[Federal Register: August 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 161)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 48903-48904]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22au05-28]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Parts 948
[Docket No. FV05-948-1 PR]
Irish Potatoes Grown in Colorado; Reopening of Comment Period on
Relaxation of Handling Regulation for Area No. 2 and Certain Imported
Potatoes
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the proposed
relaxation of minimum grade requirements for Colorado Area No. 2
potatoes under Marketing Order No. 948 (order), and for imported red-
skinned round type potatoes under the potato import regulation is
reopened until September 12, 2005.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 12, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning this proposal. Comments should be sent to the Docket Clerk,
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs,
AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC
20250-0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938, E-mail: moab.docketclerk@usda.gov, or
Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference the
docket number and the date and page number of this issue and the May 6,
2005, issue of the Federal Register and will be available for public
inspection in the office of the Docket Clerk during regular business
hours, or can be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teresa Hutchinson, Northwest Marketing
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503)
326-7440; or George Kelhart, Marketing Order Administration Branch,
Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.,
STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, or
Fax: (202) 720-8938.
Small businesses may request information on complying with this
regulation by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing Order Administration
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-
2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or E-mail: Jay.Guerber@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was issued on May 3, 2005,
and published in the Federal Register on May 6, 2005 (70 FR 23942). The
proposed rule would relax the minimum grade requirements from U.S. No.
1 to U.S. Commercial for all Colorado Area No. 2 potato varieties
measuring from 1\1/2\-inch minimum diameter to 2\1/4\-inch maximum
diameter (size B), and from 1-inch minimum diameter to 1\3/4\-inch
maximum diameter. Under the potato import regulation, the grade changes
would only apply to all red-skinned round type imported potatoes of the
same size categories during the months of October through June.
Reopening of the comment period was requested on behalf of domestic
potato growers by a potato shipper in Pennsylvania. This shipper
expressed concern that the relaxation of minimum grade requirements for
potatoes imported from Canada could negatively impact potato producers
in the United States.
After reviewing the request, USDA is reopening the comment period
for 20
[[Page 48904]]
additional days. This will provide interested persons more time to
review the proposed rule, perform a more complete analysis, and prepare
information in writing to support their comments.
Accordingly, the period in which to file written comments is
reopened until September 12, 2005. This notice is issued pursuant to
the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
Dated: August 17, 2005.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16570 Filed 8-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P