82 FR 22306 - United States Standards for Beans

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 92 (May 15, 2017)

Page Range		22306-22308
FR Document		2017-09721

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is proposing a revision to the United States Standards for Beans to (1) establish a class and grade requirement chart for ``chickpeas,'' also known as ``garbanzo beans,'' and (2) establish a new grade determining factor, definition, factor limits, and visual reference image for ``contrasting chickpeas.'' These revisions are being proposed at the request of the pea and lentil industry, and are supported by the bean industry. GIPSA believes that this proposed revision of the United States Standards for Beans would facilitate the marketing of chickpeas and improve the application of the standards.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 92 (Monday, May 15, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 92 (Monday, May 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22306-22308]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09721]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


United States Standards for Beans

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

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Grain 
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is proposing 
a revision to the United States Standards for Beans to (1) establish a 
class and grade requirement chart for ``chickpeas,'' also known as 
``garbanzo beans,'' and (2) establish a new grade determining factor, 
definition, factor limits, and visual reference image for ``contrasting 
chickpeas.'' These revisions are being proposed at the request of the 
pea and lentil industry, and are supported by the bean industry. GIPSA 
believes that this proposed revision of the United States Standards for 
Beans would facilitate the marketing of chickpeas and improve the 
application of the standards.

DATES: GIPSA will consider comments received by June 14, 2017.

ADDRESSES: GIPSA invites all interested parties submit comments on this 
Notice. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Mail: M. Irene Omade, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Room 2530-S, Washington, DC 20250-3613.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: M. Irene Omade, GIPSA, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 2530-S, Washington, DC 20250-3613.
     Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All comments should make reference to the date and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All documents and 
comments relating to this Notice are available for public inspection in 
Room 2530-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3613 
during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)). All comments received 
will be included in the public docket without change, including any 
personal information

[[Page 22307]]

provided. 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: (816) 872-1258; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946, as amended, (AMA), 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.'' GIPSA is committed to carrying out this 
authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of agricultural 
commodities.
    Under the AMA, GIPSA establishes standards for graded commodities 
including 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/or 
consumer information. The standards serve as a common trading language 
to define commodity quality in the domestic and global marketplace.

Background

    GIPSA engages in regular outreach with stakeholders to ensure 
commodity standards maintain relevance with the modern market. Chickpea 
industry stakeholders include the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council 
(USADPLC), a national organization of producers, processors, and 
exporters of U.S. dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas; the US Dry Pea and 
Lentil Trade Association (USPLTA), a national association representing 
processors, traders, and transporters in the pea, lentil and chickpea 
industry; and the US Dry Bean Council (USDBC), representing the U.S. 
dry bean industry, including growers, shippers, dealers, canners, 
state, and regional trade associations.
    The United States Standards for Beans are found on GIPSA's public 
Web site at: https://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/standards/Bean-Standards.pdf. USDPLC and USPLTA reviewed the United States Standards 
for Beans, which were last revised in 2008. According to information 
received by GIPSA from these stakeholders, chickpea acreage has 
expanded in the U.S. rapidly over the last several years and is 
expected to increase in 2017. Consequently, the stakeholders 
communicated the need to establish ``chickpeas'' as a specific class in 
order to better define them in the marketplace.
    Currently, chickpeas are graded under the Miscellaneous Bean 
standard. This is confusing to the market because GIPSA issues an ``AMA 
Commodity Inspection Certificate'' providing the commonly accepted 
commercial name, ``chickpea'' or ``garbanzo'' as the class on the 
certificate grade line. Specifically, these groups asked GIPSA to (1) 
establish a class and grade requirement chart for ``chickpeas,'' (2) 
use the terms ``chickpeas'' and ``garbanzo beans'' interchangeably, and 
(3) establish a new grade determining factor, definition, factor 
limits, and visual reference image for ``contrasting chickpeas.''
    GIPSA provides official inspection procedures for beans in the Bean 
Handbook, found on GIPSA's public Web site at: https://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/handbook/BeanHB/BeanHandbook_2016-02-23.pdf.

Establishment of Class ``Chickpeas''

    The stakeholders jointly recommended that GIPSA establish a new 
class and grade requirement chart for ``chickpea,'' and also 
recommended a new grade determining factor, definition, and factor 
limits for grades No's 1, 2, and 3 for ``contrasting chickpeas.'' GIPSA 
and these stakeholders collaborated to develop a visual reference image 
that best reflects the ``contrasting chickpeas'' condition. The 
stakeholder endorsed the following definition:

    Contrasting chickpeas are chickpeas that differ substantially in 
shape or color.

