Proposed Rule2024-28438
Proposed Establishment of the Columbia Hills Viticultural Area
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 5, 2024
Issuing agencies
Treasury DepartmentAlcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
Abstract
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to establish the 29,387-acre "Columbia Hills" American viticultural area (AVA) in Klickitat County, Washington. The proposed AVA is located entirely within the boundaries of the existing Columbia Valley AVA. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. TTB invites comments on these proposals.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 234 (Thursday, December 5, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 234 (Thursday, December 5, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 96623-96627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28438]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
27 CFR Part 9
[Docket No. TTB-2024-0007; Notice No. 235]
RIN 1513-AD08
Proposed Establishment of the Columbia Hills Viticultural Area
AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to
establish the 29,387-acre ``Columbia Hills'' American viticultural area
(AVA) in Klickitat County, Washington. The proposed AVA is located
entirely within the boundaries of the existing Columbia Valley AVA. TTB
designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the
origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines
they may purchase. TTB invites comments on these proposals.
DATES: TTB must receive your comments on or before February 3, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may electronically submit comments to TTB on this
proposal, and view copies of this document, its supporting materials,
and any comments TTB receives on it within Docket No. TTB-2024-0007 as
posted on <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> (<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>), the Federal e-
rulemaking portal. Alternatively, you may submit comments via postal
mail to the Director, Regulations and Ruling Division, Alcohol and
Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street NW, Box 12, Washington, DC
20005. Please see the ``Public Participation'' section of this document
for further information on the comments requested on this proposal and
on the submission, confidentiality, and public disclosure of comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen A. Thornton, Regulations and
Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G
Street NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; phone 202-453-1039, ext. 175.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background on Viticultural Areas
TTB Authority
Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act),
27 U.S.C. 205(e), authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe
regulations for the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, and malt
beverages. The FAA Act provides that these regulations should, among
other things, prohibit consumer deception and the use of misleading
statements on labels and ensure that labels provide the consumer with
adequate information as to the identity and quality of the product. The
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) administers the FAA Act
provisions pursuant to section 1111(d) of the Homeland Security Act of
2002, as codified at 6 U.S.C. 531(d). In addition, the Secretary of the
Treasury has delegated certain administrative and enforcement
authorities to TTB through Treasury Order 120-01.
Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 4) authorizes TTB to
establish definitive viticultural areas and regulate the use of their
names as appellations of origin on wine labels and in wine
advertisements. Part 9 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 9) sets
forth standards for the preparation and submission of petitions for the
establishment or modification of American viticultural areas (AVAs) and
lists the approved AVAs.
Definition
Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(1)(i))
defines a viticultural area for American wine as a delimited grape-
growing region having distinguishing features as described in part 9 of
the regulations and, once approved, a name and a delineated boundary
codified in part 9 of the regulations. These designations allow
vintners and consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation, or
other characteristic of a wine made from grapes grown in an area to the
wine's geographic origin. The establishment of AVAs allows vintners to
describe more accurately the origin of their wines to consumers and
helps consumers to identify wines they may purchase. Establishment of
an AVA is neither an approval nor an endorsement by TTB of the wine
produced in that area.
Requirements
Section 4.25(e)(2) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(2))
outlines the procedure for proposing an AVA and allows any interested
party to petition TTB to establish a grape-growing region as an AVA.
Section 9.12 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 9.12) prescribes standards
for petitions to establish or modify AVAs. Petitions to establish an
AVA must include the following:
<bullet> Evidence that the area within the proposed AVA boundary is
nationally or locally known by the AVA name specified in the petition;
<bullet> An explanation of the basis for defining the boundary of
the proposed AVA;
<bullet> A narrative description of the features of the proposed
AVA that affect viticulture, such as climate, geology, soils, physical
features, and elevation, that make the proposed AVA distinctive and
distinguish it from adjacent areas outside the proposed AVA boundary;
<bullet> The appropriate United States Geological Survey (USGS)
map(s) showing the location of the proposed AVA, with the boundary of
the proposed AVA clearly drawn thereon; and
<bullet> A detailed narrative description of the proposed AVA
boundary based on USGS map markings.
If the proposed AVA is to be established within, or overlapping, an
existing AVA, an explanation that both identifies the attributes of the
proposed AVA that are consistent with the existing AVA and explains how
the proposed AVA is sufficiently distinct from the existing AVA, and
therefore appropriate for separate recognition.
Petition To Establish the Columbia Hills AVA
TTB received a petition from Dr. Kevin R. Pogue, a geology
professor, proposing to establish the ``Columbia Hills'' AVA. Dr. Pogue
submitted the petition on behalf of Robert Lorkowski, owner of Cascade
Cliffs Vineyard and Winery, which is located within the boundaries of
the proposed AVA. The proposed AVA is located in Klickitat County,
Washington, and is entirely within the established Columbia Valley AVA
(27 CFR 9.74). There are approximately 338 acres of vineyards, owned by
19 different property owners, within the proposed AVA, as well as four
wineries. The distinguishing features of the proposed Columbia Hills
AVA are its topography, soils, and climate.
