Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order; Continuance Referendum, 5955 [2018-02485]
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5955
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 83, No. 29
Monday, February 12, 2018
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.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1217
[Document No. AMS–SC–17–0072]
Softwood Lumber Research,
Promotion, Consumer Education and
Industry Information Order;
Continuance Referendum
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notification of referendum
order.
AGENCY:
This document directs that a
referendum be conducted among
eligible domestic (U.S.) manufacturers
and importers of softwood lumber to
determine whether they favor
continuance of the Agricultural
Marketing Service’s (AMS) regulations
regarding a national softwood lumber
research and promotion program.
DATES: The referendum will be
conducted by mail ballot from April 17
through May 14, 2018. Ballots must be
received by the referendum agents no
later than the close of business on May
14, 2018, to be counted.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the softwood
lumber program may be obtained from:
Referendum Agent, Promotion and
Economics Division, Specialty Crops
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406–
S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250–
0244, telephone: (202) 720–9915;
facsimile: (202) 205–2800; or contact
Maureen Pello at (503) 632–8848 or via
electronic mail: Maureen.Pello@
ams.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist,
Promotion and Economics Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room
1406–S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC
20250–0244; telephone: (202) 720–9915,
(503) 632–8848 (direct line); facsimile:
(202) 205–2800; or electronic mail:
Maureen.Pello@ams.usda.gov.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:29 Feb 09, 2018
Jkt 244001
Pursuant
to the Commodity Promotion, Research,
and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C.
7411–7425) (1996 Act), it is hereby
directed that a referendum be conducted
to ascertain whether continuance of the
Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion,
Consumer Education and Industry
Information Order (7 CFR part 1217) is
favored by eligible domestic
manufacturers and importers of
softwood lumber. The program is
authorized under the 1996 Act.
The representative period for
establishing voter eligibility for the
referendum shall be the period from
January 1 through December 31, 2017.
Persons who domestically manufactured
and shipped or imported 15 million
board feet or more of softwood lumber
during the representative period, were
subject to assessments during that
period, and are currently softwood
lumber manufacturers or importers
subject to assessment under the part are
eligible to vote. Persons who received
an exemption from assessments
pursuant to § 1217.53 for the entire
representative period are ineligible to
vote. The referendum will be conducted
by mail ballot from April 17 through
May 14, 2018.
Section 518 of the 1996 Act (7 U.S.C.
7417) authorizes continuance referenda.
Under § 1217.81(b), the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) must conduct a
referendum seven years after the
program became effective to determine
whether persons subject to assessment
favor continuance of the program. The
program took effect in 2011. USDA
would continue the program if
continuance is favored by a majority of
the domestic manufacturers and
importers voting in the referendum,
who also represent a majority of the
volume of softwood lumber represented
in the referendum.
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the referendum ballot has
been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and
assigned OMB No. 0581–0093. It has
been estimated that approximately 210
entities will be eligible to vote in the
referendum. It will take an average of 15
minutes for each voter to read the voting
instructions and complete the
referendum ballot.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
Referendum Order
Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist,
and Heather Pichelman, Director,
Promotion and Economics Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA,
Stop 0244, Room 1406–S, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–0244, are designated as the
referendum agents to conduct this
referendum. The referendum procedures
at 7 CFR 1217.100 through 1217.108,
which were issued pursuant to the 1996
Act, shall be used to conduct the
referendum.
The referendum agents will mail the
ballots to be cast in the referendum and
voting instructions to all known, eligible
domestic manufacturers and importers
prior to the first day of the voting
period. Persons who domestically
manufactured and shipped or imported
15 million board feet or more of
softwood lumber during the
representative period, were subject to
assessment during that period, and are
currently softwood lumber domestic
manufacturers or importers subject to
assessment under the part are eligible to
vote. Persons who received an
exemption from assessments pursuant
to § 1217.53 during the entire
representative period are ineligible to
vote. Any eligible domestic
manufacturer or importer who does not
receive a ballot should contact a
referendum agent no later than one
week before the end of the voting
period. Ballots must be received by the
referendum agent by 4:30 p.m. Eastern
time, May 14, 2018, in order to be
counted.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1217
Administrative practice and
procedure, Advertising, Consumer
information, Marketing agreements,
Promotion, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Softwood
lumber.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411–7425; 7 U.S.C.
7401.
Dated: February 2, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018–02485 Filed 2–9–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
E:\FR\FM\12FEP1.SGM
12FEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02485]
========================================================================
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. 83, No. 29 / Monday, February 12, 2018 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 5955]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1217
[Document No. AMS-SC-17-0072]
Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and
Industry Information Order; Continuance Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notification of referendum order.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible domestic (U.S.) manufacturers and importers of softwood lumber
to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural
Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding a national softwood
lumber research and promotion program.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted by mail ballot from April 17
through May 14, 2018. Ballots must be received by the referendum agents
no later than the close of business on May 14, 2018, to be counted.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the softwood lumber program may be obtained from:
Referendum Agent, Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop
0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244, telephone: (202) 720-9915; facsimile:
(202) 205-2800; or contact Maureen Pello at (503) 632-8848 or via
electronic mail: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist,
Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC
20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-9915, (503) 632-8848 (direct line);
facsimile: (202) 205-2800; or electronic mail:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion,
Research, and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) (1996 Act),
it is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain
whether continuance of the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion,
Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (7 CFR part 1217) is
favored by eligible domestic manufacturers and importers of softwood
lumber. The program is authorized under the 1996 Act.
The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for
the referendum shall be the period from January 1 through December 31,
2017. Persons who domestically manufactured and shipped or imported 15
million board feet or more of softwood lumber during the representative
period, were subject to assessments during that period, and are
currently softwood lumber manufacturers or importers subject to
assessment under the part are eligible to vote. Persons who received an
exemption from assessments pursuant to Sec. 1217.53 for the entire
representative period are ineligible to vote. The referendum will be
conducted by mail ballot from April 17 through May 14, 2018.
Section 518 of the 1996 Act (7 U.S.C. 7417) authorizes continuance
referenda. Under Sec. 1217.81(b), the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) must conduct a referendum seven years after the program became
effective to determine whether persons subject to assessment favor
continuance of the program. The program took effect in 2011. USDA would
continue the program if continuance is favored by a majority of the
domestic manufacturers and importers voting in the referendum, who also
represent a majority of the volume of softwood lumber represented in
the referendum.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the referendum ballot has been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB No. 0581-0093. It has been
estimated that approximately 210 entities will be eligible to vote in
the referendum. It will take an average of 15 minutes for each voter to
read the voting instructions and complete the referendum ballot.
Referendum Order
Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist, and Heather Pichelman,
Director, Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program,
AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250-0244, are designated as the referendum agents to
conduct this referendum. The referendum procedures at 7 CFR 1217.100
through 1217.108, which were issued pursuant to the 1996 Act, shall be
used to conduct the referendum.
The referendum agents will mail the ballots to be cast in the
referendum and voting instructions to all known, eligible domestic
manufacturers and importers prior to the first day of the voting
period. Persons who domestically manufactured and shipped or imported
15 million board feet or more of softwood lumber during the
representative period, were subject to assessment during that period,
and are currently softwood lumber domestic manufacturers or importers
subject to assessment under the part are eligible to vote. Persons who
received an exemption from assessments pursuant to Sec. 1217.53 during
the entire representative period are ineligible to vote. Any eligible
domestic manufacturer or importer who does not receive a ballot should
contact a referendum agent no later than one week before the end of the
voting period. Ballots must be received by the referendum agent by 4:30
p.m. Eastern time, May 14, 2018, in order to be counted.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1217
Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer
information, Marketing agreements, Promotion, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Softwood lumber.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425; 7 U.S.C. 7401.
Dated: February 2, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-02485 Filed 2-9-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
