6112 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 22 / Friday, February 1, 2008 / Notices 

notice, we are reopening the comment 

period to provide interested parties with 

additional time to comment. 

DATES: We will consider comments that 

we receive by April 1, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit 

your comments on the notice. You may 

submit comments by any of the 

following methods: 

• E-mail: Send comments via 

electronic mail to 

comments.gipsa@usda.gov. 

• Mail: Send hardcopy written 

comments to Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 

1633–S, Washington, DC 20250–3604. 

• Fax: Send comments by facsimile 

transmission to: (202) 690–2173. 

• Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver 

comments to: Tess Butler, GIPSA, 

USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW., Room 1643–S, Washington, DC 

20250–3604. 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

online instructions for submitting 

comments. 

• Instructions: All comments should 

make reference to the date and page 

number of this issue of the Federal 

Register. 

• Read Comments: All comments will 

be available for public inspection in the 

above office during regular business 

hours (7 CFR 1.27 (b)). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Beverly A. Whalen at USDA, GIPSA, 

FGIS, Market and Program Analysis 

Staff, Suite 180, STOP 1404, 6501 

Beacon Drive, Kansas City, Missouri, 

64133; Telephone (816) 823–4648; Fax 

Number (816) 823–4644; e-mail 

Beverly.A.Whalen@usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GIPSA 

published a notice in the Federal 

Register on April 17, 2007 (72 FR 

19169), inviting comments from all 

interested persons on the proposed 

revisions to the U.S. Standards for 

Beans. The proposed revisions would 

provide applicants for service with an 

optional grade designation for bean 

certification and remove the 

requirements that the percentage of high 

moisture, and, for Mixed beans, the 

percentage of each class in the mixture, 

be shown on the grade line. For ease of 

reference, we have included in this 

notice a discussion of the revisions to 

the U.S. Standards for Beans that are 

under consideration. 

Optional Grade Designation and 

Certification Procedures 

Currently, inspectors certify beans 

offered for inspection as a specific 

quality (U.S. grade), such as U.S. No. 2 

Pinto Beans. Certifying a specific grade 

is commonly referred to as ‘‘Option 1’’

grade designation. This works well most 

of the time; however, there are 

exceptions. At times, sellers find when 

preparing to load beans for shipment 

that the supply of a particular grade of 

bean may be insufficient to meet the 

quality and quantity requirements 

specified in the sales contract. When 

this happens, the seller may find it 

necessary to ship beans of a better 

quality. However, current inspection 

procedures do not allow the flexibility 

to describe or certify superior quality 

beans as being of a lower quality. If the 

lot presented for inspection is not 

uniform in quality for the declared 

grade, the inspector certifies each 

portion separately according to quality. 

That is, if a consignment consists of 

both U.S. No. 1 and 2 Pinto Beans, 

current procedure requires that the 

quantity representing each of the 

different qualities receive separate 

certification. Such certification may not 

meet the terms of sale for the contract. 

An alternative approach is termed 

‘‘Option 2’’ grade designation. When a 

contract specifies an Option 2 grade 

designation, the applicant may 

specifically request Option 2 

certification. Under Option 2 

certification, there would be no 

limitation placed on the amount of 

better quality beans in the lot. When a 

lot meets or is of better quality than the 

declared grade, inspectors would 

include the term ‘‘or better’’

immediately following the numerical or 

sample grade designation. 

We would like to offer the Option 2 

grade designation and certification 

approach for beans. Under such an 

approach, the applicant for inspection 

can obtain the optional certification 

procedure by requesting it on the 

application for inspection. The 

applicant would file the request for the 

optional certification prior to the 

beginning of inspection so the inspector 

knows how to certify the lot. Beans that 

are a better quality than that specified 

by the contract would be certified as a 

specific grade ‘‘or better’’ (for example, 

U.S. No. 2, or better, Pinto Beans). We 

believe that Option 2 grade designation 

and certification will provide sellers 

with the flexibility to ship beans of 

better quality, and provide buyers with 

the desirable option of receiving better 

quality. 

High Moisture Beans 

The special grade designation ‘‘High 

moisture’’ is applicable to all classes of 

beans containing over 18.0 percent 

moisture and is required to be shown on 

the grade line of the certificate. We will 

continue to show the special grade 

designation ‘‘High moisture’’ on the 

grade line, when applicable, but 

propose to list the moisture percentage 

in the ‘‘Results’’ section of the 

certificate. This approach is intended to 

enhance the readability of the 

certificate. 

Mixed Dry Beans 

We also propose to eliminate the 

requirement that certain grade related 

information be shown on the grade line 

of the certificate for the class of Mixed 

beans. Currently, the U.S. Standards for 

Beans require a breakdown of the 

different classes, in order of 

predominance, be shown on the grade 

line of the certificate, in addition to the 

regular grade designation information, 

when the beans are classed as Mixed 

beans. Instead of showing this 

information on the grade line, we 

propose to enter such information in the 

‘‘Results’’ section of the certificate. This 

approach will not change the grade of 

the product and will enhance the 

readability of the certificate. 

Comments 

The comment period of 30 days from 

the date of publication (72 FR 19169) 

closed on May 17, 2007. Due to 

continued high level of interest in the 

April 17, 2007 notice, GIPSA is 

reopening the comment period to 

provide interested parties additional 

time to comment. As a result, the 

comment period is reopened for a 60 

day period. We welcome both 

comments from interested persons who 

did not comment during the initial 30 

day period, as well as those interested 

persons who have already commented. 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. 

David R. Shipman, 

Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, 

Packers and Stockyards Administration. 

[FR Doc. E8–1819 Filed 1–31–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–KD–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Grain Inspection, Packers and 

Stockyards Administration 

United States Standards for Whole Dry 

Peas, Split Peas, and Lentils 

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and 

Stockyards Administration, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment 

period. 

SUMMARY: We published a notice in the 

Federal Register on April 17, 2007 (72 

FR 19169), inviting comments regarding 

the revision of the U.S. Standards for 

Whole Dry Peas, Split Peas, and Lentils. 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 22 / Friday, February 1, 2008 / Notices 6113 

The proposed revisions would provide 

applicants for service with an optional 

grade designation for pea and lentil 

certification and remove the 

requirement that for Mixed Dry Peas, 

the percentage of each class in the 

mixture be shown on the grade line. The 

notice provided an opportunity for 

interested parties to forward written 

comments to the Grain Inspection, 

Packers and Stockyards Administration 

(GIPSA) until May 17, 2007. Due to the 

continued high level of interest in this 

notice, we are reopening the comment 

period to provide interested parties with 

additional time in which to comment. 

DATES: We will consider comments that 

we receive by April 1, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit 

your comments on the notice. You may 

submit comments by any of the 

following methods: 

• E-mail: Send comments via 

electronic mail to 

comments.gipsa@usda.gov. 

• Mail: Send hardcopy written 

comments to Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 

1633–S, Washington, DC 20250–3604. 

• Fax: Send comments by facsimile 

transmission to: (202) 690–2173. 

• Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver 

comments to: Tess Butler, GIPSA, 

USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW., Room 1643–S, Washington, DC 

20250–3604 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulation.gov. Follow the 

online instructions for submitting 

comments. 

• Instructions: All comments should 

make reference to the date and page 

number of this issue of the Federal 

Register. 

• Read Comments: All comments will 

be available for public inspection in the 

above office during regular business 

hours (7 CFR 1.27 (b)). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Beverly A. Whalen at USDA, GIPSA, 

FGIS, Market and Program Analysis 

Staff, Suite 180, STOP 1404, 6501 

Beacon Drive, Kansas City, Missouri, 

64133; Telephone (816) 823–4648; Fax 

Number (816) 823–4644; e-mail 

Beverly.A.Whalen@usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GIPSA 

published a notice in the Federal 

Register on April 17, 2007 (72 FR 

19169), inviting comments from all 

interested persons on the proposed 

revisions to the U.S. Standards for 

Whole Dry Peas, Split Peas, and Lentils. 

The proposed revisions would provide 

applicants for service with an optional 

grade designation for pea and lentil 

certification and remove the 

requirement for Mixed Dry Peas, the 

percentage of each class in the mixture 

be shown on the grade line. For ease of 

reference, we have included in this 

notice the discussion of the revisions to 

the U.S. Standards for Whole Dry Peas, 

Split Peas, and Lentils that are under 

consideration. 

Optional Grade Designation and 

Certification Procedures 

Currently, inspectors certify peas and 

lentils offered for inspection as a 

specific quality (U.S. grade), such as 

U.S. No. 2 Smooth Green Dry Peas. 

Certifying a specific grade is commonly 

referred to as ‘‘Option 1’’ grade 

designation. This works well most of the 

time, however, there are exceptions. At 

times, sellers find when preparing to 

load peas or lentils for shipment that the 

supply of a particular grade of pea or 

lentil may be insufficient to meet the 

quality and quantity requirements 

specified in the sales contract. When 

this happens, the seller may find it 

necessary to ship peas or lentils of a 

better quality. However, current 

inspection procedures do not allow the 

flexibility to describe or certify superior 

quality peas or lentils as being of a 

lower quality. If the lot presented for 

inspection is not uniform in quality for 

the declared grade, the inspector 

certifies each portion separately 

according to quality. That is, if a 

consignment consists of both U.S. No. 1 

and 2 Smooth Green Dry Peas, current 

procedure requires that the quantity 

representing each of the different 

qualities receive separate certification. 

Such certification may not meet the 

terms of sale for the contract. 

An alternative approach is termed 

‘‘Option 2’’ grade designation. When a 

contract specifies an Option 2 grade 

designation, the applicant may 

specifically request Option 2 

certification. Under Option 2 

certification, there would be no 

limitation placed on the amount of 

better quality peas and lentils in the lot. 

When a lot meets or is of better quality 

than the declared grade, inspectors 

would include the term ‘‘or better’’

immediately following the numerical or 

sample grade designation. 

We would like to offer the Option 2 

grade designation and certification 

approach for peas and lentils. Under 

such an approach, the applicant for 

inspection can obtain the optional 

certification procedure by requesting it 

on the application for inspection. The 

applicant would file the request for the 

optional certification prior to the 

beginning of inspection so the inspector 

knows how to certify the lot. Peas or 

lentils that are a better quality than that 

specified by the contract would be 

certified as a specific grade ‘‘or better;’’

(for example, U.S. No. 2, or better, 

Smooth Dry Peas). We believe that 

Option 2 grade designation and 

certification will provide sellers with 

the flexibility to ship peas and lentils of 

better quality, and provide buyers with 

the desirable option of receiving better 

quality. 

Mixed Whole Dry Peas 

We also propose to eliminate the 

requirement that certain grade related 

information be shown on the grade line 

of the certificate for the class of Mixed 

Whole Dry Peas. Currently, the U.S. 

standards for Whole Dry Peas require a 

breakdown of the different classes, in 

order of predominance, be shown on the 

grade line of the certificate, in addition 

to the regular grade designation 

information, when the peas are classed 

as Mixed peas. Instead of showing this 

information on the grade line, we 

propose to enter such information in the 

‘‘Results’’ section of the certificate. This 

approach will not change the grade of 

the product and will enhance the 

readability of the certificate. 

Comments 

The comment period of 30 days from 

the date of publication (72 FR 19169) 

closed on May 17, 2007. Due to 

continued high level of interest in the 

April 17, 2007, notice, GIPSA is 

reopening the comment period to 

provide interested parties additional 

time to comment. As a result, the 

comment period is reopened for a 60 

day period. We welcome both 

comments from interested persons who 

did not comment during the initial 30 

day period, as well as those interested 

persons who have already commented. 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. 

David R. Shipman, 

Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, 

Packers and Stockyards Administration. 

[FR Doc. E8–1820 Filed 1–31–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–KD–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Information Collection Activity; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 

U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the 

Rural Utilities Service’s (RUS) an 

agency delivering the U.S. Department 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES