Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 88 / Monday, May 6, 1996 / Proposed Rules 20189

category, the Committee recommended

increasing the minimum diameter from

11⁄2 inches to 13⁄4 inches, and the

maximum diameter from 21⁄2 inches to

23⁄4 inches for all onions except white

or red varieties produced and handled

in the production area. Yellow onions

are the major group produced in the

regulated production area.

This proposed rule would modify a

marketing order size category that is

recognized by the onion industry as

‘‘repacker’’ or ‘‘prepacker’’ size onions.

Onions in this size category are

generally packed and shipped in 50-

pound sacks for later repacking into

various consumer packs.

The U.S. Standards for Grades of

Onions were recently amended to

include a classification for ‘‘repacker/

prepacker’’ size onions (60 FR 46976,

September 8, 1995), effective October

10, 1995. Section 51.2836 of the U.S.

Standards defines such onions as those

ranging from a minimum diameter of

13⁄4 inches to a maximum diameter of 3

inches. The U.S. Standards also specify

that not more than 5 percent of the

onions in a lot may be undersized and

that not more than 10 percent may be

oversized.

Recent trends in buyer preference

reflect an increasing demand for larger

size onions in the ‘‘repacker/prepacker’’

category. The Committee reports that

the current maximum diameter of 21⁄2

inches for this size category is too

restrictive and has resulted in a high

percentage of onions being packed in a

different category due to oversize. This

has resulted in fewer ‘‘repacker/

prepacker’’ size onions being available

for market. With an increase in the

maximum allowable diameter to 23⁄4

inches for ‘‘repacker/prepacker’’ size

onions, the Committee expects the

quantity of such onions available for

market to increase. The Committee

recommended an increase to 23⁄4 inches

rather than 3 inches, the upper limit of

the size range specified in the U.S.

Standards, because the smaller size is

more suitable for this industry and its

customers. In addition to the proposed

increase in the maximum diameter for

onions in this category, the Committee

recommended that the minimum

diameter be increased from 11⁄2 inches

to 13⁄4 inches to be the same as the

recently amended U.S. Standards.

Any costs to handlers and producers

attributable to this proposed regulation,

if adopted, are expected to be offset by

the benefits derived from improved

returns. The proposed modification

would increase the volume of onions

marketed in this size category, and is

expected to result in higher returns for

producers and handlers.

Section 8e of the Act requires that

when certain domestically produced

commodities, including onions, are

regulated under a Federal marketing

order, imports of that commodity must

meet the same or comparable grade,

size, quality, or maturity requirements.

Section 8e also provides that whenever

two or more marketing orders regulating

the same commodity produced in

different areas of the United States are

concurrently in effect, the Secretary

shall determine which of the areas

produces the commodity in more direct

competition with the imported

commodity. Imports must then meet the

requirements established for the

particular area.

Grade, size, quality, and maturity

regulations have been issued regularly

under both Marketing Order 958 and

Marketing Order 959, which regulates

the handling of onions grown in South

Texas. The current import regulation (7

CFR 980.117) specifies that import

requirements for onions are to be based

on the seasonal categories of onions

grown in both marketing order areas.

The import regulations specify that

imported onions must meet the

requirements of Marketing Order 958

during the June 16 through March 9

period each season and Marketing Order

959 through the remainder of the year.

Rulemaking is now in progress that

would, if approved, change the

beginning date of Marketing Order 958

requirements to June 5 (61 FR 4941;

February 9, 1996). Current import

regulations also provide that all

varieties of imported onions, except for

white varieties, must be a minimum of

11⁄2 inches in diameter. This proposal

would change the import requirements

for the period June 16 through March 9

each marketing year to provide that all

varieties of onions except white or red

varieties shall be a minimum of 13⁄4

inches in diameter. While no changes

are required in the language of section

980.117, all imported onions other than

white or red varieties would be required

to meet the minimum size requirement

proposed herein.

Based on available information, the

Agricultural Marketing Service has

determined that the issuance of this

proposed rule would not have a

significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities.

A 30-day comment period is provided

to allow interested persons to respond

to this proposal. All written comments

received within the comment period

will be considered before a final

determination is made on this matter.

In accordance with section 8e of the

Act, the United States Trade

Representative has concurred with the

issuance of this proposed rule.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 958

Marketing agreements, Onions,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

For the reasons set forth in the

preamble, 7 CFR part 958 is proposed to

be amended as follows:

PART 958—ONIONS GROWN IN

CERTAIN DESIGNATED COUNTIES IN

IDAHO, AND MALHEUR COUNTY,

OREGON

1. The authority citation for 7 CFR

part 958 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674.

2. Section 958.328 is amended by

revising paragraph (a)(3)(ii) to read as

follows:

§ 958.328 Handling Regulation.

* * * * *

(a) * * *

(3) * * *

(ii) U.S. No. 1, 13⁄4 inches minimum

to 23⁄4 maximum diameter; or

* * * * *

Dated: April 30, 1996.

Robert C. Keeney,

Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.

[FR Doc. 96–11154 Filed 5–3–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

9 CFR Part 92

[Docket No. 95–084–2]

Permanent Private Quarantine

Facilities for Horses

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting;

reopening and extension of comment

period.

