Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 62963 

be added to its monetary reserve, which 

it estimates will be $5,288 on March 30, 

2014. This reserve level is within the 

maximum permitted by the order. 

The major expenditures 

recommended by the Committee for the 

2013–2014 fiscal period include $2,500 

for the management fee; $1,200 for 

Committee travel; $1,000 for the annual 

audit; and $670 for office supplies, 

insurance, and miscellaneous expenses. 

In comparison, major budgeted 

expenditures for the 2012–2013 fiscal 

period included $2,400 for the 

management fee; $1,300 for Committee 

travel; $750 for the annual audit; and 

$545 for office supplies, insurance, and 

miscellaneous expenses. 

The Committee discussed alternatives 

to this action, including recommending 

alternative expenditure levels and 

assessment rates. Although lower 

assessment rates were considered, none 

were selected because they would not 

have generated sufficient income to 

administer the order. Committee 

members also discussed reasons for and 

against regulatory suspension, order 

suspension, and order termination. The 

result of these discussions was the 

Committee’s recommendation to 

maintain the order’s administrative 

functions and to increase the assessment 

rate. 

This action increases the assessment 

obligation imposed on handlers. While 

assessments impose some additional 

costs on handlers, the costs are minimal 

and uniform on all handlers. Some of 

the additional costs may be passed on 

to producers. However, these costs are 

offset by the benefits derived by the 

operation of the marketing order. 

Like all Committee meetings, the May 

13, 2013, meeting was a public meeting 

and all entities, both large and small, 

were able to express their views on this 

issue. The Committee’s meeting was 

widely publicized throughout the 

Washington apricot industry and all 

interested persons were invited to 

attend and participate in Committee 

deliberations on all issues. 

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. 0581–0189. 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 rule does not impose any 

additional reporting or recordkeeping 

requirements on either small or large 

Washington apricot 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. As 

noted in the initial regulatory flexibility 

analysis, USDA has not identified any 

relevant Federal rules that duplicate, 

overlap, or conflict with this final rule. 

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. 

A proposed rule concerning this 

action was published in the Federal 

Register on August 20, 2013 (78 FR 

51098). Copies of the proposed rule 

were also made available to all apricot 

handlers by Committee staff. Finally, 

the proposal was made available 

through the Internet by USDA and the 

Office of the Federal Register. A 15-day 

comment period ending September 4, 

2013, was provided for interested 

persons to respond to the proposal. No 

comments were received. 

A small business guide on complying 

with fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop 

marketing agreements and orders may 

be viewed at: 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. 

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 also found 

and determined that good cause exists 

for not postponing the effective date of 

this rule until 30 days after publication 

in the Federal Register because (1) The 

2013–2014 fiscal period began on April 

1, 2013, and the order requires that the 

assessment rate for each fiscal period 

apply to all assessable Washington 

apricots handled during such fiscal 

period; (2) the Committee needs to have 

sufficient funds to pay its expenses, 

which are incurred on a continuous 

basis; (3) handlers are already shipping 

Washington apricots from the 2013 

crop; (4) handlers are aware of this rule, 

which was unanimously recommended 

by the Committee at a public meeting 

and is similar to other assessment rate 

actions issued in past years; and (5) a 

15-day comment period was provided 

for in the proposed rule. 

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 922 

Apricots, Marketing agreements, 

Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

For the reasons set forth in the 

preamble, 7 CFR Part 922 is amended as 

follows: 

PART 922—APRICOTS GROWN IN 

DESIGNATED COUNTIES IN 

WASHINGTON 

■ 1. The authority citation for 7 CFR 

Part 922 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674. 

■ 2. Section 922.235 is revised to read 

as follows: 

§ 922.235 Assessment rate. 

On and after April 1, 2013, an 

assessment rate of $1.50 per ton is 

established for Washington apricots 

handled in the production area. 

Dated: October 17, 2013. 

