Milk in the New England and Other Marketing Areas; Extension of Time to File Written Comments on the Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 1000, 1001, 1002, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1012, 1013,

1030, 1032, 1033, 1036, 1040, 1044, 1046, 1049, 1050, 1064, 1065,

1068, 1076, 1079, 1106, 1124, 1126, 1131, 1134, 1135, 1137, 1138

and 1139

[DA-97-12]

RIN 0581-AB49

Milk in the New England and Other Marketing Areas; Extension of

Time to File Written Comments on the Proposed Rule

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7 CFR part Marketing area

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1000.............................. General Provisions of Federal Milk

Marketing Orders.

1001.............................. New England.

1002.............................. New York-New Jersey.

1004.............................. Middle Atlantic.

1005.............................. Carolina.

1006.............................. Upper Florida.

1007.............................. Southeast.

1012.............................. Tampa Bay.

1013.............................. Southeastern Florida.

1030.............................. Chicago Regional.

1032.............................. Southern Illinois-Eastern Missouri.

1033.............................. Ohio Valley.

1036.............................. Eastern Ohio-Western Pennsylvania.

1040.............................. Southern Michigan.

1044.............................. Michigan Upper Peninsula.

1046.............................. Louisville-Lexington-Evansville.

1049.............................. Indiana.

1050.............................. Central Illinois.

1064.............................. Greater Kansas City.

1065.............................. Nebraska-Western Iowa.

1068.............................. Upper Midwest.

1076.............................. Eastern South Dakota.

1079.............................. Iowa.

1106.............................. Southwest Plains.

1124.............................. Pacific Northwest.

1126.............................. Texas.

1131.............................. Central Arizona.

1134.............................. Western Colorado.

1135.............................. Southwestern Idaho-Eastern Oregon.

1137.............................. Eastern Colorado.

1138.............................. New Mexico-West Texas.

1139.............................. Great Basin.

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AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of time for filing comments to proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This notice extends the public comment period on the Federal

milk order reform proposed rule from March 31, 1998, to April 30, 1998.

Several interested parties, both producers and processors, requested

the additional time to complete written comments on the Federal order

reform proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on

January 30, 1998. In addition, this notice announces four listening

sessions scheduled for March 30 and March 31, 1998. The listening

sessions are intended to provide an opportunity for USDA to obtain

further public comments on the proposed rule.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments (two copies) should be submitted to Richard M.

McKee, Deputy Administrator, Dairy programs, USDA/AMS, Room 2968, South

Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456. Comments also may

be sent by fax to (202) 690-3410. Additionally, comments may be

submitted via E-mail to: Milk__Order__R[email protected].

All comments should be identified with the docket number DA-97-12.

To facilitate the review process, please state the particular topic(s)

addressed, from the following list, at the beginning of the comment:

consolidation, basic formula price, Class I price structure, other

class prices, classification, provisions applicable to all orders,

regional issues (please specify: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest,

Western), and miscellaneous and administrative. If comments submitted

pertain to a specific order, please identify such order.

Comments are also being requested on the Executive Order 12866

analysis, the Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis, and the Paperwork

Reduction Act analysis.

Additionally, comments may be sent via E-mail to: Milk __Order__

R[email protected].

All comments submitted in response to this proposal will be

available for public inspection at the USDA/AMS/Diary Programs, Order

Formulation Branch, Room 2968, South Building, 14th and Independence

Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C., during normal business hours (7 CFR

1.27(b)). All persons wanting to view the comments are requested to

make an appointment in advance by calling Richard M. McKee at (202)

720-4392.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John F. Borovies, Branch Chief, USDA/

AMS/Diary Programs, Order Formulation Branch, Room 2971, South

Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456, (202) 720-6274.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior documents in this proceeding:

Proposed Rule: Issued January 21, 1998; published January 30, 1998

(63 FR 4802).

Preliminary Statement

Notice is hereby given that the time for filing written comments on

the proposed rule issued on January 21, 1998, with respect to proposed

amendments to the tentative marketing agreements and the orders

regulating the handling of milk in the New England and other marketing

areas is hereby extended from March 31 to April 30, 1998. Several

interested parties, both producers and processors, requested the

additional time to complete written comments on the Federal order

reform proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on

January 30, 1998.

In addition, to extending the time for filing written comments,

four public listening sessions will be held to obtain further input on

the proposed rule. Each listening session will be held from 9:00 a.m.

to 5:00 p.m., and the sessions are scheduled as follows:

Monday, March 30

Four Points Hotel Syracuse, 441 Electronics Parkway, Liverpool, New

York 13088, (315) 457-1122, Contact Person: Jane Hart, (518) 452-4410.

Crowne Plaza Atlanta Airport, 1325 Virginia Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia,

(404) 768-6660, Contact Person: Sue L. Mosley, (770) 448-1194.

Hyatt Regency DFW, West Tower, Inside Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, DFW

Airport, Texas 75261-9014, (972) 453-1234, Contact Persons: Cary Hunter

or Cindy Taylor, (972) 245-6060.

Tuesday, March 31

Radisson Inn, 2040 Airport Drive, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54313, (920)

494-7300. Contact Person: Rachel Benecke, (630) 810-9999 ext. 146.

[[Page 12418]]

To facilitate participation in the listening sessions, individuals

wishing to present oral comments should call the designated contact

person for each location to schedule an appearance. Dependent upon the

number of individuals wishing to participate, oral comments may be

limited. All information presented at the listening sessions will be

recorded and included in the public record of the comments on the

proposed rule.

This notice is issued pursuant to the provisions of the

Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-

674), and the applicable rules of practice and procedure governing the

formulation of marketing agreements and marketing orders (7 CFR Part

900).

Dated: March 10, 1998.

Enrique F. Figueroa,

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.

[FR Doc. 98-6583 Filed 3-12-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-M