Beef Promotion and Research; Reapportionment, 18422-18425 [2011-7826]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2011 / Proposed Rules
preempt or supersede any other program
relating to beef promotion organized
and operated under the laws of the
United States or any State. There are no
administrative proceedings that must be
exhausted prior to any judicial
challenge to the provisions of this rule.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1260
[No. AMS–LS–10–0086]
Beef Promotion and Research;
Reapportionment
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
This proposed rule would
adjust representation on the Cattlemen’s
Beef Promotion and Research Board
(Board), established under the Beef
Promotion and Research Act of 1985
(Act), to reflect changes in cattle
inventories and cattle and beef imports
that have occurred since the most recent
Board reapportionment rule became
effective in October 2008. These
adjustments are required by the Beef
Promotion and Research Order (Order)
and would result in a decrease in Board
membership from 106 to 103, effective
with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s (USDA) appointments for
terms beginning early in the year 2012.
DATES: Written comments must be
received by May 4, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be posted
online at https://www.regulations.gov or
sent to Craig Shackelford, Marketing
Programs Branch, Livestock and Seed
Program, Agricultural Marketing
Service, USDA, Room 2628–S, STOP
0251, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–0251; or fax to
(202) 720–1125. All comments should
reference the docket number, the date,
and the page number of this issue of the
Federal Register. Comments will be
available for public inspection at the
aforementioned address, as well as on
the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Shackelford, Marketing Programs
Branch, on 202/720–1115, fax 202/720–
1125, or by e-mail at
craig.shackelford@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
Executive Order 12866
The Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) has waived the review process
required by Executive Order 12866 for
this action.
Executive Order 12988
This proposed rule has been reviewed
under Executive Order 12988, Civil
Justice Reform. It is not intended to
have retroactive effect.
Section 11 of the Act provides that
nothing in the Act may be construed to
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Regulatory Flexibility Act and
Paperwork Reduction Act
Pursuant to the requirements set forth
in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
(5 U.S.C. 601–612), the Administrator of
the Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS) has considered the economic
effect of this action on small entities and
has determined that this proposed rule
will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities. The purpose of RFA is to fit
regulatory actions to the scale of
businesses subject to such actions in
order that small businesses will not be
unduly burdened.
In the February 2010 publication of
‘‘Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock
Operations,’’ USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
estimates that in 2009 the number of
operations in the United States with
cattle totaled approximately 950,000.
The majority of these operations that are
subject to the Order may be classified as
small entities.
The proposed rule imposes no new
burden on the industry. It only adjusts
representation on the Board to reflect
changes in domestic cattle inventory
and cattle and beef imports. The
adjustments are required by the Order
and would result in a decrease in Board
membership from 106 to 103.
Background and Proposed Action
The Board was initially appointed
August 4, 1986, pursuant to the
provisions of the Act (7 U.S.C. 2901–
2911) and the Order issued thereunder.
Domestic representation on the Board is
based on cattle inventory numbers, and
importer representation is based on the
conversion of the volume of imported
cattle, beef, or beef products into live
animal equivalencies.
Section 1260.141(b) of the Order
provides that the Board shall be
composed of cattle producers and
importers appointed by the Department
from nominations submitted by certified
producer organizations. A producer may
only be nominated to represent the unit
in which that producer is a resident.
Section 1260.141(c) of the Order
provides that at least every 3 years and
not more than every 2 years, the Board
shall review the geographic distribution
of cattle inventories throughout the
United States and the volume of
imported cattle, beef, and beef products
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and, if warranted, shall reapportion
units and/or modify the number of
Board members from units in order to
reflect the geographic distribution of
cattle production volume in the United
States and the volume of cattle, beef, or
beef products imported into the United
States.
Section 1260.141(d) of the Order
authorizes the Board to recommend to
the Department modifications to the
number of cattle per unit necessary for
representation on the Board.
Section 1260.141(e)(1) provides that
each geographic unit or State that
includes a total cattle inventory equal to
or greater than 500,000 head of cattle
shall be entitled to one representative
on the Board. Section 1260.141(e)(2)
provides that States that do not have
total cattle inventories equal to or
greater than 500,000 head shall be
grouped, to the extent practicable, into
geographically-contiguous units, each of
which have a combined total inventory
of not less than 500,000 head. Such
grouped units are entitled to at least one
representative on the Board. Each unit
that has an additional 1 million head of
cattle within a unit qualifies for
additional representation on the Board
as provided in § 1260.141(e)(4). As
provided in § 1260.141(e)(3), importers
are represented by a single unit, with
the number of Board members based on
a conversion of the total volume of
imported cattle, beef, or beef products
into live animal equivalencies.
