83 FR 5955 - Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order; Continuance Referendum
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 29 (February 12, 2018)
Agricultural Marketing Service
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 29 (February 12, 2018)
| Page Range | 5955-5955 | |
| FR Document | 2018-02485 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2018)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 5955] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-02485] ======================================================================== 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. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 29 / Monday, February 12, 2018 / Proposed Rules [[Page 5955]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Part 1217 [Document No. AMS-SC-17-0072] Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order; Continuance Referendum AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notification of referendum order. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible domestic (U.S.) manufacturers and importers of softwood lumber to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding a national softwood lumber research and promotion program. DATES: The referendum will be conducted by mail ballot from April 17 through May 14, 2018. Ballots must be received by the referendum agents no later than the close of business on May 14, 2018, to be counted. ADDRESSES: Copies of the softwood lumber program may be obtained from: Referendum Agent, Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244, telephone: (202) 720-9915; facsimile: (202) 205-2800; or contact Maureen Pello at (503) 632-8848 or via electronic mail: [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist, Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-9915, (503) 632-8848 (direct line); facsimile: (202) 205-2800; or electronic mail: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) (1996 Act), it is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether continuance of the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (7 CFR part 1217) is favored by eligible domestic manufacturers and importers of softwood lumber. The program is authorized under the 1996 Act. The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for the referendum shall be the period from January 1 through December 31, 2017. Persons who domestically manufactured and shipped or imported 15 million board feet or more of softwood lumber during the representative period, were subject to assessments during that period, and are currently softwood lumber manufacturers or importers subject to assessment under the part are eligible to vote. Persons who received an exemption from assessments pursuant to Sec. 1217.53 for the entire representative period are ineligible to vote. The referendum will be conducted by mail ballot from April 17 through May 14, 2018. Section 518 of the 1996 Act (7 U.S.C. 7417) authorizes continuance referenda. Under Sec. 1217.81(b), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must conduct a referendum seven years after the program became effective to determine whether persons subject to assessment favor continuance of the program. The program took effect in 2011. USDA would continue the program if continuance is favored by a majority of the domestic manufacturers and importers voting in the referendum, who also represent a majority of the volume of softwood lumber represented in the referendum. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the referendum ballot has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB No. 0581-0093. It has been estimated that approximately 210 entities will be eligible to vote in the referendum. It will take an average of 15 minutes for each voter to read the voting instructions and complete the referendum ballot. Referendum Order Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist, and Heather Pichelman, Director, Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244, are designated as the referendum agents to conduct this referendum. The referendum procedures at 7 CFR 1217.100 through 1217.108, which were issued pursuant to the 1996 Act, shall be used to conduct the referendum. The referendum agents will mail the ballots to be cast in the referendum and voting instructions to all known, eligible domestic manufacturers and importers prior to the first day of the voting period. Persons who domestically manufactured and shipped or imported 15 million board feet or more of softwood lumber during the representative period, were subject to assessment during that period, and are currently softwood lumber domestic manufacturers or importers subject to assessment under the part are eligible to vote. Persons who received an exemption from assessments pursuant to Sec. 1217.53 during the entire representative period are ineligible to vote. Any eligible domestic manufacturer or importer who does not receive a ballot should contact a referendum agent no later than one week before the end of the voting period. Ballots must be received by the referendum agent by 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, May 14, 2018, in order to be counted. List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1217 Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer information, Marketing agreements, Promotion, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Softwood lumber. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425; 7 U.S.C. 7401. Dated: February 2, 2018. Bruce Summers, Acting Administrator. [FR Doc. 2018-02485 Filed 2-9-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P
![5955
Proposed Rules Federal Register
Vol. 83, No. 29
Monday, February 12, 2018
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant Referendum Order
contains notices to the public of the proposed to the Commodity Promotion, Research,
issuance of rules and regulations. The and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist,
purpose of these notices is to give interested 7411–7425) (1996 Act), it is hereby and Heather Pichelman, Director,
persons an opportunity to participate in the Promotion and Economics Division,
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
directed that a referendum be conducted
to ascertain whether continuance of the Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA,
rules.
Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Stop 0244, Room 1406–S, 1400
Consumer Education and Industry Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Information Order (7 CFR part 1217) is DC 20250–0244, are designated as the
favored by eligible domestic referendum agents to conduct this
Agricultural Marketing Service manufacturers and importers of referendum. The referendum procedures
softwood lumber. The program is at 7 CFR 1217.100 through 1217.108,
7 CFR Part 1217 authorized under the 1996 Act. which were issued pursuant to the 1996
[Document No. AMS–SC–17–0072] The representative period for Act, shall be used to conduct the
establishing voter eligibility for the referendum.
