Agriculture Department publishes rule on April 12

The US Agriculture Department published a four page rule on April 12, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.

The rule is focused on Hazelnuts Grown in Oregon and Washington; Establishment of Interim Final and Final Free and Restricted Percentages for the 2003-2004 Marketing Year.

The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.

Notices are required documents detailing rules and regulations being proposed by each federal department. This allows the public to see what issues legislators and federal departments are focusing on.

Any person or organization can comment on the proposed rules. Departments and agencies must then address “significant issues raised in comments and discuss any changes made,” the Federal Register says.

Notices published by the Agriculture Department on April 12

Title
Proposed Data Collection, Reporting, and Recordkeeping Requirements Applicable to Cranberries Not Subject to the Cranberry Marketing Order
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida; Relaxing Limits on the Volume of Small Red Seedless Grapefruit
Hazelnuts Grown in Oregon and Washington; Establishment of Interim Final and Final Free and Restricted Percentages for the 2003-2004 Marketing Year
Big Butte Springs Timber Sales, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Jackson County, OR
Availability of Appealable Decisions
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Information Collection for the Summer Food Service Program
Milk in the Mideast Marketing Area; Decision on Proposed Amendments to Marketing Agreement and to Order