Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2002/09/12/02-23074/apple-market-loss-assistance-payment-program-ii
Timestamp: 2018-07-22 05:37:08
Document Index: 243322036

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1470', '§\u20091470', 'art 1470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', 'art 1403', '§\u20091470', 'art 1404', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', 'art 707', '§\u20091470', '§\u20091470', 'art 1403']

Federal Register :: Apple Market Loss Assistance Payment Program II
A Rule by the Commodity Credit Corporation on 09/12/2002
57719-57722 (4 pages)
0560-AG63
Subpart A—Apple Market Loss Payment Program
Subpart B—Apple Market Loss Assistance Payment Program II
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/02-23074 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/02-23074
Start Preamble Start Printed Page 57719
This rule implements the Apple Market Loss Assistance Payment Program II (AMLAP-II). The program is designed to provide relief to apple producers for the loss of markets during the 2000 crop year. The payments provided by this rule will offset a portion of the per-bushel losses producers have incurred marketing apples in the U.S. Those eligible will receive an immediate payment to help pay operating expenses and meet other financial obligations.
The title and number of the Federal assistance program, as found in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance, to which this rule applies are:
10.075—Special Apple Program
A notice with request for comments on the information collection was part of the proposed rule. No comments were received from the public during the 60-day comment period regarding the information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FSA has submitted an emergency information collection request to OMB for the approval of a reinstatement, with change, or a previously approved collection for which approval has expired for the Apple Market Loss Assistance Payment Program application, as necessary for the proper functioning of the program. A regular information collection package will be submitted to OMB.
FSA is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) and the Freedom to E-File Act, which require Government agencies in general and FSA in particular to provide the public the option of submitting information or transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible. The forms and other information collection activities required for participation in the program implemented under this rule are not yet fully implemented for the public to conduct business with FSA electronically. However, the application form will be available electronically through the USDA eForms web site at http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov for downloading. The regulation will be available at FSA's Price Support Division internet site at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/​dafp/​psd. Applications may be submitted at the FSA county offices, by mail or by FAX. At this time, electronic submission is not available because signatures from multiple producers with shares in the apple operations production are required. Still, full implementation of electronic submission is underway.
This rule finalizes the proposed rule published in the Federal Register at 67 FR 139 on July 19, 2002. The comment period for the proposed AMLAP-II rule closed on August 19, 2002. Comments were received from two agricultural Start Printed Page 57720trade associations and one farm bureau. Two comments received expressed the urgency for USDA to administer this critical assistance to apple growers. FSA recognizes the immediate need of the financial assistance this program will offer to the nation's apple growers and are undertaking measures to expedite the dispersal of funds and relieve some of the economic stress from production losses experienced by growers in the apple industry.
The other comment received directed concern toward inconsistencies in how the rule establishes eligible production. Their concern was that the rule, as written, would confuse program participants. The respondent indicated that the definition of “eligible production” in section 1470.103 should be changed to include harvested production, so it is consistent with section 1470.101(b), which indicates that payments shall be available only for apples produced and harvested. The respondent also noted that there were other areas in the rule that referenced eligible production as only having to be produced during the 2000 crop year rather than produced and harvested during the 2000 crop year. The Agency agrees that this clarification is useful and adopted the appropriate changes in this final rule to state explicitly in section 1470.103, as well, that eligible apple production must be produced and harvested during the 2000 crop year.
Accordingly, for the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 1470 is amended as follows:
Authority: Sec. 811, Pub. L. 106-387, 114 Stat. 1549; Sec. 741, Pub. L. 107-76, 115 Stat. 704; Sec. 102, Pub. L. 107-117, 115 Stat. 2230.
2. Redesignate §§ 1470.1 through 1470.16 as subpart A and add a heading for subpart A to read as follows:
3. Add subpart B to part 1470 to read as follows:
1470.102
1470.103
1470.104
1470.106
1470.107
1470.108
1470.109
1470.110
1470.111
1470.112
1470.113
1470.114
1470.115
1470.116
1470.117
§ 1470.101
(a) The regulations in this subpart are applicable to producers of the 2000 crop of apples. These regulations set forth the terms and conditions under which the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) shall provide payments to apple producers who have applied to participate in the Apple Market Loss Assistance Payment Program II in accordance with section 741 of Public Law 107-76, as amended by Public Law 107-117. Additional terms and conditions may be set forth in the payment application that must be executed by participants to receive a market loss payment for apples.
§ 1470.102
(a) The Apple Market Loss Assistance Payment Program II shall be administered under the general supervision of the Executive Vice President, CCC (Administrator, FSA), or a designee, and shall be carried out in the field by FSA State and county committees (State and county committees) and FSA employees.
(e) The Deputy Administrator, Farm Programs, FSA, may authorize State and county committees to waive or modify deadlines and other program requirements in cases where lateness or failure to meet such other requirements do not adversely affect the operation of the Apple Market Loss Assistance Payment Program II and does not violate statutory limitations on the program.
§ 1470.103
The definitions set forth in this section shall be applicable for all purposes of administering the Apple Market Loss Assistance Payment Program II established by this subpart.
Apple operation means any person or group of persons who, as a single unit as determined by CCC, produces and market apples in the United States.
Application period means the date established by the Deputy Administrator for producers to apply for program benefits.
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP), Farm Service Agency (FSA) or a designee.
Eligible production means apples that were produced and harvested in the Start Printed Page 57721United States anytime during the 2000 crop year, up to a maximum of 5,000,000 pounds per apple operation.
§ 1470.104
(b) A request for benefits under this subpart must be submitted on a completed application as defined in § 1470.103. Applications should be submitted to the FSA county office serving the county where the apple operation is located but, in any case, must be received by the FSA county office by the close of business on the date established by the Deputy Administrator. Applications not received by the close of business on such date will be disapproved as not having been timely filed and the apple operation will not be eligible for benefits under this program.
§ 1470.105
(2) Not have been compensated for the same market loss by any other Federal programs, except an indemnity provided under a policy or plan of insurance offered under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501).
(b) Payments may be made for losses suffered by an eligible producer who is now deceased or is a dissolved entity if a representative who currently has authority to enter into a contract for the producer signs the application for payment. Proof of authority to sign for the deceased producer or dissolved entity must be provided. If a producer is now a dissolved general partnership or joint venture, all members of the general partnership or joint venture at the time of dissolution, or their duly authorized representatives must sign the application for payment.
(d) All payments under this part are subject to the availability of funds.
§ 1470.106
(b) All persons involved in such apple operation producing apples during the 2000 crop year shall provide any available supporting documents to assist the county FSA office in verifying the operation's apple production indicated on the application. Examples of supporting documentation include, but are not limited to: picking, packout, and payroll records, RMA records, sales documents, copies of receipts, ledgers of income, or any other documents available to confirm the production and production history of the apple operation. In the event that supporting documentation is not presented to the county FSA office requesting the information, apple operations will be determined ineligible for benefits.
§ 1470.107
The total available program funds shall be $75 million as provided by section 741 of Public Law 107-76 except as determined appropriate by the Executive Vice President of CCC and authorized by law. Any discretion in such matters shall be the discretion of the Executive Vice President alone.
§ 1470.108
(a) The applicant's payment quantity of apples will be determined by CCC, based on the production of the 2000 crop of apples that was produced and harvested by each operation.
(b) The maximum quantity of apples for which producers are eligible for a payment under this subpart shall be 5,000,000 pounds per operation. The Deputy Administrator shall determine what may be considered a distinct operation and that decision shall be final.
§ 1470.109
(a) A national per-pound payment rate will be determined after the conclusion of the application period, and shall be calculated, to the extent practicable, by dividing the $75 million available for the Apple Market Loss Assistance Payment Program II by the total pounds of eligible production approved for payment.
(d) A reserve may be created to handle claims but claims shall not be payable once the available funding is expended.
§ 1470.110
CCC may offset or withhold any amount due CCC under this subpart in Start Printed Page 57722accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR part 1403.
§ 1470.111
Any person who may be entitled to a payment may assign his rights to such payment in accordance with 7 CFR part 1404 or successor regulations as designated by the Department.
§ 1470.112
§ 1470.113
(b) Any funds disbursed pursuant to this part to any person or operation engaged in a misrepresentation, scheme, or device, shall be refunded to CCC in accordance with § 1470.117(a). The remedies provided in this subpart shall be in addition to other civil, criminal, or administrative remedies which may apply.
§ 1470.114
§ 1470.115
In the case of death, incompetency, disappearance or dissolution of a person that is eligible to receive benefits in accordance with this subpart, such person or persons specified in part 707 of this chapter may receive such benefits, as determined appropriate by FSA.
§ 1470.116
(a) Persons making application for benefits under this program must maintain accurate records and accounts that will document that they meet all eligibility requirements specified herein, as may be requested by CCC. Such records and accounts must be retained for 3 years after the date of payment to the apple operation under this program. Destruction of the records 3 years after the date of payment shall be the risk of the party undertaking the destruction.
(c) Any funds disbursed pursuant to this subpart to any person or operation who does not comply with the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section, or who otherwise receives a payment for which they are not eligible, shall be refunded with interest.
§ 1470.117
(a) In the event of an error on an application, a failure to comply with any term, requirement, or condition for payment arising under the application, or this subpart, all improper payments shall be refunded to CCC together with interest and late payment charges as provided in part 1403 of this chapter.
Signed in Washington, DC, on August 30, 2002.
[FR Doc. 02-23074 Filed 9-11-02; 8:45 am]