99-23792. Irish Potatoes Grown in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, California, and in All Counties in Oregon, Except Malheur County; Temporary Suspension of Handling Regulations and Establishment of Reporting Requirements  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 176 (Monday, September 13, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 49352-49355]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-23792]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Agricultural Marketing Service
    
    7 CFR Part 947
    
    [Docket No. FV99-947-1 FIR]
    
    
    Irish Potatoes Grown in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, California, 
    and in All Counties in Oregon, Except Malheur County; Temporary 
    Suspension of Handling Regulations and Establishment of Reporting 
    Requirements
    
    AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting, as a 
    final rule without change, the provisions of an interim final rule 
    suspending, for the 1999-2000 season only, the minimum grade, size, 
    quality, maturity, pack, and inspection requirements currently 
    prescribed under the Oregon-California potato marketing order. The 
    marketing order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Modoc 
    and Siskiyou Counties, California, and in all Counties in Oregon, 
    except Malheur County, and is administered locally by the Oregon-
    California Potato Committee (Committee). During this suspension of the 
    handling regulations, reports from handlers will be required to obtain 
    information necessary to administer the marketing order. This rule is 
    expected to reduce industry expenses.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: October 13, 1999.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teresa L. Hutchinson, Northwest 
    Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit 
    and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1220 SW Third Avenue, room 369, 
    Portland, Oregon 97204-2807; telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503) 326-
    7440 or George Kelhart, Technical Advisor, Marketing Order 
    Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, room 
    2525-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone: (202) 
    720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-5698. Small businesses may request information 
    on complying with this regulation by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing 
    Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 
    P.O. Box 96456, room 2525-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone (202) 
    720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-5698, or E-mail: Jay.Guerber@usda.gov.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing 
    Agreement No. 114 and Marketing Order No. 947, both as amended (7 CFR 
    part 947), regulating the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Modoc and 
    Siskiyou Counties in California, and in all counties in Oregon, except 
    Malheur County, hereinafter referred to as the ``order.'' The marketing 
    agreement and order are effective under the Agricultural Marketing 
    Agreement Act of 1937, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter 
    referred to as the ``Act.''
        The Department is issuing this rule in conformance with Executive 
    Order 12866.
        This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
    Justice Reform. This rule is not intended to have retroactive effect. 
    This rule will not preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or 
    policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
    rule.
        The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be exhausted 
    before parties may file suit in court. Under section 608c(15)(A) of the 
    Act, any handler subject to an order may file with the Secretary a 
    petition stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any 
    obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance 
    with law and request a modification of the order or to be exempted 
    therefrom. A handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the 
    petition. After the hearing the Secretary would rule on the petition. 
    The Act provides that the district court of the United States in any 
    district in which the handler is an inhabitant, or has his or her 
    principal place of business, has jurisdiction to review the Secretary's 
    ruling on the petition, provided an action is filed not later than 20 
    days after date of the entry of the ruling.
        This rule continues in effect the suspension of the handling 
    regulations currently prescribed under the order from July 1, 1999, to 
    June 30, 2000. This rule allows the Oregon-California potato industry 
    to market potatoes without minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, 
    pack, and inspection requirements. The handling regulations will resume 
    July 1, 2000, for the 2000-2001 season and future seasons. This rule 
    also establishes handler reporting requirements during the same time 
    period. Reporting requirements will allow the Committee to obtain 
    information from handlers necessary to administer the order.
        Section 947.52 of the order authorizes the issuance of regulations 
    for grade, size, quality, maturity, and pack for any variety of 
    potatoes grown in the production area during any period. Section 947.51 
    authorizes the modification, suspension, or termination of regulations 
    issued under Sec. 947.52.
        Section 947.60 provides that whenever potatoes are regulated 
    pursuant to Sec. 947.52, such potatoes must be inspected by the 
    Federal-State Inspection Service, and certified as meeting the 
    applicable requirements of such regulations. The cost of inspection and 
    certification is borne by handlers.
        Section 947.80 authorizes the Committee, with the approval of the 
    Secretary, to require reports and other information from handlers that 
    are necessary for the Committee to perform its duties.
        Minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, and pack requirements for 
    potatoes regulated under the order are specified in Sec. 947.340 
    Handling Regulation [7 CFR 947.340]. This regulation, with 
    modifications and exemptions for different varieties and types of 
    shipments, provides that all potatoes grade at least U.S. No. 2; be at 
    least 2 inches in diameter or weigh at least 4 ounces; and be not more 
    than moderately skinned. Additionally, potatoes packed in cartons must 
    be U.S. No. 1 grade or better, with an additional
    
