80_FR_79735 80 FR 79490 - United States Standards for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice

80 FR 79490 - United States Standards for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 245 (December 22, 2015)

Page Range79490-79491
FR Document2015-32181

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is seeking comment from the public regarding the United States (U.S.) Standards for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice under the Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA). To ensure that standards and official grading practices remain relevant, GIPSA invites interested parties to comment on whether the current rice standards and grading practices need to be changed.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 79490-79491]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32181]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

7 CFR Part 868


United States Standards for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for 
Processing, and Milled Rice

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Grain 
Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is seeking 
comment from the public regarding the United States (U.S.) Standards 
for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice under the 
Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA). To ensure that standards and 
official grading practices remain relevant, GIPSA invites interested 
parties to comment on whether the current rice standards and grading 
practices need to be changed.

DATES: We will consider comments we receive by March 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written or electronic comments on this 
proposed rule to:
     Mail: Irene Omade, GIPSA, USDA, STOP 3642, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 2530-B, Washington, DC 20250-3604.
     Fax: (202) 690-2173
     Internet: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the 
on-line instructions for submitting comments.
    All comments will become a matter of public record and should be 
identified as ``U.S. Standards for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for 
Processing, and Milled Rice request for information comments,'' making 
reference to the date and page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register. All comments received become the property of the Federal 
government, are a part of the public record, and will generally be 
posted to www.regulations.gov without change. If you send an email 
comment directly to GIPSA without going through www.regulations.gov, or 
you submit a comment to GIPSA via fax, the originating email address or 
telephone number will be automatically captured and included as part of 
the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on 
the Internet. Also, all personal identifying information (for example, 
name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be 
publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    Electronic submissions should avoid the use of special characters, 
avoid any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses, 
since these may prevent GIPSA from being able to read and understand, 
and thus consider your comment.
    GIPSA will post a transcript or report summarizing each substantive 
oral comment that we receive. This would include comments made at any 
public meetings hosted by GIPSA during the comment period, unless GIPSA 
publically announces otherwise.
    All comments will also be available for public inspection at the 
above address during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)). Please 
call the GIPSA Management and Budget Services support staff (202) 720-
8479 for an appointment to view the comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly A. Whalen at GIPSA, USDA, 
10383 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO, 64153; Telephone: (816) 
659-8410; Fax Number: (816) 872-1258; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the AMA (7 U.S.C. 
1621-1627), as amended, GIPSA establishes and maintains a variety of 
quality and grade standards for agricultural commodities that serve as 
a fundamental starting point to define commodity quality in the 
domestic and global marketplace. Standards developed by GIPSA under the 
AMA include rice, whole dry peas, split peas, feed peas, lentils, and 
beans. The AMA standards are voluntary and widely used in private 
contracts, government procurement, marketing communication, and, for 
some commodities, consumer information. The U. S. Standards for Rough 
Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice standards were last 
revised in 2002 and appear in the AMA regulations at 7 CFR 868.202 
through 868.316. The standards facilitate the marketing of rice in 
foreign and domestic trade, and provide a uniform measure of quality by 
providing a common language to describe commodity attributes for U.S. 
producers, exporters and their customers. Official procedures for 
inspections are provided in GIPSA's

[[Page 79491]]

Rice Inspection Handbook for determining the various grading factors.
    GIPSA inspects shipments of rice in accordance with AMA standards 
to establish the grade of the rice and issues inspection certificates 
for each shipment. GIPSA-issued certificates describing the quality and 
condition of graded rice are accepted as prima facie evidence in all 
Federal courts. U. S. rice standards and the affiliated grading and 
testing services offered by GIPSA verify that a seller's rice meets 
specified requirements, and ensure that customers receive the quality 
of rice they purchased. In addition to Federal usage, the rice 
standards are applied by one State and one private cooperator.
    In order for U. S. standards and grading procedures for Rough Rice, 
Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice to remain relevant, GIPSA is 
issuing this request for information to invite interested parties to 
submit comments, ideas, and suggestions on all aspects of the U. S. 
Standards for Rice and inspection procedures.

