[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21742]
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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. 66, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 28, 2001 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 45188]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1219
[Docket Nos. FV-01-705 EXT and FV-01-706 EXT]
Subpart A--Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information
Order and Subpart B--Referendum Procedures; Extension of Comment
Periods
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Extension of the comment periods.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the 45-day comment periods on the
proposed Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Order and
referendum procedures for the program are being extended for an
additional 15 days.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 12, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning this proposed rule to the Docket Clerk, Research and
Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing
Service, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 2535 South Building, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0244. Comments should be submitted in
triplicate and will be made available for public inspection at the
above address during regular business hours. Comments may also be
submitted electronically to: [email protected]. All comments
should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this
issue of the Federal Register. A copy of this rule may be found at:
www.ams.usda.gov/fv/rpdocketlist.htm. Pursuant to the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA), send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden
estimate, ways to minimize the burden, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, or any
other aspect of this collection of information to the above address.
Comments concerning the information collection under the PRA should
also be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC
20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Morin, Research and Promotion
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2535 South Building, Washington, DC
20250-0244; telephone (202) 720-9915 or fax (202) 205-2800.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 13, 2001, a proposed rule containing
proposals for the Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information
Order (Order) (66 FR 36870) and a proposed rule containing referendum
procedures for the program (66 FR 36886) were published in the Federal
Register.
Under the proposed Order, producers and importers would pay an
assessment to the proposed Hass Avocado Board (Board). Assessments
collected under the program, at the initial rate of 2.5 cents a pound,
are expected to generate $10 million annually. The Board would use the
assessments collected to conduct a promotion, research, and information
program to maintain, develop, and expand markets for Hass avocados in
the United States. The proposed referendum procedures would be used for
a referendum to determine whether producers and importers favor
implementation of the Order. The comment periods on both proposed rules
end on August 27, 2001.
Requests that additional time be provided for interested persons to
comment were received from Ambassador James Bolger of New Zealand on
August 3, 2001; Ambassador Andres Bianchi of Chile on August 8, 2001;
Senators Joseph R. Biden, Jr., and Thomas R. Carper and Congressman
Michael N. Castle on August 8, 2001; Senator Richard G. Lugar on August
15, 2001, and Congressmen Rob Andrews and Robert Menendez on August 15,
2001. The New Zealand Ambassador requested the extension due to the
complexity of the rule. The other parties requested the extension due
to the complexity of the rule and the recent Supreme Court decision on
the mushroom program (United States et al. v. United Foods, Inc.; 533
U.S.___(2001); 69 U.S.L.W. 4543, June 25, 2001).
After reviewing the situation, the Department is extending the
comment periods for 15 additional days. This will provide interested
persons a total of 60 days to review the proposed rules, perform a more
complete analysis, and submit any written comments.
This delay should not substantially add to the time required to
complete this rulemaking action. Accordingly, comments will be accepted
until September 12, 2001. This notice is issued under the Hass Avocado
Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act, (7 U.S.C. 7801-
7813), enacted on October 23, 2000.
Dated: August 23, 2001.
Robert C. Keeney,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-21742 Filed 8-24-01; 9:36 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P