Unknown. Final rule

4,459 words·~20 min read·/register/2026/03/10/2026-04694·

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

--- schema: federal-register doc_type: fedreg source_file: FR-2026-03-10.xml --- 91 46 Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Contents Agricultural Marketing Agricultural Marketing Service RULES Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order, 11441-11443 2026-04694 Agriculture Agriculture Department See Agricultural Marketing Service Centers Medicare Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals, 11553-11554 2026-04605 Medicare and Medicaid Programs:

Application from the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities for Continued Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-Approval of its Rural Health Clinic Accreditation Program, 11550-11551 2026-04595 Medicare Program: Request for Renewal of Deeming Authority of the National Committee for Quality Assurance for Medicare Advantage Health Maintenance Organizations and Preferred Provider Organizations, 11551-11553 2026-04593 Children Children and Families Administration NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities;

Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Central Authority Payment Service, 11554 2026-04594 Civil Rights Civil Rights Commission NOTICES Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.: Utah Advisory Committee, 11499 2026-04615 Commerce Commerce Department See Foreign-Trade Zones Board See International Trade Administration See National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Community Development Community Development Financial Institutions Fund NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities;

Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals, 11594-11595 2026-04669 Funds Availability: Community Development Financial Institutions Program; Revised Application Submission Deadline, 11595 2026-04682 Native American Community Development Financial Institutions Assistance Program; Application Submission Deadline, 11594 2026-04683 Copyright Royalty Board Copyright Royalty Board RULES Determination of Rates and Terms for Digital Performance of Sound Recordings and Making of Ephemeral Copies to Facilitate Those Performances 11458-11471 2026-04630 2026-04631 2026-04632 2026-04633 Determination of Rates and Terms for Digital Performance of Sound Recordings by New Subscription Services and Making of Ephemeral Copies to Facilitate Those Performances, 11471-11474 2026-04627 Defense Department Defense Department NOTICES Arms Sales, 11517-11533 2026-04618 2026-04619 2026-04620 2026-04621 2026-04622 2026-04623 2026-04624 2026-04625 2026-04626 Publication of Housing Price Inflation Adjustment, 11527 2026-04689 Drug Drug Enforcement Administration RULES Designation of Propionyl Chloride as a List I Chemical, 11450-11456 2026-04657 NOTICES Importer, Manufacturer or Bulk Manufacturer of Controlled Substances;

Application, Registration, etc.: Sigma Aldrich Research Biochemicals Inc., 11562-11563 2026-04655 Energy Department Energy Department See Federal Energy Regulatory Commission PROPOSED RULES Petition for Rulemaking: America First Legal Foundation, 11495-11498 2026-04687 NOTICES Filing: Self-Certification of Coal Capability under the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act 11534-11539 2026-04636 2026-04637 2026-04638 2026-04639 2026-04640 2026-04642 2026-04643 Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.:

Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board, Oak Ridge, 11534-11535 2026-04686 Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board, Paducah, 11535 2026-04688 Environmental Protection Environmental Protection Agency RULES Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approvals and Promulgations: North Dakota; Regional Haze State Implementation Plan; Regional Haze Five Year Progress Report and Nitrogen Oxides Best Available Retrofit Technology Determination for Coal Creek Station for the First Implementation Period, 11474-11477 2026-04649 Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources:

Large Municipal Waste Combustors Voluntary Remand Response and Five-Year Review, 11802-11887 2026-04646 NOTICES Certain New Chemicals: Status Information for September-December 2025, 11544-11548 2026-04651 Export Import Export-Import Bank NOTICES Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.: Advisory and Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committees, 11548-11549 2026-04607 Federal Aviation Federal Aviation Administration RULES Airworthiness Directives: Airbus Helicopters, 11446-11449 2026-04614 Airbus SAS Airplanes, 11443-11446 2026-04677 PROPOSED RULES Airworthiness Directives:

Airbus SAS Airplanes, 11478-11480 2026-04713 Dassault Aviation Airplanes, 11480-11483 2026-04712 NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Basic Survival Skills for General Aviation Training Record, 11590-11591 2026-04692 Physiology Training Record, 11590 2026-04691 Federal Energy Federal Energy Regulatory Commission NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals, 11541-11542 2026-04665 Application:

