[Federal Register: January 22, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 14)]
[Notices]
[Page 3008]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22ja03-29]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Public Hearing on New Entrant's 2003 Crop Cane Sugar Marketing
Allotment
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) will hold a public
hearing to receive comments on providing an allocation to a new entrant
processor and allotment to a new entrant State and possible impacts on
existing cane processors and producers. CCC will also receive comments
on the evidence CCC should require from a new entrant to demonstrate
eligibility for a marketing allocation.
DATES: The public hearing will be held January 29, 2003, in the
Jefferson Auditorium of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) South
Building, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC. The hearing will
start at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
ADDRESSES: Barbara Fecso, Dairy and Sweeteners Analysis Group, Economic
Policy and Analysis Staff, Farm Service Agency, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW, STOP 0516, Washington, DC 20250B0516; telephone (202)
720B4146; FAX (202) 690B1480; e-mail: barbara.fecso@usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Fecso at (202) 720-4146.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA will hold a public hearing as requested
by sugarcane producers and processors regarding the application of the
Arizona Sugar Factory, L.L.C., for a cane sugar marketing allocation
for the 2003 crop year. The Arizona Sugar Factory is requesting a 2003-
crop year allocation of 10,000 short tons, raw value, and an increase
to 50,000 short tons, raw value, for the 2005 crop. The new processor
will be located in California, a State that currently has no allotment
(i.e., a new entrant State).
Section 359d(b)(1)(E) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938,
as amended, authorizes CCC to provide a sugarcane processor, who begins
processing after May 13, 2002, an allocation that provides a fair,
efficient, and equitable distribution of the allocations from the
allotment for the State in which the processor is located. To make an
allocation to a processor in California, the Secretary will have to
provide California with an allotment. CCC considers the adverse effects
on existing cane processors and producers when determining whether a
new entrant processor allocation and new entrant State allotment are
warranted. Also, prior to the promulgation of the 2003-crop marketing
allotments, the Arizona Sugar Factory must provide satisfactory
evidence that it has a viable processing facility, an adequate
sugarcane supply, and a market for the cane sugar product. If approved,
the new California allotment will be subtracted, on a pro rata basis,
from the allotments otherwise provided to each mainland State when the
2003 crop allotments are determined by USDA.
CCC will use this forum to collect comments on (1) any adverse
effects that the provisions of an allocation to the Arizona Sugar
Factory, L.L.C., and an allotment to California may have on existing
cane processors and producers, and (2) the evidence CCC should require
from a new entrant to demonstrate the ability to process, produce, and
market raw cane sugar. Attendance is open to interested parties.
The hearing will be held on January 29, 2003, from 10:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. EST in the Jefferson Auditorium of USDA South Building, 1400
Independence Ave., Washington, DC.
Anyone wishing to make an oral statement may do so, time
permitting. Comments will be limited to 5 minutes. A signup sheet for
oral statements will be available at the entrance of the Jefferson
Auditorium one hour before the hearing begins. Oral statements will be
made in the order the request was received. Anyone wishing to make a
written statement in lieu of an oral statement should send their
statement to Barbara Fecso, Dairy and Sweeteners Analysis Group,
Economic Policy and Analysis Staff, Farm Service Agency, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0516, Washington, DC 20250'0516;
Telephone: (202) 720'4146; Fax: (202) 690'1480; e-mail:
barbara.fecso@usda.gov. Statements must be received by close of
business on January 29, 2003.
Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations to
attend or participate in the meeting should contact Barbara Fecso.
Signed in Washington, DC on January 10, 2003.
James R. Little,
Executive Vice President, , Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 03-1340 Filed 1-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P