    The table of grade and grade requirements for Chickpeas (Garbanzo 
Beans) would be:

                                                135 Grades and Grade Requirements for the Class Chickpea
                                                                     [Garbanzo Bean]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Percent maximum limits of--
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Total defects                         Foreign material
                                                              (total                     --------------------------------
                                                          damaged, total
                  Grade                                       foreign                                                       Contrasting     Contrasting
                                           Moisture \1\      material,     Total damaged       Total                        classes \2\    chickpeas \3\
                                                            contrasting                     (including        Stones
                                                            classes, &                        stones)
                                                              Splits)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. No. 1..............................            18.0             2.0             2.0             0.5             0.2             0.5             1.0
U.S. No. 2..............................            18.0             4.0             4.0             1.0             0.4             1.0             2.0
U.S. No. 3..............................            18.0             6.0             6.0             1.5             0.6             2.0             5.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Substandard are beans that do not meet the requirements for the grades U.S. No. 1 through U.S. No. 3 or U.S. Sample grade. Beans that are not well
 screened must also be U.S. Substandard, except for beans that meet the requirements for U.S. Sample grade.
U.S. Sample grade are beans that are musty, sour, heating, materially weathered, or weevily; have any commercially objectionable odor that contain
 insect webbing or filth, animal filth, any unknown foreign substance, broken glass, or metal fragments; or are otherwise of distinctly low quality.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Beans with more than 18.0 percent moisture are graded high moisture.
\2\ Beans with more than 2.0 percent contrasting classes are graded mixed beans.
\3\ Beans with more than 5.0 percent contrasting chickpeas are graded mixed beans.

Proposed GIPSA Action

    Based on input from stakeholder organizations in the pea and bean 
industry who concurred on the need for revisions to the United States 
Standards for Beans, GIPSA proposes to revise the bean standards to (1) 
establish a class and grade requirement chart for chickpeas and (2) 
establish a new grade

[[Page 22308]]

determining factor, definition, factor limits, and visual reference 
image for contrasting chickpeas.
    Under Terms Defined:

    Section 102, Classes, would be amended to include Chickpeas 
(Garbanzo Beans). A new Section 122, Contrasting Chickpeas would be 
added.

    Under Principles Governing Application of the Standards:

    Current Sections 122, 123, and 124 would be renumbered to 123, 124, 
and 125 with no change to the text.

    Under Grades, Grade Requirements, Grade Designations, Special 
Grades, and Special Grade Requirements:

    Current Sections 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, and 133 
would be renumbered to 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 
with no change to the text.

    A new Section 135, Grade and grade requirements for the class 
Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans) would be added.
    Current Sections 134 and 135 would be renumbered to 136 and 137, 
respectively, with no change to the text.
    GIPSA will solicit comments for 30 days. All comments received 
within the comment period will be made part of the public record 
maintained by GIPSA, will be available to the public for review, and 
will be considered by GIPSA before a final action is taken on this 
proposal.
    The Bean Handbook would be revised to incorporate any revision to 
the standards.

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


Randall D. Jones,
Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-09721 Filed 5-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P

22306 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 92 / Monday, May 15, 2017 / Notices

607 GRADES AND GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR DOCKAGE-FREE LENTILS
Grades U.S. Nos.
Grading factors
1 2 3

Defective Lentils
Total 1 .................................................................................................................................... 2.0 3.5 5.0
Weevil-Damaged Lentils ....................................................................................................... 0.3 0.8 0.8
Heat-Damaged Lentils .......................................................................................................... 0.2 0.5 1.0
Foreign Material
Total 2 .................................................................................................................................... 0.2 0.5 0.5
Stones ................................................................................................................................... 0.1 0.2 0.2
Skinned Lentils ............................................................................................................................ 4.0 7.0 10.0
Wrinkled Lentils 3 ......................................................................................................................... 5.0 10.0 >10.0
Contrasting Lentils 4 ..................................................................................................................... 2.0 4.0 >4.0
Inconspicuous Admixture ............................................................................................................. 0.5 0.8 1.0
Minimum Requirements for Color ................................................................................................ Good Fair Poor

U.S. Sample grade lentils:
(a) Do not meet the requirements for the grades U.S. Nos. 1, 2, or 3; or
(b) Contain more than 14.0 percent moisture, live weevils, or other live insects, metal fragments, broken glass, or a commercially objectionable
odor; or
(c) Are materially weathered, heating, or distinctly low quality.
1 Defective lentils total is weevil-damaged, heat-damaged, damaged, and split lentils combined.
2 Foreign material total includes stones.
3 Lentils with more than 10.0 percent wrinkled lentils must grade no higher than U.S. No. 3.
4 Lentils with more than 4.0 percent contrasting lentils must grade no higher than U.S. No. 3.

