34864 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 117 / Thursday, June 18, 2015 / Proposed Rules Signed: June 11, 2015. Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco by TTB of the wine produced in that John J. Manfreda, Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street area. NW., Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; Administrator. Requirements [FR Doc. 2015–15037 Filed 6–17–15; 8:45 am] phone 202–453–1039, ext. 175. Section 4.25(e)(2) of the TTB BILLING CODE 4810–31–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(2)) outlines Background on Viticultural Areas the procedure for proposing the DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY establishment of an AVA and provides TTB Authority that any interested party may petition Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol TTB to establish a grape-growing region Bureau Administration Act (FAA Act), 27 as an AVA. Petitioners may use the U.S.C. 205(e), authorizes the Secretary same procedures to request changes 27 CFR Part 9 of the Treasury to prescribe regulations involving existing AVAs. Section 9.12(c) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 9.12(c)) [Docket No. TTB–2015–0008; Notice No. for the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, 152] and malt beverages. The FAA Act prescribes standards for petitions for provides that these regulations should, modifying established AVAs. Petitions RIN 1513–AC21 among other things, prohibit consumer to expand an established AVA must deception and the use of misleading include the following: Proposed Expansion of the Willamette • statements on labels and ensure that Evidence that the region within the Valley Viticultural Area labels provide the consumer with proposed expansion area boundary is AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and adequate information as to the identity nationally or locally known by the name Trade Bureau, Treasury. and quality of the product. The Alcohol of the established AVA; • An explanation of the basis for ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) administers the FAA Act defining the boundary of the proposed SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax expansion area; pursuant to section 1111(d) of the • and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to Homeland Security Act of 2002, A narrative description of the expand the approximately 5,360-square codified at 6 U.S.C. 531(d). The features of the proposed expansion area mile ‘‘Willamette Valley’’ viticultural Secretary has delegated various affecting viticulture, including climate, area in northwestern Oregon by authorities through Treasury geology, soils, physical features, and approximately 29 square miles. The Department Order 120–01, dated elevation, that make the proposed established Willamette Valley December 10, 2013, to the TTB expansion area similar to the viticultural area and the proposed Administrator to perform the functions established AVA and distinguish it from expansion area do not lie within any and duties in the administration and adjacent areas outside the established other viticultural area. TTB designates enforcement of this law. AVA boundary; • The appropriate United States viticultural areas to allow vintners to Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR better describe the origin of their wines Geological Survey (USGS) map(s) part 4) authorizes TTB to establish showing the location of the proposed and to allow consumers to better definitive viticultural areas and regulate identify wines they may purchase. TTB expansion area, with the boundary of the use of their names as appellations of the proposed expansion area clearly invites comments on this proposed origin on wine labels and in wine addition to its regulations. drawn thereon; and advertisements. Part 9 of the TTB • A detailed narrative description of DATES: Comments must be received by regulations (27 CFR part 9) sets forth the the proposed expansion area boundary August 17, 2015. standards for the preparation and based on USGS map markings. ADDRESSES: Please send your comments submission of petitions for the on this notice of proposed rulemaking to establishment or modification of Petition To Expand the Willamette one of the following addresses: American viticultural areas (AVAs) and Valley AVA • Internet: http://www.regulations.gov lists the approved American viticultural TTB received a petition from Steve (via the online comment form for this areas. Thomson, the executive vice president notice of proposed rulemaking as posted Definition of King Estate Winery in Eugene, within Docket No. TTB–2015–0008 at Oregon, proposing to expand the ‘‘Regulations.gov,’’ the Federal e- Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the TTB established ‘‘Willamette Valley’’ AVA in rulemaking portal); regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(1)(i)) defines northwestern Oregon. The Willamette • U.S. Mail: Director, Regulations and a viticultural area for American wine as Valley AVA (27 CFR 9.90) was Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco a delimited grape-growing region having established by T.D. ATF–162, which Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street distinguishing features, as described in published in the Federal