### 42072 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2011 / Proposed Rules

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Agricultural Marketing Service**

**7 CFR Part 930**

**[Doc. No. AMS–FV–11–0047; FV11–930–1 PR]** 

**Tart Cherries Grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah,**  **Washington, and Wisconsin; Suspension of Order Regulations**  **Regarding Random Row Diversion**

**AGENCY :**  Agricultural Marketing Service,

USDA.

**ACTION :**  Proposed rule.

**SUMMARY :**  This proposed rule invites comments on changes to the grower diversion regulations prescribed under the marketing order for tart cherries (order). The order regulates the handling of tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin and is administered locally by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board). This rule would suspend indefinitely the regulations establishing random row as a method of grower diversion. With growers consistently choosing other diversion methods which offer more flexibility and fewer potential problems, the Board recommended this suspension to bring grower diversion requirements in line with current industry practices.

**DATES :**  Comments must be received by July 28, 2011.

**ADDRESSES :**  Interested persons are

invited to submit written comments concerning this proposal. Comments must be sent to 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. All

comments should reference the docket number and the date and page number

of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made available for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular business hours, or

can be viewed at: http:// www.regulations.gov. All comments submitted in response to this rule 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 the comments will be made public on the Internet at the address provided above.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Jennie M. Varela, Marketing Specialist, or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Manager, Southeast Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs,
AMS, USDA; Telephone: (863) 324–

3375, Fax: (863) 325–8793, or E-mail: Jennie.Varela@ams.usda.gov or Christian.Nissen@ams.usda.gov.

Small businesses may request information on complying with this regulation by contacting Laurel May, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington,
DC 20250–0237; Telephone: (202) 720–

2491, Fax: (202) 720–8938, or E-mail: Laurel.May@ams.usda.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  This proposal is issued under Marketing Agreement and Order No. 930, both as amended (7 CFR part 930), regulating the handling of tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin, hereinafter referred to as the

‘‘order.’’ The order is 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 (USDA) is issuing this rule in

conformance with Executive Order

12866.

This proposal has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. This proposed rule is

not intended to have retroactive effect.

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 USDA 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, USDA 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 USDA’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 proposed rule invites comments on changes to the grower diversion regulations prescribed under the order. This rule would suspend indefinitely the regulations establishing random row as a method of grower diversion. With growers consistently choosing other diversion methods which offer more flexibility and fewer potential problems,

the Board recommended this suspension to bring grower diversion requirements in line with current industry practices. The Board unanimously recommended this action at a meeting on March 24, 2011.

Section 930.58 of the order provides authority for voluntary grower diversion. Under volume regulation, growers can divert all or a portion of their cherries which otherwise, upon delivery to a handler, would be subject to regulation. Section 930.158 prescribes the rules and regulations for grower diversion, including the procedures and deadline dates for applying for diversion and the types of diversion available to growers. Currently, there are four types of grower diversion: Randomrow, whole block, partial block, and inorchard tank. This rule would suspend portions of § 930.158 that provide random row as an option under grower

diversion.

The order contains volume control provisions that allow the industry to address fluctuations in production from season to season, helping to stabilize supplies and prices. When volume
control is in effect, free and restricted percentages are established. Handlers can meet their restricted percentage obligation by placing cherries in inventory reserve, diverting cherries themselves, or redeeming grower

diversion certificates.

Under voluntary grower diversion, growers can divert cherries from production in exchange for Board issued grower diversion certificates stating the quantity diverted. Growers can then present these certificates to handlers who may redeem them as a method of complying with their restricted percentage obligation under volume regulation. By diverting cherries from production, growers can avoid the costs of harvesting and transporting fruit, reduce the supply, and mitigate the downward pressure on prices that result from oversupply.

Following the promulgation of the
order in 1996, the Board recommended regulations outlining two grower diversion options for the 1997 crop year,
whole block and random row (63 FR
20019). Under whole block diversion, growers select entire orchard blocks to

be left unharvested. With random row diversion, the Board randomly selects


### 42073 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2011 / Proposed Rules

rows of trees the grower is to leave unharvested, providing growers with a way to divert a portion of an orchard

rather than a whole orchard block.

For the 1998 crop year and subsequent seasons, the grower diversion program was expanded to include two additional options, partial block and in-orchard tank diversions (63 FR 33523). Partial block diversion allows the grower to select a contiguous portion of an orchard block that will be

left unharvested. With in-orchard tank diversion, cherries are harvested into tanks, the volume is calculated, and

then diverted in the orchard.

The addition of these options provided growers with greater flexibility when considering diversion, and

marked a substantial decline in the use of random row. For the last ten years,

random row has been the least utilized grower diversion option, and accounted for less than three percent of total grower diversion during the last three

seasons.

During the discussion of this issue,

the Board noted several issues that have

contributed to the nominal use of random row as a grower diversion option. Random row diversion is the least flexible of grower diversion options in terms of quality control. When a grower selects a whole block or partial block to divert, the grower

controls which fruit will be harvested

and which trees will be leftunharvested. Similarly, under inorchard tank diversion, the grower determines what fruit is picked and

stored in the tanks for diversion. Consequently, these three methods allow the grower to incorporate quality

into the decision of which cherries to divert. Delivering higher quality fruit not only brings the grower a greater return, but higher quality benefits the industry overall.

Under the random row method of diversion, the diverted rows are selected randomly by the Board. This could result in the best quality fruit being left in the orchard, with lower quality fruit delivered to handlers, leading to lower
grower returns.

In addition to quality concerns, the logistics of random row also present particular challenges to the grower. With the exception of in-orchard tank diversion, all grower diversion methods require the grower to submit an orchard map to the Board. The burden of havingto keep orchard maps precisely up-todate is borne by growers. The random selection of rows by the Board places additional importance on the accuracy and precision of submitted maps. Inaccurate maps can lead to harvesting errors, with rows selected for diversion being inadvertently harvested.

Even if maps are kept current, diverting random rows during harvest can be challenging. While whole and partial block diversions allow growers to leave contiguous areas unharvested, random row diversions require that specified rows be left unharvested, increasing the likelihood of error. Further, given the prevalence of contract harvesting, workers are often unfamiliar with the groves they are harvesting, and mistakes are made in identifying the specific rows to be left unharvested.

The greater potential for error during harvesting is of major concern to growers because penalties for errors in random row diversion are costly. If a grower discovers an error during harvest, two trees must be left unharvested for every one of the trees improperly harvested in order to remain in compliance, with the grower only receiving the original diversion amount. If the grower reports an error at the end of harvesting, a reduced diversion amount is calculated. If an unreported error is discovered by the Board after harvesting is complete, no diversion

certificate would be issued.

In addition to the issues affecting grower interest in this option, the Board also has concerns regarding the use of random row diversion. Specifically, the Board is concerned about the potential

for miscalculations or misuse that could

lead to overstated diversion amounts.

Random row diversion differs from the other options in that the diverted tonnage receiving certificates is

calculated based on volume delivered from the orchard. In contrast, whole and partial block diversions involve sampling trees in the selected area to determine the volume being divertedbefore harvest takes place, and inorchard tank diversion is determined by

the actual volume measured in the

tanks.

Calculating the diverted volume after delivery creates opportunity for error. It

can be difficult to determine if the

volume delivered to the handler all came from appropriately mapped groves, included in the grower’s diversion application. With diversion calculations based on delivered volume, it is important that the volume only

include cherries from those orchards in

which random rows were diverted. Some growers care for and deliver fruit

from orchards other than their own.

There is concern that the handler accepting delivery could easily mistake

how much volume came from the grower’s own mapped orchards, resulting in the overstatement of the

amount diverted. With the availability of other diversion options that offer the grower more flexibility and less potential problems, random row represents a very small percentage of total grower diversion. Further, with the higher potential for harvesting errors and for miscalculations of diversion amounts,

the Board believes random row is the most problematic of the diversion options. Consequently, the Board unanimously recommended this action which would suspend the regulations providing random row as a grower diversion option. The Board voted to suspend the regulations rather than eliminating them altogether in the event the industry would want to reinstate

random row diversion in the future.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601–612), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the economic impact of this action 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 rules issued thereunder, are unique in that they are brought about through group action of essentially small entities acting on their own

behalf.

There are approximately 40 handlers of tart cherries who are subject to regulation under the marketing order and approximately 600 producers of tart cherries in the regulated area. Small agricultural service firms have been defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as those having annual receipts of less than $7,000,000, and small agricultural producers are defined as those having annual receipts of less than $750,000 (13 CFR 121.201).

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and Board data, the average annual grower price for tart cherries during the 2009– 2010 season was $0.197 per pound, and total shipments were around 227 million pounds. Therefore, average receipts for tart cherry producers were around $75,000, well below the SBA threshold for small producers. The Food Institute estimates an f.o.b. price of $0.84 per pound for frozen tart cherries, which make up the majority of processed tart cherries. Using this data, average annual handler receipts were about $4.8 million, also below the SBA threshold for small agricultural service


### 42074 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2011 / Proposed Rules

firms. Assuming a normal distribution, the majority of producers and handlers of tart cherries may be classified as

small entities.