Establishment of Special Grade ‘‘Green include the definition of ‘‘Green beans,’’ and (2) establish a new grade
Lentils’’ lentils.’’ determining factor, definition, factor
GIPSA will solicit comments for 30 limits, and visual reference image for
The USPLTA Grades Committee
days. All comments received within the ‘‘contrasting chickpeas.’’ These
members recommended that GIPSA
comment period will be made part of revisions are being proposed at the
establish a special grade, ‘‘green
the public record maintained by GIPSA, request of the pea and lentil industry,
lentils.’’ Lentil stakeholders concurred
will be available to the public for and are supported by the bean industry.
on the need for a special grade to
review, and will be considered by GIPSA believes that this proposed
distinguish a desirable aesthetic feature.
GIPSA before final action is taken on the revision of the United States Standards
GIPSA and these stakeholders
proposal. for Beans would facilitate the marketing
collaborated to develop a visual
The Pea and Lentil Handbook would of chickpeas and improve the
reference image that best reflects the
be revised to incorporate any revision to application of the standards.
‘‘green lentils’’ condition. Stakeholder
the standards. DATES: GIPSA will consider comments
endorsed the following definition:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. received by June 14, 2017.
Green lentils are clear seeded (non-
ADDRESSES: GIPSA invites all interested
mottled) and possess a natural, Randall D. Jones,
uniformly green color. parties submit comments on this Notice.
Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, You may submit comments by any of
Proposed GIPSA Action Packers and Stockyards Administration.
the following methods:
[FR Doc. 2017–09720 Filed 5–12–17; 8:45 am] • Mail: M. Irene Omade, GIPSA,
Based on input from stakeholder BILLING CODE 3410–KD–P USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue
organizations in the lentil industry that
SW., Room 2530–S, Washington, DC
concurred on the need for revisions to
20250–3613.
the United States Standards for Lentils, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE • Hand Delivery or Courier: M. Irene
GIPSA proposes to revise the lentil
Omade, GIPSA, USDA, 1400
standards to (1) establish a new grade Grain Inspection, Packers and
Independence Avenue SW., Room
determining factor, definition, factor Stockyards Administration
2530–S, Washington, DC 20250–3613.
limits, and visual reference image for • Internet: http://
‘‘wrinkled lentils,’’ and (2) establish a United States Standards for Beans
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
special grade, definition, designation, AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and instructions for submitting comments.
and visual reference image for ‘‘green Stockyards Administration, USDA. Instructions: All comments should
lentils.’’ Accordingly, GIPSA proposes make reference to the date and page
ACTION: Notice; request for public
the following revisions: number of this issue of the Federal
comment.
Section 601, Definitions, would be Register. All documents and comments
amended to include the definition of SUMMARY: The United States Department relating to this Notice are available for
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

‘‘Wrinkled lentils.’’ of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain public inspection in Room 2530–S, 1400
Section 607, Grades and grade Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Independence Avenue SW.,
requirements for dockage-free lentils, Administration (GIPSA) is proposing a Washington, DC 20250–3613 during
would be amended to include grade revision to the United States Standards regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)).
limits for ‘‘Wrinkled lentils.’’ for Beans to (1) establish a class and All comments received will be included
Section 609, Special grades and grade requirement chart for in the public docket without change,
requirements, would be amended to ‘‘chickpeas,’’ also known as ‘‘garbanzo including any personal information

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22308 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 92 / Monday, May 15, 2017 / Notices