The initial Board appointed in 1986
was composed of 113 members.
Reapportionment, based on a 3-year
average of cattle inventory numbers and
import data, reduced the Board to 111
members in 1990 and 107 members in
1993 before the Board was increased to
111 members in 1996. The Board was
decreased to 110 members in 1999, 108
members in 2001, 104 members in 2005,
and increased to 106 members in 2009.
This proposal would, when finalized,
decrease the number of Board members
from 106 to 103 with appointments for
terms effective early in 2012.
The current Board representation by
States or units was based on an average
of the January 1, 2005, 2006, and 2007,
inventory of cattle in the various States
as reported by NASS. Current importer
representation was based on a combined
total average of the 2005, 2006, and
2007 live cattle imports as published by
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service
and the average of the 2004, 2005, and
2006 live animal equivalents for
imported beef products.
In considering reapportionment, the
Board reviewed cattle inventories as
well as cattle, beef, and beef product
import data for the period of January 1,
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2011 / Proposed Rules
2008, to January 1, 2010. The Board
recommended that a 3-year average of
cattle inventories and import numbers
should be continued. The Board
determined that an average of the
January 1, 2008, 2009, and 2010, cattle
inventory numbers would best reflect
the number of cattle in each State or
unit since publication of the last
reapportionment rule published in 2008
(73 FR 60097).
The Board reviewed data published
by the USDA’s Economic Research
Service to determine proper importer
representation. The Board
recommended the use of a combined
total of the average of the 2008, 2009,
and 2010, cattle import data and the
average of the 2007, 2008, and 2009, live
animal equivalents for imported beef
products. The method used to calculate
the total number of live animal
equivalents was the same as that used
in the previous reapportionment of the
Board. The live animal equivalent
weight was changed in 2006 from 509
pounds to 592 pounds.
The Board’s recommended
reapportionment plan would decrease
the number of representatives on the
Board from 106 to 103. From the Board’s
analysis of USDA cattle inventories and
import equivalencies, Kansas, Nebraska,
Nevada, and the Southeast Region
would each lose one Board seat.
Montana would gain a Board seat. The
importers would lose two Board seats.
The Board has recommended that the
Southeast Region be expanded to
include Alabama, permitting the new
unit three Board members. According to
the Board analysis, Nevada would lose
its representation on the Board.
However, the Board also proposed that
California and Nevada be combined to
form a Southwest unit.
The States and units affected by the
reapportionment plan and the current
and proposed member representation
per unit are as follows:
Current
representation
State/unit
Revised
representation
Kansas ..............................................................................................................................................................
Nebraska ...........................................................................................................................................................
Nevada ..............................................................................................................................................................
Southeast ..........................................................................................................................................................
7
7
1
3
Importers ...........................................................................................................................................................
Montana ............................................................................................................................................................
Southwest Unit ..................................................................................................................................................
9
2
N/A
The 2012 nomination and
appointment process was not in
progress while the Board was
developing its recommendations. Thus,
the Board reapportionment as proposed
by this rulemaking would be effective,
if adopted, with appointments that will
be effective early in the year 2012.
A 30-day comment period is provided
to allow interested persons to respond
to this proposal. Thirty days is deemed
appropriate to facilitate the adjustment
of the representation on the Board,
which is required by the Order at least
every 3 years, and not more than every
2 years. To permit timely execution of
the annual nomination and appointment
process, publication of a subsequent
final rule must occur as soon as
practical.
It is found that good cause exists to
provide a 30 day comment period after
the date of publication in the Federal
Register because the Beef Promotion
and Research Program would benefit by
having this rule in effect as soon as
possible for the Board appointments
that will be effective early in the year
2012.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1260
Administrative practice and
procedure, Advertising, Agricultural
research, Imports, Marketing agreement,
Meat and meat products, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
For reasons set forth in the preamble,
it is proposed that 7 CFR part 1260 be
amended as follows:
6.
6.
0.
3 (lost one seat
but added a
seat with Alabama joining
the unit).