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

Larry Mitchell,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-32181 Filed 12-21-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P

79490 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 245 / Tuesday, December 22, 2015 / Proposed Rules burden by requiring investigations to be Dated: December 10, 2015. number will be automatically captured continually reinvestigated. In addition, Karen L. Neuman, and included as part of the comment permitting access and amendment to such Chief Privacy Officer, Department of that is placed in the public docket and information could disclose security-sensitive Homeland Security. made available on the Internet. Also, all information that could be detrimental to personal identifying information (for [FR Doc. 2015–31898 Filed 12–21–15; 8:45 am] homeland security. example, name, address, etc.) (iii) From subsection (e)(1) (Relevancy and BILLING CODE 9111–14–P voluntarily submitted by the commenter Necessity of Information) because in the may be publicly accessible. Do not course of investigations into potential DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE submit confidential business violations of federal law, the accuracy of information obtained or introduced information or otherwise sensitive or occasionally may be unclear, or the Grain Inspection, Packers and protected information. information may not be strictly relevant or Stockyards Administration Electronic submissions should avoid necessary to a specific investigation. In the the use of special characters, avoid any interests of effective law enforcement, it is 7 CFR Part 868 form of encryption, and be free of any appropriate to retain all information that may defects or viruses, since these may aid in establishing patterns of unlawful United States Standards for Rough prevent GIPSA from being able to read activity. Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, and and understand, and thus consider your (iv) From subsection (e)(2) (Collection of Milled Rice comment. Information from Individuals) because GIPSA will post a transcript or report requiring that information be collected from AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and summarizing each substantive oral the subject of an investigation would alert the Stockyards Administration, USDA. comment that we receive. This would subject to the nature or existence of the ACTION: Request for information. include comments made at any public investigation, thereby interfering with that meetings hosted by GIPSA during the investigation and related law enforcement SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain comment period, unless GIPSA activities. publically announces otherwise. (v) From subsection (e)(3) (Notice to Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is seeking All comments will also be available Subjects) because providing such detailed for public inspection at the above information could impede law enforcement comment from the public regarding the United States (U.S.) Standards for address during regular business hours (7 by compromising the existence of a Rough Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, CFR 1.27(b)). Please call the GIPSA confidential investigation or reveal the identity of witnesses or confidential and Milled Rice under the Agriculture Management and Budget Services informants. Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA). To support staff (202) 720–8479 for an (vi) From subsections (e)(4)(G), (e)(4)(H), ensure that standards and official appointment to view the comments. and (e)(4)(I) (Agency Requirements) and (f) grading practices remain relevant, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (Agency Rules), because portions of this GIPSA invites interested parties to Beverly A. Whalen at GIPSA, USDA, system are exempt from the individual access comment on whether the current rice 10383 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas provisions of subsection (d) for the reasons standards and grading practices need to City, MO, 64153; Telephone: (816) 659– noted above, and therefore DHS is not 8410; Fax Number: (816) 872–1258; be changed. required to establish requirements, rules, or email: Beverly.A.Whalen@usda.gov. procedures with respect to such access. DATES: We will consider comments we receive by March 21, 2016. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Providing notice to individuals with respect to existence of records pertaining to them in ADDRESSES: You may submit written or authority of the AMA (7 U.S.C. 1621– the system of records or otherwise setting up electronic comments on this proposed 1627), as amended, GIPSA establishes procedures pursuant to which individuals rule to: and maintains a variety of quality and may access and view records pertaining to • Mail: Irene Omade, GIPSA, USDA, grade standards for agricultural themselves in the system would undermine STOP 3642, 1400 Independence Avenue commodities that serve as a investigative efforts and reveal the identities SW., Room 2530–B, Washington, DC fundamental starting point to define of witnesses, potential witnesses, and 20250–3604. commodity quality in the domestic and confidential informants. • Fax: (202) 690–2173 global marketplace. Standards (vii) From subsection (e)(5) (Collection of • Internet: Go to http:// developed by GIPSA under the AMA Information) because with the collection of www.regulations.gov and follow the on- include rice, whole dry peas, split peas, information for law enforcement purposes, it line instructions for submitting feed peas, lentils, and beans. The AMA is impossible to determine in advance what comments. standards are voluntary and widely information is accurate, relevant, timely, and All comments will become a matter of used in private contracts, government complete. Compliance with subsection (e)(5) public record and should be identified procurement, marketing would preclude DHS agents from using their as ‘‘U.S. Standards for Rough Rice, communication, and, for some investigative training and exercise of good Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled commodities, consumer information. judgment to both conduct and report on investigations. Rice request for information The U. S. Standards for Rough Rice, (viii) From subsection (e)(8) (Notice on comments,’’ making reference to the Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Individuals) because compliance would date and page number of this issue of Rice standards were last revised in 2002 interfere with DHS’s ability to obtain, serve, the Federal Register. All comments and appear in the AMA regulations at 7 and issue subpoenas, warrants, and other law received become the property of the CFR 868.202 through 868.316. The rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS enforcement mechanisms that may be filed Federal government, are a part of the standards facilitate the marketing of rice under seal and could result in disclosure of public record, and will generally be in foreign and domestic trade, and investigative techniques, procedures, and posted to www.regulations.gov without provide a uniform measure of quality by evidence. change. If you send an email comment providing a common language to (ix) From subsection (g) (Civil Remedies) to directly to GIPSA without going through describe commodity attributes for U.S. the extent that the system is exempt from www.regulations.gov, or you submit a producers, exporters and their other specific subsections of the Privacy Act. comment to GIPSA via fax, the customers. Official procedures for * * * * * originating email address or telephone inspections are provided in GIPSA’s VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:12 Dec 21, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\22DEP1.SGM 22DEP1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 245 / Tuesday, December 22, 2015 / Proposed Rules 79491 Rice Inspection Handbook for reflect statutory changes to the ’34 Act the appropriate regulatory agency only determining the various grading factors. made by the Jumpstart Our Business for a state-chartered (State) insured bank GIPSA inspects shipments of rice in Startups Act (JOBS Act). The proposed that is not a member of the Federal accordance with AMA standards to amendments are consistent with the Reserve System and a subsidiary of any establish the grade of the rice and issues FDIC’s continuing review of its such bank, and the Office of Thrift inspection certificates for each regulations under the Economic Growth Supervision (OTS) was the appropriate shipment. GIPSA-issued certificates and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction regulatory agency for a State or federal describing the quality and condition of Act of 1996. savings association.4 graded rice are accepted as prima facie DATES: Comments must be received by In 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act provided evidence in all Federal courts. U. S. rice February 22, 2016. for a substantial reorganization of the standards and the affiliated grading and ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, regulation of State and Federal savings testing services offered by GIPSA verify identified by RIN 3064–AE41, by any of associations and their holding that a seller’s rice meets specified the following methods: companies. On July 21, 2011, (the requirements, and ensure that customers • Agency Web site: http://www.fdic. ‘‘transfer date’’ established by section receive the quality of rice they gov/regulations/laws/federal/. Follow 311 of the Dodd-Frank Act), the powers, purchased. In addition to Federal usage, instructions for submitting comments duties, and functions formerly assigned the rice standards are applied by one on the Agency Web site. to, or performed by, the OTS were State and one private cooperator. • Email: Comments@fdic.gov. Include transferred to (i) the FDIC, as to State In order for U. S. standards and the RIN 3064–AE41 on the subject line savings associations; (ii) the Office of grading procedures for Rough Rice, of the message. the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled • Mail: Robert E. Feldman, Executive as to Federal savings associations; and Rice to remain relevant, GIPSA is Secretary, Attention: Comments, Federal (iii) the Board of Governors of the issuing this request for information to Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Federal Reserve System, as to savings invite interested