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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2814-2815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00757]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. AMS-CN-13-0091]

Recommendations of Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton 
Standards

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) held meetings of the 
Universal Cotton Standards Advisory Committee in Raleigh, North 
Carolina on June 19, 20 and 21, 2013. This notice announces the 
Advisory Committee's recommendation to adopt USDA's HVI (High Volume 
Instrument) Cotton Trash Standards as Universal Standards and to change 
the frequency of Universal Cotton Standards Conferences from once every 
three years to once every four years. The meeting agenda, minutes, and 
recommendations from the Advisory Committee are posted at the following 
Web address: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/AdvisoryCommitteeonUniversalStandards.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 18, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning

[[Page 2815]]

the Advisory Committee's recommendation using the following procedures:
     Internet: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Comments may be submitted by mail to: Darryl 
Earnest, Deputy Administrator, Cotton & Tobacco Programs, AMS, USDA, 
3275 Appling Road, Room 11, Memphis, TN 38133. Comments should be 
submitted in triplicate. All comments should reference the docket 
number and the date and the page of this issue of the Federal Register. 
All comments will be available for public inspection during regular 
business hours at Cotton & Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 3275 Appling 
Road, Memphis, TN 38133. A copy of this notice may be found at: 
www.ams.usda.gov/cotton/rulemaking.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Knowlton, Designated Federal 
Official, Cotton & Tobacco Programs, AMS, USDA, 3275 Appling Road, Room 
5, Memphis, TN 38133. Telephone (901) 384-3030, facsimile (901) 384-
3032, or email Telephone (901) 384-3030, or email: 
James.Knowlton@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The purpose of the Universal Cotton Standards Advisory Committee is 
to consider any necessary changes to the Universal Cotton Standards and 
to review and approve freshly prepared sets of the Universal Cotton 
Grade Standards for conformity with the existing standards.
    At the Universal Cotton Standards Conference on June 19-21, 2013, 
the Advisory Committee recommended revising the Universal Cotton 
Standards Agreement in regards to its recommendations of adopting a 
Universal HVI Cotton Trash Standard and changing the frequency of 
Universal Cotton Standards Conferences from once every three years to 
once every four years.
    The Universal Cotton Standards Agreement is an Agreement between 
USDA, the U.S. cotton industry and overseas cotton associations of 
merchants and textile manufacturers that provides for the trading of 
U.S. cotton on the official standards of the U.S. for Upland cotton. 
Adoption of the Universal HVI Cotton Trash Standard will ensure that 
the USDA's cotton trash measurement serves as the internationally 
accepted universal language for cotton trash measurements. Adoption of 
the frequency of Universal Cotton Standards Conferences to be held once 
every four years will provide improved cost efficiency while continuing 
to provide the necessary framework for future considerations to the 
Universal Cotton Standards.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 51-65.

    Dated: January 10, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-00757 Filed 1-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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