[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 19415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10457]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 29

[Docket No. TB-97-16]


Tobacco Inspection--Growers Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of referendum.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that a referendum will be conducted by 
mail during the period of April 27-May 1, 1998, for producers of flue-
cured tobacco who sell their tobacco at auction in Clarksville and 
Chase City, Virginia, to determine producer approval of the designation 
of the Clarksville and Chase City tobacco markets as one consolidated 
auction market.

DATES: The referendum will be held April 27-May 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Coats, Associate Deputy 
Administrator, Tobacco Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, United 
States Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 
20090-6456; telephone number (202) 205-0508.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given of a mail referendum 
on the designation of a consolidated auction market at Clarksville and 
Chase City, Virginia. Clarksville and Chase City were designated on 
June 26, 1942 (7 CFR 29.8001) as flue-cured tobacco auction markets 
under the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 511 et seq.). Under this Act 
those markets have been receiving mandatory grading services from USDA.
    On September 3, 1997, an application was made to the Secretary of 
Agriculture to consolidate the designated markets of Clarksville and 
Chase City, Virginia. The application, filed by warehouse operators on 
those markets, was made pursuant to the regulations promulgated under 
the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 CFR Part 29.1-29.3). On November 7, 1997, 
a public hearing was held in Clarksville, Virginia, pursuant to the 
regulations. A Review Committee, established pursuant to Sec. 29.3(h) 
of the regulations 7 CFR 29.3(h)), has reviewed and considered the 
application, the testimony presented at the hearing, the exhibits 
received in evidence, and other available information. The Committee 
recommended to the Secretary that the application be granted and the 
Secretary approved the application on March 16, 1998.
    Before a new market can be officially designated, a referendum must 
be held to determine that a two-thirds majority of producers favor the 
designation. It is hereby determined that the referendum will be held 
by mail during the period of April 27-May 1, 1998. The purpose of the 
referendum is to determine whether farmers who sold their tobacco on 
the designated markets at Clarksville and Chase City are in favor of, 
or opposed to, the designation of the consolidated market for the 1998 
and succeeding crop years. Accordingly, if a two-thirds majority of 
those tobacco producers voting in the referendum favor this 
consolidation, a new market will be designated as and will be called 
Clarksville-Chase City.
    To be eligible to vote in the referendum a tobacco producer must 
have sold flue-cured tobacco on either Clarksville or Chase City, 
Virginia, auction markets during the 1997 marketing season. Any farmer 
who believes he or she is eligible to vote in the referendum but has 
not received a mail ballot by April 27, 1998, should immediately 
contact William Coats at (202) 205-0508.
    The referendum will be held in accordance with the provisions for 
referenda of the Tobacco Inspection Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 511d) and 
the regulations for such referendum set forth in 7 CFR 29.74.

    Dated: April 15, 1998.
Enrique E. Figueroa,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 98-10457 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P