82 FR 28550 - Irish Potatoes Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon; Decreased Assessment Rate
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 120 (June 23, 2017)
Agricultural Marketing Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 120 (June 23, 2017)
| Page Range | 28550-28552 | |
| FR Document | 2017-13174 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 120 (Friday, June 23, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 28550-28552] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-13174] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Part 945 [Doc. No. AMS-SC-16-0111; SC17-945-1 FR] Irish Potatoes Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon; Decreased Assessment Rate AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This rule implements a recommendation from the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Potato Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2017-2018 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0025 to $0.002 per hundredweight of potatoes handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of potatoes grown in certain designated counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon. Assessments upon potato handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period begins August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated. DATES: Effective August 1, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Broadbent, Senior Marketing Specialist, or Gary D. Olson, Regional Director, Northwest Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503) 326-7440, or Email: [email protected] or [email protected]. Small businesses may request information on complying with this regulation by contacting Richard Lower, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or Email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing Agreement No. 98 and Order No. 945, both as amended (7 CFR part 945), regulating the handling of Irish potatoes grown in certain designated counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon, hereinafter referred to as the ``order.'' The order is effective under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the ``Act.'' The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing this final rule in conformance with Executive Orders 12866, 13771, 13563, and 13175. This action falls within a category of regulatory actions that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) exempted from Executive Order 12866 review. Additionally, because this rule does not meet the definition of a significant regulatory action it does not trigger the requirements contained in Executive Order 13771. See OMB's Memorandum titled ``Interim Guidance Implementing Section 2 of the Executive Order of January 30, 2017 titled `Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs'[thinsp]'' (February 2, 2017). This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. Under the marketing order now in effect, Idaho- Eastern Oregon potato handlers are subject to assessments. Funds to administer the order are derived from such assessments. It is intended that the assessment rate as established herein will be applicable to all assessable potatoes beginning August 1, 2017, and continue until amended, suspended, or terminated. The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be exhausted before parties may file suit in court. Under section 608c(15)(A) of the Act, any handler subject to an order may file with USDA a petition stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance with law and request a modification of the order or to be exempted therefrom. Such handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the petition. After the hearing, USDA would rule on the petition. The Act provides that the district court of the United States in any district in which the handler is an inhabitant, or has his or her principal place of business, has jurisdiction to review USDA's ruling on the petition, provided an action is filed not later than 20 days after the date of the entry of the ruling. This rule decreases the assessment rate established for the Committee for the 2017-2018 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0025 to $0.002 per hundredweight of potatoes handled. The Idaho-Eastern Oregon potato marketing order provides authority for the Committee, with the approval of USDA, to formulate an annual budget of expenses and collect assessments from handlers to cover the expenses of administering the program. The members of the Committee are [[Page 28551]] producers and handlers of Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes. They are familiar with the Committee's needs and with the costs for goods and services in their local area and are thus in a position to formulate an appropriate budget and assessment rate. The assessment rate is formulated and discussed in a public meeting. Thus, all directly affected persons have an opportunity to participate and provide input. For the 2014-2015 and subsequent fiscal periods, the Committee recommended, and USDA approved, an assessment rate of $0.0025 per hundredweight of potatoes that would continue in effect from fiscal period to fiscal period unless modified, suspended, or terminated by USDA upon recommendation and information submitted by the Committee or other information available to USDA. The Committee met on November 9, 2016, to consider the Committee's projected 2017-2018 financial requirements, the size of the Committee's operating reserve, and the order's continuing assessment rate. The Committee unanimously recommended an assessment rate of $0.002 per hundredweight of potatoes for the 2017-2018 fiscal period. The assessment rate of $0.002 is $0.0005 lower than the rate currently in effect. The assessment rate decrease is necessary to reduce the funds held in reserve to less than approximately one fiscal period's budgeted expenses, the maximum level allowed by the order. The Committee adopted a budget of $119,075 for the 2016-2017 fiscal period. It expects to recommend a similar level of budgeted expenditures for the 2017-2018 fiscal period at its next scheduled