This action would change the grower diversion regulations prescribed under the order. This rule would suspend indefinitely the regulations in § 930.158 establishing random row as a method of grower diversion. With growers consistently choosing other diversion methods which offer more flexibility and fewer potential problems, the Board recommended this suspension to bring grower diversion requirements in line with current industry practices. The authority for this action is provided for in § 930.58 of the order. The Board unanimously recommended this action at a meeting on March 24, 2011.

This proposed rule would not impose any additional costs on growers. The grower diversion program under the order is completely voluntary. In an effort to stabilize supplies and prices, the tart cherry industry uses mechanisms under the order to attempt to bring supply and demand into balance. Under voluntary grower diversion, growers can divert cherries from production in exchange for Board issued grower diversion certificates stating the quantity diverted. Growers can then present these certificates to handlers who may redeem them as a method of complying with their restricted percentage obligation under volume regulation. By diverting cherries from production, growers can avoid the costs of harvesting and transporting fruit, reduce the supply, and mitigate the downward pressure on prices that result from oversupply.

This action would only suspend the regulations that provide random row as a method of grower diversion. The other three options, whole lot, partial block, and in-orchard tank, would remain unchanged by this action. Random row is the least utilized of the grower diversion options, with the other three options accounting for 97 percent of diversion volume. Consequently, this change would bring the regulations in line with current industry preferences and practices. Further, the remaining grower diversion options offer the grower some flexibility to control quality, which in turn could increase grower returns. The effects of this rule are not expected to be disproportionately greater or less for small entities than for larger entities.

One alternative action considered by the Board was to remove the regulations pertaining to random row diversion. However, the Board agreed that suspension would be the most appropriate action should the industry determine it would like to reinstate random row as a diversion option in the future. Thus, termination was rejected

as an alternative.

This rule would not impose any additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements on either small or large tart cherry 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.

AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, to promote the

use of the Internet and other information technologies to provide increased opportunities for citizen

access to Government information and services, and for other purposes.

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

In addition, the Board’s meeting was widely publicized throughout the tart cherry industry and all interested persons were invited to attend the meeting and participate in Board

deliberations on all issues. Like all Board meetings, the March 24, 2011, 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 comments on this proposed rule, including the regulatory and informational impacts of this action on

small businesses.

A small business guide on complying with fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop marketing agreements and orders may

be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/ MarketingOrdersSmallBusinessGuide. Any questions about the compliance guide should be sent to Laurel May at the previously mentioned address in the

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT**

section.

A ten-day comment period is provided to allow interested persons to respond to this proposal. Ten days is deemed appropriate because the 2011– 12 tart cherry crop harvest will begin in mid to late July 2011. Also, growers

need to make their determinations as to grower diversion prior to harvest. Further, growers and handlers are aware of this action, which was unanimously recommended by the Board at a public meeting on March 24, 2011. All written comments timely received will be

considered before a final determination

is made on this matter.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 930

Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Tart

cherries. For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 930 is proposed to

be amended as follows:

**PART 930—TART CHERRIES GROWN IN MICHIGAN, NEW YORK,**  **PENNSYLVANIA, OREGON, UTAH, WASHINGTON, AND WISCONSIN** 

1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 930 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674.

**§ 930.158 [Amended]**

2. In § 930.158: A. Suspend paragraph (b)(1) indefinitely.

B. In paragraph (c)(3), redesignate the first two sentences as paragraph (c)(3)(i) and the remaining sentences as paragraph (c)(3)(ii).

C. Newly redesignated paragraph (c)(3)(ii) is suspended indefinitely.

Dated: July 12, 2011.

Rayne Pegg,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing

Service.

[FR Doc. 2011–17883 Filed 7–15–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE P**

**NUCLEAR REGULATORY**

**COMMISSION**

**10 CFR Part 20**

**[NRC–2011–0162]**

**Consideration of Rulemaking To Address Prompt Remediation of**  **Residual Radioactivity During Operations** 

**AGENCY :**  Nuclear Regulatory

Commission.

**ACTION :**  Notice of public Webinar and request for comment.

**SUMMARY :**  The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Commission or NRC) is seeking input from the public, licensees, Agreement States, non-Agreement States, and other stakeholders on a potential rulemaking to address prompt remediation of residual radioactivity during the operational phase of licensed

material sites and nuclear reactors. The NRC has not initiated a rulemaking, but is in the process of gathering information and seeking stakeholder input on this subject for developing a

technical basis document. To aid in this process, the NRC is requesting

comments on the issues discussed in Section III, ‘‘Specific Questions,’’ in the Supplementary Information Section of this document. Additionally, the NRC will hold a public Webinar to facilitate the public’s and other stakeholders’