Register on NW., Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; or part 9 of the regulations, and a name December 1, 1983 (48 FR 54221). The • Hand delivery/courier in lieu of and a delineated boundary, as Willamette Valley AVA covers mail: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and established in part 9 of the regulations. approximately 5,360 square miles in Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street NW., Suite These designations allow vintners and Benton, Lane, Linn, Clackamas, Lincoln, 400, Washington, DC 20005. consumers to attribute a given quality, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, See the Public Participation section of reputation, or other characteristic of a Washington, and Yamhill Counties. The this notice of proposed rulemaking for wine made from grapes grown in an area Willamette Valley AVA is not located specific instructions and requirements to the wine’s geographic origin. The within any other AVA, but it does for submitting comments, and for establishment of AVAs allows vintners contain six smaller AVAs: Chehalem information on how to request a public to describe more accurately the origin of Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity hearing or view or obtain copies of the their wines to consumers and helps Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge, and petition and supporting materials. consumers to identify wines they may Yamhill-Carlton. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: purchase. Establishment of an AVA is The proposed expansion area is Karen A. Thornton, Regulations and neither an approval nor an endorsement located in Lane County adjacent to the VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:59 Jun 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\18JNP1.SGM 18JNP1 wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 117 / Thursday, June 18, 2015 / Proposed Rules 34865 southern tip of the existing Willamette describe the wine as coming from north-northeasterly along the elevation Valley AVA boundary and covers ‘‘Willamette,’’ ‘‘Willamette Valley,’’ or contour until it joins the current approximately 29 square miles. The ‘‘Willamette, Oregon.’’ The petition Willamette Valley AVA boundary near King Estate Winery operates one of the states that these wine lists demonstrate Lorane. The proposed expansion area two commercial vineyards covering a that sellers and consumers currently would not extend south into Douglas total of 508 acres located within the associate the wines made in the County because the Douglas County line proposed expansion area, and has proposed expansion area with the forms the northern boundary of the provided information that the second Willamette Valley AVA, even though Umpqua River Valley AVA (27 CFR vineyard affected is also in favor of the the King Estate Winery does not market 9.89), which has features that are proposed expansion. King Estate Winery or label the wines as such. distinctive from those of the Willamette and the second vineyard each have a Valley AVA. Boundary Evidence winery within the proposed expansion Both the established Willamette area. A third winery would also be The Willamette Valley AVA is a long, Valley AVA and the proposed included; however, it does not operate narrow region encompassing the expansion area are surrounded to the a vineyard within the proposed Willamette River basin. The AVA is west, east, and immediate south by expansion area. The vineyards and the approximately 120 miles long and 60 high, steep mountains. To the east are wineries did not exist when the miles wide. The current AVA boundary the Cascade Mountains, and to the west Willamette Valley AVA was established begins at the intersection of the are the Coast Range Mountains. To the in 1983 and currently are not located Multnomah-Columbia County line and south are the Calapooya Mountains, as within any AVA. The petition included the Oregon-Washington boundary. The well as the Umpqua River Valley. letters from the president of the current boundary then proceeds Distinguishing Features Willamette Valley Wineries Association southward, primarily following the and the president of the Oregon meandering 1,000-foot elevation As justification of the expansion area, Winegrowers Association in support of contour, into Lane County. South of the which is based on similarities in the proposed expansion. According to city of Eugene and north of the Siuslaw distinguishing features, the expansion the petition, the soils, climate, and River, the current AVA boundary briefly petition quotes the original Willamette topography of the proposed expansion leaves the 1,000-foot elevation contour Valley AVA petition, which stated, ‘‘[I]t area are consistent with those of the near Panther Creek and follows a series is the intention of the Oregon established AVA. Unless otherwise of straight lines drawn between marked Winegrowers Association to define this noted, all information and data features on the USGS maps before area as broadly as geographical data and pertaining to the proposed expansion reconnecting with the 1,000-foot viticultural experience will allow, so as area contained in this document come elevation contour near the community not to stifle experimentation in new from the petition and its supporting of Lorane.