meeting in June 2017. The Committee expects its budget for major expenditures for the 2017-2018 fiscal period to be close to the budgeted amounts for the 2016-2017 fiscal period. These expenditures include $68,638 for administrative expenses, $35,437 for travel/office expenses, and $15,000 for marketing order contingency. The assessment rate recommended by the Committee was derived by dividing anticipated expenses by expected shipments of Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes. Potato shipments for 2017-2018 are estimated at 32 million hundredweight which should provide $64,000 in assessment income at the proposed assessment rate. Income derived from handler assessments, along with other income, interest earned, and funds from the Committee's authorized reserve, will be adequate to cover budgeted expenses. Funds in the reserve (projected to be $158,275 on July 31, 2017) are expected to be reduced to comply with the maximum permitted by the order of approximately one fiscal period's expenses. The assessment rate will continue in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated by USDA upon recommendation and information submitted by the Committee or other available information. Although this assessment rate will be in effect for an indefinite period, the Committee will continue to meet prior to or during each fiscal period to recommend a budget of expenses and consider recommendations for modification of the assessment rate. The dates and times of Committee meetings are available from the Committee or USDA. Committee meetings are open to the public and interested persons may express their views at these meetings. USDA will evaluate Committee recommendations and other available information to determine whether modification of the assessment rate is needed. Further rulemaking will be undertaken as necessary. The Committee's 2017-2018 budget, and those for subsequent fiscal periods, will be reviewed and, as appropriate, approved by USDA. Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-612), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the economic impact of this rule on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has prepared this final regulatory flexibility analysis. The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of businesses subject to such actions in order that small businesses will not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued pursuant to the Act, and the rules issued thereunder, are unique in that they are brought about through group action of essentially small entities acting on their own behalf. There are approximately 450 producers of potatoes in the production area and approximately 32 handlers subject to regulation under the marketing order. Small agricultural producers are defined by the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.201) as those having annual receipts less than $750,000, and small agricultural service firms are defined as those whose annual receipts are less than $7,500,000. During the 2015-2016 fiscal period, the most recent full year of statistics available, 33,606,000 hundredweight of Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes were inspected under the order and sold into the fresh market. Based on information provided by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the average producer price for the 2015 Idaho potato crop (the most recent full marketing year recorded) was $7.00 per hundredweight. Multiplying $7.00 by the shipment quantity of 33,606,000 hundredweight yields an annual crop revenue estimate of $235,242,000. The average annual fresh potato revenue for each of the 450 producers is therefore calculated to be $522,760 ($235,242,000 divided by 450), which is less than the Small Business Administration threshold of $750,000. Consequently, on average, a majority of the Idaho-Eastern Oregon potato producers may be classified as small entities. In addition, based on information reported by USDA's Market News Service, the average free-on-board (f.o.b.) shipping point price for the 2015 Idaho potato crop was $7.47 per hundredweight. Multiplying $7.47 by the shipment quantity of 33,606,000 hundredweight yields an annual crop revenue estimate of $251,036,820. The average annual fresh potato revenue for each of the 32 handlers is therefore calculated to be $7,844,900 ($251,036,820 divided by 32), which is slightly more than the Small Business Administration threshold of $7,500,000. Given the likelihood that there may be several large handlers, some of the Idaho- Eastern Oregon potato handlers may be classified as small entities. This rule decreases the assessment rate established for the Committee and collected from handlers for the 2017-2018 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0025 to $0.002 per hundredweight of potatoes handled. The Committee unanimously recommended an assessment rate of $0.002 per hundredweight of potatoes for the 2017-2018 fiscal period. The assessment rate of $0.002 per hundredweight is $0.0005 lower than the rate for the 2016-2017 fiscal period. The quantity of assessable potatoes for the 2017-2018 fiscal period is estimated at 32 million hundredweight. Thus, the $0.002 rate should provide $64,000 in assessment income. Income derived from handler assessments, along with other income, interest earned, and funds from the Committee's authorized reserve, will be adequate to cover budgeted expenses. The Committee adopted a budget of $119,075 for the 2016-2017 fiscal period and expects to recommend a similar amount in budgeted expenditures for the 2017-2018 fiscal period at its next scheduled meeting in June 2017. The major budgeted expenditures for the 2016-2017 year [[Page 28552]] include $68,638 for administrative expenses, $35,437 for travel/office expenses, and $15,000 for marketing order contingency. Budgeted expenses for these items in 2015-2016 were $64,901, $37,340, and $15,000, respectively. The lower assessment rate is necessary to reduce the reserve balance to less than approximately one fiscal period's budgeted expenses. The reserve balance on July 31, 2017, is projected to be $158,275. Assessment income for