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[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 21288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10662]

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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

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Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 21288]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 955

[Docket No. FV01-955-2]

Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted 
among eligible growers of Vidalia onions in Georgia, to determine 
whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the 
handling of Vidalia onions grown in the production area.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from June 4 through 22, 
2001. To vote in this referendum, growers must have been producing 
Vidalia onions within the designated production area in Georgia during 
the period January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from 
the office of the referendum agents at the Southeast Marketing Field 
Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, P.O. Box 2276, Winter Haven, FL 33883-2276, or the Office 
of the Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, 
room 2525-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William G. Pimental, Marketing 
Specialist, Southeast Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2276, 
Winter Haven, FL 33883-2276; telephone (863) 229-4770; fax (863) 299-
5169; or Melissa Schmaedick, Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, room 
2522-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone (202) 720-2491; fax (202) 
720-5698.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Agreement and 
Order No. 955 (7 CFR part 955), 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 
the growers. The referendum shall be conducted from June 4 through 22, 
2001, among Vidalia onion growers in the production area. Only growers 
that were engaged in the production of Vidalia onions in Georgia, 
during the period of January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000, may 
participate in the continuance referendum.
    The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that continuance 
referenda are an effective means for determining whether growers favor 
continuation of marketing order programs. The Secretary would consider 
termination of the order if less than two-thirds of the growers voting 
in the referendum, and growers of less than two-thirds of the volume of 
Vidalia onions represented in the referendum, favor continuance. In 
evaluating the merits of continuance versus termination, the Secretary 
will consider the results of the referendum and other relevant 
information regarding operation of the order. The Secretary will 
evaluate the order's relative benefits and disadvantages to growers, 
handlers, and consumers to determine whether continuing 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. 
Chapter 35), the ballot materials to be used in the referendum herein 
ordered have been submitted to and approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0178. It has been 
estimated that it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the 
approximately 136 growers of Vidalia onions in Georgia to cast a 
ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after June 22, 
2001, will not be included in the vote tabulation.
    Christian D. Nissen and William G. Pimental of the Southeast 
Marketing Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, are 
hereby designated as the referendum agents of the Secretary of 
Agriculture to conduct such 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 part 900.400 et seq.).
    Ballots will be mailed to all growers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents, or from their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 955

7 CFR Part 955

    Marketing agreements, Onions, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

    Dated: April 24, 2001.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-10662 Filed 4-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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