Rex A. Barnes, 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Marketing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–24901 Filed 10–22–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

7 CFR Part 922 

[Doc. No. AMS–FV–13–0040; FV13–922–1 

IR] 

Apricots Grown in Designated 

Counties in Washington; Suspension 

of Handling Regulations 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Interim rule with request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: This rule suspends the 

minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, 

and inspection requirements prescribed 

under the Washington apricot marketing 

order (order) for the remainder of the 

2013–2014 fiscal period and subsequent 

fiscal periods. The order regulates the 

handling of apricots grown in 

designated counties in Washington and 

is administered locally by the 

Washington Apricot Marketing 

Committee (Committee). This rule 

follows a suspension of the handling 

regulations that was enacted in the 

2012–2013 fiscal period, and is 

expected to reduce overall industry 

expenses and increase net returns to 

growers and handlers. 

DATES: Effective October 24, 2013. 

Comments received by December 23, 


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62964 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

2013 will be considered prior to the 

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, 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. All comments 

should reference the document 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 

comments will be made public on the 

internet at the address provided above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Manuel Michel, Marketing Specialist, or 

Gary 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: 

Manuel.Michel@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 rule 

is issued under Marketing Agreement 

No. 132 and Order No. 922, both as 

amended (7 CFR Part 922), regulating 

the handling of apricots grown in 

designated counties in Washington, 

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 Orders 

12866 and 13563. 

This rule has been reviewed under 

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice 

Reform. This 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 then 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 entry of the 

ruling. 

This rule suspends the handling 

regulations prescribed under the order 

for the remainder of the 2013–2014 

fiscal period and subsequent fiscal 

periods. Specifically, this rule suspends 

the minimum grade, size, quality, 

maturity, and inspection requirements 

under the order. This rule follows a 

suspension of the handling regulations 

enacted in the 2012–2013 fiscal period. 

Notwithstanding the suspension of the 

order’s handling regulations, apricots 

handled in Washington must still meet 

Washington State’s minimum grade 

requirement of Washington No. 2. 

In addition, as a direct result of the 

suspension of the order’s handling 

regulations, information from the 

Federal-State Inspection Service will no 

longer be available for the Committee to 

use to compile industry statistics and 

assess handlers. However, through a 

collaborative agreement, the 

Washington State Department of 

Agriculture is expected to provide the 

Committee access to apricot handling 

data similar to the information that has 

been previously collected and provided 

by the Inspection Service. 

Section 922.52 of the order authorizes 

the issuance of regulations for grade, 

size, quality, maturity, and pack for 

apricots grown in the production area. 

The minimum grade, size, quality, 

maturity, and inspection requirements 

for apricots regulated under the order 

are specified in § 922.321. 

Section 922.53 authorizes the 

modification, suspension, or 

termination of regulations issued under 

§ 922.52 when such changes tend to 

effectuate the declared policy of the Act. 

Further, on the same basis and in a like 

manner, whenever the Secretary finds 

that a regulation previously established 

obstructs or does not tend to effectuate 

the declared policy of the Act, such 

regulation shall be suspended or 

terminated. 

Section 922.55 provides that 

whenever the handling of any variety of 

apricots is regulated pursuant to 

§ 922.52 or § 922.53, such apricots must 

be inspected by the Inspection Service 

and certified as meeting the applicable 

requirements. The cost of inspection 

and certification is borne by handlers. 

Section 922.111 provides for the waiver 

of the inspection requirement upon 

certain conditions for certain handlers 

when inspection by the Inspection 

Service is not readily available. 

The Committee meets regularly to 

review and consider recommendations 

for the regulatory requirements of 

Washington apricots. Committee 

meetings are open to the public and 

interested persons may express their 

views at these meetings. The USDA 

reviews Committee recommendations, 

information submitted by the 

Committee, and other available 

information and determines whether 

modification, suspension, or 

termination of the regulatory 

requirements would tend to effectuate 

the declared policy of the Act. 

