Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 120 / Thursday, June 20, 1996 / Rules and Regulations 31391

to paragraph (a)(6) of § 917.459 include

the Fancy Lady, Snow Ball, and Sugar

Lady peach varieties. Those peach

varieties which were inadvertently left

in the variety-specific size requirement

at paragraph (a)(6) of § 917.459 and are

being removed include the July Lady,

Red Cal, and Redglobe peach varieties.

The Sugar Giant peach variety should

also be added to the variety-specific size

requirement in paragraph (a)(6) of

§ 917.459. This variety was

recommended to be added by the PCC

in 1996 and was inadvertently left out

of the interim final rule.

Further, this rule revises paragraph

(a)(6) of § 917.459 by changing the name

of the peach variety, Red Boy. The

exclusive handler of this peach variety

changed the name in the 1995 season.

For that reason, the name of the Red Boy

peach variety is changed to Red Dancer.

This rule reflects the committees’ and

the Department’s appraisal of the need

to revise the handling requirements for

California nectarines and peaches, as

specified. The Department’s

determination is that this rule will have

a beneficial impact on producers,

handlers, and consumers of California

nectarines and peaches.

This rule establishes handling

requirements for fresh California

nectarines and peaches consistent with

expected crop and market conditions,

and will help ensure that all shipments

of these fruits made each season will

meet acceptable handling requirements

established under each of these orders.

This rule will also help the California

nectarine and peach industries provide

fruit desired by consumers. This rule is

designed to establish and maintain

orderly marketing conditions for these

fruits in the interest of producers,

handlers, and consumers. Therefore, the

Administrator of the AMS has

determined that this rule will not have

a significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities.

After consideration of all relevant

matters presented, the information and

recommendations submitted by the

committees, and other information, it is

found that the rule, as hereinafter set

forth, will tend to effectuate the

declared policy of the Act.

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 916

Marketing agreements, Nectarines,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

7 CFR Part 917

Marketing agreements, Peaches, Pears,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

Accordingly, the interim final rule

amending 7 CFR parts 916 and 917

which was published at 61 FR 13386 on

March 27, 1996, is adopted as a final

rule with the following changes:

PART 916—NECTARINES GROWN IN

CALIFORNIA

1. The authority citation for 7 CFR

Part 916 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674.

§ 916.350 [Amended]

2. In § 916.350, paragraph (c) is

revised to read as follows:

§ 916.350 California Nectarine Container

and Pack Regulation.

* * * * *

(c) Each container of nectarines in

plastic, 12 × 193⁄4 inch reusable and

recyclable containers shall meet and

bear, on the container lid or on the

outside end, all applicable marking

requirements under the order.

§ 916.356 [Amended]

3. In § 916.356, paragraph (a)(6) is

amended by adding the name

‘‘Nectarine 23’’.

PART 917—FRESH PEARS AND

PEACHES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA

1. The authority citation for 7 CFR

Part 917 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674.

§ 917.442 [Amended]

2. In § 917.442, paragraph (c) is

revised to read as follows:

§ 917.442 California Peach Container and

Pack Regulation.

* * * * *

(c) Each container of peaches in

plastic, 12 × 193⁄4 inch reusable and

recyclable containers shall meet and

bear, on the container lid or on the

outside end, all applicable marking

requirements under the order.

§ 917.459 [Amended]

3. In § 917.459, paragraph (a)(6) is

amended by adding the names ‘‘Fancy

Lady,’’ ‘‘Red Dancer’’, ‘‘Snow Ball’’,

‘‘Sugar Giant’’, and ‘‘Sugar Lady’’, and

removing the names ‘‘July Lady’’, ‘‘Red

Boy’’, ‘‘Red Cal’’, and ‘‘Redglobe’’.

Dated: June 13, 1996.

Sharon Bomer Lauritsen,

Acting Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.

[FR Doc. 96–15628 Filed 6–19–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

9 CFR Part 92

[Docket No. 94–132–2]

Screening at Privately Owned Bird

Quarantine Facilities

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: We are amending the

regulations that apply to privately

owned quarantine facilities for imported

birds to provide for the use of nylon

screening and to clarify the meaning of

‘‘double screened.’’ These amendments

will give facility operators a choice of

screening materials and clarify the

regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 22, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Tracye R. Butler, Staff Veterinarian,

Import/Export Animals, National Center

for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700

River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD

20737–1231, (301) 734–5097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The regulations in 9 CFR part 92.100

through 92.107, ‘‘Subpart A—Birds’’

(referred to below as ‘‘the regulations’’),

govern the importation of certain birds

to prevent the introduction of

communicable diseases of livestock and

poultry. As a condition of importation,

all imported birds must be quarantined

for a minimum of 30 days upon their

arrival in the United States. Under

§ 92.101(c)(2)(ii), certain personal pet

birds may remain in the owner’s

possession during the 30-day quarantine

if kept separate from other birds. In all

other cases, imported birds must be

quarantined in either a U.S. Department

of Agriculture quarantine facility or in

a privately owned quarantine facility

that meets standards set forth in

§ 92.106(c).

The standards for privately owned

quarantine facilities for imported birds

include installation of screening over all

openings to the outside to prevent the

entry of rodents and insects, which

could transmit disease. The regulations

require that all screening be metal and

that all openings to the outside be

double-screened (see

§ 92.106(c)(2)(ii)(A)).

On March 12, 1996, we published in

the Federal Register (61 FR 9957–9958,

Docket No. 94–132–1) a proposal to

amend the regulations by providing for

the use of nylon screening and by

clarifying the meaning of the term

‘‘double screened.’’
31392 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 120 / Thursday, June 20, 1996 / Rules and Regulations

1Pub. L. 104–105 (Feb. 10, 1996), 110 Stat. 163–

64. 12 U.S.C. 2279aa–3(d)–(e).

We solicited comments concerning

our proposal for 60 days ending May 13,

1996. We did not receive any comments.

The facts presented in the proposed rule

still provide the basis for this final rule.

Therefore, based on the rationale set

forth in the proposed rule, we are

adopting the provisions of the proposal

as a final rule without change.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory

Flexibility Act

This rule has been reviewed under

Executive Order 12866. The rule has

been determined to be not significant for

the purposes of Executive Order 12866

and, therefore, has not been reviewed by

the Office of Management and Budget.

Our economic analysis indicates that

the amendments will have little

economic impact on privately owned

bird quarantine facilities. Metal and

nylon mesh are comparably priced. In

addition, the rule adds nylon mesh as a

screening option; it does not require

quarantine facilities to be re-screened.

We anticipate that the clarification

concerning double screening will have

no effect on facilities.

Under these circumstances, the

Administrator of the Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service has

determined that this action will not

have a significant economic impact on

a substantial number of small entities.

Executive Order 12372

This program/activity is listed in the

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

under No. 10.025 and is subject to

Executive Order 12372, which requires

intergovernmental consultation with

State and local officials. (See 7 CFR part

3015, subpart V.)

Executive Order 12778

This rule has been reviewed under

Executive Order 12778, Civil Justice

Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State

and local laws and regulations that are

inconsistent with this rule; (2) has no

retroactive effect; and (3) does not

require administrative proceedings

before parties may file suit in court

challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This rule contains no information

collection or recordkeeping

requirements under the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501

et seq.).

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 92

Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock,

Poultry and poultry products,

Quarantine, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements.

Accordingly, 9 CFR part 92 is

amended as follows:

PART 92—IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN

ANIMALS AND POULTRY AND

CERTAIN ANIMAL AND POULTRY

PRODUCTS; INSPECTION AND OTHER

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN

MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND

SHIPPING CONTAINERS THEREON

1. The authority citation for part 92

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1662; 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, and 371.2(d).

2. In § 92.106, paragraphs (c)(2)(ii)(A)

and (c)(2)(ii)(P)(1) are revised to read as

follows:

§ 92.106 Quarantine requirements.

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(2) * * *

(ii) * * *

(A) Be constructed only with material

that can withstand continued cleaning

and disinfection. All solid walls, floors,

and ceilings must be constructed of

impervious material. All openings to the

outside must be double-screened, with

an interior screen of metal or nylon

mesh that is impervious to biting insects

such as gnats or mosquitos, and an

exterior metal screen that is rodentproof and is made of wire, such as rabbit

wire, hardware cloth, or smooth welded

wire, with mesh size no larger than 1

inch x 1.5 inches (2.54 cm x 3.81 cm).

The interior and exterior screens must

be separated by at least 3 inches (7.62

cm);

* * * * *

(P) * * *

(1) Any of the exterior walls may be

replaced by a double-screened wall set

in a concrete or concrete-block curb.

The double screening shall be of wire

mesh or wire mesh and nylon mesh, as

provided in paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(A) of

this section, with the interior and

exterior screens of the sun room wall

separated by at least 3 inches (7.62 cm);

the concrete or concrete block curb must

be at least 12 inches high, impermeable

to water, and able to prevent the escape

of water, manure, and debris.

* * * * *

Done in Washington, DC, this 14th day of

June 1996.

Lonnie J. King,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 96–15759 Filed 6–19–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 615

RIN 3052–AB70

Book-entry Procedures for Federal

Agricultural Mortgage Corporation

Securities

AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Farm Credit System

Reform Act of 1996 (1996 act) provides

that the Federal Agricultural Mortgage

Corporation (Farmer Mac) shall have

access to the Federal Reserve Banks’

book-entry system (Fed book-entry

system). The Farm Credit

Administration (FCA) is issuing a final

rule authorizing the issuance of Farmer

Mac securities in book-entry format.

Farmer Mac will use the Fed book-entry

system in connection with the issuance

and settlement of its unsecured debt

securities and its guaranteed securities

using substantially the same procedures

used by all other Government-sponsored

enterprises (GSEs).

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 13, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Larry W. Edwards, Director, Office of

Secondary Market Oversight, Farm

Credit Administration, McLean, VA

22102–5090, (703) 883–4051.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Section 105 of the 1996 act amends

sections 8.3(d) and (e) of the Farm

Credit Act of 1971, as amended (act), to

require that Farmer Mac have access to

the Fed book-entry system and that the

Federal Reserve Banks Act as

depositories for, and as fiscal agents of,

Farmer Mac.1 Congress mandated

Farmer Mac’s access to the Fed bookentry system as part of a broad-based

reform of Farmer Mac’s charter and

statutory authority. Among other reform

measures, the 1996 Act liberalized

Farmer Mac’s charter to allow it to pool

loans in a fashion similar to such other

GSEs as the Federal National Mortgage

Association (Fannie Mae) and the

Federal Home Loan Mortgage

Corporation (Freddie Mac), which

operate in the secondary market for

mortgage-backed securities. To facilitate

Farmer Mac’s use of its new authority

and to help it meet its new

responsibilities, Congress amended the

act to ‘‘streamline Farmer Mac’s

business operations,’’ including

‘‘providing for Farmer Mac’s access to