This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

10423 

Vol. 79, No. 37 

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

7 CFR Part 930 

[Docket No. AMS–FV–13–0097; FV14–930– 

1] 

Tart Cherries Grown in the States of 

Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, 

Oregon, Utah, Washington and 

Wisconsin; Continuance Referendum 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Referendum order. 

SUMMARY: This document directs that a 

referendum be conducted among 

eligible growers and processors of tart 

cherries grown in the States of 

Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, 

Oregon, Utah, Washington and 

Wisconsin to determine whether they 

favor continuance of the marketing 

order that regulates the handling of tart 

cherries produced in the production 

area. 

DATES: The referendum will be 

conducted from March 10 through 

March 28, 2014. To vote in this 

referendum, growers and processors 

must have produced or processed tart 

cherries within the designated 

production area during the period of 

July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing 

order may be obtained from the 

referendum agents at 799 Overlook 

Drive, Winter Haven, FL 33884, or the 

Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing 

Order and Agreement Division, Fruit 

and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 

0237, Washington, DC 20250–0237; Fax: 

(202) 720–8938; or internet: http://

www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jennie M. Varela, Marketing Specialist, 

or Christian D. Nissen, Regional 

Director, Southeast Marketing Field 

Office, Marketing Order and Agreement 

Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, 

AMS, USDA, 799 Overlook Drive, 

Winter Haven, FL 33884; Telephone: 

(863) 324–3375, Fax: (863) 325–8793, or 

Email: Jennie.Varela@ams.usda.gov or 

Christian.Nissen@ams.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant 

to Marketing Agreement and Order No. 

930, as amended (7 CFR Part 930), 

hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘order,’’ 

and the applicable provisions of the 

Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act 

of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601–674), 

hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Act,’’ it is 

hereby directed that a referendum be 

conducted to ascertain whether 

continuance of the order is favored by 

growers and processors. The referendum 

shall be conducted from March 10 

through March 28, 2014, among tart 

cherry growers and processors in the 

production area. Only tart cherry 

growers and processors currently 

engaged in the production or processing 

of tart cherries that produced or 

processed tart cherries during the period 

of July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012, 

may participate in the continuance 

referendum. 

USDA has determined that 

continuance referenda are an effective 

means for determining whether 

producers favor the continuation of 

marketing order programs. The order 

would continue in effect if at least 50 

percent of the growers and processors 

voting, by number or volume, vote in 

favor of continuance. In evaluating the 

merits of continuance versus 

termination, USDA will consider the 

results of the continuance referendum. 

USDA will also consider all other 

relevant information concerning the 

operation of the order and the relative 

benefits and disadvantages to growers, 

processors, and consumers in 

determining whether continued 

operation of the order would tend to 

effectuate the declared policy of the Act. 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501– 

3520), the ballot materials to be used in 

the referendum have been submitted to 

and approved by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) and 

have been assigned OMB No. 0581–0177 

(Tart Cherries Grown in the States of 

Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, 

Oregon, Utah, Washington, and 

Wisconsin). It has been estimated that it 

will take an average of 20 minutes for 

each of the approximately 600 growers 

and 40 processors of tart cherries to cast 

a ballot. Participation is voluntary. 

Ballots postmarked after March 28, 

2014, will not be included in the vote 

tabulation. 

Jennie M. Varela and Christian D. 

Nissen of the Southeast Marketing Field 

Office, Fruit and Vegetable Program, 

AMS, USDA, are hereby designated as 

the referendum agents of the Secretary 

of Agriculture to conduct this 

referendum. The procedure applicable 

to the referendum shall be the 

‘‘Procedure for the Conduct of 

Referenda in Connection With 

Marketing Orders for Fruits, Vegetables, 

and Nuts Pursuant to the Agricultural 

Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as 

Amended’’ (7 CFR 900.400–900.407). 

Ballots will be mailed to all growers 

and processors of record and may also 

be obtained from the referendum agents, 

or from their appointees. 

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 930 

Marketing agreements, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements, Tart 

cherries. 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674. 

Dated: February 18, 2014. 