determining factor, definition, factor calendared for public consideration. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
limits, and visual reference image for The recommendations are related to the
contrasting chickpeas. 2012 Chevron Richmond Refinery Census Bureau
Under Terms Defined: investigation (2012–03–I–CA–R28) and
Section 102, Classes, would be Submission for OMB Review;
the 2013 Williams Olefins investigation
amended to include Chickpeas Comment Request
(2013–03–I–LA–R1 and R3). The Board
(Garbanzo Beans). A new Section 122, will also provide an overview of its The Department of Commerce will
Contrasting Chickpeas would be added. participation in Safe and Sound Week. submit to the Office of Management and
Under Principles Governing An opportunity for public comment will Budget (OMB) for clearance the
Application of the Standards: be provided. following proposal for collection of
Current Sections 122, 123, and 124 information under the provisions of the
Additional Information Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
would be renumbered to 123, 124, and
125 with no change to the text. The meeting is free and open to the chapter 35).
Under Grades, Grade Requirements, public. If you require a translator or Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Grade Designations, Special Grades, Title: American Community Survey
interpreter, please notify the individual
and Special Grade Requirements: Methods Panel Tests, 2017 Adaptive
listed below as the ‘‘Contact Person for
Strategy Test.
Current Sections 125, 126, 127, 128, Further Information,’’ at least three OMB Control Number: 0607–0936.
129, 130, 131, 132, and 133 would be business days prior to the meeting. Form Number(s): ACS–1, ACS CATI,
renumbered to 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, A conference call line will be ACS CAPI, ACS Internet.
131, 132, 133, 134, with no change to
provided for those who cannot attend in Type of Request: Non-substantive
the text.
person. Please use the following dial-in Change Request.
A new Section 135, Grade and grade number to join the conference: (888) Number of Respondents: 288,000.
requirements for the class Chickpeas 862–6557 Confirmation Number Average Hours per Response: 40
(Garbanzo Beans) would be added. minutes.
44851150#.
Current Sections 134 and 135 would Burden Hours: No additional burden
be renumbered to 136 and 137, The CSB is an independent, non-
hours are requested under this non-
respectively, with no change to the text. regulatory federal agency charged with
substantive change request.
GIPSA will solicit comments for 30 investigating accidents and hazards that Needs and Uses: The American
days. All comments received within the result, or may result, in the catastrophic Community Survey (ACS) collects
comment period will be made part of release of extremely hazardous detailed socioeconomic data from about
the public record maintained by GIPSA, substances. The agency’s Board 3.5 million households in the United
will be available to the public for Members are appointed by the President States and 36,000 in Puerto Rico each
review, and will be considered by and confirmed by the Senate. CSB year. The ACS also collects detailed
GIPSA before a final action is taken on investigations look into all aspects of socioeconomic data from about 195,000
this proposal. chemical accidents and hazards, residents living in Group Quarter (GQ)
The Bean Handbook would be revised including physical causes such as facilities. An ongoing data collection
to incorporate any revision to the equipment failure as well as effort with an annual sample of this
standards. inadequacies in regulations, industry magnitude requires that the ACS
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. standards, and safety management continue research, testing, and
systems. evaluations aimed at reducing
Randall D. Jones, respondent burden, improving data
Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Public Comment quality, achieving survey cost
Packers and Stockyards Administration. efficiencies, and improving ACS
[FR Doc. 2017–09721 Filed 5–12–17; 8:45 am]
The time provided for public
statements will depend upon the questionnaire content and related data
BILLING CODE 3410–KD–P collection materials. The ACS Methods
number of people who wish to speak.
Panel is a research program that is
Speakers should assume that their
designed to address and respond to
CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD presentations will be limited to three
issues and survey needs.
INVESTIGATION BOARD minutes or less, but commenters may Residents of sampled housing units
submit written statements for the are initially invited to self-respond to
Sunshine Act Meeting record. the survey through a series of mailings.
Contact Person for Further Information Mail materials are sent to sampled
TIME AND DATE: June 8, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
housing units using an internet push
EDT
Hillary Cohen, Communication strategy. This method encourages
PLACE: U.S. Chemical Safety Board, Manager, at public@csb.gov or (202) households to respond via Internet in
1750 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Suite 910, 446–8094. Further information about the first two mailings and then provides
Washington, DC 20006. this public meeting can be found on the a paper questionnaire in the third (sent
STATUS: Open to the public. CSB Web site at: www.csb.gov. about two weeks after the first mailing),
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The followed by additional reminders. The
Dated: May 10, 2017.
Chemical Safety and Hazard internet was added as a mode of data
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Investigation Board (CSB) will convene Kara A. Wenzel, collection to the ACS in 2013. The
a public meeting on June 8, 2017, Acting General Counsel, Chemical Safety and addition of this mode helped lower the
starting at 1:00 p.m. EDT in Washington, Hazard Investigation Board. data collection costs for the ACS and
DC, at the CSB offices located at 1750 [FR Doc. 2017–09836 Filed 5–11–17; 11:15 am] provided a convenient way for
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Suite 910. BILLING CODE 6350–01–P respondents to complete the survey.
The Board will vote to change the status However, this frustrates some
of three recommendations that were respondents who do not have Internet

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Document Created: 2017-05-13 02:38:53
Document Modified: 2017-05-13 02:38:53

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; request for public comment.
Dates		GIPSA will consider comments received by June 14, 2017.
Contact		Beverly A. Whalen at GIPSA, USDA, 10383 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153; Telephone: (816) 659- 8410; Fax: (816) 872-1258; [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 22306

82 FR 22306 - United States Standards for Beans

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGrain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 92 (May 15, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration