Revision of Three U.S. Grade Standards for Carrots, 4913-4916 [2020-01457]

Download as PDF 4913 Proposed Rules Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 18 Tuesday, January 28, 2020 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 LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY 5 CFR Part 2424 Negotiability Proceedings, Reopening of Comment Period Federal Labor Relations Authority. ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period. AGENCY: Approved: January 22, 2020. Colleen Duffy Kiko, Chairman, Federal Labor Relations Authority. The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is reopening the comment period for its proposed rule concerning Negotiability Proceedings for an additional 14 days. The original comment period ended on January 22, 2020. SUMMARY: The comment period for the proposed rule published December 23, 2019, at 84 FR 70439, is reopened. Written comments must be received on or before February 11, 2020. ADDRESSES: You may send comments, which must include the caption ‘‘Negotiability Proceedings,’’ by one of the following methods: • Email: FedRegComments@flra.gov. Include ‘‘Negotiability Proceedings’’ in the subject line of the message. • Mail or Hand Delivery: Emily Sloop, Chief, Case Intake and Publication, Federal Labor Relations Authority, Docket Room, Suite 200, 1400 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20424–0001. Instructions: If you previously submitted comments during the original comment period, you do not need to submit those same comments again. Further, please do not email comments if you mail or hand deliver the same comments. DATES: jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Osborne, Deputy Solicitor, at rosborne@flra.gov or at: (202) 218–7986. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 23, 2019, the FLRA requested comments on a proposed rule, published at 84 FR 70439, to revise the regulations governing negotiability appeals in order to better expedite VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:14 Jan 27, 2020 Jkt 250001 proceedings. The original comment period for the proposed rule ended on January 22, 2020. Relatedly, in Case No. 0–PS–35, the FLRA issued a decision that referred to forthcoming revisions to the regulations governing negotiability appeals. To provide interested parties a further opportunity to comment about all of the issues addressed in the proposed rule, including the issues raised in Case No. 0–PS–35, the FLRA is reopening the comment period for an additional 14 days. Parties should refer to the proposed rule, at 84 FR 70439, for further details about the issues under consideration. [FR Doc. 2020–01359 Filed 1–27–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6727–01–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Part 51 [Document Number AMS–SC–19–0036, SC– 19–330] Revision of Three U.S. Grade Standards for Carrots Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots, U.S. Standards for Grades of Bunched Carrots, and U.S. Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops. AMS is proposing to add more U.S. No. 1 grades to accommodate carrots of colors other than orange, orange red, and orange scarlet. The current U.S. No. 1 grades would remain unchanged. In addition, AMS is proposing to remove the Unclassified section and renumber sections due to the additional grades. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 30, 2020. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to the USDA, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA 22406; fax: (540) 361–1199; or at SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 www.regulations.gov. Comments should reference the dates and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. Comments will be posted without change, including any personal information provided. All comments received within the comment period will become part of the public record maintained by the Agency and will be made available to the public via www.regulations.gov. Comments will be made available for public inspection at the above address during regular business hours or can be viewed at: www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact David G. Horner at the address above, by phone (540) 361–1128; fax (540) 361–1199; or, email Dave.Horner@ usda.gov. Copies of the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots, U.S. Standards for Grades of Bunched Carrots, and U.S. Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops are available at https://www.regulations.gov. Copies of the current U.S. Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots, U.S. Standards for Grades of Bunched Carrots, and U.S. Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops are available on the Specialty Crops Inspection Division website at www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/ vegetables. Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627) as amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture ‘‘to develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade, and packaging, and recommend and demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices.’’ AMS is committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of agricultural commodities and makes copies of official standards available upon request. The U.S. Standards for Grades of Fruits and Vegetables that no longer appear in the Code of Federal Regulations are maintained by AMS at: https:// www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards. AMS is proposing revisions to these U.S. Standards for Grades using the procedures that appear in part 36 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\28JAP1.SGM 28JAP1 4914 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 18 / Tuesday, January 28, 2020 / Proposed Rules Background AMS continually reviews all fruit and vegetable grade standards to ensure their usefulness to the industry, modernize language, and remove duplicative terminology. On December 22, 2008, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 78286) regarding revising the three U.S. grade standards for carrots to accommodate colors other than orange, orange red, and orange scarlet. The notice proposed revising the color section to allow carrots of any color characteristic of the variety to be graded using the standards. Also, the similar varietal characteristic requirement would have been amended to allow mixed colors and/or types when designated as a mixed or specialty pack. The industry as a whole opposed these revisions on the basis that nonorange carrots include heirloom carrots that may not have been bred for uniformity and may not have the same type of characteristics of orange carrots. After gathering more feedback from the industry, AMS developed additional grades to accommodate other colors. For the Topped Carrots, two new grades are U.S. No. 1 Color and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color. For the Bunched and Short Trimmed Carrots, the new grade is U.S. No. 1 Color. The current grades remain unchanged. The new grades are identical to the current grades except for the color requirement (the following tables summarize the proposed revisions). Current AMS spoke with several major U.S. carrot growers by telephone and emailed them a discussion paper on the proposed revisions. No one opposed the changes. In addition, AMS is proposing to remove the Unclassified section. AMS is removing this section in all standards as they are revised, as it is no longer considered necessary. The category was never a grade and only served to show no grade was applied to the lot. Finally, some sections would be renumbered due to the additional grades. The following tables summarizes the proposed revisions and provides rationale for any changes. Proposed Discussion U.S. Topped Carrot Standards § 51.2360 § 51.2361 § 51.2362 § 51.2360 U.S. Extra No. 1 ........................... § 51.2361 U.S. No. 1. § 51.2362 U.S. No. 1 Jumbo. All remain unchanged. § 51.2363 U.S. No. 1 Color and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color. ‘‘U.S. No. 1 Color’’ or ‘‘U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color’’ consists of carrots which meet the requirements of the U.S. No. 1 or U.S. No. 1 Jumbo grades except for fairly well colored. All roots must show good characteristic color, which means the root has a uniform characteristic color for the variety over practically the entire surface. Roots may be comingled with varieties of different colors, provided roots are of the same type. (See § 51.2365.) Additional grades, U.S. No. 1 Color and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color, are proposed to accommodate other colors. The U.S. No. 1 Color and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color grades are identical to the U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo grades, except for the color requirement. The new grades will ensure all grades are premium quality, will provide greater flexibility, and will bring the standards in line with current marketing trends. § 51.2364 U.S. No. 2 ..................................... Remains the same except section number changes from 51.2363 to 51.2364. The U.S. No. 2 grade does not have any color requirements. In addition, carrots of other colors, such as maroon, tend to be specialty pack products and generally would not be sold as U.S. No. 2. Therefore, no U.S. No. 2 Color grade is proposed. § 51.2364 Unclassified ..................................... ‘‘Unclassified’’ consists of carrots which have not been classified in accordance with any of the foregoing grades. The term ‘‘unclassified’’ is not a grade within the meaning of these standards, but is provided as a designation to show that no grade has been applied to the lot Removed .......................................................... AMS is removing this section in all standards as they are revised, as it is no longer considered necessary. The category was never a grade and only served to show no grade was applied to the lot. § 51.2365 Tolerances ....................................... (2) U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo grades. Ten percent for carrots in any lot which fail to meet the requirements of the grade: Provided, That not more than one-half of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for defects causing serious damage, including therein not more than 2 percent for carrots affected by soft rot § 51.2365 Tolerances .................................... (2) U.S. No. 1, U.S. No. 1 Jumbo, U.S. No. 1 Color, and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color grades. Ten percent for carrots in any lot which fail to meet the requirements of the grade: Provided, That not more than one-half of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for defects causing serious damage, including therein not more than 2 percent for carrots affected by soft rot The proposed U.S. No. 1 Color and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color grades have the same tolerances as the other grades in this section, which all remain unchanged. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS § 51.2363 U.S. Extra No. 1 .............................. U.S. No. 1 ....................................... U.S. No. 1 Jumbo ........................... U.S. No. 2 ....................................... U.S. Bunched Carrot Standards § 51.2455 U.S. No. 1 ....................................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:14 Jan 27, 2020 Jkt 250001 § 51.2455 PO 00000 U.S. No. 1 ..................................... Frm 00002 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Remains unchanged. E:\FR\FM\28JAP1.SGM 28JAP1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 18 / Tuesday, January 28, 2020 / Proposed Rules Current § 51.2456 U.S. Commercial ............................. § 51.2457 Unclassified ..................................... ‘‘Unclassified’’ consists of carrots which have not been classified in accordance with either of the foregoing grades. The term ‘‘unclassified’’ is not a grade within the meaning of these standards, but is provided as a designation to show that no grade has been applied to the lot 4915 Proposed Discussion § 51.2456 U.S. No. 1 Color ........................... ‘‘U.S. No. 1 Color’’ consists of carrots which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 1 except for fairly well colored. All roots must show good characteristic color, which means the root has a uniform characteristic color for the variety over practically the entire surface. Roots may be comingled with varieties of different colors, provided roots are of the same type An additional grade, U.S. No. 1 Color, is proposed to accommodate other colors. The U.S. No. 1 Color is identical to the U.S. No. 1 grade, except for the color requirement. The new grade will ensure all grades are premium quality, will provide greater flexibility, and will bring the standards in line with current marketing trends. § 51.2457 U.S. Commercial ........................... Remains the same except section number changes from 51.2456 to 51.2457. Carrots of other colors, such as maroon, tend to be specialty pack products and generally would not be sold as U.S. Commercial, so no U.S. Commercial Color grade is proposed. Removed .......................................................... AMS is removing this section in all standards as they are revised, as it is no longer considered necessary. The category was never a grade and only served to show no grade was applied to the lot. U.S. Short Trimmed Carrot Standards § 51.2485 U.S. No. 1 ....................................... § 51.2485 U.S. No. 1 ..................................... § 51.2486 U.S. No. 1 Color ........................... ‘‘U.S. No. 1 Color’’ consists of carrots which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 1 except for fairly well colored. All roots must show good characteristic color, which means the root has a uniform characteristic color for the variety over practically the entire surface. Roots may be comingled with varieties of different colors, provided roots are of the same type Remains unchanged. An additional grade, U.S. No. 1 Color, is proposed to accommodate other colors. The U.S. No. 1 Color is identical to the U.S. No. 1 grade, except for the color requirement. The new grade will ensure all grades are premium quality, will provide greater flexibility, and will bring the standards in line with current marketing trends. § 51.2486 U.S. Commercial ............................. § 51.2487 U.S. Commercial ........................... Remains the same except section number changes from 51.2486 to 51.2487. Carrots of other colors, such as maroon, tend to be specialty pack products and generally would not be sold as U.S. Commercial, so no U.S. Commercial Color grade is proposed. Removed .......................................................... AMS is removing this section in all standards as they are revised, as it is no longer considered necessary. The category was never a grade and only served to show no grade was applied to the lot. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS § 51.2487 Unclassified ..................................... ‘‘Unclassified’’ consists of carrots which have not been classified in accordance with either of the foregoing grades. The term ‘‘unclassified’’ is not a grade within the meaning of these standards, but is provided as a designation to show that no grade has been applied to the lot As stated, the proposed revisions will ensure all grades are premium quality, provide greater flexibility, and bring the standards in line with current marketing trends. A 60-day comment period is provided for interested persons to submit VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 Jan 27, 2020 Jkt 250001 comments on the proposed revised grade standards. Copies of the proposed revised standards are available at https:// www.regulations.gov. After the 60-day comment period, AMS will move forward in accordance with 7 CFR 36.3(a)(1–3). PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. Dated: January 23, 2020. Bruce Summers, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2020–01457 Filed 1–27–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P E:\FR\FM\28JAP1.SGM 28JAP1 4916 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 18 / Tuesday, January 28, 2020 / Proposed Rules DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA–2019–1008; Product Identifier AD–2019–00110–P] RIN 2120–AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation Propellers Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). AGENCY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Hamilton Sundstrand) 54H60 model propellers. This proposed AD was prompted by the failure of a propeller blade that resulted in the loss of the airplane. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive eddy current inspections (ECI) of the affected propeller blades and replacement of the propeller blades that fail the inspection. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 13, 2020. ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: 202–493–2251. • Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Hamilton Sundstrand, 1 Hamilton Road, Windsor Locks, CT 06096–1010, United States; phone: 877–808–7575; email: CRC@ collins.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781–238– 7759. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:58 Jan 27, 2020 Jkt 250001 Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https:// www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA–2019– 1008; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Maisttison, Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781–238–7076; fax: 781– 238–7199; email: maureen.maisttison@ faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments Invited The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2019–1008; Product Identifier AD–2019–00110–P’’ at the beginning of your comments. The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM because of those comments. Except for Confidential Business Information as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM. Confidential Business Information Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Maureen Maisttison, Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking. Discussion The FAA received a report of the separation of a 54H60 model propeller blade installed on a United States Marine Corps Reserve KC–130T airplane during a flight in July 2017. The separation of the blade resulted in the loss of the airplane and 17 fatalities. The investigation of this event revealed the Hamilton Sundstrand 54H60 model propeller blade separated due to corrosion that was not corrected at the last propeller overhaul. The investigation further revealed that 54H60 model propeller blades manufactured before 1971 are susceptible to this unsafe condition. The applicability of this AD is therefore limited to those Hamilton Sundstrand 54H60 model propellers blades with a blade serial number below 813320, which are those propeller blades manufactured before 1971. This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the propeller blade, blade separation, and loss of the airplane. Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51 The FAA reviewed Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 54H60–61–A154, dated August 26, 2019. The ASB describes procedures for performing an ECI of the propeller blade taper bore. This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section. E:\FR\FM\28JAP1.SGM 28JAP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4913-4916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01457]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 51

[Document Number AMS-SC-19-0036, SC-19-330]


Revision of Three U.S. Grade Standards for Carrots

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of 
Topped Carrots, U.S. Standards for Grades of Bunched Carrots, and U.S. 
Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops. AMS is 
proposing to add more U.S. No. 1 grades to accommodate carrots of 
colors other than orange, orange red, and orange scarlet. The current 
U.S. No. 1 grades would remain unchanged. In addition, AMS is proposing 
to remove the Unclassified section and renumber sections due to the 
additional grades.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
the USDA, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, 100 Riverside Parkway, 
Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA 22406; fax: (540) 361-1199; or at 
www.regulations.gov. Comments should reference the dates and page 
number of this issue of the Federal Register. Comments will be posted 
without change, including any personal information provided. All 
comments received within the comment period will become part of the 
public record maintained by the Agency and will be made available to 
the public via www.regulations.gov. Comments will be made available for 
public inspection at the above address during regular business hours or 
can be viewed at: www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Contact David G. Horner at the 
address above, by phone (540) 361-1128; fax (540) 361-1199; or, email 
[email protected]. Copies of the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades 
of Topped Carrots, U.S. Standards for Grades of Bunched Carrots, and 
U.S. Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops are 
available at https://www.regulations.gov. Copies of the current U.S. 
Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots, U.S. Standards for Grades of 
Bunched Carrots, and U.S. Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short 
Trimmed Tops are available on the Specialty Crops Inspection Division 
website at www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/vegetables.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) as amended, directs and authorizes the 
Secretary of Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of quality, 
condition, quantity, grade, and packaging, and recommend and 
demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices.''
    AMS is committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that 
facilitates the marketing of agricultural commodities and makes copies 
of official standards available upon request. The U.S. Standards for 
Grades of Fruits and Vegetables that no longer appear in the Code of 
Federal Regulations are maintained by AMS at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards. AMS is proposing revisions to these U.S. Standards 
for Grades using the procedures that appear in part 36 of Title 7 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).

[[Page 4914]]

Background

    AMS continually reviews all fruit and vegetable grade standards to 
ensure their usefulness to the industry, modernize language, and remove 
duplicative terminology. On December 22, 2008, AMS published a notice 
in the Federal Register (73 FR 78286) regarding revising the three U.S. 
grade standards for carrots to accommodate colors other than orange, 
orange red, and orange scarlet. The notice proposed revising the color 
section to allow carrots of any color characteristic of the variety to 
be graded using the standards. Also, the similar varietal 
characteristic requirement would have been amended to allow mixed 
colors and/or types when designated as a mixed or specialty pack. The 
industry as a whole opposed these revisions on the basis that non-
orange carrots include heirloom carrots that may not have been bred for 
uniformity and may not have the same type of characteristics of orange 
carrots.
    After gathering more feedback from the industry, AMS developed 
additional grades to accommodate other colors. For the Topped Carrots, 
two new grades are U.S. No. 1 Color and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color. For the 
Bunched and Short Trimmed Carrots, the new grade is U.S. No. 1 Color. 
The current grades remain unchanged. The new grades are identical to 
the current grades except for the color requirement (the following 
tables summarize the proposed revisions).
    AMS spoke with several major U.S. carrot growers by telephone and 
emailed them a discussion paper on the proposed revisions. No one 
opposed the changes.
    In addition, AMS is proposing to remove the Unclassified section. 
AMS is removing this section in all standards as they are revised, as 
it is no longer considered necessary. The category was never a grade 
and only served to show no grade was applied to the lot.
    Finally, some sections would be renumbered due to the additional 
grades.
    The following tables summarizes the proposed revisions and provides 
rationale for any changes.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Current                  Proposed             Discussion
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      U.S. Topped Carrot Standards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   51.2360 U.S. Extra     Sec.   51.2360 U.S.   All remain
 No. 1.                        Extra No. 1.          unchanged.
Sec.   51.2361 U.S. No. 1...  Sec.   51.2361 U.S.
                               No. 1.
Sec.   51.2362 U.S. No. 1     Sec.   51.2362 U.S.
 Jumbo.                        No. 1 Jumbo.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Sec.   51.2363 U.S.   Additional grades,
                               No. 1 Color and       U.S. No. 1 Color
                               U.S. No. 1 Jumbo      and U.S. No. 1
                               Color.                Jumbo Color, are
                              ``U.S. No. 1 Color''   proposed to
                               or ``U.S. No. 1       accommodate other
                               Jumbo Color''         colors. The U.S.
                               consists of carrots   No. 1 Color and
                               which meet the        U.S. No. 1 Jumbo
                               requirements of the   Color grades are
                               U.S. No. 1 or U.S.    identical to the
                               No. 1 Jumbo grades    U.S. No. 1 and U.S.
                               except for fairly     No. 1 Jumbo grades,
                               well colored. All     except for the
                               roots must show       color requirement.
                               good characteristic   The new grades will
                               color, which means    ensure all grades
                               the root has a        are premium
                               uniform               quality, will
                               characteristic        provide greater
                               color for the         flexibility, and
                               variety over          will bring the
                               practically the       standards in line
                               entire surface.       with current
                               Roots may be          marketing trends.
                               comingled with
                               varieties of
                               different colors,
                               provided roots are
                               of the same type.
                               (See Sec.
                               51.2365.).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   51.2363 U.S. No. 2...  Sec.   51.2364 U.S.   Remains the same
                               No. 2.                except section
                                                     number changes from
                                                     51.2363 to 51.2364.
                                                     The U.S. No. 2
                                                     grade does not have
                                                     any color
                                                     requirements. In
                                                     addition, carrots
                                                     of other colors,
                                                     such as maroon,
                                                     tend to be
                                                     specialty pack
                                                     products and
                                                     generally would not
                                                     be sold as U.S. No.
                                                     2. Therefore, no
                                                     U.S. No. 2 Color
                                                     grade is proposed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   51.2364 Unclassified.  Removed.............  AMS is removing this
``Unclassified'' consists of                         section in all
 carrots which have not been                         standards as they
 classified in accordance                            are revised, as it
 with any of the foregoing                           is no longer
 grades. The term                                    considered
 ``unclassified'' is not a                           necessary. The
 grade within the meaning of                         category was never
 these standards, but is                             a grade and only
 provided as a designation                           served to show no
 to show that no grade has                           grade was applied
 been applied to the lot.                            to the lot.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   51.2365 Tolerances...  Sec.   51.2365        The proposed U.S.
(2) U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No.    Tolerances.           No. 1 Color and
 1 Jumbo grades. Ten percent  (2) U.S. No. 1, U.S.   U.S. No. 1 Jumbo
 for carrots in any lot        No. 1 Jumbo, U.S.     Color grades have
 which fail to meet the        No. 1 Color, and      the same tolerances
 requirements of the grade:    U.S. No. 1 Jumbo      as the other grades
 Provided, That not more       Color grades. Ten     in this section,
 than one-half of this         percent for carrots   which all remain
 amount, or 5 percent, shall   in any lot which      unchanged.
 be allowed for defects        fail to meet the
 causing serious damage,       requirements of the
 including therein not more    grade: Provided,
 than 2 percent for carrots    That not more than
 affected by soft rot.         one-half of this
                               amount, or 5
                               percent, shall be
                               allowed for defects
                               causing serious
                               damage, including
                               therein not more
                               than 2 percent for
                               carrots affected by
                               soft rot.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      U.S. Bunched Carrot Standards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   51.2455 U.S. No. 1...  Sec.   51.2455 U.S.   Remains unchanged.
                               No. 1.

[[Page 4915]]

 
                              Sec.   51.2456 U.S.   An additional grade,
                               No. 1 Color.          U.S. No. 1 Color,
                              ``U.S. No. 1 Color''   is proposed to
                               consists of carrots   accommodate other
                               which meet the        colors. The U.S.
                               requirements of       No. 1 Color is
                               U.S. No. 1 except     identical to the
                               for fairly well       U.S. No. 1 grade,
                               colored. All roots    except for the
                               must show good        color requirement.
                               characteristic        The new grade will
                               color, which means    ensure all grades
                               the root has a        are premium
                               uniform               quality, will
                               characteristic        provide greater
                               color for the         flexibility, and
                               variety over          will bring the
                               practically the       standards in line
                               entire surface.       with current
                               Roots may be          marketing trends.
                               comingled with
                               varieties of
                               different colors,
                               provided roots are
                               of the same type.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   51.2456 U.S.           Sec.   51.2457 U.S.   Remains the same
 Commercial.                   Commercial.           except section
                                                     number changes from
                                                     51.2456 to 51.2457.
                                                     Carrots of other
                                                     colors, such as
                                                     maroon, tend to be
                                                     specialty pack
                                                     products and
                                                     generally would not
                                                     be sold as U.S.
                                                     Commercial, so no
                                                     U.S. Commercial
                                                     Color grade is
                                                     proposed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   51.2457 Unclassified.  Removed.............  AMS is removing this
``Unclassified'' consists of                         section in all
 carrots which have not been                         standards as they
 classified in accordance                            are revised, as it
 with either of the                                  is no longer
 foregoing grades. The term                          considered
 ``unclassified'' is not a                           necessary. The
 grade within the meaning of                         category was never
 these standards, but is                             a grade and only
 provided as a designation                           served to show no
 to show that no grade has                           grade was applied
 been applied to the lot.                            to the lot.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   U.S. Short Trimmed Carrot Standards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   51.2485 U.S. No. 1...  Sec.   51.2485 U.S.   Remains unchanged.
                               No. 1.
                              Sec.   51.2486 U.S.   An additional grade,
                               No. 1 Color.          U.S. No. 1 Color,
                              ``U.S. No. 1 Color''   is proposed to
                               consists of carrots   accommodate other
                               which meet the        colors. The U.S.
                               requirements of       No. 1 Color is
                               U.S. No. 1 except     identical to the
                               for fairly well       U.S. No. 1 grade,
                               colored. All roots    except for the
                               must show good        color requirement.
                               characteristic        The new grade will
                               color, which means    ensure all grades
                               the root has a        are premium
                               uniform               quality, will
                               characteristic        provide greater
                               color for the         flexibility, and
                               variety over          will bring the
                               practically the       standards in line
                               entire surface.       with current
                               Roots may be          marketing trends.
                               comingled with
                               varieties of
                               different colors,
                               provided roots are
                               of the same type.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   51.2486 U.S.           Sec.   51.2487 U.S.   Remains the same
 Commercial.                   Commercial.           except section
                                                     number changes from
                                                     51.2486 to 51.2487.
                                                     Carrots of other
                                                     colors, such as
                                                     maroon, tend to be
                                                     specialty pack
                                                     products and
                                                     generally would not
                                                     be sold as U.S.
                                                     Commercial, so no
                                                     U.S. Commercial
                                                     Color grade is
                                                     proposed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   51.2487 Unclassified.  Removed.............  AMS is removing this
``Unclassified'' consists of                         section in all
 carrots which have not been                         standards as they
 classified in accordance                            are revised, as it
 with either of the                                  is no longer
 foregoing grades. The term                          considered
 ``unclassified'' is not a                           necessary. The
 grade within the meaning of                         category was never
 these standards, but is                             a grade and only
 provided as a designation                           served to show no
 to show that no grade has                           grade was applied
 been applied to the lot.                            to the lot.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As stated, the proposed revisions will ensure all grades are 
premium quality, provide greater flexibility, and bring the standards 
in line with current marketing trends.
    A 60-day comment period is provided for interested persons to 
submit comments on the proposed revised grade standards. Copies of the 
proposed revised standards are available at https://www.regulations.gov. 
After the 60-day comment period, AMS will move forward in accordance 
with 7 CFR 36.3(a)(1-3).

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: January 23, 2020.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-01457 Filed 1-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P


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