Banister Hydro, Inc., 11543-11544 2026-04662 Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Reasonable Period of Time for Water Quality Certification, 11539 2026-04660 Combined Filings, 11539-11541 2026-04661 Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Spencer Mountain Hydropower, LLC, 11542-11543 2026-04663 Federal Maritime Federal Maritime Commission NOTICES Agreements Filed, 11549 2026-04695 Federal Mine Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission NOTICES Meetings; Sunshine Act, 11549 2026-04705 Federal Motor Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration NOTICES Exemption Application:

Qualification of Drivers; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders, 11591-11593 2026-04616 Federal Railroad Federal Railroad Administration NOTICES Request for Amendment: National Railroad Passenger Corp. (Amtrak), Positive Train Control System, 11593-11594 2026-04701 Federal Reserve Federal Reserve System NOTICES Change in Bank Control: Acquisitions of Shares of a Bank or Bank Holding Company, 11549-11550 2026-04679 Financial Crimes Financial Crimes Enforcement Network RULES Geographic Targeting Order Imposing Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements on Certain Money Services Businesses along the Southwest Border, 11456-11457 2026-04641 Food and Drug Food and Drug Administration NOTICES Guidance:

New and Revised Draft Q and As on Biosimilar Development and the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act, 11555-11556 2026-04664 Patent Extension Regulatory Review Period: Aurora EV-ICD, 11557 C1-2026-02383 Foreign Assets Foreign Assets Control Office NOTICES Sanctions Action, 11595-11597 2026-04652 2026-04681 Foreign Trade Foreign-Trade Zones Board NOTICES Authorization of Production Activity: Air Venturi, Ltd., Foreign-Trade Zone 40, Solon, OH, 11500 2026-04670 Garmin International, Inc., Foreign-Trade Zone 17, Olathe, KS, 11499 2026-04672 Molnlycke Health Care, Foreign-Trade Zone

