Proposed Olive Oil Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Reopening of Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1217

[Docket No. FV-99-703-PR1]

Proposed Olive Oil Promotion, Research, and Information Order;

Reopening of Comment Period

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reopening of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the proposed

Olive Oil Promotion, Research, and Information Order is reopened until

December 3, 1999.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 3, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments

concerning this proposed rule to the Docket Clerk, Research and

Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing

Service, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 2535 South Building, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20250-0244. Comments should be submitted

in triplicate and will be made available for public inspection at the

above address during regular business hours. Comments may also be

submitted electronically to: [email protected]. All comments

should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this

issue of the Federal Register. A copy of this rule may be found at:

www.ams.usda.gov/fv/rpdocketlist.htm. Pursuant to the Paperwork

Reduction Act (PRA), send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden

estimate, ways to minimize the burden, including the use of automated

collection techniques or other forms of information technology, or any

other aspect of this collection of information to the above address.

Comments concerning the information collection under the PRA should

also be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information

and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC

20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Oliver L. Flake, Research and

Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244,

1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2535 South Building, Washington, DC

20250-0244; telephone (202) 720-9915 or fax (202) 205-2800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was published in the Federal

Register (64 FR 46754; August 26, 1999). The proposed rule contains the

proposal submitted by the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA).

Prior to submitting its proposal, the NAOOA had coordinated a task

force consisting of the NAOOA, the California Olive Oil Council, the

Texas Olive Oil Council, and other companies involved in the olive oil

business.

Under the proposed Order, first handlers and importers would pay an

assessment to the proposed Olive Oil Council (Council). Assessments

collected under the program, at the rate of $0.01 per pound, are

expected to generate between $3 million and $4 million annually. The

Council would use the assessments collected to conduct a promotion,

research, and information program to maintain, develop, and expand

markets for olive oil. The comment period ended October 25, 1999.

On October 22, the Task Force Coordinator requested that additional

time be provided for interested persons to comment on the proposed

rule. The task force coordinator stated that discussions are still

taking place among industry participants and that allowing additional

discussion will help to ensure that the process allows all parties to

participate.

After reviewing the situation, and in accordance with the task

force request, the Department is reopening the comment period for 30

additional days. This will provide interested persons a total of 90

days to review the proposed rule, perform a more complete analysis, and

submit any written comments.

This delay should not substantially add to the time required to

complete this rulemaking action. Accordingly, the period in which to

file written comments is reopened until December 3, 1999. This notice

is issued pursuant to the Commodity Promotion, Research, and

Information Act of 1996, 7 U.S.C. 7401-7425; Public Law 104-127,

enacted April 4, 1996.

Dated: October 27, 1999.

Eric M. Forman,

Acting Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetgable Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-28832 Filed 11-1-99; 8:51 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P