Rex A. Barnes, 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Marketing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–03908 Filed 2–24–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

7 CFR Part 945 

[Doc. No. AMS–FV–13–0093; FV14–945–1 

PR] 

Irish Potatoes Grown in Certain 

Designated Counties in Idaho, and 

Malheur County, Oregon; Decreased 

Assessment Rate 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: This proposed rule would 

decrease the assessment rate established 

for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Potato 

Committee (Committee) for the 2014– 

2015 and subsequent fiscal periods from 

$0.0045 to $0.0025 per hundredweight 

of potatoes handled. The Committee 

locally administers the marketing order, 

which regulates the handling of potatoes 

grown in certain designated counties in 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
10424 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 37 / Tuesday, February 25, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon. 

Assessments upon potato handlers are 

used by the Committee to fund 

reasonable and necessary expenses of 

the program. The fiscal period begins 

August 1 and ends July 31. The 

assessment rate would remain in effect 

indefinitely unless modified, 

suspended, or terminated. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

March 27, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments 

concerning this proposed rule. 

Comments must be sent to the Docket 

Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement 

Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, 

AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, 

DC 20250–0237; Fax: (202) 720–8938; or 

Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. 

Comments should reference the 

document 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, or 

can be viewed at: http://

www.regulations.gov. All comments 

submitted in response to this proposed 

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: Sue 

Coleman, Marketing Specialist, or Gary 

D. Olson, Regional Director, Northwest 

Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order 

and Agreement Division, Fruit and 

Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA; 

Telephone: (503) 326–2724, Fax: (503) 

326–7440, or Email: Sue.Coleman@

ams.usda.gov or GaryD.Olson@

ams.usda.gov. 

Small businesses may request 

information on complying with this 

regulation by contacting Jeffrey Smutny, 

Marketing Order and Agreement 

Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, 

AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, 

DC 20250–0237; Telephone: (202) 720– 

2491, Fax: (202) 720–8938, or Email: 

Jeffrey.Smutny@ams.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

proposed rule is issued under Marketing 

Agreement No. 98 and Order No. 945, 

both as amended (7 CFR part 945), 

regulating the handling of Irish potatoes 

grown in certain designated counties in 

Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon, 

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 proposed rule in 

conformance with Executive Order 

12866 and Executive Order 13563. 

This proposed rule has been reviewed 

under Executive Order 12988, Civil 

Justice Reform. Under the marketing 

order now in effect, Idaho-Eastern 

Oregon potato handlers are subject to 

assessments. Funds to administer the 

order are derived from such 

assessments. It is intended that the 

assessment rate as proposed herein 

would be applicable to all assessable 

potatoes beginning August 1, 2014, and 

continue until amended, suspended, or 

terminated. 

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. Such 

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 would decrease 

the assessment rate established for the 

Committee for the 2014–2015 and 

subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0045 

to $0.0025 per hundredweight of 

potatoes. 

The Idaho-Eastern Oregon potato 

marketing order provides authority for 

the Committee, with the approval of 

USDA, 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 Idaho-Eastern 

Oregon potatoes. 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 2013–2014 and subsequent 

fiscal periods, the Committee 

recommended, and USDA approved, an 

assessment rate that would continue in 

effect from fiscal period to fiscal period 

unless modified, suspended, or 

terminated by USDA upon 

recommendation and information 

submitted by the Committee or other 

information available to USDA. 

The Committee met on November 21, 

2013, to consider the Committee’s 

projected 2014–2015 budget, the size of 

the Committee’s operating reserve, and 

the order’s continuing assessment rate. 

The Committee unanimously 

recommended an assessment rate of 

$0.0025 per hundredweight of potatoes 

for the 2014–2015 fiscal period. The 

assessment rate of $0.0025 is $0.002 

lower than the rate currently in effect. 

The assessment rate decrease is 

necessary to reduce the funds held in 

reserve to less than approximately one 

fiscal period’s budgeted expenses, the 

maximum level allowed by the order. 

The Committee expects to recommend 

budgeted expenditures of $112,883 for 

the 2014–2015 fiscal period at its next 

scheduled meeting in June of 2014. In 

comparison, 2013–2014 budgeted 

expenditures were $101,662. The major 

expenditures projected by the 

Committee for the 2014–2015 fiscal 

period include $62,743 for 

administrative expenses; $35,140 for 

travel/office expenses; and $15,000 for a 

marketing order contingency fund. 