Softwood Lumber Research, referendum shall be the period from The referendum agents will mail the
Promotion, Consumer Education and January 1 through December 31, 2017. ballots to be cast in the referendum and
Industry Information Order; voting instructions to all known, eligible
Persons who domestically manufactured
Continuance Referendum
and shipped or imported 15 million domestic manufacturers and importers
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, board feet or more of softwood lumber prior to the first day of the voting
USDA. during the representative period, were period. Persons who domestically
ACTION: Notification of referendum subject to assessments during that manufactured and shipped or imported
order. period, and are currently softwood 15 million board feet or more of
lumber manufacturers or importers softwood lumber during the
SUMMARY: This document directs that a subject to assessment under the part are representative period, were subject to
referendum be conducted among eligible to vote. Persons who received assessment during that period, and are
eligible domestic (U.S.) manufacturers an exemption from assessments currently softwood lumber domestic
and importers of softwood lumber to pursuant to § 1217.53 for the entire
determine whether they favor manufacturers or importers subject to
representative period are ineligible to assessment under the part are eligible to
continuance of the Agricultural vote. The referendum will be conducted
Marketing Service’s (AMS) regulations vote. Persons who received an
by mail ballot from April 17 through exemption from assessments pursuant
regarding a national softwood lumber
May 14, 2018. to § 1217.53 during the entire
research and promotion program.
DATES: The referendum will be Section 518 of the 1996 Act (7 U.S.C. representative period are ineligible to
conducted by mail ballot from April 17 7417) authorizes continuance referenda. vote. Any eligible domestic
through May 14, 2018. Ballots must be Under § 1217.81(b), the U.S. Department manufacturer or importer who does not
received by the referendum agents no of Agriculture (USDA) must conduct a receive a ballot should contact a
later than the close of business on May referendum seven years after the referendum agent no later than one
14, 2018, to be counted. program became effective to determine week before the end of the voting
ADDRESSES: Copies of the softwood whether persons subject to assessment period. Ballots must be received by the
lumber program may be obtained from: favor continuance of the program. The referendum agent by 4:30 p.m. Eastern
Referendum Agent, Promotion and program took effect in 2011. USDA time, May 14, 2018, in order to be
Economics Division, Specialty Crops would continue the program if counted.
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 continuance is favored by a majority of
the domestic manufacturers and List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1217
Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406–
S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250– importers voting in the referendum, Administrative practice and
0244, telephone: (202) 720–9915; who also represent a majority of the procedure, Advertising, Consumer
facsimile: (202) 205–2800; or contact volume of softwood lumber represented information, Marketing agreements,
Maureen Pello at (503) 632–8848 or via in the referendum.
Promotion, Reporting and
electronic mail: Maureen.Pello@ In accordance with the Paperwork recordkeeping requirements, Softwood
ams.usda.gov. Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. lumber.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: chapter 35), the referendum ballot has
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411–7425; 7 U.S.C.
Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist, been approved by the Office of
7401.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Promotion and Economics Division, Management and Budget (OMB) and
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, assigned OMB No. 0581–0093. It has Dated: February 2, 2018.
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room been estimated that approximately 210 Bruce Summers,
1406–S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC entities will be eligible to vote in the Acting Administrator.
20250–0244; telephone: (202) 720–9915, referendum. It will take an average of 15 [FR Doc. 2018–02485 Filed 2–9–18; 8:45 am]
(503) 632–8848 (direct line); facsimile: minutes for each voter to read the voting
BILLING CODE P
(202) 205–2800; or electronic mail: instructions and complete the
Maureen.Pello@ams.usda.gov. referendum ballot.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:29 Feb 09, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\12FEP1.SGM 12FEP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_5984/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-11-01 08:43:00
Document Modified: 2018-11-01 08:43:00
| 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 | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Notification of referendum order. | |
| Dates | The referendum will be conducted by mail ballot from April 17 through May 14, 2018. Ballots must be received by the referendum agents no later than the close of business on May 14, 2018, to be counted. | |
| Contact | Maureen Pello, Marketing Specialist, Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-9915, (503) 632-8848 (direct line); facsimile: (202) 205-2800; or electronic mail: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 5955 | |
| CFR Associated | Administrative Practice and Procedure; Advertising; Consumer Information; Marketing Agreements; Promotion; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements and Softwood Lumber |
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