the 2017-2018 fiscal period is estimated at $64,000, while expenses are estimated to be $119,075. The Committee anticipates compensating for the reduced assessment revenue with $5,100 from miscellaneous income, $100 from interest income, and $49,875 from its reserve fund. The reserve fund is projected to be under the maximum authorized level at the end of the 2017-2018 fiscal period. The Committee discussed alternatives to this change, including suspending assessments for one year, recommending other assessment rate levels, and leaving the current rate in place. Prior to arriving at this assessment rate recommendation, the Committee considered information from the Board's Executive Committee on the cost savings resulting from recent administrative changes in the Committee office and the level of anticipated Committee expenses moving forward. The Committee debated between suspending assessments for one year and recommending the assessment rate be lowered to $0.002 per hundredweight of potatoes. Based on the market and shipping quantities, the Committee recommended the rate of $0.002 per hundredweight. The Committee believes this assessment rate, in combination with other income, interest earned, and funds utilized from the Committee's financial reserve, will provide sufficient funds to meet its expenses. A review of historical information and preliminary information pertaining to the upcoming fiscal period indicates that the producer price for the 2017 crop could range between $6.00 and $9.00 per hundredweight of potatoes. Therefore, the estimated assessment revenue for the 2017-2018 fiscal period as a percentage of total producer revenue could range between 0.022 and 0.033 percent. This action decreases the assessment obligation imposed on handlers. Assessments are applied uniformly on all handlers, and some of the costs may be passed on to producers. However, decreasing the assessment rate will reduce the burden on handlers, and may reduce the burden on producers. In addition, the Committee's meeting was widely publicized throughout the Idaho-Eastern Oregon potato industry and all interested persons were invited to attend the meeting and participate in Committee deliberations on all issues. Like all Committee meetings, the November 9, 2016, meeting was a public meeting and all entities, both large and small, were able to express views on this issue. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the order's information collection requirements have been previously approved by OMB and assigned OMB No. 0581-0178 (Generic Vegetable and Specialty Crops). No changes in those requirements as a result of this action are necessary. Should any changes become necessary, they would be submitted to OMB for approval. This rule imposes no additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements on either small or large Idaho-Eastern Oregon potato handlers. As with all Federal marketing order programs, reports and forms are periodically reviewed to reduce information requirements and duplication by industry and public sector agencies. As noted in the initial regulatory flexibility analysis, USDA has not identified any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this final rule. AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, to promote the use of the internet and other information technologies to provide increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information and services, and for other purposes. A proposed rule concerning this action was published in the Federal Register on March 21, 2017 (82 FR 14485). Copies of the proposed rule were also mailed or sent via facsimile to all Idaho-E. Oregon potato handlers. Finally, the proposal was made available through the internet by USDA and the Office of the Federal Register. A 30-day comment period ending April 20, 2017, was provided for interested persons to respond to the proposal. Two comments were received during the comment period in response to the proposal. Both comments were received from outside of the regulated production area. One comment supported the proposed assessment decrease. The other comment did not support the proposal, however, it did not address the merits of the proposed rule. Accordingly, no changes have been made to the rule as proposed, based on the comments received. A small business guide on complying with fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop marketing agreements and orders may be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/small-businesses. Any questions about the compliance guide should be sent to Richard Lower at the previously mentioned address in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. After consideration of all relevant material presented, including the information and recommendation submitted by the Committee and other available information, it is hereby found that this rule, as hereinafter set forth, will tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act. List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 945 Marketing agreements, Potatoes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 945 is amended as follows: PART 945--IRISH POTATOES GROWN IN CERTAIN DESIGNATED COUNTIES IN IDAHO, AND MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON 0 1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 945 continues to read as follows: Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674. 0 2. Section 945.249 is revised to read as follows: Sec. 945.249 Assessment rate. On and after August 1, 2017, an assessment rate of $0.002 per hundredweight is established for Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes. Dated: June 20, 2017. Erin Morris, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2017-13174 Filed 6-22-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
![28550 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 120 / Friday, June 23, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
(3) Dispute Resolution. A response to DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601–674),
an appeal will advise the requester that hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Act.’’
the 2007 FOIA amendments created the Agricultural Marketing Service The Department of Agriculture
Office of Government Information (USDA) is issuing this final rule in
Services (OGIS) to offer dispute 7 CFR Part 945 conformance with Executive Orders
resolution services to resolve disputes 12866, 13771, 13563, and 13175.
[Doc. No. AMS–SC–16–0111; SC17–945–1
between FOIA requesters and Federal This action falls within a category of
FR]
regulatory actions that the Office of
agencies as a nonexclusive alternative to
Irish Potatoes Grown in Certain Management and Budget (OMB)
litigation. Dispute resolution is a exempted from Executive Order 12866
voluntary process. A requester may Designated Counties in Idaho, and
Malheur County, Oregon; Decreased review. Additionally, because this rule
contact OGIS in any of the following does not meet the definition of a
ways: Office of Government Information Assessment Rate
significant regulatory action it does not
Services, National Archives and Records AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, trigger the requirements contained in
Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, USDA. Executive Order 13771. See OMB’s
College Park, MD 20740; Email: ogis@ ACTION: Final rule. Memorandum titled ‘‘Interim Guidance
nara.gov; Telephone: 202–741–5770; Implementing Section 2 of the Executive
Facsimile: 202–741–5769; Toll-free: 1– SUMMARY: This rule implements a Order of January 30, 2017 titled
877–684–6448. recommendation from the Idaho-Eastern ‘Reducing Regulation and Controlling
Oregon Potato Committee (Committee) Regulatory Costs’ ’’ (February 2, 2017).
■ 3. In § 9301.8, paragraph (f)(3) is to decrease the assessment rate This final rule has been reviewed
revised to read as follows: established for the 2017–2018 and under Executive Order 12988, Civil
subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0025 Justice Reform. Under the marketing
§ 9301.8 Fees in general.
to $0.002 per hundredweight of potatoes order now in effect, Idaho-Eastern
* * * * * handled. The Committee locally Oregon potato handlers are subject to
(f) * * * administers the marketing order which assessments. Funds to administer the
regulates the handling of potatoes grown order are derived from such
(3) SIGAR determines that unusual
in certain designated counties in Idaho, assessments. It is intended that the
circumstances apply to the processing of assessment rate as established herein
and Malheur County, Oregon.
a request, provides timely notice to the will be applicable to all assessable
Assessments upon potato handlers are
requester, and delay is excused for an used by the Committee to fund potatoes beginning August 1, 2017, and
additional ten days, but SIGAR still fails reasonable and necessary expenses of continue until amended, suspended, or
to respond within the timeframe the program. The fiscal period begins terminated.
established by the additional delay. This August 1 and ends July 31. The The Act provides that administrative
provision applies only to search fees or assessment rate will remain in effect proceedings must be exhausted before
duplication fees for educational indefinitely unless modified, parties may file suit in court. Under
institution, non-commercial scientific suspended, or terminated. section 608c(15)(A) of the Act, any
institution, or representative of the news DATES: Effective August 1, 2017.