SUMMARY: On February 26, 1996, we

published an advance notice of

proposed rulemaking requesting public

comment on the need for and

appropriate standards for the

establishment of permanent, private

quarantine facilities for horses imported

into the United States. To provide

additional opportunity for public

comment, this notice announces our

intention to hold a public meeting, and

to reopen and extend the comment

period on the advance notice. We are

also announcing the availability of a risk

assessment related to the establishment

of permanent, private quarantine
20190 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 88 / Monday, May 6, 1996 / Proposed Rules

facilities for horses imported into the

United States.

DATES: Consideration will be given only

to comments received on or before June

5, 1996. We will also consider

comments made at a public meeting to

be held in Riverdale, MD, on Friday,

May 17, 1996, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and

three copies of your comments to

Docket No. 95–084–1, Regulatory

Analysis and Development, PPD,

APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road

Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.

Please state that your comments refer to

Docket 95–095–1. Comments received

may be inspected at USDA, room 1141,

South Building, 14th Street and

Independence Avenue SW.,

Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and

4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,

except holidays. Persons wishing to

inspect comments are requested to call

ahead on (202) 690–2817 to facilitate

entry into the comment reading room.

The public meeting will be held at the

USDA Center, 4700 River Road,

Riverdale, MD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Joyce Bowling, Staff Veterinarian,

National Center for Import and Export,

VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39,

Riverdale, MD 20737–1231, (301) 734–

6479; or e-mail:

Jbowling@aphis.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

regulations in 9 CFR part 92 (referred to

below as the regulations) govern the

importation into the United States of

specified animals and animal products

in order to prevent the introduction into

the United States of various

communicable diseases. The regulations

require that certain animals be

quarantined upon arrival in the United

States as a condition of importation.

There are two types of quarantine

facilities for animals being imported

into the United States: government

operated facilities and privately

operated facilities. The regulations

contain requirements for the approval of

temporary private quarantine facilities

for horses; however, the regulations do

not provide for the approval of

permanent private quarantine facilities

for horses.

In an advance notice of proposed

rulemaking published in the Federal

Register on February 26, 1996 (61 FR

7079, Docket No. 95–084–1), we

requested public comment on the need

for and appropriate standards for the

establishment of permanent private

quarantine facilities for horses imported

into the United States.

To provide additional opportunity for

public comment, we will hold a public

meeting on Friday, May 17, 1996. The

meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 4

p.m. at the offices of the Animal and

Plant Health Inspection Service

(APHIS), 4700 River Road, Riverdale,

MD. We are seeking recommendations

concerning the need for permanent,

private quarantine facilities, locations

where such additional facilities may be

needed, potential standards for building

the facilities, and regulatory oversight.

Copies of a risk assessment related to

the establishment of permanent, private

horse quarantine facilities will be

available at the meeting, or may be

obtained from Dr. Joyce Bowling (see

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

The meeting will be divided into

three sessions dealing with the

following issues:

1. Equine diseases of concern to the

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

2. Requirements for building USDA

owned and operated facilities and the

costs involved.

3. The risk assessment.

Each session will start with a short

presentation by an APHIS

representative. Afterward, members of

the public will be provided an

opportunity to ask questions and make

comments concerning that session. It is

anticipated that 90 minutes will be

alotted for each session.

A representative of APHIS will

preside at the public meeting. The

presiding officer may limit the time for

each presentation so that everyone is

accommodated and all interested

persons have an opportunity to

participate. Any written statements

submitted will be made part of the

record. A transcript will be made of the

public meeting and will be placed in the

rulemaking record and will be available

for public inspection.

Any persons wishing to make

presentations longer than 5 minutes, or

presentations that will require

audiovisual equipment, should contact

Dr. Bowling in advance of the meeting.

APHIS will consider the comments

and recommendations from the meeting

in making a decision about whether to

propose approval of permanent, private

horse quarantine facilities and, if so, the

standards to be proposed. Any such

proposal would be published in the

Federal Register for public comment.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622; 19 U.S.C. 1306;

21 U.S.C. 102–105, 111, 114a, 134a, 134b,

134c, 134d, 134f, 135, 136, and 136a; 31

U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, 371.2(d).

Done in Washington, DC, this 1st day of

May 1996.

Terry L. Medley,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 96–11212 Filed 5–3–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

9 CFR Parts 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, and 98

[Docket No. 94–106–2]

Importation of Animals and Animal

Products; Public Hearings

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

SUMMARY: We are advising the public

that the Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service is hosting a public

hearing on the proposed rule on the

importation of animals and animal

products that was published in the

Federal Register on April 18, 1996. The

hearing will provide an additional

opportunity for the public to comment

on the proposal, which would establish

criteria for foreign ‘‘regions’’ based on

risk class levels. The criteria would be

used to establish importation

requirements for particular animals and

animal products from different regions

outside the United States.

DATES: The public hearing will be held

in Riverdale, MD, on May 22 and, if

there are more registered speakers than

can be heard in one day, on May 23,

1996. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m.

and is scheduled to end at 5 p.m each

day.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be

held at the USDA Center at Riverside,

Conference Center, 4700 River Road,

Riverdale, MD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Gary Colgrove, Chief Staff Veterinarian,

National Center for Import and Export,

VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38,

Riverdale, MD 20737–1231, (301) 734–

8590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

A public hearing will be held on the

notice of proposed rulemaking on the

importation of animals and animal

products, published by the Animal and

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

in the Federal Register on April 18,

1996 (61 FR 16977–17105, Docket No.

94–106–1). The public hearing will be

held in Riverdale, MD, on May 22 and,

if there are more registered speakers

than can be heard in one day, on May

23, 1996.