Sweet Onions Grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon; Continuance Referendum, 21125 [07-2111]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 82 (Monday, April 30, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 21125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2111]


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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.

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 82 / Monday, April 30, 2007 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 21125]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 956

[Docket No. AMS-FV-07-0037; FV07-956-1]


Sweet Onions Grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast 
Washington and Northeast Oregon; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible producers of sweet onions in the Walla Walla Valley of 
southeast Washington and northeast Oregon, to determine whether they 
favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of 
sweet onions produced in the production area.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from May 19 to June 8, 2007. 
Only current producers of Walla Walla sweet onions who also produced 
Walla Walla sweet onions within the designated production area in 
Washington and Oregon during the period January 1 to December 31, 2006, 
are eligible to vote in this referendum.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
office of the referendum agents at 1220 SW Third Avenue, Suite 385, 
Portland, Oregon 97204, or the Office of 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, or Internet: https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Broadbent or Gary Olson, 
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 E-mail: Barry.Broadbent@usda.gov or GaryD.Olson@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Agreement and Order 
No. 956, both as amended (7 CFR part 956), hereinafter referred to as 
the ``order,'' and the applicable provisions of the Agricultural 
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), 
hereinafter referred to as the ``Act,'' it is hereby directed that a 
referendum be conducted to ascertain whether continuance of the order 
is favored by the producers. The referendum shall be conducted from May 
19 to June 8, 2007, among Walla Walla sweet onion producers in the 
production area. Only current Walla Walla sweet onion producers that 
were engaged in the production of Walla Walla sweet onions in 
Washington and Oregon, during the period of January 1 to December 31, 
2006, may participate in the continuance referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether producers favor continuation of marketing 
order programs. USDA would consider termination of the order if a 
majority of the producers voting in the referendum and producers of a 
majority of the volume of Walla Walla sweet onions represented in the 
referendum do not favor continuance. In evaluating the merits of 
continuance versus termination, USDA will not exclusively consider the 
results of the continuance referendum. USDA will also consider all 
other relevant information concerning the operation of the order and 
the relative benefits and disadvantages to producers, handlers, and 
consumers in order to determine whether continued operation of the 
order would tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the ballot materials to be used in the referendum herein 
ordered are currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0178. It has been estimated 
that it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the 
approximately 35 producers of Walla Walla sweet onions in Washington 
and Oregon to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots 
postmarked after June 8, 2007, will not be included in the vote 
tabulation.
    Barry Broadbent and Gary Olson of the Northwest Marketing Field 
Office, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, are hereby designated 
as the referendum agents of the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct 
this referendum. The procedure applicable to the referendum shall be 
the ``Procedure for the Conduct of Referenda in Connection With 
Marketing Orders for Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Pursuant to the 
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as Amended'' (7 CFR 
900.400 et seq).
    Ballots will be mailed to all producers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents, or from their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 956

    Marketing agreements, Onions, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

    Dated: April 25, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 07-2111 Filed 4-25-07; 4:52 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P