handler subject to an order may file
media requesters. However, the with USDA a petition stating that the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: order, any provision of the order, or any
following exceptions shall apply:
Barry Broadbent, Senior Marketing obligation imposed in connection with
(i) Notwithstanding § 9301.8(f)(3), if Specialist, or Gary D. Olson, Regional the order is not in accordance with law
SIGAR determines that unusual Director, Northwest Marketing Field and request a modification of the order
circumstances apply and that more than Office, Marketing Order and Agreement or to be exempted therefrom. Such
5000 pages are necessary to respond to Division, Specialty Crops Program, handler is afforded the opportunity for
the request, SIGAR may continue to AMS, USDA; Telephone: (503) 326– a hearing on the petition. After the
charge search fees, or duplication fees 2724, Fax: (503) 326–7440, or Email: hearing, USDA would rule on the
for requesters in preferred status, for as Barry.Broadbent@ams.usda.gov or petition. The Act provides that the
long as necessary, after timely written GaryD.Olson@ams.usda.gov. district court of the United States in any
notice has been made to the requester Small businesses may request district in which the handler is an
and SIGAR has discussed with the information on complying with this inhabitant, or has his or her principal
requester how the requester could regulation by contacting Richard Lower, place of business, has jurisdiction to
effectively limit the scope of the request Marketing Order and Agreement review USDA’s ruling on the petition,
via written mail, electronic mail, or Division, Specialty Crops Program, provided an action is filed not later than
telephone, or made three good-faith AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 20 days after the date of the entry of the
attempts to do so. Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, ruling.
DC 20250–0237; Telephone: (202) 720– This rule decreases the assessment
[FR Doc. 2017–13056 Filed 6–22–17; 8:45 am]
2491, Fax: (202) 720–8938, or Email: rate established for the Committee for
BILLING CODE 3710–L9–P Richard.Lower@ams.usda.gov. the 2017–2018 and subsequent fiscal
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule periods from $0.0025 to $0.002 per
is issued under Marketing Agreement hundredweight of potatoes handled.
No. 98 and Order No. 945, both as The Idaho-Eastern Oregon potato
Pmangrum on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
amended (7 CFR part 945), regulating marketing order provides authority for
the handling of Irish potatoes grown in the Committee, with the approval of
certain designated counties in Idaho, USDA, to formulate an annual budget of
and Malheur County, Oregon, expenses and collect assessments from
hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘order.’’ handlers to cover the expenses of
The order is effective under the administering the program. The
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act members of the Committee are
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![28552 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 120 / Friday, June 23, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
include $68,638 for administrative reduce the burden on producers. In A small business guide on complying
expenses, $35,437 for travel/office addition, the Committee’s meeting was with fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop
expenses, and $15,000 for marketing widely publicized throughout the Idaho- marketing agreements and orders may
order contingency. Budgeted expenses Eastern Oregon potato industry and all be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/
for these items in 2015–2016 were interested persons were invited to rules-regulations/moa/small-businesses.
$64,901, $37,340, and $15,000, attend the meeting and participate in Any questions about the compliance
respectively. Committee deliberations on all issues. guide should be sent to Richard Lower
The lower assessment rate is Like all Committee meetings, the at the previously mentioned address in
necessary to reduce the reserve balance November 9, 2016, meeting was a public the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
to less than approximately one fiscal meeting and all entities, both large and section.
period’s budgeted expenses. The reserve small, were able to express views on After consideration of all relevant
balance on July 31, 2017, is projected to this issue. material presented, including the
be $158,275. Assessment income for the In accordance with the Paperwork information and recommendation
2017–2018 fiscal period is estimated at Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. submitted by the Committee and other
$64,000, while expenses are estimated Chapter 35), the order’s information available information, it is hereby found
to be $119,075. The Committee collection requirements have been that this rule, as hereinafter set forth,
anticipates compensating for the previously approved by OMB and will tend to effectuate the declared
reduced assessment revenue with assigned OMB No. 0581–0178 (Generic policy of the Act.
$5,100 from miscellaneous income, Vegetable and Specialty Crops). No
$100 from interest income, and $49,875 List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 945
changes in those requirements as a
from its reserve fund. The reserve fund result of this action are necessary. Marketing agreements, Potatoes,
is projected to be under the maximum Should any changes become necessary, Reporting and recordkeeping
authorized level at the end of the 2017– they would be submitted to OMB for requirements.