At its May 13, 2013, meeting, the 

Committee unanimously recommended 

suspending the order’s handling 

regulations for the 2013–2014 and 

subsequent fiscal periods. The 

Committee requested that this rule be 

effective immediately for the remainder 

of the 2013–2014 fiscal period. 

The objective of the handling 

regulation has been to ensure that only 

acceptable quality apricots enter fresh 

market channels to foster consumer 

satisfaction, increase sales, and improve 

returns to growers. 

The Washington apricot industry 

recognizes that quality is an important 

factor that helps to maintain sales. Some 

Committee members expressed concern 

that suspension of the handling and 

inspection requirements could 

potentially result in lower quality 

apricots being shipped to fresh markets, 

affecting consumer demand. There is 

also concern that if overall quality 

declines, the Washington apricot 

industry could lose sales to other 

apricot producing regions. However, 

due to the evolving nature of fresh fruit 

marketing, many wholesale and retail 

apricot buyers have developed their 

own specific criteria that their suppliers 

are required to meet to ensure a high 

quality product. Therefore, the 

Committee believes that the cost of 

complying with the order’s handling 

regulations, when such regulations are 

in effect, may exceed the benefits. 

Furthermore, the Committee 

suspended the order’s handling 

regulations, effective January 9, 2013, 

during the 2012–2013 fiscal period, and 


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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 62965 

did not receive complaints related to the 

quality of Washington apricots. 

Therefore, the Committee believes that 

the marketing order’s minimum 

handling requirements can be 

suspended without negatively affecting 

the Washington apricot industry. 

After carefully evaluating all available 

information, the Committee 

recommended suspending the handling 

regulations prescribed under the order 

for the 2013–2014 and subsequent fiscal 

periods. However, if marketing 

conditions change, the Committee may 

take the appropriate action to reinstate 

the handling regulations or recommend 

termination of the order. 

This rule enables Washington apricot 

handlers to ship apricots without regard 

to the order’s minimum grade, size, 

quality, maturity, and inspection 

requirements for the remainder of the 

2013–2014 and subsequent fiscal 

periods. This action will also allow 

handlers to decrease their total costs by 

eliminating the expenses associated 

with mandatory inspections. However, 

this rule does not impede handlers from 

seeking product inspection on a 

voluntary basis, if they find inspection 

desirable. At the end of each season, the 

Committee will evaluate the impact of 

the suspension of the handling 

regulations on marketing conditions and 

grower returns. Should modification 

become necessary, the Committee 

would recommend a change to USDA. 

As a result of the suspension of the 

handling regulations, the Inspection 

Service will no longer generate and 

forward inspection certificates to the 

Committee. Prior to the temporary 

suspension of the handling regulation 

during the 2012–2013 season, the 

Committee used these certificates as the 

basis for collecting handler assessments 

and compiling apricot industry 

statistics. In the absence of such 

inspection certificates for upcoming 

seasons, the Committee intends to enter 

into a memorandum of understanding 

with the Washington State Department 

of Agriculture in order to obtain the 

information necessary to collect 

assessments and generate statistical 

information. Authorization to assess 

handlers enables the Committee to incur 

expenses that are reasonable and 

necessary to administer the program. 

Consistent with the suspension of 

§ 922.321, this rule also suspends 

§ 922.111 of the rules and regulations in 

effect under the order. Section 922.111 

contains provisions for handlers to 

apply for a waiver from mandatory 

inspection when such inspection is not 

readily available from the Inspection 

Service. With the suspension of the 

handling regulations, such waivers are 

no longer necessary. 

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 

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 94 growers 

of Washington apricots in the 

production area and approximately 20 

handlers subject to regulation under the 

marketing order. Small agricultural 

producers are defined by the Small 

Business Administration (SBA) as those 

having annual receipts of less than 

$750,000, and small agricultural service 

firms as those having annual receipts of 

less than $7,000,000. (13 CFR 121.201) 

The National Agricultural Statistics 

Service (NASS) reports that the 2012 

total production and utilization 

(including both fresh and processed 

markets) of Washington apricots was 

approximately 6,700 tons, the average 

price was $1,250 per ton, and the total 

farm-gate value was approximately 

$8,371,000. Based on these reports and 

the number of apricot growers within 

the production area, it is estimated that 

the 2012 average revenue from the sale 

of apricots was approximately $89,000. 

