Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information Program: Procedures for the Conduct of Referendum

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1280

[No. LS-95-008]

Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information Program: Procedures

for the Conduct of Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1994

(Act) authorizes a program of promotion, research, and information to

be developed through the promulgation of the Sheep and Wool Promotion,

Research, Education, and Information Order (Order). The Act requires

that after the issuance of the final Order, the Secretary shall conduct

an initial referendum among sheep producers, sheep feeders, and

importers of sheep and sheep products to determine whether the Order

will go into effect. For the program to become operational, the final

Order must be approved by sheep producers, sheep feeders, and importers

of sheep and sheep products voting in the initial referendum. Importers

who only import raw wool are not eligible to participate in the

referendum. This proposed rule sets forth the procedures for conducting

the initial referendum to determine if producers, feeders, and

importers approve the final Order. These rules would also apply to any

additional referendum conducted pursuant to the Act.

DATES: Written comments must be received by September 7, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Send two copies of comments to Ralph L. Tapp, Chief;

Marketing Programs Branch; Livestock and Seed Division; Agricultural

Marketing Service (AMS), USDA, Room 2606-S; P.O. Box 96456; Washington,

D.C. 20090-6456. Comments hours at the above address in room 2606 South

Agriculture Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW., Washington,

D.C. Comments on the information collection requirements contained in

the proposed rule may also be sent to the Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C.

20503. Attention: Desk Officer for the Agricultural Marketing Service,

USDA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralph L. Tapp, Chief, Marketing

Programs Branch, 202/720-1115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed rule is authorized under the

Act (7 U.S.C. 7101-7111).

Regulatory Impact Analysis

Executive Orders 12866 and 12778 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act

This proposal has been determined to be not significant for

purposes of Executive Order 12866 and therefore has not been reviewed

by OMB.

This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778,

Civil Justice Reform. It is not intended to have a retroactive effect.

This rule would not preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or

policies unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this rule.

The Act provides that any person subject to the Order may file with

the Secretary a petition stating that the Order, any provision of the

Order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the Order is not in

accordance with the law, and requesting a modification of the Order or

an exemption from certain provisions or obligations of the Order. The

petitioner will have the opportunity for a hearing on the petition.

Thereafter the Secretary will issue a decision on the petition. The Act

provides that the district court of the United States in any district

in which the petitioner resides or carries on business has jurisdiction

to review a ruling on the petition, if the petitioner files a complaint

for that purpose not later than 20 days after the date of the entry of

the Secretary's decision. The petitioner must exhaust his or her

administrative remedies before he or she can initiate any such

proceedings in the district court.

Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility

Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Administrator of AMS has

considered the economic impact of this proposed action on small

entities.

According to the January 27, 1995, issue of ``Sheep and Goats,''

published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (Department) National

Agricultural Statistics Service, there are approximately 87,350

operations with sheep in the United States that may be eligible to vote

in the referendum. To obtain the estimated number of importers of sheep

and sheep products who would be subject to an assessment and who may be

eligible to vote in the referendum, the Department consulted with major

importer organizations whose members import sheep and sheep products

into the United States. Based on its consultations with these

organizations, the Department estimates that the number of sheep and

sheep product importers in the United States who would be subject to

these rules and regulations is approximately 9,000. Nearly all of the

sheep operations in the United States and nearly all of the importers

of sheep and sheep products would be classified as small entities by

the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.601).

This action has also been reviewed under the Regulatory Flexibility

Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). This proposed rule would establish

procedures for the conduct of a referendum to determine whether an

Order promulgated under the Act becomes operational. Such procedures

would permit all eligible sheep producers, sheep feeders, and importers

of sheep and sheep products, excluding importers who import only raw

wool, who have been engaged in sheep production, sheep feeding, or the

importation of sheep and sheep products to vote in the referendum.

Participation in the referendum is voluntary. Votes may be cast either

by mail ballots or in-person at polling places. Casting votes by mail

or in-person would not impose a significant economic burden on

participants. Accordingly, the Administrator of AMS has determined that

this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial

number of small business entities.

Paperwork Reduction Act

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C.

Chapter 35), we have submitted the information collection requirements

contained in this proposed rule to OMB for approval. OMB has assigned

OMB control number 0581-0093. The information collection requirements

in this proposed rule include the following:

(a) For in-person voting:

(1) Each sheep producer, sheep feeder, or importer of sheep and

sheep products, except an importer who imports only raw wool, who vote

in person in the referendum, must sign the Voter Registration List

(Form LS-61-3) and complete a Ballot (Form LS-61) at the county

Cooperative Extension Service (CES) office of the Department. The voter

must complete the ballot and insert the ballot into the SHEEP BALLOT

envelope (Form LS-61-1).

(2) Each producer, feeder, and importer must complete the

Certification and Registration Form that

[[Page 40314]]

is printed on the SHEEP REFERENDUM envelope (Form LS-61-2), and insert

the SHEEP BALLOT envelope, with the enclosed ballot, in the SHEEP

REFERENDUM envelope (Form LS-61-2). The estimated average time burden

for completing the forms for in-person voting is 6 minutes per voter.

(b) For absentee voting: Each sheep producer, sheep feeder, and

importer of sheep and sheep products, except an importer who imports

only raw wool, who wants to cast an absentee vote instead of an in-

person vote, must complete, in a legible manner, a combined

registration and absentee ballot form (Form LS-62). The voting

producer, feeder, or importer must complete the form and insert the

ballot portion in a SHEEP BALLOT envelope (Form LS-61-1) (same as for

in-person voting) and then insert the sealed SHEEP BALLOT envelope and

the registration form in the SHEEP REFERENDUM envelope (Form LS-62-1).

The estimated average time burden for completing this procedure is 6

minutes per voter.

(c) The proposed rule requires each sheep producer, sheep feeder,

or importer of sheep and sheep products who votes in person to record

on the Voter Registration List (Form LS-61-3) his or her name and the

name of the entity he or she represents. The estimated average time

burden for registering to vote in person is 0.5 minutes per voter. For

absentee voters, the county CES agent shall enter on the Absentee Voter

Request List (Form LS-62-2) the date the ballot was requested, the

name, the address, the name of the represented entity, if any, and the

date the ballot was mailed from the county CES office. This information

may be used to validate ballots and to challenge potentially ineligible

voters. Each county CES agent will fill out one or more of the Absentee

Voter Request Lists (Form LS-62-2) per referendum. Because only county

CES agents will complete the Absentee Voter Request List, the estimated

average reporting burden would not apply to the producer, feeder or

importer voting in the referendum.

The estimated number of producers, feeders, and importers who will

vote in the referendum is 25,000, with each voting once.

Please send comments concerning the information collection

requirements contained in this proposed rule to the Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office Management and Budget,

Washington, DC 20503. Attention: Desk Officer for the Agricultural

Marketing Service, USDA.

Background

The Act (7 U.S.C. 7101-7111) provides for the establishment of a

coordinated program of promotion, research, education, consumer

information, industry information, and producer information designed to

strengthen the sheep industry's position in the marketplace, maintain

and expand existing markets, and develop new markets and uses for sheep

and sheep products.

The program will be funded by a mandatory assessment on domestic

producers, feeders, and exporters of live sheep and greasy wool of 1-

cent-per-pound on live sheep sold and 2-cents-per-pound on greasy wool

sold. Importers will be assessed 1-cent-per-pound on live sheep, the

equivalent of 1-cent-per-pound of live sheep for sheep products as well

as 2-cents-per-pound of degreased wool or the equivalent of degreased

wool for wool and wool products. Imported raw wool would be exempt from

assessments. Each person who processes or causes to be processed sheep

and sheep products of that person's own production, and who markets the

processed products, would be assessed the equivalent of 1-cent-per-

pound of live sheep sold or 2-cents-per-pound of greasy wool sold. All

assessments may be adjusted in accordance with the applicable

provisions of the Act.

The Act requires that a referendum be conducted after the issuance

of the final Order to determine whether the Order will go into effect.

The referendum would be conducted among persons who were sheep

producers, sheep feeders, or importers of sheep and sheep products,

during a representative period specified by the Secretary. Importers

who import only raw wool are not eligible to participate in the

referendum because raw wool is exempt from assessments under the act.

The Order would become operational only if it is approved by a majority

of the producers, feeders, and importers voting in the referendum or by

producers, feeders, and importers voting in the referendum who account

for at least two-thirds of the production represented by persons voting

in the referendum. If the final Order is not approved by persons voting

in the referendum, the program will not become operational.

To vote in the referendum, eligible persons will be required to

complete the combined registration form, mark their ballots and record

their volume of production on the ballot. The volume of production will

be recorded as the number of live sheep or live sheep equivalents a

person owned or imported during the representative period. As in past

sheep or wool referendums conducted by the Department, the domestic

volume of production includes the largest number of head of domestic

sheep 6 months old or older owned for any single consecutive 30-day

period during the representative period. The number of live sheep

equivalents for imported sheep products will be calculated using

published data on the amount of such products imported during the

representative period. Producers, feeders and importers will be

required to determine their volume of production before they register

and vote in the referendum.

The Act specifies that the Secretary shall determine a method of

allocating, by a pro rate percentage of annual projected or actual

assessments from importers, the volume of production represented by

importers in a referendum conducted pursuant to this subpart. Because

an Order implementing the provisions of the Act has not been in effect,

imported sheep and sheep products have not been subject to the

assessments described in the proposed Order (60 FR 28747).

Consequently, there are no projected or actual annual assessments

available to use in calculating the volume of production for importers

during the representative period. In the absence of that information on

annual assessments, the Department proposes that importers of sheep and

sheep products determine their volume of production by converting the

volume of those imported products that would have been subject to

assessment if an Order had been in effect during the representative

period. Imported sheep, sheep meat and wool and wool products that

would have been subject to assessment during the representative period

are identified by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification

numbers listed in Table 1--HTS Classification Numbers and Conversion

Factors for Imported Sheep and Sheep Products--contained herein, which

includes sheep, sheep meat and wool and wool products. Because the Act

exempts imported raw wool from assessments, HTS numbers and

corresponding conversion factors are not included for imported raw

wool. For the purpose of this initial referendum, the Department

proposes that importers use the 1994 HTS classification numbers and

conversion factors in Table 1. These HTS numbers for imported sheep and

sheep products are published in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the

United States. To enable importers to convert sheep meat and

[[Page 40315]]

wool and wool products identified by the HTS numbers for 1994 listed in

Table 1, the Department proposes to use the conversion factors listed

in the same table that correspond to each listed HTS number. The

Department's Economic Research Service (ERS) has developed these

conversion factors and maintains them in an import library. For sheep

meat, these conversion factors take into account removal of bone,

weight lost in processing or cooking, and nonsheep components of the

sheep products. The conversion factors for wool products are used to

determine the raw fiber content of imported wool products, and take

into account fiber loss during processing, fabric trim loss, and

cutting loss for wool.

Factors in determining the number of live sheep equivalents include

(1) The weight of the imported sheep meat, the weight of imported wool

and wool product and the corresponding conversion factors, (2) the

average carcass weight of 57 pounds for domestic mature sheep as

published by the Department's National Agricultural Statistics Service

in the March 1995 edition of the 1994 Livestock Slaughter Summary, (3)

a dressing percentage of 50 percent, and (4) an equivalent live weight

of 114 pounds for domestic mature sheep (57 lbs. 50% = 114

lbs.). The dressing percentage of 50 percent is widely recognized as

the average dressing percentage for sheep in the United States. The

formula for calculating importer volume of production for imported wool

and wool products will use the listed conversion factors and a clean

wool yield of 52.8 percent, as published by ERS in the 1992 Weight,

Measures, and Conversion Factors for Agricultural Commodities and Their

Products, to convert clean wool to a greasy wool basis. In the absence

of official data for carcass weights, live weights, dressing percentage

and wool yield percentages of sheep from importing countries, the

Department believes that the proposed carcass weight, the dressing

percentage, the live weight, and the percentage of clean wool yield

will, on the average, be most representative of carcass weights,

dressing percentages, live weights and clean wool yield percentages of

sheep from which imported sheep products are derived.

Imported live sheep require no conversion and each head of imported

live sheep would be counted in determining total volume of production

for importers. Calculation procedures for both imported sheep meat and

imported wool and wool products follow:

Imported Sheep Meat

To calculate the live sheep equivalents of imported sheep meat, an

importer would first multiply the total weight of imported sheep meat

for each applicable HTS number by the specified conversion factor to

determine the total carcass weight equivalent. The importer would then

divide the total carcass weight equivalent by the average carcass

weight of 57 pounds to determine the equivalent number of live sheep.

Because the carcass weight of 57 pounds represents the equivalent live

weight of 114 pounds (57 lbs. 50% = 114 lbs.), it is not

necessary to convert the carcass weight to a live weight equivalent.

The Department proposes that the number of live animal equivalents be

rounded to the nearest whole number. If the decimal is less than 0.5,

or greater, the number of head of sheep would be rounded upward i.e.,

7.5 = 8.0). If the decimal is less than 0.5, the number of head of

sheep would be rounded downward (i.e. 7.49 = 7.0). The following

examples illustrate two typical calculations:

Example I

Sheep Meat (Bone-in)

HTS Classification Number: 0204100000

Item Name: Carcasses and half carcasses of lamb, fresh or chilled

Assume: Company X imports 1,000 pounds of bone-in sheep meat

Conversion factor: 1.00

Average carcass weight: 57 pounds

1,000 pounds x 1.00 = 1,000 pounds of carcass weight equivalent.

1,000 pounds carcass weight equivalent 57 pounds per carcass =

17.5 or 18 live sheep equivalents.

Example II

Sheep Meat (Boneless)

HTS Classification Number: 0204232000

Item Name: Other meat of sheep, fresh or chilled: Boneless: lamb

Assume: Company X imports 1,000 pounds of boneless sheep meat

Conversion factor: 1.52

Average carcass weight: 57 pounds

1,000 pounds x 1.52 = 1,520 pounds of carcass weight equivalent.

1,520 pounds carcass weight equivalent 57 pounds per carcass =

26.6 or 27 live sheep equivalents.

Imported Wool and Wool Products

To calculate the number of live sheep equivalents of imported wool

products, the imported would first multiply the total weight of

imported wool products for each applicable HTS number by the

corresponding conversion factor to determine the total weight of clean

wool. The importer would then divide the total weight of the clean wool

equivalent by 52.8 percent, to convert the clean wool to a greasy wool

basis. Finally, the importer would divide the total pounds of greasy

wool by the calculated average live weight of 114 pounds to determine

the number of live sheep equivalents. The Department proposes that the

number of live animal equivalents be rounded to the nearest whole

number. If the decimal is 0.5 greater, the number of head of sheep

would be rounded upward (i.e., 7.5 = 8.0). If the decimal is less than

0.5, the number of head of sheep would be rounded downward (i.e., 7.49

= 7.0). The following example illustrates a typical calculation:

Example

Wool and Wool Products

HTS No. 6201110010

--Item Name: Mens or boys overcoats of wool or fine animal hair

Assume: Company X imports 1,000 overcoats weighing 2,000 pounds into

the United States.

Conversion factor: 0.9774

2,000 pounds x 0.9774 = 1954.8 pounds clean wool content

1954.8 pounds of clean wool content 52.8 percent = 3702.3

pounds of greasy wool.

3702.3 pounds of greasy wool 114 pounds = 32.5 or 33 live

sheep equivalents.

The HTS numbers, the conversion factors, and other information used

to calculate number of live sheep equivalents apply only to the initial

referendum described herein.

The 1994 HTS classification numbers and conversion factors for

imported sheep and sheep products and wool and wool products are as

follow:

Table I.--HTS and Conversion Factors for Imported Sheep and Sheep

Products

------------------------------------------------------------------------

HTS CF

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Live Sheep

------------------------------------------------------------------------

0104100000......................... 1.00

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sheep Meat

------------------------------------------------------------------------

0204100000......................... 1.00

0204210000......................... 1.00

0204222000......................... 1.00

0204224000......................... 1.00

0204232000......................... 1.52

0204234000......................... 1.52

0204300000......................... 1.00

0204410000......................... 1.00

0204422000......................... 1.00

0204424000......................... 1.00

0204432000......................... 1.52

0204434000......................... 1.52

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 40316]]

Wool and Wool Products

------------------------------------------------------------------------

5107106030......................... 0.5315

5007906030......................... 0.5315

5103100000......................... 1.0417

5103200000......................... 1.0417

5105100000......................... 1.0309

5105210000......................... 1.1111

5105290000......................... 1.1111

5106100010......................... 1.0417

5106100090......................... 1.0417

5106200000......................... 0.5208

5107100000......................... 1.0417

5107200000......................... 0.5208

5109102000......................... 1.0417

5109902000......................... 1.0417

5111112000......................... 1.0629

5111113000......................... 1.0629

5111117030......................... 1.0629

5111117060......................... 1.0629

5111191000......................... 1.0629

5111192000......................... 1.0629

5111196020......................... 0.5315

5111196040......................... 0.5315

5111196060......................... 1.0629

5111196080......................... 1.0629

5111200500......................... 0.5315

5111201000......................... 0.5315

5111209000......................... 0.5315

5111300500......................... 0.5315

5111301000......................... 0.5315

5111309000......................... 0.5315

5111903000......................... 0.5315

5111904000......................... 0.7972

5111905000......................... 0.5315

5111906000......................... 0.7972

5111909000......................... 0.7972

5112110030......................... 0.5315

5112110060......................... 0.9566

5112111000......................... 0.9566

5112112030......................... 1.0629

5112112060......................... 0.9566

5112192000......................... 1.0629

5112199010......................... 1.0629

5112199020......................... 1.0629

5112199030......................... 1.0629

5112199040......................... 1.0629

5112199050......................... 1.0629

5112199060......................... 1.0629

5112201000......................... 0.5315

5112202000......................... 0.5315

5112203000......................... 0.5315

5112301000......................... 0.5315

5112302000......................... 0.5315

5112303000......................... 0.5315

5112903000......................... 0.6378

5112904000......................... 0.7972

5112905000......................... 0.7972

5112909010......................... 0.5315

5112909090......................... 0.5315

5212111010......................... 0.4783

5212111020......................... 0.4783

5212116010......................... 0.2126

5212121010......................... 0.4783

5212121020......................... 0.4783

5212126010......................... 0.2126

5212131010......................... 0.4783

5212131020......................... 0.4783

5212136010......................... 0.2126

5212141010......................... 0.4783

5212141020......................... 0.4783

5212146010......................... 0.2126

5212151010......................... 0.4783

5212151020......................... 0.4783

5212156010......................... 0.2126

5212211010......................... 0.4783

5212211020......................... 0.4783

5212216010......................... 0.2126

5212221010......................... 0.4783

5212221020......................... 0.4783

5212226010......................... 0.2126

5212231010......................... 0.4783

5212231020......................... 0.4783

5212236010......................... 0.2126

5212241010......................... 0.4783

5212241020......................... 0.4783

5212246010......................... 0.2126

5212251010......................... 0.4783

5212251020......................... 0.4783

5212256010......................... 0.2126

5309212000......................... 0.5315

5309292000......................... 0.5315

5311002000......................... 0.2126

5407910510......................... 0.4783

5407910520......................... 0.4783

5407911000......................... 0.2126

5407920510......................... 0.4783

5407920520......................... 0.4783

5407921010......................... 0.2126

4307921020......................... 0.2126

5407930510......................... 0.4783

5407930520......................... 0.4783

5407931000......................... 0.2126

5407940510......................... 0.4783

5407940520......................... 0.4783

5407941000......................... 0.2126

5408310510......................... 0.4783

5408310520......................... 0.4783

5408311000......................... 0.2126

5408320510......................... 0.4783

5408320520......................... 0.4783

5408321000......................... 0.2126

5408330510......................... 0.4783

5408330520......................... 0.4783

5408331000......................... 0.2126

5408340510......................... 0.4783

5408340520......................... 0.4783

5408341000......................... 0.2126

5509520000......................... 0.3646

5509610000......................... 0.1563

5509910000......................... 0.3646

5510200000......................... 0.3646

5515130510......................... 0.4783

5515130520......................... 0.4783

5515131010......................... 0.2126

5515131020......................... 0.2126

5515220510......................... 0.4783

5515220520......................... 0.4783

5515221000......................... 0.2126

5515920510......................... 0.4783

5515220520......................... 0.4783

5515921010......................... 0.2126

5515921020......................... 0.2126

5516310510......................... 0.4783

5516310520......................... 0.4783

5516311000......................... 0.2126

5516320510......................... 0.4783

5516320520......................... 0.4783

5516321000......................... 0.2126

5516330510......................... 0.4783

5516330520......................... 0.4783

5516331000......................... 0.2126

5516340510......................... 0.4783

5516340520......................... 0.4783

5516340520......................... 0.4783

5516341000......................... 0.2126

5601290020......................... 0.9035

5602109010......................... 1.0629

5602109010......................... 1.0629

5602109090......................... 0.5315

5602210000......................... 1.0629

5602903000......................... 0.2657

5603001010......................... 1.0629

5701101300......................... 0.9479

5701101600......................... 0.9479

5702101000......................... 1.0156

5702109010......................... 1.0156

5702311000......................... 0.7708

5702311000......................... 0.7708

5702312000......................... 0.6563

5702411000......................... 0.6979

5702412000......................... 0.5729

5702512000......................... 0.9531

5702514000......................... 0.9010

5702912000......................... 0.9531

5702913000......................... 0.9531

5702914000......................... 0.9010

5703100000......................... 0.6313

5704100010......................... 0.2630

5704900010......................... 0.2630

5705002010......................... 0.6313

5801100000......................... 1.0629

5810990010......................... 1.0629

5811001000......................... 1.0629

5903203010......................... 0.5315

5903903010......................... 0.5315

6001290000......................... 1.0629

6002209000......................... 1.0851

6002410000......................... 1.0851

6002490000......................... 1.0851

6002910000......................... 1.0851

6101100000......................... 1.0094

6101301500......................... 0.5047

6101900020......................... 0.5678

6102100000......................... 1.0094

6102301000......................... 0.5047

6102900010......................... 0.5678

6103110000......................... 0.8439

6103121000......................... 0.4823

6103122000......................... 0.1808

6103191000......................... 0.4823

6103191500......................... 0.2411

6103194010......................... 0.1206

6103194020......................... 0.1206

6103194030......................... 0.1206

6103194040......................... 0.4823

6103194050......................... 0.1206

6103194060......................... 0.0603

6103194080......................... 0.2411

6103210010......................... 0.9645

6103210020......................... 0.8439

6103210030......................... 0.9645

6103210050......................... 0.9645

6103210060......................... 0.9645

6103210070......................... 0.9645

6103230005......................... 0.4823

6103230007......................... 0.4823

6103230010......................... 0.4823

6103230025......................... 0.3167

[[Page 40317]]

6103230030......................... 0.4823

6103230035......................... 0.4823

6103292060......................... 0.5425

6103292066......................... 0.1206

6103292068......................... 0.1206

6103310000......................... 0.9864

6103331000......................... 0.4932

6103332000......................... 0.1233

6103391000......................... 0.4932

6103392020......................... 0.5549

6103411010......................... 0.8256

6103411020......................... 0.8256

6103412000......................... 0.8256

6103431010......................... 0.4718

6103431020......................... 0.4718

6103432010......................... 0.4718

6103491010......................... 0.4823

6103493012......................... 0.5425

6103493036......................... 0.5425

6103493060......................... 0.6028

6104110000......................... 0.8631

6104131000......................... 0.4932

6104132000......................... 0.1233

6104191000......................... 0.4932

6104191500......................... 0.1233

6104192050......................... 0.5549

6104210010......................... 0.8439

6104210030......................... 0.8439

6104210040......................... 0.9645

6104210060......................... 0.9645

6104210070......................... 0.8439

6104210080......................... 0.9645

6104230010......................... 0.4823

6104230014......................... 0.4823

6104230016......................... 0.4823

6104230020......................... 0.4823

6104230022......................... 0.4823

6104230024......................... 0.4823

6104230026......................... 0.1206

6104230030......................... 0.1206

6104230040......................... 0.1206

6104230042......................... 0.1206

6104291010......................... 0.1206

6104291020......................... 0.1206

6104291060......................... 0.1206

6104291070......................... 0.1206

6104292012......................... 0.5425

6104292024......................... 0.5425

6104292036......................... 0.5425

6104292051......................... 0.5425

6104292067......................... 0.5425

6104292073......................... 0.1206

6104292075......................... 0.1206

6104292083......................... 0.5425

6104310000......................... 0.8631

6104331000......................... 0.4932

6104332000......................... 0.1233

6104391000......................... 0.1233

6104392020......................... 0.5549

6104410010......................... 0.9645

6104410020......................... 0.9645

6104431010......................... 0.4823

6104431020......................... 0.4823

6104432010......................... 0.1206

6104432020......................... 0.1206

6104441000......................... 0.4823

6104442010......................... 0.1206

6104442020......................... 0.1206

6104490020......................... 0.5425

6104510000......................... 0.9978

6104531000......................... 0.4989

6104532010......................... 0.1247

6104532020......................... 0.1247

6104591005......................... 0.4989

6104591030......................... 0.1247

6104591060......................... 0.1247

6104592020......................... 0.5612

6104610010......................... 0.8256

6104610020......................... 0.8256

6104610030......................... 0.8256

6104631510......................... 0.4718

6104631520......................... 0.4718

6104692005......................... 0.4823

6104693012......................... 0.5425

6104693024......................... 0.5425

6105201000......................... 0.4617

6105901000......................... 0.8080

6105903020......................... 0.5194

6106201010......................... 0.4617

6106201020......................... 0.4617

6106901010......................... 0.8080

6106901020......................... 0.8080

6106902020......................... 0.4040

6106903020......................... 0.4040

6107190020......................... 0.7077

6107292000......................... 0.8256

6107992000......................... 0.8256

6108391000......................... 0.8167

6108992000......................... 0.8167

6109901510......................... 0.8080

6109901520......................... 0.8080

6109901530......................... 0.8080

6109901540......................... 0.8080

6109902035......................... 0.5772

6110101010......................... 1.2330

6110101020......................... 1.2330

6110101030......................... 1.2330

6110101040......................... 1.2330

6110101050......................... 1.2330

6110101060......................... 1.2330

6110102010......................... 0.8631

6110102020......................... 0.8631

6110102030......................... 0.8631

6110102040......................... 0.8631

6110102050......................... 0.8631

6110102060......................... 0.8631

6110102070......................... 0.8631

6110102080......................... 0.8631

6110301510......................... 0.4932

6110301520......................... 0.4932

6110301530......................... 0.4932

6110301540......................... 0.4932

6110301550......................... 0.4932

6110301560......................... 0.4932

6110303005......................... 0.1850

6110303010......................... 0.1850

6110303015......................... 0.1850

6110303020......................... 0.1850

6110303025......................... 0.1850

6110303030......................... 0.1850

6110303035......................... 0.1850

6110303040......................... 0.1850

6110303045......................... 0.1850

6110303050......................... 0.1850

6110303055......................... 0.1850

6110900012......................... 0.5549

6110900028......................... 0.5549

6110900048......................... 0.5549

6110900050......................... 0.5549

6110900072......................... 0.5549

6110900074......................... 0.5549

6111100010......................... 1.0615

6111100030......................... 1.0615

6112202020......................... 0.8631

6114100020......................... 0.8439

6114100040......................... 0.8439

6114100050......................... 0.8439

6114100060......................... 0.8439

6114100070......................... 0.8439

6114302030......................... 0.4823

6114303012......................... 0.6028

6114303042......................... 0.4823

6114303052......................... 0.4823

6114900050......................... 0.5425

6115190020......................... 1.0851

6115910000......................... 0.8681

6115931010......................... 0.4340

6115932010......................... 0.4340

6115991410......................... 0.4340

6115991810......................... 0.4340

6116109040......................... 0.0800

6116910000......................... 0.9137

6116936400......................... 0.4569

6116937400......................... 0.4569

6116938800......................... 0.1713

6116939400......................... 0.1713

6116998020......................... 0.4569

6116998030......................... 0.3427

6117101000......................... 1.0280

6117102010......................... 0.4569

6117106020......................... 0.2284

6117200019......................... 1.1422

6117200070......................... 0.1713

6117800019......................... 0.9747

6117800025......................... 0.5711

6117800070......................... 0.1713

6117900013......................... 1.1422

6117900023......................... 1.1422

6117900033......................... 1.1422

6117900043......................... 1.1422

6117900055......................... 1.1422

6201110010......................... 0.9774

6201110020......................... 0.9774

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6201122020......................... 0.0611

6201133010......................... 0.4398

6201133020......................... 0.4398

6201134015......................... 0.0489

6201134020......................... 0.0489

6201134030......................... 0.0977

6201134040......................... 0.0977

6201190020......................... 0.5498

6201911000......................... 0.9554

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6201912021......................... 0.9554

6201932511......................... 0.5374

6201932521......................... 0.5374

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6202110010......................... 0.8455

6202110020......................... 0.8455

6202122010......................... 0.0604

6202122020......................... 0.0604

6202133010......................... 0.5562

6202133020......................... 0.5562

6202134005......................... 0.0618

6202134010......................... 0.0618

6202134020......................... 0.1236

6202134030......................... 0.1236

6202190020......................... 0.5562

6202911000......................... 0.9663

[[Page 40318]]

6202912011......................... 0.9663

6202912021......................... 0.9663

6202934011......................... 0.5435

6202934021......................... 0.5435

6202990021......................... 0.5435

6203111000......................... 0.6039

6203112000......................... 0.6039

6203121000......................... 0.5435

6203192000......................... 0.5435

6203194040......................... 0.5435

6203210010......................... 0.8455

6203210015......................... 0.8455

6203210020......................... 0.8455

6203210030......................... 0.8455

6203210060......................... 0.8455

6203230010......................... 0.5435

6203230015......................... 0.5435

6203230020......................... 0.5435

6203230030......................... 0.5435

6203230040......................... 0.5435

6203310000......................... 1.0267

6203331010......................... 0.5435

6203331020......................... 0.5435

6203391000......................... 0.4831

6203394020......................... 0.5435

6203411010......................... 0.9448

6203411020......................... 0.9448

6203411030......................... 0.8858

6203412000......................... 1.1810

6203433010......................... 0.5199

6203433020......................... 0.5199

6203433030......................... 0.5199

6203493025......................... 0.5199

6204110000......................... 0.9059

6204131000......................... 0.5435

6204132010......................... 0.1812

6204132020......................... 0.1812

6204191000......................... 0.5435

6204192000......................... 0.1812

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6204210010......................... 0.8455

6204210030......................... 0.8455

6204210040......................... 0.8455

6204210060......................... 0.8455

6204210070......................... 0.8455

6204230015......................... 0.5435

6204230020......................... 0.5435

6204230025......................... 0.5435

6204294012......................... 0.5435

6204294024......................... 0.5435

6204294036......................... 0.5435

6204294072......................... 0.5435

6204294084......................... 0.5435

6204312010......................... 1.0267

6204312020......................... 1.0267

6204332000......................... 0.0604

6204334010......................... 0.4831

6204334020......................... 0.4831

6204335010......................... 0.0604

6204335020......................... 0.0604

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6204392020......................... 0.4831

6204393010......................... 0.0604

6204393020......................... 0.0604

6204398020......................... 0.5549

6204398030......................... 0.1850

6204411000......................... 0.6496

6204412010......................... 1.0039

6204412020......................... 1.0039

6204433010......................... 0.4724

6204433020......................... 0.4724

6204434010......................... 0.4724

6204434020......................... 0.4724

6204434030......................... 0.2953

6204434040......................... 0.2953

6204443010......................... 0.4831

6204443020......................... 0.4831

6204444010......................... 0.4831

6204444020......................... 0.4831

6204495020......................... 0.5435

6204495030......................... 0.1812

6204510010......................... 0.9888

6204510020......................... 0.9888

6204532010......................... 0.4944

6204532020......................... 0.4944

6204592010......................... 0.4944

6204592020......................... 0.4944

6204593010......................... 0.4944

6204593020......................... 0.4944

6204594020......................... 0.5562

6204594030......................... 0.1845

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6204610020......................... 0.9243

6204610030......................... 0.9243

6204610040......................... 0.9243

6204632510......................... 0.4621

6204632520......................... 0.4621

6204692010......................... 0.4621

6204692020......................... 0.4621

6204692030......................... 0.4621

6204693020......................... 0.5199

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6204699030......................... 0.1733

6204699050......................... 0.1733

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6205301510......................... 0.4621

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6205902020......................... 0.5777

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6205904040......................... 0.1155

6206100020......................... 0.5777

6206100050......................... 0.0578

6206201000......................... 1.1554

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6206202020......................... 0.6932

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6206402510......................... 0.5199

6206402520......................... 0.5199

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6206900030......................... 0.1733

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6207992000......................... 0.8267

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6208290012......................... 0.9243

6208920010......................... 0.0591

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6209100000......................... 0.7915

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6211205020......................... 0.8455

6211206020......................... 0.8455

6211207030......................... 0.8455

6211310010......................... 0.9059

6211310020......................... 0.9059

6211310030......................... 0.9059

6211310040......................... 0.9059

6211310045......................... 0.9059

6211310051......................... 0.9059

6211330052......................... 0.6039

6211410010......................... 0.9663

6211410020......................... 0.9663

6211410030......................... 0.9663

6211410040......................... 0.9059

6211410050......................... 0.9663

6211410055......................... 0.9663

6211410061......................... 0.9663

6211430064......................... 0.6039

6211430074......................... 0.6039

6212900020......................... 0.7161

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6214200000......................... 0.8951

6214300000......................... 0.1119

6214400000......................... 0.1119

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6215900010......................... 1.1189

6216005410......................... 0.5035

6216005810......................... 0.5035

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6217100030......................... 0.1181

6217900005......................... 0.8267

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6217900035......................... 0.1181

6217900055......................... 0.8267

6217900060......................... 0.1181

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6217900085......................... 0.1181

6301200010......................... 0.9219

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6302390010......................... 0.9219

6304193040......................... 0.8677

6304910050......................... 0.7592

6304991000......................... 1.0846

6304991500......................... 1.0846

6304994000......................... 1.0846

6304996010......................... 1.0846

6501009000......................... 1.3424

6503009000......................... 1.3424

6505903030......................... 0.9965

6505903045......................... 0.5530

6505903090......................... 0.8470

6505904030......................... 0.8297

6505904045......................... 0.4881

6505904090......................... 0.8297

6505906040......................... 0.4429

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Act also requires the Secretary to hold additional referendums

if so requested by a representative group comprised of 10 percent or

more of the producers, feeders, and importers who, during a

representative period as determined by the Secretary, have been engaged

in the production, feeding, importation, or processing of sheep or

sheep products. In any such

[[Page 40319]]

referendum, if the continuation of the Order is not approved by a

majority of producers, feeders, and importers voting in the referendum,

or by producers, feeders, and importers voting in the referendum who

account for at least two-thirds of the production represented by the

persons voting in the referendum, the Order will be suspended or

terminated. These rules would also apply to any additional referendum

conducted pursuant to the Act.

The Act specifies that the initial referendum and any subsequent

referendum be conducted on a date and location established by the

Secretary, under a procedure by which sheep producers, sheep feeders,

and importers of sheep and sheep products intending to vote in the

referendum shall certify that they were engaged in sheep production,

sheep feeding, or the importation of sheep and sheep products during

the representative period and, on the same day, would have an

opportunity to vote in the referendum. In addition, the Act provides

that the Secretary must provide absentee ballots on request made either

in-person or by mail. The Department proposes that the initial

referendum be conducted at county Cooperative Extension Service (CES)

offices. The CES of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will coordinate

with State and County CES offices concerning their roles in conducting

the initial referendum.

The proposed rule sets forth procedures to be followed in

conducting the referendum under the Act, including definitions,

supervision of the referendum, registration, voting procedures,

reporting referendum results, and disposition of the ballots and

records. The Department proposes that the Consolidated Farm Service

Agency (CFSA) of the Department assist in the conduct of the referendum

by;

(1) counting ballots;

(2) determining the eligibility of challenged voters; and

(3) reporting referendum results.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1280

Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Agricultural

research, Marketing agreements, Sheep and sheep products, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements.

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, it is proposed that 7

CFR part 1280 as proposed to be added at 60 FR 28751 (June 2, 1995), be

amended as follows:

PART 1280--SHEEP PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION

1. The authority citation for 7 CFR Part 1280 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7101-7111.

2. Part 1280 as proposed to be added at 60 FR 28751 (June 2, 1995),

is amended by adding Subpart E to read as follows:

Subpart E--Procedures for the Conduct of Referendum

Definitions

Sec.

1280.601 Act.

1280.602 Administrator.

1280.603 Carbonized wool.

1280.604 Consolidated Farm Service Agency.

1280.606 Consolidated Farm Service Agency County Committee.

1280.606 Consolidated Farm Service Agency County Executive

Director.

1280.607 Cooperative Extension Service.

1280.608 Cooperative Extension Service agent.

1280.609 Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of

Agriculture.

1280.610 Degreased wool.

1280.611 Department.

1280.612 Deputy Administrator.

1280.613 Feeder.

1280.614 Greasy wool.

1280.615 Importer.

1280.616 Order.

1280.617 Person.

1280.618 Producer.

1280.619 Public notice.

1280.620 Pulled wool.

1280.621 Raw wool.

1280.622 Referendum.

1280.623 Registration period.

1280.624 Representative period.

1280.625 Secretary.

1280.626 Sheep.

1280.627 Sheep products.

1280.628 State.

1280.629 Unit.

1280.630 United States.

1280.631 Volume of production.

1280.632 Voting period.

1280.633 Wool.

1280.634 Wool products.

Referendum

1280.650 General.

1280.651 Supervision of referendum.

1280.652 Eligibility.

1280.653 Time and place of registration and voting.

1280.654 Facilities for registering and voting.

1280.655 Registration form and ballot.

1280.656 Registration and voting procedures.

1280.657 List of registered voters.

1280.658 Challenge of voters.

1280.659 Receiving ballots.

1280.660 Canvassing ballots.

1280.661 CFSA county office report.

1280.662 CFSA State office report.

1280.663 Results of the referendum

1280.664 Disposition of ballots and records.

1280.665 Instructions and forms.

Subpart E--Procedures for the Conduct of Referendum

Definitions

Sec. 1280.601 Act.

The term ``Act'' means the Sheep Promotion, Research, and

Information Act of 1994, 7 U.S.C. 7101-7111; Public Law 103-407; 108

Statute 4210; as approved October 22, 1994, and any amendments thereto.

Sec. 1280.602 Administrator.

The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the

Agricultural Marketing Service, or any officer or employee of the

Department to whom there has heretofore been delegated or may hereafter

be delegated the authority to act in the Administrator's stead.

Sec. 1280.603 Carbonized wool.

The term ``Carbonized wool'' means wool that has been immersed in a

bath, usually of mineral acids or acid salts, that destroys vegetable

matter in the wool, but does not affect the wool fibers.

Sec. 1280.604 Consolidated Farm Service Agency.

The term ``Consolidated Farm Service Agency''--formerly

Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service (ASCS)--also referred

to as ``CFSA,'' means the Consolidated Farm Service Agency of the

Department.

Sec. 1280.605 Consolidated Farm Service Agency County Committee.

The term ``Consolidated Farm Service Agency County Committee,''

also referred to as the ``CFSA County Committee or COC,'' means the

group of persons within a county elected to act as the Consolidated

Farm Service Agency County Committee.

Sec. 1280.606 Consolidated Farm Service Agency County Executive

Director.

The term ``Consolidated Farm Service Agency County Executive

Director'' also referred to as the ``CFSA County Executive Director,''

means the person employed by the CFSA County Committee to execute the

policies of the CFSA county committee and be responsible for the day-

to-day operations of the county CFSA office, or the person acting in

such capacity.

Sec. 1280.607 Cooperative Extension Service.

The term ``Cooperative Extension Service,'' also referred to as

``CES'' means the State partner in the Cooperative Extension Service

system.

Sec. 1280.608 Cooperative Extension Service Agent.

The term ``Cooperative Extension Service Agent,'' also referred to

as the

[[Page 40320]]

``CES Agent,'' means an employee of the Cooperative Extension Service.

Sec. 1280.609 Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of

Agriculture.

The term ``Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of

Agriculture,'' also referred to as ``CES,'' means the Federal component

of the Cooperative Extension Service.

Sec. 1280.610 Degreased wool.

The term ''Degreased wool'' means wool from which the bulk of

impurities has been removed by processing.

Sec. 1280.611 Department.

The term ``Department'' means the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Sec. 1280.612 Deputy Administrator.

The term ``Deputy Administrator'' means the Deputy Administrator

for Program Delivery and Field Operations, CFSA, U.S. Department of

Agriculture or any officer or employee of the Department to whom there

has heretofore been delegated or may hereafter be delegated the

authority to act in the Deputy Administrator's stead.

Sec. 1280.613 Feeder.

The term ``Feeder'' means a person who feeds lambs until the lambs

reach slaughter weight.

Sec. 1280.614 Greasy wool.

The term ``Greasy wool'' means wool that has not been washed or

otherwise cleaned.

Sec. 1280.615 Importer.

The term ``Importer'' means any person who imports sheep and sheep

products into the United States.

Sec. 1280.616 Order.

The term ``Order'' means the Sheep and Wool Promotion, Research,

Education, and Information Order.

Sec. 1280.617 Person.

The term ``Person'' means any individual, group of individuals,

partnership, corporation, association, cooperative, or any other legal

entity.

Sec. 1280.618 Producer.

The term ``Producer'' means any person, other than a feeder, who

owns or acquires ownership of sheep.

Sec. 1280.619 Public notice.

The term ``Public notice'' means information regarding a referendum

which shall be provided by the Secretary, without advertising expenses,

through press releases and by State and county CES offices and county

CFSA offices, by means of newspapers, electronic media, county

newsletters, and the like. Such notice shall contain the referendum

date and location, registration and voting requirements, rules

regarding absentee voting, and other pertinent information.

Sec. 1280.620 Pulled wool.

The term ``Pulled wool'' means wool that is pulled from the skin of

slaughtered sheep.

Sec. 1280.621 Raw wool.

The term ``Raw wool'' means greasy wool, pulled wool, degreased

wool, or other carbonized wool.

Sec. 1280.622 Referendum.

The term ``Referendum'' means any referendum to be conducted by the

Secretary pursuant to the Act where producers, feeders, and importers

of sheep and sheep products, except an importer of only raw wool, shall

be given the opportunity to vote.

Sec. 1280.623 Registration period.

The term ``Registration period'' means a 1 day period to be

announced by the Secretary for registration of producers, feeders, and

importers desiring to vote in a referendum. The registration period

shall be the same day as the voting period.

Sec. 1280.624 Representative period.

The term ``Representative Period'' means 12 consecutive month of

calendar year 1994.

Sec. 1280.625 Secretary.

The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture of the

United States or any other officer or employee of the Department to

whom there has been delegated or to whom authority may hereafter be

delegated to act in the Secretary's stead.

Sec. 1280.626 Sheep.

The term ``Sheep'' means ovine animals of any age, including lambs.

Sec. 1280.627 Sheep products.

The term ``Sheep products'' means products produced, in whole or in

part, from sheep, including wool and products containing wool fiber.

Sec. 1280.628 State.

The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States.

Sec. 1280.629 Unit.

The term ``Unit'' means each State, group of States, or class

designation that is represented on the Board.

Sec. 1280.630 United States.

The term ``United States'' means the 50 States and the District of

Columbia.

Sec. 1280.631 Volume of production.

The term ``Volume of production'' means the largest number of head

of domestic sheep at least 6 months old or older that a domestic sheep

producer or sheep feeder entity continuously owned and that were

located in the United States during any single consecutive 30-day

period during the representative period. The term ``volume of

production'' also means the number of head of imported live sheep or

the number of live sheep equivalents that an importer imported into the

United States during the representative period, excluding imported raw

wool.

Sec. 1280.632 Voting period.

The term ``Voting period'' means a 1-day period to be announced by

the Secretary for voting in the referendum.

Sec. 1280.633 Wool.

The term ``Wool'' means the fiber from the fleece of a sheep.

Sec. 1280.634 Wool products.

The term ``Wool products'' means products produced, in whole or in

part, from wool and products containing wool fiber.

Referendum

Sec. 1280.650 General.

(a) A referendum to determine whether eligible sheep producers,

sheep feeders, and importers of sheep and sheep products approve the

Order. Importers who only import raw wool are not eligible to vote in

the referendum.

(b) The Order shall become operational only if the Secretary

determines that the Order is approved by a majority of sheep producers,

sheep feeders, and importers of sheep and sheep products voting in the

referendum or by sheep producers, sheep feeders, and importers of sheep

and sheep products voting in the referendum who account for at least

two-thirds of the production represented by those voting in the

referendum.

(c) The initial referendum shall be conducted at the county CES

offices.

(d) The CFSA of the Department shall assist in the conduct of the

initial referendum.

Sec. 1280.651 Supervision of referendum.

The Administrator shall be responsible for conducting the

referendum in accordance with this subpart.

Sec. 1280.652 Eligibility.

(a) Eligibility producers, feeders, and importers. Each person who

was a sheep producer, sheep feeder, or importer of

[[Page 40321]]

sheep and sheep products during the representative period is entitled

to register and vote in the referendum. Each producer, feeder, and

importer entity shall be entitled to cast only one ballot in the

referendum. Importers who only import raw wood are not eligible to

register and vote in the referendum.

(b) Proxy registration and voting. Proxy registration and voting is

not authorized, except that an officer or employee of a corporate

producer, feeder or importer, or any guardian, administrator, executor,

or trustee of a producers, feeder's, or importer's estate, or an

authorized representative of any eligible producer, feeder, or importer

entity (other than an individual producer, feeder, or importer), such

as a corporation or partnership, may register and cast a ballot on

behalf of that entity. Any individual who registers to vote in the

referendum on behalf of any producer, feeder, or importer entity shall

certify that he or she is authorized by such entity to take such

action.

(c) Joint and group interest. A group of individuals, such as

members of a family, joint tenants, tenants in common, a partnership,

owners of community property, or a corporation engaged in sheep

production, sheep feeding or the importation of sheep and sheep

products as a producer, feeder, or importer, entity, shall be entitled

to only one vote, provided, however, that any member of a group may

register to vote as a producer, feeder, or importer if he or she is an

eligible producer, feeder, or importer separate from the group.

Sec. 1280.653 Time and place of registration and voting.

The referendum shall be held for one day on a date to be determined

by the Secretary. Eligible persons shall register and vote following

the procedures in Sec. 1280.656 of this Subpart. Except for absentee

ballots, registration and voting shall take place during the normal

business hours of each county CES office.

Sec. 1280.654 Facilities for registering and voting.

Each county CES office shall provide:

(1) adequate facilities and space to permit producers, feeders, and

importers to register and to mark their ballots in secret,

(2) a sealed box or other suitable receptacle for registration

forms and ballots that is kept under observation during office hours

and secured at all times, and

(3) copies of the Order for review.

Sec. 1280.655 Registration form and ballot.

A ballot (Form LS-61) and combined registration form (Form LS-61-2)

shall be used for voting in person. The information required on the

registration form includes name, address, county of voter residence,

and volume of production. The form also contains the certification

statement referenced in Sec. 1280.656(a)(1) of this Subpart. The ballot

requires producers, feeders and importers to check a ``yes'' or ``no''

and record their volume of production. A combined registration and

voting form (Form LS-62) shall be used for absentee voting. The

information required on the combined registration and voting form

includes name, address, telephone number, and county of voter

residence, and volume of production. The form also contains the

certification statement referenced in Sec. 1280.656(b)(1) of this

Subpart. The ballot requires producers, feeders and importers to check

``yes'' or ``no'' and record their volume of production

Sec. 1280.656 Registration and voting procedures.

(a) Registering and voting in-person.

(1) Each producer, feeder, and importer, except importers who

import only raw wool, who wants to vote in a referendum shall register

on the day of voting at the county CES office in which the producer's,

feeder's, or importer's residence is located, or at the county CES

office that serves the county in which the producer's, feeder's, or

importer's residence is located. Producer, feeder, or importer entities

other than individuals shall register at the county CES office in the

county in which their headquarters office or business is located, or at

the county CES office that serves the county in which the entities'

headquarters office or business is located. Producers, feeders, and

importers will be required to record on the voter registration list

(Form LS-61-3) their names and, if applicable, the name of the entity

they can represent before they receive a registration form and ballot.

To register, producers, feeders, or importers shall complete the

registration form (Form LS-61-2) and certify that:

(i) they or the entity they represent were producers, feeders, or

importers during the specified representative period;

(ii) the person voting on behalf of an entity referred to in

Sec. 1280.652 is authorized to do so; and

(iii) the volume of production listed is a true and accurate

representation.

(2) Each eligible producer, feeder, or importer who has not voted

by means of an absentee ballot may cast a ballot in-person at the

location and time set forth in Sec. 1280.653 of this Subpart and on a

date to be announced by the Secretary. Eligible persons who record

their name and the entity they represent on the voter registration list

(Form LS-61-3) will receive a registration form/envelope (Form LS-61-2)

and a ballot (Form LS-61). Voting shall be conducted under the

supervision of the local county CES agent or designee. Voters would

enter the information requested on the registration form (Form LS-61-2)

as indicated above. Producers, feeders, and importers would then mark

their ballots to indicate ``yes'' or ``no'' and record their volume of

production in the space provided on the ballot. Voters shall place

their completed ballots in an envelope marked SHEEP BALLOT,'' (Form LS-

61-1) seal and place it in the completed and signed registration form/

envelope marked ``SHEEP REFERENDUM,'' (Form LS-61-2) seal that envelope

and personally place it in a box marked ``Ballot Box'' or other

suitable receptacle. A copy of the applicable voter registration list

(Form LS-61-3) prepared by the county CES office shall be provided to

each CFSA county office for in-person voter verification.

(b) Absentee voting.

(1) Eligible producers, feeders, and importers who are unable to

vote in person may request a combined registration and absentee ballot

form (Form LS-62) and two envelopes--one marked ``SHEEP BALLOT'' (Form

LS-61-1) and the other marked ``SHEEP REFERENDUM''(LS-62-1), by mail or

in person from the county CES office in the county in which they reside

or the county CES office that serves the county in which they reside,

if individuals, or in which their main office is located, if a

corporation or other entity. These forms and envelopes will be mailed

by the county CES agent or designee to the address provided by the

prospective voter. Only one absentee registration form and absentee

ballot will be provided to each eligible producer, feeder, or importer.

The forms must be requested during a specified time period which will

be announced by the Secretary. The county CES office shall enter on the

absentee voter request list (Form LS-62-2) the name, address and entity

requesting an absentee ballot and the date the forms were requested. A

copy of the applicable absentee voter request list (Form LS-62-2)

prepared by the county CES office shall be provided to each CFSA county

office for absentee voter verification.

(2) To register, eligible producers, feeders, and importers must

complete and sign the combined registration form

[[Page 40322]]

and absentee ballot (Form LS-62) and certify that:

(i) they or the entity they represent were producers, feeders, or

importers during the specified representative period,

(ii) if voting on behalf of an entity referred to in subsection

Sec. 1280.652, they are authorized to do so; and

(iii) the volume of production listed is a true and accurate

representation.

(3) A producer, feeder, or importer, after completing the absentee

voter registration form and the ballot, shall remove the ballot portion

of the combined registration and absentee ballot form (Form LS-62) and

seal the completed ballot in a separate envelope marked ``SHEEP

BALLOT'' (Form LS-61-1) and place the sealed envelope in a second

envelope marked ``SHEEP REFERENDUM'' (Form LS-62-1) along with the

signed registration form.

Producers, feeders, and importers shall legibly print their names

on the envelope marked ``SHEEP REFERENDUM'' (Form LS-62-1), and mail or

hand deliver it to the local county CES office of the county in which

they reside or the county CES office serving the county in which they

reside. In the case of a partnership, corporation, estate, or other

entity, the registration form and ballot must be mailed or hand

delivered to the county CES office in the county in which its main

office is located or the county CES office in the county serving the

county in which its main office is located.

(4) Absentee ballots must be received in the county CES office by

the close of business, 2 business days before the date of the

referendum. Absentee ballots received after that date shall be counted

as invalid ballots. Upon receiving the ``SHEEP REFERENDUM'' envelope

containing the registration form and ballot, the county CES agent or

designee shall place it, unopened, in a secure ballot box. The county

CES agent or designee shall record receipt of the absentee vote on the

absentee voter request list (Form LS-62-2).

(5) A person who casts an absentee ballot that is not recorded as

being received or that is received after the deadline specified in this

section may vote in person at the appropriate county CES office on the

day of the referendum.

Sec. 1280.657 List of registered voters.

The voter registration list (Form LS-61-3) and the absentee voter

request list (Form LS-62-2) shall be available for inspection on the

day of the referendum at the county CES office and subsequently at the

CFSA county office. They shall be posted during regular office hours in

a conspicuous public location at the CFSA county office on the second

business day following the date of the referendum.

Sec. 1280.658 Challenge of voters.

(a) Challenge period. On the day of the referendum, the names of

voters challenged shall be reported to the CES county agent, who will

refer them to the CFSA county office. After that, the names of the

challenged voters shall be referred directly to the CFSA county office.

A challenge may be made no later than the close of business on the

second business day after the date of the referendum.

(b) Who may challenge. Any person may challenge a voter. Any person

who wants to challenge must do so in writing and must include the full

name of the individual or other entity being challenged. Each challenge

of a voter must be made separately and each challenge must be signed by

the challenger. The Secretary may issue other guidelines as the

Secretary deems necessary.

(c) Determination of challenges. The CFSA County Committee or its

representative, acting on behalf of the Administrator, shall make a

determination concerning the challenge and shall notify challenged

producers, feeders, or importers as soon as practicable, but no later

than five business days after the date of the referendum. If the CFSA

County Committee or its representative, acting on behalf of the

Administrator, is unable to determine whether a person was a producer,

feeder, or importer during the representative period, or verify a

voter's recorded volume of production, it may require the person to

submit records such as sales documents, import documents or other

similar documents to prove that the person was a producer, feeder, or

importer for the representative period and to verify that the recorded

volume of production was accurately stated.

(d) Challenged ballot. The registration form/envelope (Form LS-61-

2) containing the ballots cast by producers, feeders, or importers

voting in person who are challenged shall be removed from the ballot

box and placed in a separate box until the challenge has been resolved.

The SHEEP REFERENDUM envelopes (Form LS-62-1) containing absentee voter

registration forms and absentee ballots of challenged absentee voters

also shall be removed from the ballot box and placed in the box

containing ballots of challenged producers, feeders, and importers. A

challenge to a ballot shall be deemed to have been resolved if the

determination of the CFSA County Committee or its representative is not

appealed within the time allowed for appeal or there has been a

determination by CFSA after an appeal.

(e) Appeal. A person declared to be ineligible to register and vote

or whose recorded volume of production has been questioned by the CFSA

County Committee or its representative, acting on behalf of the

Administrator, may file an appeal at the CFSA county office within

three business days after notification of such decision. Such person

may be required to provide documentation such as sales documents,

import documents, or similar documents in order to demonstrate his or

her eligibility or verify the recorded volume of production. An appeal

shall be determined by the CFSA County Committee as soon as

practicable, but in all cases not later than the ninth business day

after the date of the referendum. The CFSA County Committee's

determination on an appeal is final.

Sec. 1280.659 Receiving ballots.

A ballot shall be considered to have been received during the

voting period if:

(a) it was cast in person in the county CES office prior to the

close of business on the day of the referendum; or

(b) it was cast as an absentee ballot, and was received in the

county CES office not later than the close of business within two

business days before the date of the referendum.

Sec. 1280.660 Canvassing ballots.

(a) Counting the ballots. The county CES agent or designee shall

deliver the sealed ballot box, the voter registration list (Form LS-61-

3) and the absentee voter request list (Form LS-62-2) to the CFSA

county office by the close of business on the first business day

following the date of the referendum. CFSA county Executive Director

and the county CES agent or designee shall check the registration forms

and ballots for all voters against the voter registration list (Form

LS-61-3) and the absentee voter request list (Form LS-62-2) to

determine properly registered voters. The ballots of producers,

feeders, and importers voting in person whose names are not on the

voter registration list (Form LS-61-3), shall be declared invalid.

Likewise, the ballots of producers, feeders, and importers voting

absentee whose names are not on the absentee voter request list (Form

LS-62-2) shall be declared invalid. All ballots of challenged voters

declared ineligible or invalid shall be kept separate from the other

ballots and the envelopes

[[Page 40323]]

containing these ballots shall not be opened. The valid ballots shall

be counted on the tenth business day after the referendum date. CFSA

county office employees shall remove the sealed ``SHEEP BALLOT''

envelope from the registration form/envelopes or absentee ballot

envelopes of all eligible voters and all challenged voters determined

to be eligible. After removing all ``Sheep Ballot'' envelopes, CFSA

county employees shall open them and count the ballots. The ballots

shall be counted as follows:

(1) Number of eligible producers, feeders, and importers casting

valid ballots;

(2) number of producers, feeders and importers favoring the Order;

(3) number of producers, feeders and importers not approving the

Order;

(4) volume of production recorded by producers, feeders and

importers approving the Order;

(5) volume of production of producers, feeders and importers not

approving the Order;

(6) number of challenged ballots;

(7) number of challenged ballots deemed ineligible;

(8) number of invalid ballots; and

(9) number of spoiled ballots.

(b) Invalid Ballots. Ballots shall be declared invalid if a

producer, feeder, or importer voting in-person has failed to sign the

voter registration list (Form LS-61-3) or an absentee voter's name is

not recorded on the absentee voter request list (Form LS-62-2), or the

registration form or ballot was incomplete or incorrectly completed.

(c) Spoiled Ballots. Ballots shall be considered spoiled if they

are mutilated or marked in such a way that either the voter's volume of

production or the ``yes'' or ``no'' vote is illegible. Spoiled ballots

shall not be considered as approving or disapproving the Order, or as a

ballot cast in the referendum.

(d) Confidentiality. All ballots shall be confidential and the

contents of the ballots shall not be divulged except as the Secretary

may direct. The public may witness the opening of the ballot box and

the counting of the votes but may not interfere with the process.

Sec. 1280.661 CFSA county office report.

The CFSA county office shall notify the CFSA State office of the

results of the referendum. Each CFSA county office shall transmit the

results of the referendum in its county to the CFSA State office. Such

report shall include the information listed in Sec. 1280.660(a) of this

Subpart. The results of the referendum in each county may be made

available to the public. A copy of the report of results shall be

posted for thirty days in the CFSA county office in a conspicuous place

accessible to the public, and a copy shall be kept on file in the CFSA

county office for a period of at least twelve months after the

referendum.

Sec. 1280.662 CFSA State office report.

Each CFSA State office shall transmit to the Deputy Administrator,

CFSA, a written summary of the results of the referendum received from

all the CFSA county offices within the State. The summary shall include

the information on the referendum results contained in the reports from

all county offices within each State, and shall be certified by the

CFSA State Executive Director. The CFSA State office shall maintain a

copy of the summary where it shall be available for public inspection

for a period of not less than 12 months.

Sec. 1280.663 Results of the referendum.

(a) The Deputy Administrator, CFSA, shall submit the results of the

referendum to the Administrator. The Administrator shall prepare and

submit to the Secretary a report of the results of the referendum. The

results of any referendum shall be issued by the Department in an

official press release and published in the Federal Register. State

reports and related papers shall be available for public inspection in

the office of the Marketing Programs Branch, Livestock and Seed

Division, AMS, USDA, Room 2606, South Agriculture Building, 14th and

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C.

(b) If the Secretary deems it necessary, the report of any State or

county shall be re-examined and checked by such persons as may be

designated by the Deputy Administrator, CFSA, or the Secretary.

Sec. 1280.664 Disposition of ballots and records.

Each CFSA county Executive Director shall place in sealed

containers marked with the identification of the referendum the voter

registration list, absentee voter request list, voted ballots,

challenged registration forms/envelopes, challenged absentee voter

registration forms, challenged ballots found to be ineligible, invalid

ballots, spoiled ballots, and county summaries. Such records shall be

placed under lock in a safe place under the custody of the CFSA county

Executive Director for a period of not less than twelve months after

the referendum. If no notice to the contrary is received from the

Deputy Administrator, CFSA, by the end of such time, the records shall

be destroyed.

Sec. 1280.665 Instructions and forms.

The Administrator is hereby authorized to prescribe additional

instructions and forms not inconsistent with the provisions of this

subpart to govern the conduct of the referendum.

Dated: August 3, 1995.

Lon Hatamiya,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 95-19605 Filed 8-7-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-M