7.
3.
6 (California and
Nevada).
PART 1260—BEEF PROMOTION AND
RESEARCH
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR
part 1260 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2901–2911 and 7
U.S.C. 7401.
2. In § 1260.141, paragraph (a) and the
table immediately following it, are
revised to read as follows:
§ 1260.141
Membership of Board.
(a) Beginning with the 2011 Board
nominations and the associated
appointments effective early in the year
2012, the United States shall be divided
into 37 geographical units and, 1 unit
representing importers, for a total of 38
units. The number of Board members
from each unit shall be as follows:
CATTLE AND CALVES 1
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State/unit
(1,000 Head)
1. Arizona .....................................................................................................................................................................
2. Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................
3. Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................
4. Florida ......................................................................................................................................................................
5. Idaho ........................................................................................................................................................................
6. Illinois .......................................................................................................................................................................
7. Indiana .....................................................................................................................................................................
8. Iowa .........................................................................................................................................................................
9. Kansas .....................................................................................................................................................................
10. Kentucky ................................................................................................................................................................
11. Louisiana ...............................................................................................................................................................
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983
1,837
2,650
1,710
2,153
1,200
873
3,933
6,317
2,333
873
Directors
1
2
3
2
2
1
1
4
6
2
1
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2011 / Proposed Rules
CATTLE AND CALVES 1—Continued
State/unit
Directors
Michigan ................................................................................................................................................................
Minnesota ..............................................................................................................................................................
Mississippi .............................................................................................................................................................
Missouri .................................................................................................................................................................
Montana .................................................................................................................................................................
Nebraska ...............................................................................................................................................................
New Mexico ...........................................................................................................................................................
New York ...............................................................................................................................................................
North Carolina .......................................................................................................................................................
North Dakota .........................................................................................................................................................
Ohio .......................................................................................................................................................................
Oklahoma ..............................................................................................................................................................
Oregon ...................................................................................................................................................................
Pennsylvania .........................................................................................................................................................
South Dakota .........................................................................................................................................................
Tennessee .............................................................................................................................................................
Texas .....................................................................................................................................................................
Utah .......................................................................................................................................................................
Virginia ...................................................................................................................................................................
Wisconsin ..............................................................................................................................................................
Wyoming ................................................................................................................................................................
Northwest ...............................................................................................................................................................
1,080
2,407
957
4,217
2,583
6,350
1,540
1,410
833
1,763
1,270
5,417
1,290
1,607
3,733
2,040
13,500
820
1,530
3,367
1,327
........................
1
2
1
4
3
6
2
1
1
2
1
5
1
2
4
2
14
1
2
3
1
1
Alaska ...................................................................................................................................................................
Hawaii ...................................................................................................................................................................
Washington ...........................................................................................................................................................
15
151
1,070
....................
....................
....................
Total ...............................................................................................................................................................
1,236
....................
34. Northeast ...............................................................................................................................................................
........................
1
Connecticut ...........................................................................................................................................................
Delaware ...............................................................................................................................................................
Maine ....................................................................................................................................................................
Massachusetts ......................................................................................................................................................
New Hampshire ....................................................................................................................................................
New Jersey ...........................................................................................................................................................
Rhode Island ........................................................................................................................................................
Vermont ................................................................................................................................................................
50
21
88
44
38
37
5
267
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
Total ...............................................................................................................................................................
550
....................
35. Mid-Atlantic ............................................................................................................................................................
........................
1
Maryland ...............................................................................................................................................................
West Virginia ........................................................................................................................................................
192
400
....................
....................
Total ...............................................................................................................................................................
592
....................
36. Southeast ...............................................................................................................................................................
........................
3
Alabama ................................................................................................................................................................
Georgia .................................................................................................................................................................
South Carolina ......................................................................................................................................................
1,253
1,100
385
....................
....................
....................
Total ...............................................................................................................................................................
2,738
....................
37. Southwest ..............................................................................................................................................................
........................
6
California ...............................................................................................................................................................
Nevada .................................................................................................................................................................
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12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
(1,000 Head)
5,283
450
....................
....................
Total ...............................................................................................................................................................
5,733
....................
38. Importer 2 ...............................................................................................................................................................
6,887
7
1 2008,
2009, and 2010 average of January 1 cattle inventory data.