In addition, based on information from 

the USDA’s Market News Service, 2012 

f.o.b. prices for WA No.1 apricots 

ranged from $16.00 to $24.00 per 24- 

pound loose-pack container, and from 

$18.00 to $27.00 for 2-layer tray-pack 

containers. Using average price and 

shipment information provided by the 

Committee, it is determined that each of 

the Washington apricot handlers 

currently ship less than $7,000,000 

worth of apricots on an annual basis. In 

view of the foregoing, it is concluded 

that the majority of growers and 

handlers of Washington apricots may be 

classified as small entities. 

At its May 13, 2013, meeting, the 

Committee unanimously recommended 

suspending the handling regulations for 

the 2013–2014 and subsequent fiscal 

periods. This rule suspends the 

requirements specified in § 922.111 and 

§ 922.321 of the order. The suspension 

of these regulations will allow the 

Washington apricot industry to market 

apricots without regard to minimum 

grade, size, quality, maturity, and 

inspection requirements prescribed 

under the Federal marketing order. 

Authority for this action is provided in 

§ 922.53. 

In prior years, the handling regulation 

has helped ensure that only acceptable, 

quality apricots enter fresh market 

channels, thereby fostering consumer 

satisfaction, increasing sales, and 

improving returns to growers. While the 

industry continues to believe that 

quality is an important factor in 

maintaining sales, the Committee 

believes the cost of inspection and 

certification may exceed the benefits. 

The Committee also believes that the 

demands of wholesale buyers and 

consumers will continue to drive 

growers and handlers to maintain a high 

level of product quality, without the 

necessity of imposing minimum quality 

standards and mandatory inspections. 

At the end of each fiscal period, the 

Committee will evaluate the results of 

the regulatory suspension and 

determine if changes are necessary. 

The apricot industry has seen 

considerable fluctuations in the price of 

apricots in recent years. As a result, at 

times some growers and handlers have 

faced difficulty covering their total 

production costs. In response to the 

adverse economic conditions 

experienced by the industry, the 

Committee discussed the possibility of 

reducing handling expenses by the 

eliminating mandatory inspections. The 

Committee considered the potential 

consequences of suspending the 

handling and inspection regulations, 

and how this may result in lower 

quality apricots being shipped to fresh 

markets. Also, if fruit quality were to 

decline, some Committee members were 

concerned that the Washington apricot 

industry could lose sales to other 

apricot producing regions. 

The Committee believes that current 

market conditions make the inspection 

program unnecessary and that the costs 

associated with regulation are greater 

than the benefits. Therefore, the 

Committee recommended the 

suspension of the handling regulations 

for the remainder of the 2013–2014 and 

subsequent fiscal periods. The 

Committee will evaluate the effects of 

the suspension at the end of each season 

and consider appropriate actions for the 

ensuing fiscal periods. 

This rule enables handlers to ship 

apricots without regard to the order’s 

minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, 

and inspection requirements for the 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
62966 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

remainder of the 2013–2014 year and 

subsequent fiscal periods. This action 

will also eliminate the costs associated 

with mandatory inspections. However, 

this rule does not prohibit handlers 

from seeking inspection on a voluntary 

basis if they find inspection desirable. 

The suspension of the handling 

regulations will result in the elimination 

of mandatory inspections and, in turn, 

the inspection certificates generated by 

the Inspection Service. The Committee 

has used these certificates in prior years 

for assessment billing purposes and for 

compiling industry statistics. To 

replicate the information that was 

previously provided by the inspection 

certificates, the Committee intends to 

enter into a memorandum of 

understanding with the Washington 

State Department of Agriculture in order 

to obtain information on which to 

collect assessments and generate 

statistical information. 

