[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 13, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77837-77838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31762]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 13, 2000 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 77837]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 1000, 1001, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1030, 1032, 1033, 1124, 
1126, 1131, and 1135

[Docket No. AO-14-A69, et al.; DA-00-03]


Milk in the Northeast and Other Marketing Areas; Referendum 
Order; Determination of Representative Period and Designation of 
Referendum Agent

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum Order.

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SUMMARY: This document announces a referendum to be conducted to 
determine whether producers favor issuance of the order regulating the 
handling of milk in the Upper Midwest marketing area, as proposed to be 
amended in the tentative final decision issued by the Deputy Under 
Secretary on November 29, 2000 (65 FR 76831), regarding the pricing 
formulas for milk used in Class III and Class IV.

DATES: The referendum is to be completed on or before December 29, 
2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Constance M. Brenner, Marketing 
Specialist, USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, Order Formulation Branch, Room 
2968 South Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456, (202) 
720-2357, e-mail address [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior documents in this proceeding:
    Notice of Hearing: Issued April 6, 2000; published April 14, 2000 
(65 FR 20094).
    Tentative Final Decision: Issued November 29, 2000; published 
December 7, 2000 (65 FR 76831).
    On November 29, 2000, the Deputy Under Secretary, Marketing and 
Regulatory Programs, issued a tentative final decision on proposed 
amendments to the Class III and Class IV pricing formulas for Federal 
milk orders, as required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2000 
(P.L. 106-113, 115 Stat. 1501).
    Each of the eleven Federal milk orders must be approved by the 
producers whose milk would be pooled under the order. The tentative 
final decision included a referendum order for two Federal milk orders, 
the Northeast and Mideast, for which approval by the necessary two-
thirds of producers, or by producers who produced at least two-thirds 
of the total milk produced under the order, could not be determined by 
means other than referenda of all producers and cooperative 
associations that bloc vote. After issuance of the tentative final 
decision, it was determined that approval of the Upper Midwest order 
also would require a referendum of all producers and bloc-voting 
cooperative associations. Accordingly, the following referendum order 
is issued to determine approval of the Upper Midwest order as amended 
by the provisions contained in the tentative final decision.
      
      
      

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               7 CFR Part                              Marketing Area                          AO Nos.
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1001...................................  Northeast................................  AO-14-A69.
1005...................................  Appalachian..............................  AO-388-A11.
1006...................................  Florida..................................  AO-356-A34.
1007...................................  Southeast................................  AO-366-A40.
1030...................................  Upper Midwest............................  AO-361-A34.
1032...................................  Central..................................  AO-313-A43.
1033...................................  Mideast..................................  AO-166-A67.
1124...................................  Pacific Northwest........................  AO-368-A27.
1126...................................  Southwest................................  AO-231-A65.
1131...................................  Arizona-Las Vegas........................  AO-271-A35.
1135...................................  Western..................................  AO-380-A17.
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Referendum Order To Determine Producer Approval; Determination of 
Representative Period; and Designation of Referendum Agent

    It is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to determine 
whether the issuance of the order regulating the handling of milk in 
the Upper Midwest marketing area, as amended by the tentative final 
decision issued on November 29, 2000 (65 FR 76831), is approved by at 
least two-thirds of the producers, or by producers who produced at 
least two-thirds of the total milk produced during the representative 
period.
    The month of September 2000 is hereby determined to be the 
representative period for the conduct of such referendum.
    H. Paul Kyburz is hereby designated agent of the Secretary to 
conduct such referendum in accordance with the procedure for the 
conduct of referenda (7 CFR 900.300 et seq.)
    Such referendum shall be completed on or before 30 days from the 
issuance of the tentative final decision.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Parts 1000, 1001, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1030, 
1032, 1033, 1124, 1126, 1131, and 1135

    Milk marketing orders.

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


[[Page 77838]]


    Dated: December 8, 2000.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 00-31762 Filed 12-11-00; 10:11 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P