2 2007, 2008, and 2009 average of annual import data.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2011 / Proposed Rules
*
*
*
*
*
Dated: March 29, 2011.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–7826 Filed 4–1–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket No. EERE–2011–BT–NOA–0013]
Energy Conservation Program: Data
Collection and Comparison With
Forecasted Unit Sales of Five Lamp
Types
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of data availability.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) is informing the public of
its collection of shipment data and
creation of spreadsheet models to
provide comparisons between actual
and benchmark estimate unit sales of
five lamp types (i.e., rough service
lamps, vibration service lamps, 3-way
incandescent lamps, 2,601–3,300 lumen
general service incandescent lamps, and
shatter-resistant lamps), which are
currently exempt from energy
conservation standards. As the actual
sales do not exceed the forecasted
estimate by 100 percent for any lamp
type (i.e., the threshold triggering
rulemaking for an energy conservation
standard for that lamp type has not been
exceeded), DOE has determined that no
regulatory action is necessary at this
time. However, DOE will continue to
track sales data for these exempted
lamps. Relating to this activity, DOE has
prepared and is making available on its
Web site a spreadsheet showing the
comparisons of anticipated versus
actual sales, as well as the model used
to generate the original sales estimates.
The spreadsheet is available at: https://
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
appliance_standards/residential/
five_lamp_types.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Tina Kaarsberg, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies, EE–2J, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 287–1393. E-mail:
Tina.Kaarsberg@ee.doe.gov.
Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
GC–71, 1000 Independence Avenue,
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SUMMARY:
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SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–9507. E-mail:
Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Definitions
A. Rough Service Lamps
B. Vibration Service Lamps
C. Three-Way Incandescent Lamps
D. 2,601–3,300 Lumen General Service
Incandescent Lamps
E. Shatter-Resistant Lamps
III. Comparison Methodology
IV. Comparison Results
A. Rough Service Lamps
B. Vibration Service Lamps
C. Three-Way Incandescent Lamps
D. 2,601–3,300 Lumen General Service
Incandescent Lamps
E. Shatter-Resistant Lamps
V. Conclusion
I. Background
The Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) (Pub.
L. 110–140) was enacted on December
19, 2007. Among the requirements of
subtitle B (Lighting Energy Efficiency) of
title III of EISA 2007 were provisions
directing the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) to collect, analyze, and monitor
unit sales of five lamp types (i.e., rough
service lamps, vibration service lamps,
3-way incandescent lamps, 2,601–3,300
lumen general service incandescent
lamps, and shatter-resistant lamps). In
relevant part, section 321(a)(3)(B) of
EISA 2007 amended section 325(l) of
the Energy Policy and Conservation Act
of 1975 (EPCA) by adding paragraph
(4)(B) which generally directs DOE, in
consultation with the National Electrical
Manufacturers Association (NEMA), to:
(1) Collect unit sales data for each of the
five lamp types for calendar years 1990
through 2006 in order to determine the
historical growth rate for each lamp
type; and (2) construct a model for each
of the five lamp types based on
coincident economic indicators that
closely match the historical annual
growth rates of each lamp type to
provide a neutral comparison
benchmark estimate of future unit sales.
(42 U.S.C. 6295(l)(4)(B)) Section
321(a)(3)(B) of EISA 2007 also amends
section 325(l) of EPCA by adding
paragraph (4)(C), which in relevant part,
directs DOE to collect unit sales data for
calendar years 2010 through 2025, in
consultation with NEMA, for each of the
five lamp types. DOE must then
compare the actual lamp sales in that
year with the benchmark estimate,
determine if the unit sales projection
has been exceeded, and issue the
findings within 90 days after the end of
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18425
the analyzed calendar year. (42 U.S.C.
6295(l)(4)(C))
On December 18, 2008, DOE issued a
notice of data availability for the Report
on Data Collection and Estimated
Future Unit Sales of Five Lamp Types
(hereafter ‘‘the 2008 analysis’’) 1 which
was published in the Federal Register
on December 24, 2008. 73 FR 79072.
The 2008 analysis presented the 1990
through 2006 shipment data collected in
consultation with NEMA, the
spreadsheet model DOE constructed for
each lamp type, and the benchmark unit
sales estimate for 2010 through 2025.
Today’s NODA presents the first of the
mandated follow-up comparisons.
Section IV of this report compares the
actual unit sales against benchmark unit
sales estimates for 2010.