Budgeted expenses for these items in 

2013–2014 were $62,022, $35,640, and 

$4,000, respectively. 

The assessment rate recommended by 

the Committee was derived by dividing 

anticipated expenses by expected 

shipments of Idaho-Eastern Oregon 

potatoes. Potato shipments for 2014– 

2015 are estimated at 32 million 

hundredweight which should provide 

$80,000 in assessment income. Income 

derived from handler assessments, along 

with reimbursed expenses, interest 

earned, and funds from the Committee’s 

authorized reserve, would be adequate 

to cover budgeted expenses. Funds in 

the reserve (projected to be $168,084 on 

July 31, 2014) would be reduced to 

comply with the maximum permitted by 

the order of approximately one fiscal 

period’s expenses. 

The proposed assessment rate would 

continue in effect indefinitely unless 

modified, suspended, or terminated by 

USDA upon recommendation and 

information submitted by the 

Committee or other available 

information. 

Although this assessment rate would 

be in effect for an indefinite period, the 

Committee would continue to meet 

prior to or during each fiscal period to 

recommend a budget of expenses and 

consider recommendations for 

modification of the assessment rate. The 

dates and times of Committee meetings 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 37 / Tuesday, February 25, 2014 / Proposed Rules 10425 

are available from the Committee or 

USDA. Committee meetings are open to 

the public and interested persons may 

express their views at these meetings. 

USDA would evaluate Committee 

recommendations and other available 

information to determine whether 

modification of the assessment rate is 

needed. Further rulemaking would be 

undertaken as necessary. The 

Committee’s 2014–2015 budget and 

those for subsequent fiscal periods 

would be reviewed and, as appropriate, 

approved by USDA. 

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 

proposed 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 

businesses 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. 

There are approximately 450 

producers of potatoes in the production 

area and approximately 32 handlers 

subject to regulation under the 

marketing order. Small agricultural 

producers are defined by the Small 

Business Administration (13 CFR 

121.201) as those having annual receipts 

less than $750,000, and small 

agricultural service firms are defined as 

those whose annual receipts are less 

than $7,000,000. 

During the 2012–2013 fiscal period, 

the most recent for which statistics are 

available, 35,148,900 hundredweight of 

Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes were 

inspected under the order and sold into 

the fresh market. Based on information 

provided by the National Agricultural 

Statistics Service, the average producer 

price for the 2012 Idaho potato crop was 

$6.55 per hundredweight. Multiplying 

$6.55 by the shipment quantity of 

35,148,900 hundredweight yields an 

annual crop revenue estimate of 

$230,225,295. The average annual fresh 

potato revenue for each of the 450 

producers is therefore calculated to be 

$511,612 ($230,225,295 divided by 450), 

which is less than the Small Business 

Administration’s threshold of $750,000. 

Consequently, on average most all of the 

Idaho-Eastern Oregon potato producers 

may be classified as small entities. 

In addition, based on information 

reported by USDA’s Market News 

Service, the average f.o.b. shipping 

point price for the 2012 Idaho potato 

crop was $5.87 per hundredweight. 

Multiplying $5.87 by the shipment 

quantity of 35,148,900 hundredweight 

yields an annual crop revenue estimate 

of $206,324,043. The average annual 

fresh potato revenue for each of the 32 

handlers is therefore calculated to be 

$6,447,626 ($206,324,043 divided by 

32), which is less than the Small 

Business Administration’s threshold of 

$7,000,000. Consequently, on average 

most all of the Idaho-Eastern Oregon 

potato handlers may be classified as 

small entities. 

This proposed rule would decrease 

the assessment rate established for the 

Committee and collected from handlers 

for the 2014–2015 and subsequent fiscal 

periods from $0.0045 to $0.0025 per 

hundredweight of potatoes. The 

Committee unanimously recommended 

an assessment rate of $0.0025 per 

hundredweight of potatoes for the 2014– 

2015 fiscal period. The assessment rate 

of $0.0025 is $0.002 lower than the 

2013–2014 rate. The quantity of 

assessable potatoes for the 2014–2015 

fiscal period is estimated at 32 million 

hundredweight. Thus, the $0.0025 rate 

should provide $80,000 in assessment 

income. Income derived from handler 

assessments, along with reimbursed 

expenses, interest earned, and funds 

from the Committee’s authorized 

reserve, would be adequate to cover 

budgeted expenses. 

