This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

16539

Vol. 62, No. 66

Monday, April 7, 1997

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[DA–96–06]

Addendum to the Amplified Decision

Regarding the Northeast Interstate

Dairy Compact

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This document is an

addendum to the March 20, 1997, notice

announcing the Secretary of

Agriculture’s amplified decision

concerning his finding of a compelling

public interest in the Northeast

Interstate Dairy Compact Region, and

his authorization to implement the

Compact. The addendum clarifies the

Secretary’s views regarding his

authority to withdraw or revoke

authorization. The Compact region

consists of the States of Connecticut,

Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

Rhode Island and Vermont.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 20, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard M. McKee, Director, USDA/

AMS/Dairy Division, Room 2968, South

Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington,

DC 20090–6456 (202) 720–4392.

PRIOR DOCUMENTS: Notice Requesting

Comments on the Northeast Interstate

Dairy Compact: Issued April 30, 1996;

published May 3, 1996 (61 FR 19904).

Notice of Findings and Authority to

Implement the Northeast Interstate

Dairy Compact: Issued August 22, 1996;

published August 28, 1996 (61 FR

44290).

Notice of Amplified Decision

Regarding the Northeast Interstate Dairy

Compact: Issued March 20, 1997;

published March 28, 1997 (62 FR

14879).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

147 of the 1996 Federal Agriculture

Improvement and Reform Act (Act)

(Pub. L. 104–127) establishes

Congressional consent for the Northeast

Interstate Dairy Compact (the Compact)

entered into by the States of

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,

New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and

Vermont subject to several conditions.

The Act provides that ‘‘Based upon a

finding by the Secretary of a compelling

public interest in the Compact region,

the Secretary may grant the States that

have ratified the Northeast Interstate

Dairy Compact, as of the date of

enactment of this title, the authority to

implement the Northeast Interstate

Dairy Compact.’’ On August 8, 1996, the

Secretary issued a Finding of a

compelling public interest and

authorized the Northeast Interstate

Dairy Compact.

The Secretary on March 27, 1997,

issued the following addendum to the

March 20, 1997, amplified decision

concerning his finding that a compelling

public interest exists in the Compact

Region:

Addendum to the Decision of Secretary Dan

Glickman on the Northeast Interstate Dairy

Compact

On March 20, 1997, I found a compelling

public interest in the Compact region and

authorized implementation of the Northeast

Interstate Dairy Compact. Questions have

subsequently been raised regarding the

discussion in that decision of the authority

to withdraw or revoke this authorization. In

consideration of those concerns, I am hereby

clarifying my views with respect to that

issue.

As I observed earlier, implementation of

the Compact is an ongoing process, and the

presence of a compelling public interest

depends on facts and circumstances that may

change during implementation. I therefore

concluded that the authority given to me by

the Congress necessarily implies the

authority to respond to such changes by

modifying or withdrawing my authorization.

In my view, therefore, the authority to

respond to changing circumstances is

inherent in, and, in that sense, essential to

the authority conferred by the Congressional

mandate.

In attempting to articulate this conclusion,

I may have inadvertently created the

impression that it would have been

impossible for me to authorize

implementation in the absence of revocation

authority. In fact, however, my finding of

compelling public interest was based on a

broad array of factors which I discussed in

the March 20 decision. My finding of a

compelling public interest was not

contingent upon the existence of revocation

authority. If it should be finally determined

that I do not have revocation authority, and

if I nonetheless determine that there is no

longer a compelling public interest, I intend

to use other authorities given to me by law

to ensure that consumers and others in the

Compact region are treated fairly, and I also

intend to request the Congress to withdraw

its consent.

Dated: March 31, 1997.

Michael V. Dunn,

Assistant Secretary, Marketing and

Regulatory Programs.

[FR Doc. 97–8734 Filed 4–4–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS

Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting

of the Rhode Island Advisory

Committee

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to

the provisions of the rules and

regulations of the U.S. Commission on

Civil Rights, that a meeting of the Rhode

Island Advisory Committee to the

Commission will convene at 1:00 p.m.

and adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday,

April 24, 1997, at the Providence

Marriott Hotel, One Orms Street,

Providence, Rhode Island 03096. The

purpose of the meeting is to decide on

a new project and develop planning for

upcoming activities.

Persons desiring additional

information, or planning a presentation

to the Committee, should contact

Committee Chairperson Robert Lee,

401–863–1693, or Ki-Taek Chun,

Director of the Eastern Regional Office,

202–376–7533 (TDD 202–376–8116).

Hearing-impaired persons who will

attend the meeting and require the

services of a sign language interpreter

should contact the Regional Office at

least five (5) working days before the

scheduled date of the meeting.

The meeting will be conducted

pursuant to the provisions of the rules

and regulations of the Commission.

Dated at Washington, DC, April 2, 1997.

Carol-Lee Hurley,

Chief, Regional Programs Coordination Unit.

[FR Doc. 97–8825 Filed 4–4–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6335–01–P