EISA 2007 also amends section 325(l)
of EPCA by adding paragraphs (4)(D)
through (4)(H) which state that if DOE
finds that the unit sales for a given lamp
type in any year between 2010 and 2025
exceed the benchmark estimate of unit
sales by at least 100 percent (i.e., more
than double the anticipated sales), then
DOE must take regulatory action to
establish an energy conservation
standard for such lamps. (42 U.S.C.
6295(l)(4)(D)–(H)) For 2,601–3,300
lumen general service incandescent
lamps, DOE must adopt a statutorilyprescribed energy conservation
standard, and for the other four types of
lamps, the statute requires DOE to
initiate an accelerated rulemaking to
establish energy conservation standards.
If the Secretary does not complete the
accelerated rulemakings within one year
of the end of the previous calendar year,
there is a ‘‘backstop requirement’’ for
each lamp type, which would establish
energy conservation standard levels and
related requirements by statute. Id.
As in the 2008 analysis, in this
NODA, DOE uses manufacturer
shipments as a surrogate for unit sales,
because manufacturer shipment data is
tracked and aggregated by the trade
organization, NEMA. DOE believes that
annual shipments track closely with
actual unit sales of these five lamp
types, as DOE presumes that retailer
inventories remain constant from year to
year. DOE believes this is a reasonable
assumption because the markets for
these five lamp types have existed for
many years, thereby enabling
manufacturers and retailers to establish
appropriate inventory levels that reflect
market demand. Furthermore, in the
long-run, unit sales could not increase
1 The Report on the 2008 analysis is available on
the DOE Web site at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/
buildings/appliance_standards/residential/pdfs/
five_lamp_types_report.pdf.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18422-18425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7826]
[[Page 18422]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1260
[No. AMS-LS-10-0086]
Beef Promotion and Research; Reapportionment
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This proposed rule would adjust representation on the
Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board (Board), established
under the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 (Act), to reflect
changes in cattle inventories and cattle and beef imports that have
occurred since the most recent Board reapportionment rule became
effective in October 2008. These adjustments are required by the Beef
Promotion and Research Order (Order) and would result in a decrease in
Board membership from 106 to 103, effective with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's (USDA) appointments for terms beginning early in the year
2012.
DATES: Written comments must be received by May 4, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be posted online at https://www.regulations.gov
or sent to Craig Shackelford, Marketing Programs Branch, Livestock and
Seed Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Room 2628-S, STOP
0251, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0251; or fax
to (202) 720-1125. All comments should reference the docket number, the
date, and the page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
Comments will be available for public inspection at the aforementioned
address, as well as on the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Shackelford, Marketing Programs
Branch, on 202/720-1115, fax 202/720-1125, or by e-mail at
craig.shackelford@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Order 12866
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has waived the review
process required by Executive Order 12866 for this action.
Executive Order 12988
This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,
Civil Justice Reform. It is not intended to have retroactive effect.
Section 11 of the Act provides that nothing in the Act may be
construed to preempt or supersede any other program relating to beef
promotion organized and operated under the laws of the United States or
any State. There are no administrative proceedings that must be
exhausted prior to any judicial challenge to the provisions of this
rule.
Regulatory Flexibility Act and Paperwork Reduction Act
Pursuant to the requirements set forth in the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-612), the Administrator of the
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the economic effect
of this action on small entities and has determined that this proposed
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. The purpose of RFA is to fit regulatory
actions to the scale of businesses subject to such actions in order
that small businesses will not be unduly burdened.
In the February 2010 publication of ``Farms, Land in Farms, and
Livestock Operations,'' USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS) estimates that in 2009 the number of operations in the United
States with cattle totaled approximately 950,000. The majority of these
operations that are subject to the Order may be classified as small
entities.
The proposed rule imposes no new burden on the industry. It only
adjusts representation on the Board to reflect changes in domestic
cattle inventory and cattle and beef imports. The adjustments are
required by the Order and would result in a decrease in Board
membership from 106 to 103.
Background and Proposed Action
The Board was initially appointed August 4, 1986, pursuant to the
provisions of the Act (7 U.S.C. 2901-2911) and the Order issued
thereunder. Domestic representation on the Board is based on cattle
inventory numbers, and importer representation is based on the
conversion of the volume of imported cattle, beef, or beef products
into live animal equivalencies.
Section 1260.141(b) of the Order provides that the Board shall be
composed of cattle producers and importers appointed by the Department
from nominations submitted by certified producer organizations. A
producer may only be nominated to represent the unit in which that
producer is a resident.
Section 1260.141(c) of the Order provides that at least every 3
years and not more than every 2 years, the Board shall review the
geographic distribution of cattle inventories throughout the United
States and the volume of imported cattle, beef, and beef products and,
if warranted, shall reapportion units and/or modify the number of Board
members from units in order to reflect the geographic distribution of
cattle production volume in the United States and the volume of cattle,
beef, or beef products imported into the United States.
Section 1260.141(d) of the Order authorizes the Board to recommend
to the Department modifications to the number of cattle per unit
necessary for representation on the Board.
Section 1260.141(e)(1) provides that each geographic unit or State
that includes a total cattle inventory equal to or greater than 500,000
head of cattle shall be entitled to one representative on the Board.
Section 1260.141(e)(2) provides that States that do not have total
cattle inventories equal to or greater than 500,000 head shall be
grouped, to the extent practicable, into geographically-contiguous
units, each of which have a combined total inventory of not less than
500,000 head. Such grouped units are entitled to at least one
representative on the Board. Each unit that has an additional 1 million
head of cattle within a unit qualifies for additional representation on
the Board as provided in Sec. 1260.141(e)(4). As provided in Sec.
1260.141(e)(3), importers are represented by a single unit, with the
number of Board members based on a conversion of the total volume of
imported cattle, beef, or beef products into live animal equivalencies.
The initial Board appointed in 1986 was composed of 113 members.
Reapportionment, based on a 3-year average of cattle inventory numbers
and import data, reduced the Board to 111 members in 1990 and 107
members in 1993 before the Board was increased to 111 members in 1996.
The Board was decreased to 110 members in 1999, 108 members in 2001,
104 members in 2005, and increased to 106 members in 2009. This
proposal would, when finalized, decrease the number of Board members
from 106 to 103 with appointments for terms effective early in 2012.
The current Board representation by States or units was based on an
average of the January 1, 2005, 2006, and 2007, inventory of cattle in
the various States as reported by NASS. Current importer representation
was based on a combined total average of the 2005, 2006, and 2007 live
cattle imports as published by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service and
the average of the 2004, 2005, and 2006 live animal equivalents for
imported beef products.
In considering reapportionment, the Board reviewed cattle
inventories as well as cattle, beef, and beef product import data for
the period of January 1,
[[Page 18423]]
2008, to January 1, 2010. The Board recommended that a 3-year average
of cattle inventories and import numbers should be continued. The Board
determined that an average of the January 1, 2008, 2009, and 2010,
cattle inventory numbers would best reflect the number of cattle in
each State or unit since publication of the last reapportionment rule
published in 2008 (73 FR 60097).
The Board reviewed data published by the USDA's Economic Research
Service to determine proper importer representation. The Board
recommended the use of a combined total of the average of the 2008,
2009, and 2010, cattle import data and the average of the 2007, 2008,
and 2009, live animal equivalents for imported beef products. The
method used to calculate the total number of live animal equivalents
was the same as that used in the previous reapportionment of the Board.
The live animal equivalent weight was changed in 2006 from 509 pounds
to 592 pounds.
The Board's recommended reapportionment plan would decrease the
number of representatives on the Board from 106 to 103. From the
Board's analysis of USDA cattle inventories and import equivalencies,
Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, and the Southeast Region would each lose one
Board seat. Montana would gain a Board seat. The importers would lose
two Board seats. The Board has recommended that the Southeast Region be
expanded to include Alabama, permitting the new unit three Board
members. According to the Board analysis, Nevada would lose its
representation on the Board. However, the Board also proposed that
California and Nevada be combined to form a Southwest unit.
The States and units affected by the reapportionment plan and the
current and proposed member representation per unit are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Revised
State/unit representation representation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kansas........................ 7 6.
Nebraska...................... 7 6.
Nevada........................ 1 0.
Southeast..................... 3 3 (lost one seat but
added a seat with
Alabama joining the
unit).
Importers..................... 9 7.
Montana....................... 2 3.