    [[Page 49353]]
    
    tolerance allowed for internal defects, or U.S. No. 2 grade weighing at 
    least 10 ounces. Section 947.340 also includes waivers of inspection 
    procedures, reporting and safeguard requirements for special purpose 
    shipments, and a minimum quantity exemption of 19 hundredweight per 
    day.
        The Committee meets prior to and during each season to consider 
    recommendations for modification, suspension, or termination of the 
    regulatory requirements for Oregon-California potatoes which have been 
    issued on a continuing basis. Committee meetings are open to the public 
    and interested persons may express their views at these meetings. The 
    Department reviews Committee recommendations and information submitted 
    by the Committee and other available information, and determines 
    whether modification, suspension, or termination of the regulatory 
    requirements would tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
        At its February 23, 1999, meeting, the Committee unanimously 
    recommended suspending the handling regulations and establishing 
    handler reporting requirements for the 1999-2000 season. The Committee 
    met again on May 14, 1999, to review the recommendation made at the 
    earlier meeting. After extensive discussion, the Committee decided not 
    to rescind or modify their earlier recommendation to suspend handling 
    regulations. The Committee requested that this rule be effective for 
    the fiscal period beginning July 1, 1999, which is also the date 
    shipments of the 1999 Oregon-California potato crop began.
        The objective of the handling requirements is to ensure that only 
    acceptable quality potatoes enter fresh market channels, thereby 
    ensuring consumer satisfaction, increasing sales, and improving returns 
    to producers. While the industry continues to believe that quality is 
    an important factor in maintaining sales, the Committee believes the 
    cost of inspection and certification (mandated when minimum 
    requirements are in effect) may exceed the benefits derived.
        Potato prices have been at low levels in recent seasons, and many 
    producers have faced difficulty covering their production costs. 
    Therefore, the Committee has been discussing the possibility of 
    reducing costs through the elimination of mandatory inspection. The 
    Committee is concerned, however, that the elimination of current 
    handling and inspection requirements could possibly result in lower 
    quality potatoes being shipped to fresh markets. Also, there is some 
    concern that the Oregon-California potato industry could lose sales to 
    other potato producing areas that are covered by quality and inspection 
    requirements. For these reasons, the Committee recommended that the 
    suspension of handling requirements be effective for the 1999-2000 
    season only. This will enable the Committee to study the impacts of the 
    suspension and consider appropriate actions for ensuing seasons.
        This rule will enable handlers to ship potatoes without regard to 
    the minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, pack, and inspection 
    requirements for the 1999-2000 season only. This rule will allow 
    handlers to decrease costs by eliminating the costs associated with 
    inspection. This rule will not restrict handlers from seeking 
    inspection on a voluntary basis. The Committee will evaluate the 
    effects of removing the minimum requirements on marketing and on 
    producer returns at its meeting next spring.
        The suspension of the handling regulations will result in the 
    elimination of the monthly inspection report from the Federal-State 
    Inspection Service which the Committee used as a basis for the 
    collection of assessments from handlers. This inspection report was 
    compiled by the Federal-State Inspection Service from inspection 
    certificates. During the suspension of the handling regulations, 
    reports from handlers will be needed for the Committee to obtain 
    information on which to collect assessments. Therefore, a new 
    Sec. 947.180 Reports is established which requires each handler to 
    submit a monthly assessment report to the Committee containing the 
    following information: (a) The date and quantity of fresh potatoes sold 
    including identification numbers; (b) the name and address of the 
    producers; (c) the assessment payment due; and (d) the name and address 
    of the handler. Authorization to assess handlers enables the Committee 
    to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the 
    program. Although adding reporting requirements, this rule through the 
    elimination of inspection and certification requirements is expected to 
    reduce industry expenses.
        Consistent with the suspension of Sec. 947.340, this rule also 
    suspends Secs. 947.120, 947.123, 947.130, 947.132, 947.133, and 947.134 
    of the rules and regulations in effect under the order. Sections 
    947.120 and 947.123 provide authority for hardship exemptions from 
    inspection and certification, and establish reporting and recordkeeping 
    requirements when such exemptions are in place. Sections 947.130, 
    947.132, 947.133, and 947.134 are safeguard and reporting provisions of 
    the order that are applicable to special purpose shipments when 
    inspection and certification requirements are in place.
        Contained within Sec. 947.340(i) of the current handling 
    regulations is a minimum quantity exemption under which a handler may 
    ship not more than 19 hundredweight of potatoes on any day without 
    regard to the inspection and assessment requirements issued under the 
    order. The suspension of the handling regulations removes all 
    inspection requirements. To continue the current minimum quantity 
    exemption for assessments, a new Sec. 947.125 Minimum quantity 
    exemption is established. This section simply continues the current 
    minimum quantity exemption under which a handler may ship not more than 
    19 hundredweight of potatoes on any day without regard to the 
    assessment requirements issued under the order.
        Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
    Act (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the 
    economic impact of this action on small entities. Accordingly, the AMS 
    has prepared this final regulatory flexibility analysis.
        The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of 
    business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will 
    not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued 
    pursuant to the Act, and the rules issued thereunder, are unique in 
    that they are brought about through group action of essentially small 
    entities acting on their own behalf. Thus, both statutes have small 
    entity orientation and compatibility.
        There are approximately 30 handlers of Oregon-California potatoes 
    who are subject to regulation under the marketing order and 
    approximately 450 potato producers in the regulated area. Small 
    agricultural service firms have been defined by the Small Business 
    Administration (13 CFR 121.601) as those having annual receipts of less 
    than $5,000,000, and small agricultural producers are defined as those 
    having annual receipts of less than $500,000.
        Currently, about 83 percent of the Oregon-California potato 
    handlers ship less that $5,000,000 worth of potatoes and 17 percent 
    ship more than $5,000,000 worth on an annual basis. In addition, based 
    on acreage, production, and producer prices reported by the National 
    Agricultural Statistics Service, and the total number of Oregon-
    California potato producers, average annual producer receipts are 
    approximately $285,000. In view of the foregoing, it can be concluded 
    that the majority of handlers and producers of
    
