[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35065-35067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16674]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 125 / Monday, June 30, 1997 / Rules
and Regulations
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NORTHEAST DAIRY COMPACT COMMISSION
7 CFR Part 1381
Handler Petition Procedure; Interim Procedural Rule
AGENCY: Northeast Dairy Compact Commission.
ACTION: Interim procedural rule.
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SUMMARY: This interim procedural rule implements section 16(b) of the
Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact by establishing the procedures by
which a milk handler subject to a Compact Over-order price regulation,
or other regulatory action of the Northeast Dairy Compact Commission,
may petition the Commission for administrative relief.
DATES: Effective date: July 1, 1997.
Comments on this interim procedural rule may be filed with the
Commission by July 30, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Northeast Dairy Compact Commission, 43 State Street, P.O.
Box 1058, Montpelier, VT 05601.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Smith, Executive Director,
Northeast Dairy Compact Commission at the above address or by telephone
at (802) 229-1941, or by facsimile at (802) 229-2028.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Northeast Dairy Compact Commission (the ``Commission'') was
established under authority of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact
(``Compact''). The Compact was enacted into law by each of the six
participating New England states as follows: Connecticut--Pub. L. 93-
320; Maine-- Pub. L. 89-437, as amended, Pub. L. 93-274;
Massachusetts--Pub. L. 93-370; New Hampshire--Pub. L. 93-336; Rhode
Island--Pub. L. 93-106; Vermont--Pub. L. 89-95, as amended, 93-57. In
accordance with Article I, Section 10 of the United States
Constitution, Congress consented to the Compact in Pub. L. 104-127
(FAIR ACT), Section 147, codified at 7 U.S.C. 7256. Subsequently, the
United States Secretary of Agriculture, pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 7256(1),
authorized implementation of the Compact.
Pursuant to its authority under Article V, Section 11 of the
Compact, the Commission conducted an informal rulemaking proceeding to
decide whether to adopt a Compact Over-order price regulation. See 62
FR 23032 (Apr. 28, 1997) (proposed rule). The Commission subsequently
adopted a Compact Over-order price regulation, effective July 1, 1997.
See 62 FR 29626 (May 30, 1997). Pursuant to Sections 12 and 13 of the
Compact, the Commission conducted a producer referendum, which was
approved. See 62 FR 29646 (May 30, 1997).
Article VI, section 16(b) of the Compact establishes the right of a
milk handler to petition the Commission for administrative relief from
operation of any regulatory order of the Commission. It provides that:
[a]ny handler subject to an order may file a written petition with
the commission stating that any such order or any provision of any
such order or any obligation imposed in connection therewith is not
in accordance with law and praying for a modification thereof or to
be exempted therefrom. He shall thereupon be given an opportunity
for a hearing upon such petition, in accordance with regulations
made by the commission. After such hearing, the commission shall
make a ruling upon the prayer of such petition, which shall be
final, if in accordance with law.
Compact, Art. VI, section 16(b).
Accordingly, this interim procedural rule establishes the
Commission's regulations for the conduct of such petition proceedings.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1381
Milk.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Commission adds a
new part 1381 to 7 CFR chapter XIII to read as follows:
PART 1381--RULES OF PRACTICE GOVERNING PROCEEDINGS ON PETITIONS TO
MODIFY OR TO BE EXEMPTED FROM COMPACT OVER-ORDER PRICE REGULATIONS.
Sec.
1381.1 Definitions.
1381.2 Institution of proceedings.
1381.3 Contents of petition.
1381.4 Conduct of proceedings.
1381.5 Judicial appeal; escrow
Authority: U.S.C. 7256.
Sec. 1381.1 Definitions.
As used in this part, the terms defined in Article II, section 2 of
the Compact shall apply with equal force and effect. In addition,
unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Administrative assessment shall include the assessment imposed
upon Handlers under 7 CFR 1308.1 for their pro rata share of the
expense of administering a Compact pricing regulation, as announced
each month by the Federal Order #1 Market Administrator and authorized
under 7 U.S.C. 7256.
(b) Chair shall mean the Chair of the Northeast Dairy Compact
Commission.
(c) Handler shall mean any person subject to a Compact Over-order
price regulation or administrative assessment, or to whom a Compact
Over-order price or administrative assessment is sought to be made
applicable.
(d) Compact Over-order price regulation shall mean the prices
regulated under the provisions of 7 CFR parts 1300, 1301, 1303-1307, as
announced each month by the Federal Order #1 Market Administrator and
authorized under 7 U.S.C. 7256.
(e) Order shall include a Compact Over-order price regulation.
Sec. 1381.2 Institution of Proceedings.
Any handler desiring to complain that any order, Compact over-order
price, or administrative assessment, or any provision of such order or
assessment, or any obligation imposed in connection therewith is not in
accordance with law shall file with the Commission a petition in
writing, along with 5 copies of the same.
Sec. 1381.3 Contents of petition.
A petition shall contain:
(a) The correct name, address, and principal place of business of
the petitioner. If petitioner is a corporation, such fact shall be
stated, together with
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the name of the State of incorporation, the date of incorporation, and
the names, addresses, and respective positions, held by its officers;
if an unincorporated association, the names and addresses of its
officers, and the respective positions held by them; if a partnership,
the name and address of each partner.
(b) Reference to the specific terms or provisions of the
regulation, order, or notice of administrative assessment, or the
interpretation or application thereof, which are complained of.
(c) A full statement of the facts (avoiding a mere repetition of
detailed evidence) upon which the petition is based, setting forth
clearly and concisely the nature of the petitioner's business and the
manner in which petitioner claims to be affected by the terms or
provisions of the regulation, order or administrative assessment, or
the interpretation or applications thereof, which are complained of.
(d) A statement of the grounds on which the terms or provisions of
the regulation, order, or administrative assessment or the
interpretation or application thereof, which are complained of are
challenged as not being in accordance with law.
(e) Any prayer for specific relief which the petitioner desires the
Commission to grant;
(f) An affidavit by the petitioner, or if the petitioner, or if the
petitioner is not an individual by an officer of the petitioner having
knowledge of the facts stated in the petition, verifying the petition
and stating that it is filed in good faith and not for the purposes of
the delay. The affidavit may include a request for an oral hearing on
the petition. Such request shall set forth specific grounds
demonstrating the need for such a hearing.
(g) Any additional affidavit evidence supporting the petition.
(h) Petitioner's prayer for relief must include either payment of
all sums due, or a request that payments due or payable during the
pendency of the administrative appeal (or longer, see Sec. 1381.5(b)),
be placed in an escrow account established by the Commission. If a
request for escrow is made, petitioner may make payment into a
Commission escrow account established while the Commission rules upon
its request in accordance with Sec. 1381.4(b)(5). Any petitioner who
refuses to make payment during this period shall be liable for payment
of interest on such withheld funds, at the federal statutory rate set
forth in 28 U.S.C. 1961, plus such additional penalties as are
appropriate under Article VI, section 17 of the Compact.
Sec. 1381.4 Conduct of proceedings.
(a) Appointment of Commission hearing panel. Upon receipt of a
petition, the Chair shall appoint from one to three Commission members
who shall consider the petition. For panels greater than one member,
the Chair shall designate a chief hearing officer. The Commission panel
chosen by the Chair shall consist of Commission members who are not
members of the state delegation in which the Handler is incorporated or
has its principal place of business, who have no pecuniary interest in
the outcome, and who are otherwise fair and impartial.
(b) Preliminary matters. The panel shall meet within 15 days of
their appointment to determine whether to:
(1) Limit the taking of evidence to affidavits, and thereby make
their decision solely on the basis of the record before them without an
oral hearing. In making this determination, the panel shall consider:
(i) The nature of the petition before them;
(ii) The nature of any facts in dispute that may necessitate an
oral hearing; and
(iii) Whether the petitioner will be unduly prejudiced by limiting
the taking of evidence to affidavits without benefit of an oral
hearing.
(2) Require the production by affidavit or additional information,
documents, reports, answers, records, accounts, papers or other data
and documentary evidence necessary to the proper resolution of the
matter.
(3) Compel the production of documentary evidence by subpoena
throughout all signatory states pursuant to section 16(a) of the
Compact.
(4) Consolidate two or more petitions pertaining to the same order
or issue and the evidence relied upon under such consolidated
proceeding may be embodied in a single decision.
(5) Grant or deny petitioner's request for the establishment of an
escrow account, if such request has been made. The panel shall deny
such a request only if it has otherwise ensured adequate protection to
the handler with respect to the payments of sums due and challenged in
the petition.
(c) The panel shall promptly notify petitioner by certified mail of
the results of its deliberations under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
section. The panel's notice shall include a concise statement of the
basis for its decisions under those paragraphs. The notice shall
include a time and place for an oral hearing, if any, and the deadline
for the submission of any additional information required by the panel.
