[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 19415] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-10457] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Part 29 [Docket No. TB-97-16] Tobacco Inspection--Growers Referendum
Agency
Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
Action
Notice of referendum.
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Summary
This document announces that a referendum will be conducted by mail during the period of April 27-May 1, 1998, for producers of flue- cured tobacco who sell their tobacco at auction in Clarksville and Chase City, Virginia, to determine producer approval of the designation of the Clarksville and Chase City tobacco markets as one consolidated auction market.
Dates
The referendum will be held April 27-May 1, 1998.
For Further Information Contact
William Coats, Associate Deputy Administrator, Tobacco Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; telephone number (202) 205-0508.
Supplementary Information
Notice is hereby given of a mail referendum on the designation of a consolidated auction market at Clarksville and Chase City, Virginia. Clarksville and Chase City were designated on June 26, 1942 (7 CFR 29.8001) as flue-cured tobacco auction markets under the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 511 et seq.). Under this Act those markets have been receiving mandatory grading services from USDA. On September 3, 1997, an application was made to the Secretary of Agriculture to consolidate the designated markets of Clarksville and Chase City, Virginia. The application, filed by warehouse operators on those markets, was made pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 CFR Part 29.1-29.3). On November 7, 1997, a public hearing was held in Clarksville, Virginia, pursuant to the regulations. A Review Committee, established pursuant to Sec. 29.3(h) of the regulations 7 CFR 29.3(h)), has reviewed and considered the application, the testimony presented at the hearing, the exhibits received in evidence, and other available information. The Committee recommended to the Secretary that the application be granted and the Secretary approved the application on March 16, 1998. Before a new market can be officially designated, a referendum must be held to determine that a two-thirds majority of producers favor the designation. It is hereby determined that the referendum will be held by mail during the period of April 27-May 1, 1998. The purpose of the referendum is to determine whether farmers who sold their tobacco on the designated markets at Clarksville and Chase City are in favor of, or opposed to, the designation of the consolidated market for the 1998 and succeeding crop years. Accordingly, if a two-thirds majority of those tobacco producers voting in the referendum favor this consolidation, a new market will be designated as and will be called Clarksville-Chase City. To be eligible to vote in the referendum a tobacco producer must have sold flue-cured tobacco on either Clarksville or Chase City, Virginia, auction markets during the 1997 marketing season. Any farmer who believes he or she is eligible to vote in the referendum but has not received a mail ballot by April 27, 1998, should immediately contact William Coats at (202) 205-0508. The referendum will be held in accordance with the provisions for referenda of the Tobacco Inspection Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 511d) and the regulations for such referendum set forth in 7 CFR 29.74.
Dated: April 15, 1998. Enrique E. Figueroa, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 98-10457 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-P