    [[Page 49354]]
    
    Oregon-California potatoes may be classified as small entities.
        This rule suspends the handling regulations and establishes 
    reporting requirements from July 1, 1999, through June 30, 2000. This 
    rule will allow the Oregon-California potato industry to market 
    potatoes without minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, pack, and 
    inspection requirements. The handling regulations currently specified 
    in Sec. 947.340 will resume July 1, 2000, for the 2000-2001 season and 
    future seasons. Reporting requirements will allow the Committee to 
    obtain information from handlers necessary to collect assessments.
        At its February 23, 1999, meeting, the Committee unanimously 
    recommended suspending the handling regulations and establishing 
    reporting requirements for the 1999-2000 season. The Committee met 
    again on May 14, 1999, to review the recommendation made at the earlier 
    meeting. After extensive discussion, the Committee decided not to 
    rescind or modify their earlier recommendation to suspend handling 
    regulations. The Committee requested that this rule be effective for 
    the fiscal period beginning July 1, 1999, which is also the date 
    shipments of the 1999 Oregon-California potato crop began.
        The objective of the handling requirements is to ensure that only 
    acceptable quality potatoes enter fresh market channels, thereby 
    ensuring consumer satisfaction, increasing sales, and improving returns 
    to producers. While the industry continues to believe that quality is 
    an important factor in maintaining sales, the Committee believes the 
    cost of inspection and certification (mandated when minimum 
    requirements are in effect) may exceed the benefits derived.
        Potato prices have been at low levels in recent seasons, and many 
    producers have faced difficulty covering their production costs. 
    Therefore, the Committee has been discussing the possibility of 
    reducing costs through the elimination of mandatory inspection. The 
    Committee is concerned, however, that the elimination of current 
    handling and inspection requirements could possibly result in lower 
    quality potatoes being shipped to fresh markets. Also, there is some 
    concern that the Oregon-California potato industry could lose sales to 
    other potato producing areas that are covered by quality and inspection 
    requirements. For these reasons, the Committee recommended that the 
    suspension of handling requirements be effective for the 1999-2000 
    season only. This will enable the Committee to study the impacts of the 
    suspension and consider appropriate actions for ensuing seasons.
        This rule will enable handlers to ship potatoes without regard to 
    the minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, pack, and inspection 
    requirements for the 1999-2000 season only. This rule will allow 
    handlers to decrease costs by eliminating the costs associated with 
    inspection. This rule will not restrict handlers from seeking 
    inspection on a voluntary basis. The Committee will evaluate the 
    effects of removing the minimum requirements on marketing and on 
    producer returns at its meeting next spring.
        The suspension of the handling regulations will result in the 
    elimination of the monthly inspection report from the Federal-State 
    Inspection Service which the Committee used for billing purposes. This 
    inspection report was compiled by the Federal-State Inspection Service 
    from inspection certificates. During this suspension of the handling 
    regulations, reports from handlers will be necessary for the Committee 
    to obtain information on which to collect assessments. This rule 
    establishes a new Sec. 947.180 Reports which requires each handler to 
    submit a monthly assessment report to the Committee containing the 
    following information: (a) The date and quantity of fresh potatoes sold 
    including identification numbers; (b) the name and address of the 
    producers; (c) the assessment payment due; and (d) the name and address 
    of the handler. Authorization to assess handlers enables the Committee 
    to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the 
    program. Although adding reporting requirements, this rule through the 
    elimination of inspection and certification requirements is expected to 
    reduce industry expenses.
        Contained within Sec. 947.340(i) of the current handling 
    regulations is a minimum quantity exemption under which a handler may 
    ship not more than 19 hundredweight of potatoes on any day without 
    regard to the inspection and assessment requirements issued under the 
    order. The suspension of the handling regulations removes all 
    inspection requirements. To continue the current minimum quantity 
    exemption for assessments, a new 947.125 Minimum quantity exemption is 
    established. This section simply continues the current minimum quantity 
    exemption under which a handler may ship not more than 19 hundredweight 
    of potatoes on any day without regard to the assessment requirements 
    issued under the order.
        The Committee anticipates that this rule will not negatively impact 
    small businesses. This rule will suspend minimum grade, size, quality, 
    maturity, pack, and inspection requirements. Further, this rule will 
    allow handlers and producers the choice to obtain inspection for 
    potatoes, as needed, thereby reducing cost to producers and handlers. 
    The total cost of inspection and certification for fresh shipments of 
    Oregon-California potatoes during the 1998-99 marketing season is 
    estimated at $600,000. This is approximately $20,000 per handler. The 
    Committee expects, however, that most handlers will continue to have 
    some of their potatoes inspected and certified by the Federal-State 
    Inspection Service.
        The Committee investigated the use of other types of inspection 
    programs as another option to reduce the cost of inspection, but 
    believed they were not viable at this time. With the suspension of 
    handling regulations, there are no alternatives to reporting 
    requirements to ensure the collection of assessments needed to 
    administer the order.
        This rule will require monthly reports from handlers to obtain 
    information necessary to collect assessments. Although this rule 
    establishes new reporting requirements, the suspension of the handling 
    regulations eliminates the more frequent reporting requirements that 
    were included under the safeguard provisions of the order.
        Therefore, any additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements 
    on either small or large potato handlers are expected to be offset by 
    the elimination of reporting requirements currently in effect. In 
    addition, the elimination of inspection and certification requirements 
    is expected to further reduce industry expenses. Finally, as with all 
    Federal marketing order programs, reports and forms are periodically 
    reviewed to reduce information requirements and duplication by industry 
    and public sectors.
        In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
    Chapter 35), the information collection requirements that are contained 
    in this rule have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
    (OMB) and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0178. It is estimated that it 
    will take a handler 20 minutes to complete a monthly assessment report, 
    and that each handler will fill out 12 monthly assessment reports each 
    year. This creates an estimated total industry burden of approximately 
    120 hours. It is estimated that it currently takes a handler 5 minutes 
    to complete a safeguard reporting form. With an estimated 2,000 
    safeguard reports completed each year, the estimated
    
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    decrease in burden because of the elimination of safeguard reporting 
    requirements is estimated to be 167 hours.
        The Department has not identified any relevant Federal rules that 
    duplicate, overlap or conflict with this rule. Further, the Committee's 
    meetings were widely publicized throughout the Oregon-California potato 
    industry and all interested persons were invited to attend the meetings 
    and participate in Committee deliberations. Like all Committee 
    meetings, the February 23, 1999, and May 14, 1999, meetings were public 
    meetings and all entities, both large and small, were able to express 
    their views on this issue. The Committee itself is composed of 14 
    members, of which 5 are handlers and 9 are producers. Finally, 
    interested persons are invited to submit information on the regulatory 
    and informational impacts of this action on small businesses.
        An interim final rule concerning this action was published in the 
    Federal Register on June 25, 1999. A copy of the rule was mailed to the 
    Committee's administrative office for distribution to producers and 
    handlers. In addition, the rule was made available through the Internet 
    by the Office of the Federal Register. That rule provided for a 60-day 
    comment period which ended August 24, 1999. No comments were received.
        A small business guide on complying with fruit, vegetable, and 
    specialty crop marketing agreements and orders may be viewed at the 
    following web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html. Any questions 
    about the compliance guide should be sent to Jay Guerber at the 
    previously mentioned address in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
    section.
        After consideration of all relevant material presented, including 
    the Committee's recommendation, and other information, it is found that 
    finalizing the interim final rule, without change, as published in the 
    Federal Register (64 FR 34113, June 25, 1999) will tend to effectuate 
    the declared policy of the Act.
    
    List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 947
    
        Marketing agreements, Potatoes, Reporting and recordkeeping 
    requirements.
    
    PART 947--IRISH POTATOES GROWN IN MODOC AND SISKIYOU COUNTIES, 
    CALIFORNIA, AND IN ALL COUNTIES IN OREGON, EXCEPT MALHEUR COUNTY
    
        Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 7 CFR part 947 which 
    was published at 64 FR 34113 on June 25, 1999, is adopted as a final 
    rule without change.
    
        Dated: September 7, 1999.
    Robert C. Keeney,
    Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
    [FR Doc. 99-23792 Filed 9-10-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
10/13/1999
Published:
09/13/1999
Department:
Agricultural Marketing Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
99-23792
Dates:
October 13, 1999.
Pages:
49352-49355 (4 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FV99-947-1 FIR
PDF File:
99-23792.pdf
CFR: (1)
7 CFR 947.180