(FTZ)186, Brunswick, Portland, and Wiscasset, ME, 11500 2026-04673 RECARO Aircraft Seating Americas, LLC, Foreign-Trade Zone 196, Fort Worth, TX, 11500 2026-04674 The Premcor Refining Group, Inc., Foreign-Trade Zone 116, Port Arthur, TX, 11499-11500 2026-04671 ZF Transmissions Gray Court LLC, Foreign-Trade Zone 38, Gray Court and Fountain Inn, SC, 11500 2026-04675 Health and Human Health and Human Services Department See Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services See Children and Families Administration See Food and Drug Administration See National Institutes of Health Homeland Homeland Security Department See U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Indian Affairs Indian Affairs Bureau NOTICES Indian Gaming: Approval by Operation of Law of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin and State of Wisconsin Gaming Compact, 11560 2026-04667 Institute of Museum and Library Services Institute of Museum and Library Services NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Grants to States Program State Reporting System, 11578-11579 2026-04658 Interior Interior Department See Indian Affairs Bureau See National Park Service Internal Revenue Internal Revenue Service NOTICES Charter Amendments, Establishments, Renewals and Terminations: Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, 11597-11599 2026-04608 International Trade Adm International Trade Administration NOTICES Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Steel Racks and Parts Thereof from the People's Republic of China, 11500-11504 2026-04676 Certain Van-Type Trailers and Subassemblies Thereof from Canada, the People's Republic of China, and Mexico, 11509 2026-04678 Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet from India, 11509-11511 2026-04610 Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Flat-Rolled Steel Products from Japan, 11507-11508 2026-04611 Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Ecuador, 11511-11512 2026-04612 Heavy Walled Rectangular Pipes and Tubes from Mexico, 11504-11507 2026-04696 Court Decision Not in Harmony with Final Scope Ruling, Amended Final Scope Ruling Pursuant to Court Decision: Fresh Garlic from the People's Republic of China, 11512-11513 2026-04697 International Trade Com International Trade Commission NOTICES Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Tow-Behind Lawn Groomers and Parts Thereof from China, 11562 2026-04628 Lithium Hexafluorophosphate from China, 11560-11561 2026-04617 Justice Department Justice Department See Drug Enforcement Administration NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Generic Clearance for Cognitive, Pilot, and Field Studies for Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Data Collection Activities, 11563-11564 2026-04648 Labor Department Labor Department See Veterans Employment and Training Service Legal Legal Services Corporation NOTICES Funding Opportunity: Calendar Year 2027 Basic Field Grant Awards, 11578 2026-04666 Meetings; Sunshine Act, 11577-11578 2026-04634 Library Library of Congress See Copyright Royalty Board National Foundation National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities See Institute of Museum and Library Services National Institute National Institutes of Health NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: The Clinical Trials Reporting Program Database; Correction, 11558-11559 2026-04635 Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.: Center for Scientific Review, 11557-11558 2026-04644 2026-04690 Center for Scientific Review; Cancellation, 11559 2026-04647 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 11557 2026-04596 National Institute on Aging, 11559 2026-04597 National Oceanic National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RULES Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska: Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; 2026 and 2027 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 11750-11799 2026-04684 PROPOSED RULES Taking or Importing of Marine Mammals: U.S. Navy Operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar in the Western and Central North Pacific Ocean and Eastern Indian Ocean, 11618-11747 2026-04668 NOTICES Endangered and Threatened Species: Take of Abalone, 11517 2026-04598 Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.: Gulf Fishery Management Council, 11513-11514 2026-04699 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 11516 2026-04700 New England Fishery Management Council, 11516 2026-04698 Requests for Nominations: Hydrographic Services Review Panel, 11514-11516 2026-04654 National Park National Park Service PROPOSED RULES Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves, 11483-11495 2026-04606 Securities Securities and Exchange Commission NOTICES Application: Japan Smaller Capitalization Fund, Inc. and Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc., 11579-11580 2026-04656 Exemption: Exchange Act, 11587-11588 2026-04613 Meetings; Sunshine Act, 11586-11587 2026-04609 Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: The Options Clearing Corp., 11580-11586 2026-04602 Small Business Small Business Administration NOTICES Disaster Declaration: Louisiana, 11588 2026-04604 Louisiana; Public Assistance Only, 11588-11589 2026-04680 State Department State Department NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Medical History and Examination, 11589 2026-04650 Transportation Department Transportation Department See Federal Aviation Administration See Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration See Federal Railroad Administration Treasury Treasury Department See Community Development Financial Institutions Fund See Financial Crimes Enforcement Network See Foreign Assets Control Office See Internal Revenue Service NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act Program Review, 11599-11615 2026-04685 Charter Amendments, Establishments, Renewals and Terminations: Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance, 11615-11616 2026-04693 U.S. Citizenship U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program, 11559-11560 2026-04603 Veterans Employment Veterans Employment and Training Service NOTICES HIRE Vets Medallion Program; Award Recipients, 11564-11577 2026-04653 Separate Parts In This Issue Part II Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 11618-11747 2026-04668 Part III Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 11750-11799 2026-04684 Part IV Environmental Protection Agency, 11802-11887 2026-04646 Reader Aids Consult the Reader Aids section at the end of this issue for phone numbers, online resources, finding aids, and notice of recently enacted public laws. To subscribe to the Federal Register Table of Contents electronic mailing list, go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USGPOOFR/subscriber/new, enter your e-mail address, then follow the instructions to join, leave, or manage your subscription. 91 46 Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Part 1215 [Doc. No. AMS-SC-24-0038] Updates to the Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This final rule implements updates to the Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (Order). The updates increase the mandatory assessment rate from 5 cents per hundredweight of popcorn to 6 cents to reflect the present rate, which was administratively increased in 2001 and has been charged of processors ever since. Additionally, subpart C is added to the Order, which prescribes late payment and interest charges on past due assessments. DATES: Effective April 9, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Webster, Marketing Specialist, or Alexandra Caryl, Chief, Mid-Atlantic Region Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS); U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone:

(202)720-8085; or email: *George.Webster@usda.gov* or *Alexandra.Caryl@usda.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule affecting the Order (7 CFR part 1215) is authorized by the Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act

