# AGENCY:

 Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. 

# ACTION:

 Interim final rule with request for comments. 

# SUMMARY:

 This rule decreases the assessment rate established for the California Olive Committee (Committee) for the 2000 and subsequent fiscal years from $26.18 to $21.73 per ton of olives handled. The Committee is responsible for local administration of the marketing order which regulates the handling of olives grown in California. Authorization to assess olive handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal year begins January 1 and ends December 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated. 

# DATES:

 January 20, 2000. Comments received by March 20, 2000, will be considered prior to issuance of a final rule. 

# ADDRESSES:

                         Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning this rule. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, room 2525-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; Fax: (202) 720-5698; or E-mail: moab.docketclerk@usda.gov. Comments should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this issue of the                         **Federal Register**                         and will be available for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular business hours.                     

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

 Diane Purvis, Marketing Assistant, and Rose Aguayo, Marketing Specialist, California Marketing Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721; telephone: (559) 487-5901, Fax: (559) 487-5906; 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. 148 and Order No. 932, both as amended (7 CFR part 932), regulating the handling of olives grown in California, 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 of Agriculture (Department) is issuing this rule in conformance with Executive Order 12866. 

This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. Under the marketing order now in effect, California olive handlers are subject to assessments. Funds to administer the order are derived from such assessments. It is intended that the assessment rate as issued herein will be applicable to all assessable olives beginning on January 1, 2000, and continue until amended, suspended, or terminated. 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. Such 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 the date of the entry of the ruling. 

This rule decreases the assessment rate established for the Committee for the 2000 and subsequent fiscal years from $26.18 per ton to $21.73 per ton of olives. 

The California olive marketing order provides authority for the Committee, with the approval of the Department, to formulate an annual budget of expenses and collect assessments from handlers to administer the program. The members of the Committee are producers and handlers of California olives. They are familiar with the Committee's needs and with the costs for goods and services in their local area and are thus in a position to formulate an appropriate budget and assessment rate. The assessment rate is formulated and discussed in a public meeting. Thus, all directly affected persons have an opportunity to participate and provide input. 

For the 1999 and subsequent fiscal years, the Committee recommended, and the Department approved, an assessment rate that would continue in effect from fiscal year to fiscal year unless modified, suspended, or terminated by the Secretary upon recommendation and information submitted by the Committee or other information available to the Secretary. 

                    The Committee met on December 9, 1999, and unanimously recommended fiscal year 2000 expenditures of $2,472,235 and an assessment rate of $21.73 per ton of olives. In comparison, last year's budgeted expenditures were $1,845,185. Recommended budget expenditures for research are significantly higher this year because of higher anticipated research expenses. The higher research budget of $868,550 is needed to fund: (1) Continued research and development of the                     Start Printed Page 2840                    mechanical olive harvester and (2) scientific studies to develop chemical or biological defenses to counteract a potential threat from the olive fruit fly in the California production area.                 

The following table compares major budget expenditure recommendations for the 2000 fiscal year with those from last year. 

The assessment rate recommended by the Committee was derived by considering anticipated expenses, estimated assessable tonnage, and additional pertinent factors. The estimate of assessable olives for the 2000 fiscal year is 113,750 tons. This compares to an assessable tonnage of 67,990 for fiscal year 1999. The increase in 2000, due in large part to the alternate-bearing nature of olives, has allowed the Committee to lower the assessment rate from $26.18 to $21.73 per ton, a decrease of $4.45. Income derived from handler assessments, interest, and carryover of reserve funds would be adequate to cover budgeted expenses. Funds in the reserve at the end of fiscal year 2000 would be less than the maximum permitted by § 932.40 of the order (approximately one fiscal year's expenses). 

The assessment rate established in this rule will continue in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated by the Secretary upon recommendation and information submitted by the Committee or other available information. 

Although this assessment rate will be in effect for an indefinite period, the Committee will continue to meet prior to or during each fiscal year to recommend a budget of expenses and consider recommendations for modification of the assessment rate. The dates and times of Committee meetings are available from the Committee or the Department. Committee meetings are open to the public and interested persons may express their views at these meetings. The Department will evaluate Committee recommendations and other available information to determine whether modification of the assessment rate is needed. Further rulemaking will be undertaken as necessary. The Committee's 2000 budget and those for subsequent fiscal years will be reviewed and, as appropriate, approved by the Department. 

Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the economic impact of this rule on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has prepared this initial 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 1,200 producers of olives in the production area and 2 handlers subject to regulation under the marketing order. Small agricultural producers have been defined by the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.601) as those having annual receipts less than $500,000, and small agricultural service firms are defined as those whose annual receipts are less than $5,000,000. None of the olive handlers may be classified as small entities, while the majority of olive producers may be classified as small entities. 

This rule decreases the assessment rate established for the Committee and collected from handlers for the 2000 and subsequent fiscal years from $26.18 per ton to $21.73 per ton of olives. The Committee unanimously recommended fiscal year 2000 expenditures of $2,472,235 and an assessment rate of $21.73 per ton. The assessment rate of $21.73 is $4.45 lower than the 1999 rate. The estimated quantity of assessable olives for the 2000 fiscal year is 113,750 tons. Thus, the $21.73 rate should be adequate to meet this year's budgeted expenses, when combined with funds from the authorized reserve and interest income. 

The following table compares major budget expenditure recommendations for the 2000 fiscal year with those from last year. 

The higher research budget of $868,550 is needed to fund: (1) Continued research and development of the mechanical olive harvester and (2) scientific studies to develop chemical and scientific defenses to counteract a potential threat from the olive fruit fly in the California production area. 

A lower assessment rate is recommended for 2000 because the estimated 2000 fiscal year assessable tonnage is approximately 67 percent larger than last fiscal year's tonnage, due in large part to the alternate bearing nature of the crop. A comparison of assessable tonnage for fiscal year 2000 with the two previous fiscal years is listed below: 

The Committee reviewed and unanimously recommended fiscal year 2000 expenditures of $2,472,235, which reflects increases in the research, market development, and administrative budgets. Prior to arriving at this budget, the Committee considered information from various sources, such as the Committee's Executive Subcommittee, the Research Subcommittee, and the Marketing Subcommittee. Alternate spending levels were discussed by these groups, based upon potential reductions in the funding of various research and marketing projects. The Committee determined it was not necessary to increase the assessment rate to cover these expenses because the increased assessable tonnage will provide sufficient funds to cover anticipated expenses. The assessment rate of $21.73 per ton of assessable olives was derived by considering anticipated expenses, the Committee's estimate of assessable olives, and additional pertinent factors. 

A review of historical and preliminary information pertaining to the upcoming fiscal year indicates that grower revenue for the 1999-2000 crop year will approximate $64,126,725. With an assessment rate of $21.73 per ton and assessable tonnage totaling 113,750 tons, the Committee's assessment revenue for fiscal year 2000 will be $2,471,788, or approximately 3.9 percent of grower revenue. 

                    This action decreases the assessment obligation imposed on handlers for fiscal year 2000 by $506,187. Assessments are applied uniformly on all handlers, and some of the costs may be passed on to producers. However, decreasing the assessment rate reduces the burden on handlers, and may reduce the burden on producers. In addition, the Committee's meeting was widely publicized throughout the California olive industry and all interested persons were invited to attend the meeting and participate in Committee deliberations on all issues. Like all Committee meetings, the December 9, 1999,                     Start Printed Page 2841                    meeting was a public meeting and all entities, both large and small, were able to express views on this issue. Finally, interested persons are invited to submit information on the regulatory and informational impacts of this action on small businesses.                 

This action imposes no additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements on California olive handlers. As with all Federal marketing order programs, reports and forms are periodically reviewed to reduce information requirements and duplication by industry and public sector agencies. 

The Department has not identified any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this rule. 

                    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 information and recommendation submitted by the Committee and other available information, it is hereby found that this rule, as hereinafter set forth, will tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act. 

                    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also found and determined upon good cause that it is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest to give preliminary notice prior to putting this rule into effect, and that good cause exists for not postponing the effective date of this rule until 30 days after publication in the                     **Federal Register**                     because: (1) Fiscal year 2000 begins on January 1, 2000, and the marketing order requires that the rate of assessment for each fiscal year apply to all assessable olives handled during such fiscal year; (2) this action decreases the assessment rate for assessable olives beginning with the 2000 fiscal year; (3) handlers are aware of this action which was unanimously recommended by the Committee at a public meeting and is similar to other assessment rate actions issued in past years; and (4) this interim final rule provides a 60-day comment period, and all comments timely received will be considered prior to finalization of this rule.                 

# List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 932

- Marketing agreements
- Olives
- Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 932 is amended as follows: 

# PART 932—OLIVES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA 

1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 932 continues to read as follows: 

Authority:7 U.S.C. 601-674. 

2. Section 932.230 is revised to read as follows: 

§ 932.230 

On and after January 1, 2000, an assessment rate of $21.73 per ton is established for California olives. 

Dated: January 12, 2000. 

Robert C. Keeney, 

Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs. 

[FR Doc. 00-1221 Filed 1-18-00; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P