizational units: Office of the
Secretary of Agriculture; Office of the Administrator, AMS; Office of
the General Counsel, except any designated employee of the General
Counsel assigned to represent the committee in this proceeding; and the
Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS.
Procedural matters are not subject to the above prohibition and may
be discussed at any time.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 959
Marketing agreements, Onions, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
PART 959--ONIONS GROWN IN SOUTH TEXAS
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 959 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
2. Testimony is invited on the following proposals or appropriate
alternatives or modifications to such proposals.
Proposals submitted by the South Texas Onion Committee:
Proposal Number 1
3. Revise paragraph (b) of Sec. 959.42 to read as follows:
Sec. 959.42 Assessments.
* * * * *
(b) Based upon the recommendation of the committee or other
available data, the Secretary shall fix a base rate of assessment that
handlers shall pay on all onions handled during each fiscal period.
Upon recommendation of the committee, the Secretary may also fix
supplemental rates on specified containers, including premium
containers, identified by the committee and used in the production
area.
* * * * *
Proposal Number 2
4. Add a new paragraph (e) to Sec. 959.42 to read as follows:
Sec. 959.42 Assessments.
* * * * *
(e) If a handler does not pay assessments within the time
prescribed by the committee, the assessment may be increased by a late
payment charge or an interest rate charge at amounts prescribed by the
committee with approval of the Secretary.
Proposal Number 3
5. Revise Sec. 959.48 to read as follows:
Sec. 959.48 Research and Development.
The committee, with approval of the Secretary, may establish or
provide for the establishment of production research, marketing
research, development projects, and marketing promotion, including paid
advertising, designed to assist, improve, or promote the marketing,
distribution, consumption, or efficient production of onions. The
expenses of such projects shall be paid from funds collected pursuant
to Sec. 959.42.
Proposal Number 4
6. In Sec. 959.52, redesignate paragraphs (b)(5) and (b)(6) as
paragraphs (b)(6) and (b)(7) and add a new paragraph (b)(5) to read as
follows:
Sec. 959.52 Issuance of Regulations.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(5) Provide a method, through rules and regulations issued pursuant
to this part, for fixing markings on the container or containers, which
may be used in the packaging or handling of onions, including
appropriate logos or other container markings to identify the contents
thereof.
* * * * *
Proposals submitted by USDA:
Proposal Number 5
7. Revise paragraph (a) of Sec. 959.23 to read as follows:
Sec. 959.23 Term of Office.
(a) The term of office of committee members and their respective
alternates shall be for two years and shall begin as of August 1 and
end as of July 31. The terms shall be so determined that about one-half
of the total committee membership shall terminate each year. Committee
members shall not serve more than three consecutive terms. Members who
have served for three consecutive terms may not serve as members for at
least one year before becoming eligible to serve again. A person who
has served less than six consecutive years on the committee may not be
nominated to a new two-year term if his or her total consecutive years
on the committee at the end of that new term would exceed six years.
This limitation does not apply to service on the committee prior to the
enactment of this provision and does not apply to alternates.
* * * * *
Proposal Number 6
8. In Sec. 959.84, redesignate paragraph (d) as paragraph (e) and
add a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 959.84 Termination.
* * * * *
(d) The Secretary shall conduct a referendum within six years after
the effective date of this paragraph and every sixth year thereafter to
ascertain whether continuance is favored by producers.
* * * * *
[[Page 30631]]
Proposal Number 7
9. Make such changes as may be necessary to the order to conform
with any amendment thereto that may result from the hearing.
Dated: May 23, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-8208 Filed 5-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P