The Committee anticipates that this 

interim rule will not negatively impact 

small handlers or growers. The action is 

a relaxation of the regulations, 

suspending the minimum grade, size, 

quality, maturity, and inspection 

requirements prescribed under the 

order. The total cost of inspection and 

certification for fresh shipments of 

Washington apricots during the 2011 

fiscal period was estimated by the 

Committee to have been $0.23 per 

hundredweight, or approximately 

$12,700 total. This represents 

approximately $635 per handler. Since 

handlers may choose to have their 

apricots voluntarily inspected, the 

Committee expects that some handlers 

will continue to have at least a portion 

of their fresh apricots inspected and 

certified by the Inspection Service. 

The Committee considered other 

alternatives to the indefinite suspension 

of the handling regulations, which 

included maintaining the status quo, 

suspending regulations on an annual 

basis, and terminating the marketing 

order in its entirety. The Committee 

believes that the continuation of 

mandatory regulation would be an 

unnecessary burden on the Washington 

apricot industry, given the evolving 

marketing conditions and future 

industry outlook. Thus, continuing to 

regulate as currently prescribed by the 

order was not a viable option for the 

Committee. The Committee also 

discussed suspending the handling 

regulations on an annual basis, but 

rejected this alternative at this time. 

Finally, the Committee considered 

terminating the order in its entirety, but 

eliminated this option as well, after 

determining that such a drastic action 

was unwarranted at this time. The 

Committee will evaluate the impacts of 

the suspension at the end of each season 

and consider appropriate actions for 

ensuing fiscal periods. 

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. 0581–0189. 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 rule will not impose any 

additional reporting or recordkeeping 

requirements on either small or large 

apricot 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. 

In addition, USDA has not identified 

any relevant Federal rules that 

duplicate, overlap or conflict with this 

rule. 

Further, the Committee’s meeting was 

widely publicized throughout the 

Washington apricot industry and all 

interested persons were invited to 

attend the meeting and participate in 

the Committee’s deliberations. Like all 

Committee meetings, the May 13, 2013, 

meeting was a public meeting. All 

entities, both large and small, were able 

to express their views on this issue. 

Finally, interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on this interim 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: 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. 

This rule invites comments on the 

suspension of the handling regulations 

prescribed under the Washington 

apricot marketing order. Any comments 

timely received will be considered prior 

to finalization of this rule. 

After consideration of all relevant 

material presented, including the 

Committee’s recommendation and other 

information, it is found that the 

regulatory requirements no longer tend 

to effectuate the declared policy of the 

Act and are therefore being suspended 

indefinitely. 

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) This interim rule is a 

relaxation of the apricot handling 

regulations and should be made 

effective as soon as possible for the 

2013–2014 fiscal period, which began 

April 1, 2013; (2) handlers are already 

shipping apricots and should know as 

soon as possible that they are able to 

market their apricots without regard to 

the order’s handling regulations; (3) this 

issue has been widely discussed at 

various industry and association 

meetings, and the Committee has kept 

the industry well informed; (4) handlers 

are aware of this rule, which was 

recommended at a public meeting; and 

(5) this rule provides a 60-day comment 

period, and any comments received will 

be considered prior to finalization of 

this rule. 

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 922 

Apricots, Marketing agreements, 

Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

For the reasons set forth in the 

preamble, 7 CFR Part 922 is amended as 

follows: 

PART 922—APRICOTS GROWN IN 

DESIGNATED COUNTIES IN 

WASHINGTON 

■ 1. The authority citation for 7 CFR 

Part 922 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674. 

§§ 922.111 and 922.321 [Suspended] 

■ 2. In Part 922, §§ 922.111 and 922.321 

are suspended indefinitely in their 

entirety, beginning on October 24, 2013. 

Dated: October 17, 2013. 

Rex A. Barnes, 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Marketing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–24900 Filed 10–22–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 


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