parties to submit Street NW., Washington, DC 20429. and loan holding companies. The Dodd- comments, ideas, and suggestions on all • Hand Delivery: Comments may be Frank Act also amended the ’34 Act to aspects of the U. S. Standards for Rice hand-delivered to the guard station at define the FDIC as the appropriate and inspection procedures. the rear of the 550 17th Street Building regulatory agency for insured State Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627 (located on F Street) on business days savings associations, and subsidiaries between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. thereof, along with insured State Larry Mitchell, Public Inspection: All comments nonmember banks, and subsidiaries Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and received must include the agency name thereof.5 Stockyards Administration. and RIN for this rulemaking. All In 2012, the JOBS Act increased the [FR Doc. 2015–32181 Filed 12–21–15; 8:45 am] comments received will be posted thresholds at which securities must be BILLING CODE 3410–KD–P without change to http://www.fdic.gov/ registered under Section 12(g)(1) with regulations/laws/federal/, including any the Securities and Exchange personal information provided. Paper Commission (SEC).6 As amended by the FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE copies of public comments may be JOBS Act, Section 12(g)(1) generally CORPORATION ordered from the FDIC Public requires securities’ issuers to register Information Center, 3501 North Fairfax their securities when the issuer has total 12 CFR Part 341 Drive, Room E–1002, Arlington, VA assets exceeding $10,000,000 and a class 22226 by telephone at 1 (877) 275–3342 of equity security (other than an RIN 3064–AE41 or 1 (703) 562–2200. exempted security) held of record by Proposed Revisions to the FDIC’s FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judy either— (i) 2,000 persons or (ii) 500 Rules and Regulations Requiring the Gross, Senior Policy Analyst, (202) 898– persons who are not accredited Registration of Securities Transfer 7074, jugross@fdic.gov; or Rachel investors (as such term is defined by the Agents Ackmann, Counsel, (202) 898–6858, SEC).7 rackmann@fdic.gov. The JOBS Act also amended Section AGENCY: Federal Deposit Insurance SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 12(g)(1) to provide that in the case of an Corporation (FDIC). issuer that is a bank or a bank holding ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. I. Background company, the issuer’s securities must be The ’34 Act provides that an entity registered when the issuer has total SUMMARY: The FDIC is proposing to must register as a transfer agent if it assets exceeding $10,000,000 and a class amend its regulations requiring insured functions as a transfer agent with of equity security (other than an State nonmember banks, or subsidiaries respect to any security registered under exempted security) held of record by of such banks, that act as transfer agents section 12 of the ’34 Act (Section 12) or 2,000 or more persons.8 for qualifying securities under section if it would be required to be registered Part 341 of the FDIC’s regulations 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of except for the exemption from (part 341) implements Section 12 of the 1934 (’34 Act) to register with the FDIC. registration provided by Section ’34 Act by requiring State nonmember First, the proposed amendments would 12(g)(2)(B) or Section 12(g)(2)(G).1 A banks and subsidiaries thereof that are require insured State savings transfer agent registers by filing an associations and subsidiaries of such application for registration with the 4 15 U.S.C. 78c. Additionally, the FDIC has rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS State savings associations that act as appropriate regulatory agency.2 Prior to authority to make such rules and regulations as may transfer agents for qualifying securities the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall be necessary to implement the provisions in the ’34 to register with the FDIC, similar to the Act related to the registration of transfer agents of Street Reform and Consumer Protection any institution for which it is the appropriate registration requirements applicable to Act 3 (Dodd-Frank Act), the FDIC was regulatory agency. 15 U.S.C. 78w(a). insured State nonmember banks and 5 Public Law 111–203, Section 376(a) (2010). subsidiaries of such banks. Second, the 1 15U.S.C. 78q–1(c)(1). 6 Public Law 112–106 (2012). proposed amendments would revise the 2 15U.S.C. 78q–1(c)(2). 7 15 U.S.C. 78l(g)(1)(A). definition of qualifying securities to 3 Public Law 111–203 (2010). 8 15 U.S.C. 78l(g)(1)(B). 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Document Created: 2015-12-22 02:31:28
Document Modified: 2015-12-22 02:31:28
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionRequest for information.
DatesWe will consider comments we receive by March 21, 2016.
ContactBeverly A. Whalen at GIPSA, USDA, 10383 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO, 64153; Telephone: (816) 659-8410; Fax Number: (816) 872-1258; email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 79490 
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