2018 fiscal period. approval. For the reasons set forth in the
The Committee discussed alternatives preamble, 7 CFR part 945 is amended as
This rule imposes no additional
to this change, including suspending follows:
reporting or recordkeeping requirements
assessments for one year,
on either small or large Idaho-Eastern
recommending other assessment rate PART 945—IRISH POTATOES GROWN
Oregon potato handlers. As with all
levels, and leaving the current rate in IN CERTAIN DESIGNATED COUNTIES
Federal marketing order programs,
place. Prior to arriving at this IN IDAHO, AND MALHEUR COUNTY,
reports and forms are periodically
assessment rate recommendation, the OREGON
reviewed to reduce information
Committee considered information from
requirements and duplication by
the Board’s Executive Committee on the ■ 1. The authority citation for 7 CFR
industry and public sector agencies. As
cost savings resulting from recent part 945 continues to read as follows:
administrative changes in the noted in the initial regulatory flexibility
analysis, USDA has not identified any Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674.
Committee office and the level of
anticipated Committee expenses moving relevant Federal rules that duplicate, ■ 2. Section 945.249 is revised to read
forward. The Committee debated overlap, or conflict with this final rule. as follows:
between suspending assessments for AMS is committed to complying with
the E-Government Act, to promote the § 945.249 Assessment rate.
one year and recommending the
assessment rate be lowered to $0.002 use of the internet and other On and after August 1, 2017, an
per hundredweight of potatoes. Based information technologies to provide assessment rate of $0.002 per
on the market and shipping quantities, increased opportunities for citizen hundredweight is established for Idaho-
the Committee recommended the rate of access to Government information and Eastern Oregon potatoes.
$0.002 per hundredweight. The services, and for other purposes. Dated: June 20, 2017.
Committee believes this assessment rate, A proposed rule concerning this Erin Morris,
in combination with other income, action was published in the Federal Associate Administrator, Agricultural
interest earned, and funds utilized from Register on March 21, 2017 (82 FR Marketing Service.
the Committee’s financial reserve, will 14485). Copies of the proposed rule [FR Doc. 2017–13174 Filed 6–22–17; 8:45 am]
provide sufficient funds to meet its were also mailed or sent via facsimile to
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
expenses. all Idaho-E. Oregon potato handlers.
A review of historical information and Finally, the proposal was made
preliminary information pertaining to available through the internet by USDA
and the Office of the Federal Register. A DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
the upcoming fiscal period indicates SECURITY
that the producer price for the 2017 crop 30-day comment period ending April
could range between $6.00 and $9.00 20, 2017, was provided for interested Coast Guard
per hundredweight of potatoes. persons to respond to the proposal.
Therefore, the estimated assessment Two comments were received during 33 CFR Part 117
revenue for the 2017–2018 fiscal period the comment period in response to the
as a percentage of total producer proposal. Both comments were received [Docket No. USCG–2017–0517]
revenue could range between 0.022 and from outside of the regulated production
area. One comment supported the Drawbridge Operation Regulation;
0.033 percent.
Pmangrum on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
This action decreases the assessment proposed assessment decrease. The Thames River, New London, CT
obligation imposed on handlers. other comment did not support the AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
Assessments are applied uniformly on proposal, however, it did not address ACTION:Notice of deviation from
all handlers, and some of the costs may the merits of the proposed rule. drawbridge regulation.
be passed on to producers. However, Accordingly, no changes have been
decreasing the assessment rate will made to the rule as proposed, based on SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a
reduce the burden on handlers, and may the comments received. temporary deviation from the operating
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:26 Jun 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\23JNR1.SGM 23JNR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_28670/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2017-06-23 03:37:13
Document Modified: 2017-06-23 03:37:13
| 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 | Rules and Regulations | |
| Action | Final rule. | |
| Dates | Effective August 1, 2017. | |
| Contact | Barry Broadbent, Senior Marketing Specialist, or Gary D. Olson, Regional Director, Northwest Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503) 326-7440, or Email: [email protected] or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 28550 | |
| CFR Associated | Marketing Agreements; Potatoes and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements |
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