The Committee expects to recommend 

$112,883 in budgeted expenditures for 

the 2014–2015 fiscal period at its next 

scheduled meeting in June of 2014. In 

comparison, 2013–2014 budgeted 

expenditures were $101,662. The major 

expenditures projected by the 

Committee for the 2014–2015 year 

include $62,743 for administrative 

expenses; $35,140 for travel/office 

expenses; and $15,000 for the marketing 

order contingency fund. Budgeted 

expenses for these items in 2013–2014 

were $62,022, $35,640, and $4,000, 

respectively. 

The lower assessment rate is 

necessary to reduce the reserve balance 

to less than approximately one fiscal 

period’s budgeted expenses. The reserve 

balance on July 31, 2014, is projected to 

be $168,084. Assessment income for the 

2014–2015 fiscal period is estimated at 

$80,000, while expenses are estimated 

to be $112,883. The Committee 

anticipates compensating for the 

reduced assessment revenue with 

$4,300 from reimbursed expenses, $100 

from interest income, and $28,483 from 

its reserve fund. The reserve fund is 

projected to exceed the maximum 

authorized level by $26,718 at the end 

of the 2014–2015 fiscal period. 

However, it was noted that it is possible 

that the Committee may receive less 

assessments than estimated, as well as 

incur unanticipated expenses. In 

addition, the Committee expects to draw 

funds from the reserve in subsequent 

fiscal periods that would further reduce 

the balance. 

The Committee discussed alternatives 

to this proposed change, including other 

assessment rate levels and leaving the 

current rate in place. Prior to arriving at 

this assessment rate recommendation, 

the Committee considered information 

from the Board’s Executive Committee 

on the cost savings resulting from recent 

administrative changes in the 

Committee office and the level of 

anticipated Committee expenses moving 

forward. The Committee debated 

between an assessment rate of $0.003 

and $0.0025 per hundredweight of 

potatoes. Based on the market and 

shipping quantities, the Committee 

recommended the rate of $0.0025 per 

hundredweight. The Committee believes 

assessment income combined with 

income from reimbursed expenses, 

interest income, and funds from the 

Committee’s financial reserve, would 

provide sufficient funds to meet its 

expenses. 

A review of historical information and 

preliminary information pertaining to 

the upcoming fiscal period indicates 

that the producer price for the 2014– 

2015 crop could range between $6.55 

and $8.10 per hundredweight of 

potatoes. Therefore, the estimated 

assessment revenue for the 2014–2015 

fiscal period as a percentage of total 

producer revenue could range between 

0.03 and 0.04 percent. 

This action would decrease the 

assessment obligation imposed on 

handlers. Assessments are applied 

uniformly on all handlers, and some of 

the costs may be passed on to 

producers. However, decreasing the 

assessment rate would reduce the 

burden on handlers, and may reduce the 

burden on producers. In addition, the 

Committee’s meeting was widely 

publicized throughout the Idaho-Eastern 

Oregon potato industry and all 

interested persons were invited to 

attend the meeting and participate in 

Committee deliberations on all issues. 

Like all Committee meetings, the 

November 21, 2013, 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 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
10426 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 37 / Tuesday, February 25, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

regulatory and informational impacts of 

this action on small businesses. 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 

Chapter 35), the order’s information 

collection requirements have been 

previously approved by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) and 

assigned OMB No. 0581–0178 (Generic 

Vegetable and Specialty Crops). No 

changes in those requirements as a 

result of this action are necessary. 

Should any changes become necessary, 

they would be submitted to OMB for 

approval. 

This proposed rule would impose no 

additional reporting or recordkeeping 

requirements on either small or large 

Idaho-Eastern Oregon potato 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 action. 

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 Jeffrey Smutny 

at the previously mentioned address in 

the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section. 

