This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules orproposed rules that are applicable to thepublic. Notices of hearings and investigations,committee meetings, agency decisions andrulings, delegations of authority, filing ofpetitions and applications and agencystatements of organization and functions areexamples of documents appearing in thissection.NoticesFederal Register60955 
Vol. 85, No. 189 
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Agricultural Marketing Service 
[Doc No. AMS–FGIS–20–0067] 
United States Standards for Split Peas 
AGENCY : Agricultural Marketing Service, 
USDA 
ACTION : Notice and request for 
comments 
SUMMARY : The United States Department 
of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing a revision to the method of interpretation for determining ‘‘whole peas,’’ in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook, as it pertains to the class ‘‘Split Peas,’’ in the U.S. Standards for Split Peas under the United States Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA). Stakeholders in the pea processing/handling industry requested AMS to amend the interpretation of whole peas in the Split Pea inspection instructions by increasing the percent requirement for the factor whole peas. To ensure that the Split Pea class standard remains relevant, AMS invites interested parties to comment on whether revising the inspection instruction facilitates the marketing of Split Peas. This action does not revise or amend the Grade and Grade Requirements for the class Split Peas in the U.S. Standard for Split Peas. 
DATES : We will consider comments we 
receive by October 29, 2020. 
ADDRESSES : Submit comments or notice 
of intent to submit comments by any of the following methods: 
To submit Comments: Go to 
Regulations.gov (http://
www.regulations.gov). Instructions for submitting and reading comments are detailed on the site. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning this notice. All comments must be submitted through the Federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov and should reference the document number and the 
date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments 
submitted in response to this notice will be included in the record and will be made available to the public. Please be advised that the identity of the individuals or entities submitting comments will be made public on the 
internet at the address provided above. 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT : 
Loren Almond, USDA AMS; Telephone: (816) 891–0422; Email: Loren.L.Almond@ams.usda.gov. 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : Under the 
authority of the AMA (7 U.S.C. 1621– 1627), as amended, AMS establishes and maintains a variety of quality and grade standards for agricultural commodities that serve as a fundamental starting point to define commodity quality in the domestic and global marketplace. Standards developed under the AMA include those for rice, whole dry peas, split peas, feed peas, lentils, and beans. The U.S. standards for whole dry peas, split peas, feed peas, lentils and beans no longer appear in the Code of Federal Regulations but are now maintained by USDA-AMS-Federal Grain Inspection Service. The U.S. standards for split peas are voluntary and widely used in private contracts, government procurement, marketing communication, and for some commodities, consumer information. 
The split pea standards facilitate pea 
marketing and define U.S. pea quality in the domestic and global marketplace. The standards define commonly used industry terms; contain basic principles governing the application of standards such as the type of sample used for a particular quality analysis; the basis of determination; and specify grades and grade requirements. Official procedures for determining grading factors are provided in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook. Together, the grading standards and testing procedures allow buyers and sellers to communicate quality requirements, compare pea quality using equivalent forms of measurement, and assist in price discovery. 
AMS engages in outreach with 
stakeholders to ensure commodity standards maintain relevance to the modern market. Stakeholders, including the U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council (USDPLC), requested AMS to revise the split pea criteria for whole peas in the class Split Peas. Whole Peas are dry peas which are not split. The current definition of a ‘‘whole pea’’ is any pea which is 55 percent or more of a whole pea. The current tolerances for whole peas in split peas are determined on approximately 250 grams. AMS–FGIS proposes to revise the split pea inspection criteria in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook by amending the definition for whole peas in the Split Pea class from 55 percent or more, to 60 percent or more. 
Split Pea Tolerances for Whole Peas 
Representatives of pea industry 
stakeholders contacted AMS–FGIS to 
discuss ongoing issues with Split Peas, which grow predominately in Montana and North Dakota. Stakeholders told AMS that customers are looking for improved grading tools to measure the quality of products. Further, pea stakeholders told AMS that in 2019 shipments of split peas grading Number 1 at the processor subsequently graded less than Number 1, after packaging for Section 32/Food Distribution Programs. Stakeholders stated the current whole pea factor tolerance makes meeting contract specifications difficult due to the interpretation of a whole pea. During meetings and discussions, pea stakeholders communicated the need to revise the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook by revising the whole pea definition. 
The current tolerances for whole peas 
in split peas are determined on a percent basis of 55 percent or more of a whole pea in 250 grams. Pea industry stakeholders recommended the tolerance be increased to 60 percent or more of a whole pea. This would assist in moving the U.S. Split Pea market towards fewer quality complaints and serve to ensure consistent grading results across the nation. AMS views this action as noncontroversial and anticipates no adverse public comment. 
AMS grading and inspection services, 
provided through a network of federal, state, and private laboratories, conduct tests to determine the quality and condition of Split Peas. These tests are conducted in accordance with applicable standards using approved methodologies and can be applied at any point in the marketing chain. Furthermore, the tests yield rapid, reliable, and consistent results. The U.S. 
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Standards for Split Peas and the 
affiliated grading and testing services offered by AMS verify that a seller’s Split Peas meet specified requirements and ensure that customers receive the quality purchased. 
In order for U.S. standards and 
grading procedures for split peas to remain relevant, AMS is issuing this request for information to invite interested parties to submit comments on the proposal to amend the whole pea interpretation for the class Split Peas. These changes do not revise or amend the Grade and Grade Requirements for the class Split Peas in the U.S. Standard for Split Peas. 
Proposed AMS Action 
Based on input from stakeholder 
organizations in the pea industry, AMS 
proposes to amend the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook to revise the definition of whole peas, by increasing the percent needed to consider a split pea to be a whole pea from 55 percent or more to 60 percent or more. 
AMS will solicit comments for 30 
days. All comments received within the comment period will be made part of the public record maintained by AMS, will be available to the public for review, and will be considered by AMS before a final action is taken on this proposal. 
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. 
Bruce Summers, 
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing 
Service. 
[FR Doc. 2020–21434 Filed 9–28–20; 8:45 am] 
BILLING CODE P 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Agricultural Marketing Service 
[Doc No. AMS–FGIS–20–0066] 
United States Standards for Lentils 
AGENCY : Agricultural Marketing Service, 
USDA. 
ACTION : Notice and request for 
comments. 
SUMMARY : The United States Department 
of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing a revision to the method of interpretation for the determining the special grade ‘‘Green,’’ in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook, as it pertains to the class ‘‘Lentils,’’ in the U.S. Standards for Lentils under the United States Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA). Stakeholders in the lentil processing/handling industry requested AMS to amend the definition of the special grade ‘‘Green’’ to allow for the 
inclusion of mottled lentils. To ensure that the Lentil standards remain relevant, AMS invites interested parties to comment on whether revising the inspection instructions facilitate the marketing of Lentils. This action will revise or amend the Grade and Grade Requirements for Lentils in the U.S. Standard for Lentils. 
DATES : We will consider comments we 
receive by October 29, 2020. 
ADDRESSES : Submit comments or notice 
of intent to submit comments by any of the following methods: 
To submit Comments: Go to 
Regulations.gov (http://
www.regulations.gov). Instructions for 
submitting and reading comments are detailed on the site. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning this notice. All comments must be submitted through the Federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov and should 
reference the document number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments 
submitted in response to this notice will be included in the record and will be made available to the public. Please be advised that the identity of the individuals or entities submitting comments will be made public on the internet at the address provided above. 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT : 
Loren Almond, USDA AMS; Telephone: (816) 891–0422; Email: Loren.L.Almond@ams.usda.gov. 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : Under the 
authority of the AMA (7 U.S.C. 1621– 1627), as amended, AMS establishes and maintains a variety of quality and grade standards for agricultural commodities that serve as a fundamental starting point to define commodity quality in the domestic and global marketplace. Standards developed under the AMA include those for rice, whole dry peas, split peas, feed peas, lentils, and beans. The U.S. standards for whole dry peas, split peas, feed peas, lentils and beans no longer appear in the Code of Federal Regulations, but are now maintained by USDA–AMS–Federal Grain Inspection Service. The U.S. standards for lentils are voluntary and widely used in private contracts, government procurement, marketing communication, and for some commodities, consumer information. The lentil standards were last revised in 2017 (82 FR 31550). 
The lentil standards facilitate lentil 
marketing and define U.S. lentil quality in the domestic and global marketplace. The standards define commonly used industry terms; contain basic principles 
governing the application of standards such as the type of sample used for a particular quality analysis; the basis of determination; and specify grades and grade requirements. Official procedures for determining grading factors are provided in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook. Together, the grading standards and testing procedures allow buyers and sellers to communicate quality requirements, compare lentil quality using equivalent forms of measurement, and assist in price discovery. 
AMS engages in outreach with 
stakeholders to ensure commodity standards maintain relevance to the modern market. Stakeholders, including the U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council (USDPLC), requested AMS to revise the lentil criteria for the special grade ‘‘Green’’ in the class Lentils. Currently, Green Lentils are clear seeded (Non- Mottled) lentils possessing a natural, uniformly green color. This criteria for ‘‘Green’’ Lentils is determined on the sample as a whole, after the removal of dockage, but before the removal of defects and must be equal to or better than the depiction on the Interpretive Line Print (ILP) to quality for the special grade ‘‘Green Lentils’’. AMS–FGIS proposes to revise the lentil inspection criteria in the U.S. Standards for Lentils and the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook by amending the definition and criteria requirements for ‘‘Green’’ in lentils. 
Special Grade ‘‘Green’’ Criteria in 
Lentils 
When special grade ‘‘Green’’ was 
added to the lentil standard in 2017, 
stakeholders did not intend the interpretation of the definition to exclude all mottled lentils. Representatives of lentil industry stakeholders contacted AMS–FGIS to 
discuss ongoing issues with Lentils, which are predominately grown in Montana and North Dakota. Stakeholders stated in 2019 that most shipments of lentils did not achieve the special grade ‘‘Green’’ as the current definition and interpretation make it difficult to meet the special grade criteria. During meetings and discussions, lentil stakeholders communicated the need to revise the standard by changing definition of special grade ‘‘Green’’ and changing the inspection criteria in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook to include a percentage of allowable mottled lentils. 
Stakeholders recommended the 
definition of ‘‘Green’’ be revised in the lentil standard to read ‘‘Clear seeded (green) lentils possessing a natural, 
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