Southwest Unit................ N/A 6 (California and
Nevada).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2012 nomination and appointment process was not in progress
while the Board was developing its recommendations. Thus, the Board
reapportionment as proposed by this rulemaking would be effective, if
adopted, with appointments that will be effective early in the year
2012.
A 30-day comment period is provided to allow interested persons to
respond to this proposal. Thirty days is deemed appropriate to
facilitate the adjustment of the representation on the Board, which is
required by the Order at least every 3 years, and not more than every 2
years. To permit timely execution of the annual nomination and
appointment process, publication of a subsequent final rule must occur
as soon as practical.
It is found that good cause exists to provide a 30 day comment
period after the date of publication in the Federal Register because
the Beef Promotion and Research Program would benefit by having this
rule in effect as soon as possible for the Board appointments that will
be effective early in the year 2012.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1260
Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Agricultural
research, Imports, Marketing agreement, Meat and meat products,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
For reasons set forth in the preamble, it is proposed that 7 CFR
part 1260 be amended as follows:
PART 1260--BEEF PROMOTION AND RESEARCH
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 1260 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2901-2911 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.
2. In Sec. 1260.141, paragraph (a) and the table immediately
following it, are revised to read as follows:
Sec. 1260.141 Membership of Board.
(a) Beginning with the 2011 Board nominations and the associated
appointments effective early in the year 2012, the United States shall
be divided into 37 geographical units and, 1 unit representing
importers, for a total of 38 units. The number of Board members from
each unit shall be as follows:
Cattle and Calves [shel1]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
State/unit (1,000 Head) Directors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Arizona................................. 983 1
2. Arkansas................................ 1,837 2
3. Colorado................................ 2,650 3
4. Florida................................. 1,710 2
5. Idaho................................... 2,153 2
6. Illinois................................ 1,200 1
7. Indiana................................. 873 1
8. Iowa.................................... 3,933 4
9. Kansas.................................. 6,317 6
10. Kentucky............................... 2,333 2
11. Louisiana.............................. 873 1
[[Page 18424]]
12. Michigan............................... 1,080 1
13. Minnesota.............................. 2,407 2
14. Mississippi............................ 957 1
15. Missouri............................... 4,217 4
16. Montana................................ 2,583 3
17. Nebraska............................... 6,350 6
18. New Mexico............................. 1,540 2
19. New York............................... 1,410 1
20. North Carolina......................... 833 1
21. North Dakota........................... 1,763 2
22. Ohio................................... 1,270 1
23. Oklahoma............................... 5,417 5
24. Oregon................................. 1,290 1
25. Pennsylvania........................... 1,607 2
26. South Dakota........................... 3,733 4
27. Tennessee.............................. 2,040 2
28. Texas.................................. 13,500 14
29. Utah................................... 820 1
30. Virginia............................... 1,530 2
31. Wisconsin.............................. 3,367 3
32. Wyoming................................ 1,327 1
33. Northwest.............................. .............. 1
----------------------------
Alaska................................. 15 ...........
Hawaii................................. 151 ...........
Washington............................. 1,070 ...........
----------------------------
Total.............................. 1,236 ...........
============================
34. Northeast.............................. .............. 1
----------------------------
Connecticut............................ 50 ...........
Delaware............................... 21 ...........
Maine.................................. 88 ...........
Massachusetts.......................... 44 ...........
New Hampshire.......................... 38 ...........
New Jersey............................. 37 ...........
Rhode Island........................... 5 ...........
Vermont................................ 267 ...........
----------------------------
Total.............................. 550 ...........
============================
35. Mid-Atlantic........................... .............. 1
----------------------------
Maryland............................... 192 ...........
West Virginia.......................... 400 ...........
----------------------------
Total.............................. 592 ...........
============================
36. Southeast.............................. .............. 3
----------------------------
Alabama................................ 1,253 ...........
Georgia................................ 1,100 ...........
South Carolina......................... 385 ...........
----------------------------
Total.............................. 2,738 ...........
============================
37. Southwest.............................. .............. 6
----------------------------
California............................. 5,283 ...........
Nevada................................. 450 ...........
----------------------------
Total.............................. 5,733 ...........
============================
38. Importer 2............................. 6,887 7
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 2008, 2009, and 2010 average of January 1 cattle inventory data.
\2\ 2007, 2008, and 2009 average of annual import data.
[[Page 18425]]
* * * * *
Dated: March 29, 2011.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-7826 Filed 4-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