The notice shall also set forth the date by which the panel will issue
its proposed findings of fact, conclusions and decision, as computed
under paragraph (g) of this section. If a request has been made for the
establishment of an escrow account and such request has been granted,
the notice shall also include a procedure for the making of escrow
payments. If such request is denied, any payments made and held in
escrow may be released for disbursement by the Commission.
(d) The panel may take official notice of such matters as are
judicially noticed by the courts of the United States and of any other
matter of technical, scientific or commercial fact of established
character: Provided, That interested parties shall be given adequate
notice of matters so noticed and shall be given adequate opportunity to
show that such facts are inaccurate or are erroneously noticed.
(e) The panel shall:
(1) Exclude, insofar as practicable, evidence which is immaterial,
irrelevant or unduly repetitious: Provided, That interested parties
shall be given adequate notice of such exclusion and an opportunity to
show that such evidence has been erroneously excluded.
(2) Not discuss ex parte the merits of the proceeding with any
person who is or who has been connected in any manner with the
proceeding.
(f) Oral Hearing.
(1) Any oral hearing shall be conducted at a time and place
determined by the panel.
(2) Testimony presented at the hearing shall be:
(i) Upon oath or affirmation administered by the panel and subject
to reasonable cross examination; and
(ii) Reported verbatim.
(3) As part of the hearing, the panel may require the appearance of
any witness, or the production of additional information, documents,
reports, answers, records, accounts, papers, and other data and
documentary evidence necessary to the proper resolution of the matter.
(4) If appropriate, the panel shall compel the appearance of
witnesses, the giving of testimony or the production of documentary
evidence by subpoena throughout all signatory states pursuant to
section 16(a) of the Compact.
(5) The panel shall exclude evidence which is immaterial,
irrelevant, or unduly repetitious.
(6) The panel shall rule on offers of proof and otherwise
reasonably regulate the course of the hearing.
(g) Proposed findings of fact, conclusions and decision.
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(1) Within 45 days of the panel's appointment, or, in the event an
oral hearing is held, within 60 days, the panel shall issue proposed
findings of fact, conclusions and a decision based upon the evidence in
the record. The proposed findings, conclusions and decision shall be
served upon the petitioner by certified mail.
(2) Petitioner may submit a response to the panel's proposed
findings of fact, conclusions and decision, along with supporting
reasons. Such response shall be received by the Commission within 20
days of petitioner's receipt of the panel's proposed findings,
conclusions and decision.
(3) The panel may modify, alter or amend its proposed findings,
conclusions and decision in accordance with petitioner's response, as
it deems appropriate.
(h) Final ruling by the Commission.
(1) Unless the panel so notifies the Commission of the need for an
extension of time, at its first regularly scheduled meeting following
the deadline for the receipt of petitioner's response to the panel's
proposed findings, conclusions and decision, the Commission shall make
a final ruling upon the petition. The Commission's determination shall
be based upon the panel's final or modified proposed findings,
conclusions and decision. The Commission shall also consider the
petitioner's response to the panel's original proposed findings,
conclusion and decision. The record shall also be available for review
by the Commission.
(2) The Commission's final ruling shall be served by certified mail
upon the petitioner and be filed in the Commission offices, and be made
available for public inspection and copying in accordance with the
bylaws.
(3) Any commissioner shall (on either the Commissioner's own motion
or on motion of the petitioner) disqualify himself or herself from
consideration of the Commission's final ruling on the panel's decision
if that commissioner's impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
Sec. 1381.5 Judicial appeal; escrow.
(a) As set forth in section 16(c) of the Compact, as approved by 7
U.S.C. 7256, the district courts of the United States, in any district
in which a handler is an inhabitant or has his principal place of
business, have jurisdiction to review a final ruling of the Commission
made pursuant to Sec. 1381.4(h), provided that a complaint is filed
within thirty days from the date of the entry of that final ruling.
(b) A petitioner who has been granted the establishment of an
escrow account as part of the administrative proceeding and who has
timely appealed may request that its payments be placed into escrow
pending the appeal. Upon such a request, the Commission shall hold the
money in escrow until the date that a timely judicial complaint is
filed plus a period of ten days. The Commission may also, for good
cause shown, continue to hold the money placed in escrow pending the
ultimate resolution of any appeal, or for such other period as the
Commission may establish.
Daniel Smith,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 97-16674 Filed 6-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1650-01-P