(Act)(7 U.S.C. 7481-7491). Executive Order 12866 This action is exempt from the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)review process required by Executive Order 12866. This rule amends an existing research and promotion program and is necessary for the continued operation of the Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order. Additionally, this action is exempt from the requirements of Executive Order 14192, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” pursuant to section 5(c). Executive Order 13175 This action was reviewed in accordance with the requirements of Executive Order 13175, “Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments.” AMS assessed the impact of this final rule on Indian Tribes and determined this rule does not have Tribal implications that require consultation under Executive Order 13175. AMS hosts a quarterly teleconference with Tribal leaders where matters of mutual interest regarding the marketing of agricultural products are discussed. Information about the changes to the regulations will be shared during an upcoming quarterly call. AMS will work with the USDA Office of Tribal Relations to ensure meaningful consultation is provided as needed with regard to these changes to the Order. Executive Order 12988 This action was reviewed under Executive Order 12988, “Civil Justice Reform.” It is not intended to have retroactive effect. Section 580 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 7489) provides that nothing in this subtitle preempts or supersedes any other program relating to popcorn promotion organized and operated under the laws of the United States or any State. Under section 577 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 7486), a person subject to an order may file a written petition with USDA stating that the order, a provision of the order, or an obligation imposed in connection with the order, is not established in accordance with the law, and request a modification of an order or obligation or an exemption from the order or obligation. Any petition filed challenging an order, any provision of an order, or any obligation imposed in connection with an order, shall be filed within two years after the date of imposition of the obligation. The petitioner will have the opportunity for a hearing on the petition. Thereafter, USDA will issue a ruling on the petition. The Act provides that the district court of the United States for any district in which the petitioner resides or conducts business shall have the jurisdiction to review a final ruling on the petition if the petitioner files a complaint for that purpose not later than 20 days after the date of the entry of USDA's final ruling. Background Under the Order, the Popcorn Board (Board), with USDA oversight, administers a nationally coordinated program of research, promotion, and consumer information designed to maintain and expand markets for U.S. popcorn. The program is financed by assessments on processors of more than four million pounds of popcorn annually. The Board, which is composed of five popcorn processors, unanimously recommended these changes during a meeting on August 28, 2024. Assessment Rate Increase This final rule updates § 1215.51(c) of the Order, which states that the rate of assessment shall be 5 cents per hundredweight of popcorn. The rate was administratively increased by the Board in 2001 to 6 cents per hundredweight of popcorn and has been charged of processors since. This action updates the assessment rate in the Order to accurately reflect the change that took place in 2001 and helps eliminate any confusion amongst the industry regarding the current mandatory assessment. Interest Charges on Past Due Assessments Section 575(j) of the Act (7 U.S.C. 7484(j)) states that “The order shall contain such other terms and conditions, consistent with this subtitle, as are necessary to effectuate this subtitle, including regulations relating to the assessment of late payment charges.” Section 1215.51(e) of the Order states that “Each person responsible for remitting assessments under paragraphs

(a)and

(b)of this section shall remit the amounts due from assessments to the Board on a quarterly basis no later than the last day of the month following the last month in the previous quarter in which the popcorn was marketed, in such manner as prescribed by the Board.” Section 1215.51(f) states that “The Board shall impose a late payment charge on any person who fails to remit to the Board the total amount for which the person is liable on or before the payment due date established under this section. The amount of the late payment charge shall be prescribed in rules and regulations as approved by the Secretary.” Section 1215.51(g) states that “The Board shall impose an additional charge on any person subject to a late payment charge, in the form of interest on the outstanding portion of any amount for which the person is liable. The rate of interest shall be prescribed in rules and regulations as approved by the Secretary.” Previously, the Board outlined the late payment and interest fees charged on past due assessments from processors of popcorn in their Operational Policies and Procedures document; however, these fees were not reflected in the Order. This final rule codifies the Board's ability to collect late payment and interest charges on past due assessments by creating a new section in the Order outlining these fees. Under this rule, a one-time late payment charge of $250 is imposed on any processor who fails to pay any assessments owed within 30 calendar days of the date they are due. This one-time late payment charge increases to $500 after 90 days of delinquency. These late payment charge amounts were chosen by the Board after reviewing Order language of other research and promotion programs of similar size and annual assessment collections. Additionally, 1.25 percent per month interest on any outstanding balance, including any late payment and accrued interest, is added to any accounts for which payment has not been received within 30 calendar days of when the assessments are due. This monthly interest charge was chosen by the Board to match the current language in their Operational Policies and Procedures document. Final Regulatory Flexibility Act Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility Act