A 30-day comment period is provided 

to allow interested persons to respond 

to this proposed rule. Thirty days is 

deemed appropriate because: (1) The 

2014–2015 fiscal period begins on 

August 1, 2014, and the marketing order 

requires that the rate of assessment for 

each fiscal period apply to all assessable 

potatoes handled during such fiscal 

period; (2) the proposed rule would 

decrease the assessment rate for 

assessable potatoes beginning with the 

2014–2015 fiscal period; and (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. 

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 945 

Marketing agreements, Potatoes, 

Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

For the reasons set forth in the 

preamble, 7 CFR part 945 is proposed to 

be amended as follows: 

PART 945—IRISH POTATOES GROWN 

IN CERTAIN DESIGNATED COUNTIES 

IN IDAHO, AND MALHEUR COUNTY, 

OREGON 

■ 1. The authority citation for 7 CFR 

part 945 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674. 

■ 2. Section 945.249 is revised to read 

as follows: 

§ 945.249 Assessment rate. 

On and after August 1, 2014, an 

assessment rate of $0.0025 per 

hundredweight is established for IdahoEastern Oregon potatoes. 

Dated: February 18, 2014. 

Rex A. Barnes, 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Marketing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–03852 Filed 2–24–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION 

12 CFR Part 651 

RIN 3052–AC89 

Federal Agricultural Mortgage 

Corporation Governance; Farmer Mac 

Corporate Governance and Standards 

of Conduct 

AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration. 

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed 

rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: The Farm Credit 

Administration (FCA, we, or our) is 

considering issuing new regulations, or 

clarifying and enhancing existing 

regulations, related to the Federal 

Agricultural Mortgage Corporation 

(Farmer Mac) board governance and 

standards of conduct, including director 

election procedures, conflicts of interest 

and risk governance. We are requesting 

comments on ways to address these 

issues. In keeping with today’s financial 

and economic environment, we believe 

it prudent and timely to undertake a 

review of our regulatory guidance on the 

identified areas. We intend to use the 

information and suggestions we receive 

in response to this Advance Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for the 

development of guidance on Farmer 

Mac board governance and standards of 

conduct. 

DATES: You may send comments on or 

before April 28, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: We offer a variety of 

methods for you to submit your 

comments. For accuracy and efficiency 

reasons, commenters are encouraged to 

submit comments by email or through 

the FCA’s Web site. As facsimiles (fax) 

are difficult for us to process and 

achieve compliance with section 508 of 

the Rehabilitation Act, we are no longer 

accepting comments submitted by fax. 

Regardless of the method you use, 

please do not submit your comments 

multiple times via different methods. 

You may submit comments by any of 

the following methods: 

• Email: Send us an email at regcomm@fca.gov. 

• FCA Web site: http://www.fca.gov. 

Select ‘‘Public Commenters,’’ then 

‘‘Public Comments,’’ and follow the 

directions for ‘‘Submitting a Comment.’’ 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Mail: Laurie A. Rea, Director, Office 

of Secondary Market Oversight, Farm 

Credit Administration, 1501 Farm 

Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102–5090. 

You may review copies of all 

comments we receive at our office in 

McLean, Virginia, or on our Web site at 

http://www.fca.gov. Once you are in the 

Web site, select ‘‘Public Commenters,’’ 

then ‘‘Public Comments,’’ and follow 

the directions for ‘‘Reading Submitted 

Public Comments.’’ We will show your 

comments as submitted, including any 

supporting data provided, but for 

technical reasons we may omit items 

such as logos and special characters. 

Identifying information that you 

provide, such as phone numbers and 

addresses, will be publicly available. 

However, we will attempt to remove 

email addresses to help reduce Internet 

spam. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe 

Connor, Associate Director for Policy 

and Analysis, Office of Secondary 

Market Oversight, Farm Credit 

Administration, McLean, VA 22102– 

5090, (703) 883–4364, TTY (703) 883– 

4056, or Laura McFarland, Senior 

Counsel, Office of General Counsel, 

Farm Credit Administration, McLean, 

VA 22102–5090, (703) 883–4020, TTY 

(703) 883–4056. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Objective 

The purpose of this ANPRM is to 

gather public input on how FCA might: 

• Enhance risk governance at Farmer 

Mac to further its long-term safety and 

soundness and mission achievement; 

• Clarify the roles of the board and 

voting stockholders in the Farmer Mac 

director nomination and election 

process; 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS