# Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information Program: Procedures for the Conduct of Referendum > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A95-19605 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Proposed Rule - **Published:** August 8, 1995 - **Citation:** 60 FR 40313 ## Text 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 6201122010......................... 0.0611 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 6201912011......................... 0.9554 6201912021......................... 0.9554 6201932511......................... 0.5374 6201932521......................... 0.5374 6201990021......................... 0.5374 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 6204193050......................... 0.5435 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 6204392010......................... 0.4831 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 6204610010......................... 0.9243 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 6204699020......................... 0.5199 6204699030......................... 0.1733 6204699050......................... 0.1733 6205101000......................... 1.1554 6205102010......................... 0.9243 6205102020......................... 0.9243 6205301510......................... 0.4621 6205301520......................... 0.4621 6205902020......................... 0.5777 6205902050......................... 0.0578 6205904020......................... 0.5777 6205904040......................... 0.1155 6206100020......................... 0.5777 6206100050......................... 0.0578 6206201000......................... 1.1554 6206202010......................... 0.6932 6206202020......................... 0.6932 6206203010......................... 0.9243 6206203020......................... 0.9243 6206402510......................... 0.5199 6206402520......................... 0.5199 6206900020......................... 0.5199 6206900030......................... 0.1733 6207290010......................... 0.8572 6207922010......................... 0.5315 6207992000......................... 0.8267 6207994000......................... 0.8267 6208290012......................... 0.9243 6208920010......................... 0.0591 6208920020......................... 0.0591 6208920030......................... 0.0591 6208920040......................... 0.0591 6208992010......................... 0.9448 6208992020......................... 0.9448 6209100000......................... 0.7915 6211202020......................... 0.8455 6211203020......................... 0.8455 6211204030......................... 0.8455 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 6214102000......................... 0.3357 6214200000......................... 0.8951 6214300000......................... 0.1119 6214400000......................... 0.1119 6214900010......................... 0.5559 6215900010......................... 1.1189 6216005410......................... 0.5035 6216005810......................... 0.5035 6216008000......................... 1.1189 6217100020......................... 0.8267 6217100030......................... 0.1181 6217900005......................... 0.8267 6217900010......................... 0.1181 6217900030......................... 0.8267 6217900035......................... 0.1181 6217900055......................... 0.8267 6217900060......................... 0.1181 6217900080......................... 0.8267 6217900085......................... 0.1181 6301200010......................... 0.9219 6301200020......................... 0.9219 6301900030......................... 0.1085 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 --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A95-19605. Public record. Not legal advice.