04-12785. Cranberries Grown in the States of Massachusetts, et.al.; Exceptions to Recommended Decision to Proposed Amendment of Marketing Agreement and Order No. 929

AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Proposed rule; reopening comment period.

SUMMARY:

The Agricultural Marketing Service is reopening and extending the comment period for filing written exceptions to the recommended decision on proposed amendments to the marketing agreement and order for cranberries grown in the States of Massachusetts, et.al.

DATES:

Comments must be received by June 30, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit written exceptions concerning the recommended decision. Comments should be filed with the Hearing Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, room 1081-S, Washington, DC 20250-9200, FAX number [phone]. Four copies of all written exceptions should be submitted and they should reference the docket numbers and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register, or you may send your comments by the electronic process available at Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Comments can be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/​fv/​moab.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathleen M. Finn, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW. STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; telephone: [phone], or Fax: [phone].

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: [phone], Fax: [phone], or E-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Prior documents in this proceeding: Notice of Hearing issued on April 23, 2002, and published in the May 1, 2002, issue of the Federal Register (67 FR 21854); Secretary's Decision on partial amendments issued on December 4, 2003, and published in the December 12 issue of the Federal Register (68 FR 69343); and Recommended Decision and Opportunity to File Written Exceptions issued on April 21, 2004, and published in the April 28, 2004 issue of the Federal Register (69 FR 23330).

The recommended decision published on April 28, 2004, was issued pursuant to the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to the as the “Act.” The deadline for the submission of written exceptions to the recommended decision was May 28, 2004.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has received a request to provide more time for interested persons to analyze the recommended decision and file exceptions.

Extending the period in which written exceptions may be filed will provide interested persons more time to review the recommended decision and submit written exceptions thereto. Accordingly, the period in which to file written exceptions is extended until June 30, 2004.

This notice is issued pursuant to the Act and the applicable rules of practice governing the formulation of marketing agreements and orders (7 CFR part 900).

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 929

• Cranberries
• Marketing agreements
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Authority: Secs. 1-19, 48 Stat. 31, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

Dated: June 2, 2004.

A.J. Yates,

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.