Milk in the Tennessee Valley Marketing Area; Termination of the Order

This rule terminates all but certain administrative provisions of the Tennessee Valley Federal milk marketing order. The remaining administrative provisions will be terminated at a later date. On the basis of public hearings held in May and December 1996 on proposed amendments to 4 southeastern milk orders, including the Tennessee Valley milk order, the Department concluded that each of the 4 orders should be similarly amended. Although the amended orders were approved by producers in 3 of the 4 marketing areas, the issuance of the proposed amended order for the Tennessee Valley marketing area did not receive the required two-thirds mandate. After reviewing the comments filed in response to a notice of proposed termination of the order published on July 3, 1997, the Department has concluded that the present Tennessee Valley order should be terminated.