(RFA)(5 U.S.C. 601 *et seq.* ), AMS considered the economic impact of this final action on small entities that would be affected by this rule. Accordingly, AMS prepared this final regulatory flexibility analysis. The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory action to scale on businesses subject to such action so that small businesses will not be disproportionately burdened. The Small Business Administration

(SBA)defines, in 13 CFR part 121, small agricultural producers of popcorn as those having annual receipts equal to or less than $2.5 million (NAICS code: 111150—Corn Farming) and small agricultural service firms (processors and importers) as those having annual receipts equal to or less than $34 million (NAICS code: 115114—Postharvest Crop Activities). For the purpose of fitting regulatory actions to the scale of businesses for this RFA data used is from the National Agricultural Statistics Service

(NASS)1 and Popcorn Board (Board). The top five popcorn producing states according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture are Indiana, Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri. In 2022, Nebraska, Ohio, and Missouri had decreases in harvested acres while Indiana and Illinois saw increases compared to the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Overall, the 2022 United States total harvested acreage decreased by roughly 7.6 percent compared to 2017. 1 The only NASS data available for this final rule is the Agricultural Survey data on parity pricing (prices farmers receive) reported annually in January and the 2022 Agricultural Census. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture published by NASS, there are roughly 860 total farms that produced a total of 10,141,686 hundredweight (a little over 1 billion pounds) of popcorn in 2022. NASS has reported that, on average, the 2022 parity price received for popcorn was roughly $60.80 per hundredweight ($0.61 per pound) of popcorn. Taking the total hundredweight of popcorn produced in 2022, which was 10,141,686, multiplied by the parity price of $60.80 per hundredweight, gives a total parity price revenue of roughly $616,614,509 for the industry in 2022. Using the total parity price revenue the industry received in 2022 of roughly $616.6 million dollars divided by the total 860 popcorn farms in 2022, assuming normal distribution, gives an average of roughly $716,994 in revenue per farm from parity prices. Even with the potential of additional pricing being added into the parity price of popcorn per hundredweight from each producer, the average price per producer (inclusive of parity pricing) would not exceed the established revenue thresholds set by the SBA. Thus, most producers and processors of popcorn would be considered small entities and would not be disproportionately burdened. Under the Order, the Board administers a nationally coordinated program of promotion, research, consumer information and industry information designed to strengthen the position of popcorn in the marketplace, and to maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets and uses for popcorn. The program is financed by assessments on domestic processors only who process and distribute over 4 million pounds of popcorn annually. The currently charged rate of assessment, established in 2001, is 6 cents per hundredweight of popcorn. The Order specifies that processors are responsible for submitting the assessment to the Board in a timely manner and maintaining records necessary to verify their reporting(s). Based on information from the Board, there are currently a total of 18 processors who pay mandatory assessments into the program and 15 exempt processors (under the 4-million-pound threshold) for a total of 33. Processors who process and distribute 4 million pounds or less of popcorn annually are exempt from this assessment. Processors that operate under an approved National Organic Program

(NOP)(7 CFR part 206) system plan, process only products that are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP and are not split operations shall also be exempt from the payment of assessments. After auditing the 2022 total mandatory assessments collected as reported by the *2018 to 2022 Evaluation of the Popcorn Board* report ( *page 5* ) located on the Board's website, the total assessments collected was $686,339. Using the total 2022 mandatory assessment collected of $686,339 divided by the Board's 6 cents per hundredweight mandatory assessment gives roughly the total popcorn hundredweight of 11,438,983 (roughly 1.14 billion pounds) assessed from domestic processors who processed and distributed over 4 million of popcorn annually. Some NASS data is not published to protect small producers and processors of the small domestic popcorn industry. This can account for the variance in why the total estimated 2022 hundredweight as reported by the *2018 to 2022 Evaluation of the Popcorn Board* is larger than as reported by the NASS 2022 Census of Agriculture. This larger 2022 popcorn hundredweight as reported by the *2018 to 2022 Evaluation of the Popcorn Board* report ( *page 5* ) can be used to determine if small businesses are adversely affected by this rule. Taking this estimated total 11,438,983 hundredweight of popcorn produced in 2022 multiplied by the parity price of $60.80 per hundredweight gives a total parity price revenue of roughly $695,490,187 for the industry. Using the estimated total parity price revenue the industry received in 2022 of roughly $695.5 million dollars divided by the total 860 popcorn farms in 2022 (assuming normal distribution), gives roughly an average of $808,710 in revenue per farm from parity prices. Thus, even with this higher estimate most producers and processors of popcorn would be considered small entities and would not be disproportionately burdened by this final rule. Most of the processors are classified as small businesses under the criteria established by the Small Business Administration. Paperwork Reduction Act In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)regulation (5 CFR part 1320) which implements the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the information collection and recordkeeping requirements imposed by the Order were approved previously under OMB control number 0581-0093. This final rule does not result in a change to the information collection and recordkeeping requirements previously approved. As with all Federal research and promotion programs, reports and forms are periodically reviewed to reduce information requirements and duplication by industry and public sector agencies. USDA has not identified any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this final rule. AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act to promote the use of the internet and other information technologies to provide increased opportunities for citizen access to government information and services, and for other purposes. Regarding alternatives, the Board considered not making these changes to the Order and leaving it as-is. If the Order was left unchanged, the stated assessment rate would remain incorrect and would continue to cause confusion amongst the industry. By leaving the Order unchanged and not adding in language prescribing late fees and interest charges on unpaid assessments, the Board would also have trouble collecting assessments on a timely basis. After considering these potential issues, the Board decided against leaving the Order unchanged. The Board discussed these changes throughout 2023 and 2024 and unanimously recommended the changes during their in-person meeting on August 28, 2024. The Board is made up of five processors of over four million pounds of popcorn annually. A proposed rulemaking concerning this action was published in the **Federal Register** on June 10, 2025 (90 FR 24353). A copy of the proposed rulemaking was also made available through the internet by AMS via *https://www.regulations.gov.* A 30-day comment period ending July 10, 2025, was provided for interested parties to respond to the proposal. Comment Analysis During the proposed rule's 30-day comment period, AMS received one comment which may be viewed on *https://regulations.gov.* The one comment received did not address the merits of the proposed rule, and accordingly, no changes were made to the rule as proposed. After consideration of all relevant material presented, AMS has determined that that this rule is consistent with and will effectuate the purposes of the Act. List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1215 Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Agricultural research, Popcorn, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Agricultural Marketing Service amends 7 CFR part 1215 as follows: PART 1215—POPCORN PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION ORDER 1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 1215 continues to read as follows: Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7481-7491; 7 U.S.C. 7401. § 1215.51 [Amended] 2. Amend § 1215.51(c) by removing the number “5” and adding in its place the number “6”. 3. Add subpart C, consisting of § 1215.520, to read as follows: Subpart C—Past Due Assessments Sec. 1215.520 Late payment and interest charges for past due assessments. § 1215.520 Late payment and interest charges for past due assessments.

(a)A late payment charge shall be imposed on any processor who fails to make timely remittance to the Board of the total assessments for which such processor is liable. The late payment charge will be imposed on any assessments not received within 30 calendar days of the date they are due. This one-time late payment charge shall be $250 and will be increased to $500 after 90 days of delinquency.

(b)In addition to the late payment charge, 1.25 percent per month interest on the outstanding balance, including any late payment and accrued interest, will be added to any accounts for which payment has not been received within 30 calendar days of the date when assessments are due. Interest will continue to accrue monthly until the outstanding balance is paid to the Board. Melissa Bailey, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2026-04694 Filed 3-9-26; 8:45 am]

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