[Federal Register: April 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 82)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 21125]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30ap07-14]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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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.
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[[Page 21125]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 956
[Docket No. AMS-FV-07-0037; FV07-956-1]
Sweet Onions Grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast
Washington and Northeast Oregon; Continuance Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Referendum order.
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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible producers of sweet onions in the Walla Walla Valley of
southeast Washington and northeast Oregon, to determine whether they
favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of
sweet onions produced in the production area.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from May 19 to June 8, 2007.
Only current producers of Walla Walla sweet onions who also produced
Walla Walla sweet onions within the designated production area in
Washington and Oregon during the period January 1 to December 31, 2006,
are eligible to vote in this referendum.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the
office of the referendum agents at 1220 SW Third Avenue, Suite 385,
Portland, Oregon 97204, or the Office of 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, or Internet: http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Broadbent or Gary Olson,
Northwest Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Administration
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1220 SW Third Avenue,
Suite 385, Portland, OR 97204; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503)
326-7440, or E-mail: Barry.Broadbent@usda.gov or GaryD.Olson@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Agreement and Order
No. 956, both as amended (7 CFR part 956), hereinafter referred to as
the ``order,'' and the applicable provisions of the Agricultural
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674),
hereinafter referred to as the ``Act,'' it is hereby directed that a
referendum be conducted to ascertain whether continuance of the order
is favored by the producers. The referendum shall be conducted from May
19 to June 8, 2007, among Walla Walla sweet onion producers in the
production area. Only current Walla Walla sweet onion producers that
were engaged in the production of Walla Walla sweet onions in
Washington and Oregon, during the period of January 1 to December 31,
2006, may participate in the continuance referendum.
USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective
means for determining whether producers favor continuation of marketing
order programs. USDA would consider termination of the order if a
majority of the producers voting in the referendum and producers of a
majority of the volume of Walla Walla sweet onions represented in the
referendum do not favor continuance. In evaluating the merits of
continuance versus termination, USDA will not exclusively consider the
results of the continuance referendum. USDA will also consider all
other relevant information concerning the operation of the order and
the relative benefits and disadvantages to producers, handlers, and
consumers in order to determine whether continued operation of the
order would tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), the ballot materials to be used in the referendum herein
ordered are currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0178. It has been estimated
that it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the
approximately 35 producers of Walla Walla sweet onions in Washington
and Oregon to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots
postmarked after June 8, 2007, will not be included in the vote
tabulation.
Barry Broadbent and Gary Olson of the Northwest Marketing Field
Office, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, are hereby designated
as the referendum agents of the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct
this referendum. The procedure applicable to the referendum shall be
the ``Procedure for the Conduct of Referenda in Connection With
Marketing Orders for Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Pursuant to the
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as Amended'' (7 CFR
900.400 et seq).
Ballots will be mailed to all producers of record and may also be
obtained from the referendum agents, or from their appointees.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 956
Marketing agreements, Onions, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
Dated: April 25, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 07-2111 Filed 4-25-07; 4:52 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P