Proposed Columbia Hills AVA
Name Evidence
The proposed AVA takes its name from the Columbia Hills, a 35-mile-
long ridgeline that parallels the north side of
[[Page 96624]]
the Columbia River between Rowena Gap and the mouth of Rock Creek, in
Klickitat County, Washington. The proposed AVA is situated on the
southern slopes of the Columbia Hills. The name ``Columbia Hills'' is
marked over the ridgeline on a copy of the U.S.G.S. 1:250,000-scale
topographic map for the region of the proposed AVA, which was included
in the petition.
The petition includes additional evidence of use of the name
``Columbia Hills'' within the region of the proposed AVA. For example,
the Columbia Hills Historical State Park and the Columbia Hills Natural
Area Preserve are both located in the proposed AVA. A 2011 item on a
local newspaper's website is titled ``Mt. Hood Cycling Classic Columbia
Hills Road Race.'' \1\ Finally, a recreational vehicle campground in
Dallesport, Washington, which is within the proposed AVA, is named
``Columbia Hills RV.''
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\1\ <a href="https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/archive/video-mt-hood-cycling-classic-columbia-hills-road-race/article_6a1c4211-11cc-5868-9202-18e06888c2a3.html">https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/archive/video-mt-hood-cycling-classic-columbia-hills-road-race/article_6a1c4211-11cc-5868-9202-18e06888c2a3.html</a>. Accessed October 28, 2024.
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Boundary Evidence
The proposed Columbia Hills AVA encompasses 29,387 acres along the
predominantly south-facing slopes of the Columbia Hills. The proposed
southern boundary follows the Columbia River, which marks the southern
edge of the hills. The proposed western boundary follows the 300-meter
elevation contour along a feature known as Rowena Gap, which marks a
pronounced change in topography between the proposed AVA and the region
to the west. The proposed northern boundary generally follows the 320-
meter elevation contour to separate the proposed AVA from higher
elevations that were not inundated by ice age floods. The proposed
eastern boundary follows Rock Creek to separate the proposed AVA from
the established The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA (27 CFR 9.276), which
is a broad, relatively flat plateau that is a separate geographic
feature from the Columbia Hills that form the proposed AVA.
Distinguishing Features
According to the petition, the distinguishing features of the
proposed Columbia Hills AVA are its topography, soils, and climate.
Topography
According to the petition, features created by depositional and
erosional processes associated with catastrophic ice age flooding
dominate the topography of the proposed Columbia Hills AVA. Erosion by
the floodwaters of the generally flat-lying layers of bedrock created a
series of stepped terraces within the proposed AVA. The petition states
that these gently-sloped terraces provide excellent locations for
vineyards within the otherwise steeply-sloped valley of the Columbia
River. Large, gently-sloped gravel bars deposited by ice-age floods
also provide level terrain for planting vineyards within the proposed
AVA. According to the petition, the ice-age flooding along the Columbia
River generally did not exceed 320 meters. Therefore, elevations within
the proposed Columbia Hills AVA are limited to those at or below 320
meters to exclude regions without the flood-related topographic
features.
To the north of the proposed AVA, the topography is much steeper
and less impacted by ice-age flooding. Elevations within the higher
elevations of the Columbia Hills that are not included in the proposed
AVA reach 800 meters, as shown on the 1980 version of the Goldendale,
Washington-Oregon U.S.G.S. map included with the petition. The same map
also shows that within the Simcoe Mountains, farther north of the
proposed AVA, elevations exceed 1,400 meters. East of the proposed AVA,
within the established The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA, elevations
reach as high as 445 meters. The petition states that ice-age flooding
never inundated approximately 33 percent of the land within the
established The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA. West of the proposed AVA
is the established Columbia Gorge AVA (27 CFR 9.178), which has a
diverse topography and elevations that reach 793 meters. According to
the petition, ice-age floods only covered 26 percent of the land within
the established Columbia Gorge AVA.
Slopes within the proposed Columbia Hills AVA have a uniformly
southerly aspect. The petition states that a southerly aspect is the
preferred direction for viticulture in the higher latitudes in the
northern hemisphere because the slopes receive the greatest exposure to
the sun's rays. As a result, south-facing slopes have higher soil
temperatures than slopes that face north. According to the petition,
warmer soils encourage vine growth and speed ripening of the fruit. By
contrast, the established The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA, which is
east of the proposed AVA, consists of relatively flat topography with
varying aspects. The petition states that west of the proposed AVA,
within the established Columbia Gorge AVA, the aspect distribution is
also varied and essentially random. The region to the north has a
dominantly southern aspect similar to that of the proposed Columbia
Hills AVA, but it is above the maximum elevation of the ice-age floods.
Low-lying areas south of the proposed AVA, in Oregon, have a dominantly
northern aspect.
Soils
The soils of the proposed Columbia Hills AVA are divided into two
main soil map units. Most of the area within the proposed AVA features
soils mapped as the Cheviot-Horseflat-Rockly-Kiona unit, which are
described as ``well-drained soils that formed in colluvium and residuum
derived from basalt mixed with loess.'' In the western portion of the
proposed AVA, the soils belong to the Ewall-Dallesport-Rock Outcrop
unit. These soils consist of wind-deposited sand that was draped over
the bedrock and gravel bars that were left behind when the ice-age
floods ceased. The soils of the proposed AVA are typically much coarser
than the loess-based soils that are common elsewhere in the Columbia
River basin and are well drained to excessively well drained. The
petition states that the coarse soils warm more quickly than finer
soils, which encourages vines to root deeply. Furthermore, the petition
states that in many areas of the proposed AVA, the soils are shallow,
which allows roots to encounter the underlying basalt bedrock or gravel
substrate, which is uncommon in the deep loess-derived soils found
elsewhere in the Columbia River basin, and which become exposed to the
minerals and nutritive elements in those rocks.
To the east of the proposed Columbia Hills AVA, soils of the Van
Nostern-Morrow-Bakeoven soil unit cover approximately 50 percent of the
area within the established The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA. These
soils occur largely above the maximum limit of the ice-age floods and
were not subjected to flood erosion. These soils contain large amounts
of wind-deposited loess. West of the proposed AVA, the soils of the
established Columbia Gorge AVA are highly diverse due to the large
variations in bedrock, slope angle, slope aspect, precipitation
amounts, and elevation. North and south of the proposed AVA, the soils
are generally deep and derived from loess over bedrock.
Climate
Eighty percent of the land within the proposed Columbia Hills AVA
is within a mile of the Columbia River. According to the petition, the
river acts as a thermal reservoir, moderating the
[[Page 96625]]
climate near its shores. Due to its proximity to the river, the
proposed AVA generally has warmer growing season temperatures,
particularly during the early morning hours, than the surrounding
regions. The petition states that the warm climate of the proposed AVA
aids and accelerates the ripening of grapes and allows for the
cultivation of warmer climate grape varietals such as Grenache and
Mourvedre.
The petition includes information on the average growing season
temperatures,\2\ growing degree day \3\ (GDD) accumulations, annual
number of frost-free days, and average growing season maximum and
minimum temperatures from within the proposed Columbia Hills AVA and
each of the surrounding regions except the region to the east. Unless
otherwise noted, all climate data was collected from 2017 to 2021. The
data, included in the petition as tables 2 and 3, is shown in the
following tables and suggests that the proposed AVA has a warmer
climate than each of the surrounding regions.
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\2\ Defined in the petition as the period from April 1 to
October 31.
\3\ See Albert J. Winkler et al., General Viticulture (Berkeley:
University of California Press, 2nd ed.), pages 61-64 (1974). In the
Winkler climate classification system, annual heat accumulation
during the growing season, measured in annual GDDs, defines climatic
regions. One GDD accumulates for each degree Fahrenheit (F) that a
day's mean temperature is above 50 degrees F, the minimum
temperature required for grapevine growth.
Table 1--Average Growing Season Temperatures in Degrees Fahrenheit
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Location (direction from proposed AVA) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
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The Dalles (within)...................................... 65.9 66.2 64 65.3 67.7
Maryhill (within)........................................ 65.1 65.3 63.9 65.2 66.6
Goldendale (north)....................................... 58.7 58.3 57 58.5 59.5
Moro (south)............................................. N/A 59.7 58 58.7 59.2
Underwood (west)......................................... 61.1 61.4 59.6 60.9 62
Husum (west)............................................. 59.7 60.2 58.7 59.9 60.2
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Table 2--Growing Degree Day Accumulations
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Location (direction from proposed AVA) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
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The Dalles (within)...................................... 3,431 3,483 3,097 3,348 3,802
Maryhill (within)........................................ 3,275 3,309 3,091 3,338 3,588
Goldendale (north)....................................... 2,205 2,012 1,834 2,112 2,309
Moro (south)............................................. N/A 2,255 2,006 2,128 2,229
Underwood (west)......................................... 2,530 2,537 2,258 2,472 2,647
Husum (west)............................................. 2,287 2,284 2,107 2,249 2,345
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Table 3--Frost-Free Days
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Location (direction from proposed AVA) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
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The Dalles (within)...................................... 254 239 223 194 220
Maryhill (within)........................................ 253 220 208 220 246
Goldendale (north)....................................... 142 148 148 164 158
Moro (south)............................................. N/A 173 163 174 168
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Table 4--Average Growing Season Maximum and Minimum Temperatures in Degrees Fahrenheit
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2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Location (direction from proposed AVA) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max Min. Max Min. Max Min. Max Min. Max Min.
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The Dalles (within)................................. 78.2 53.5 78.6 53.7 74.9 53 77.5 53 80.2 55.3
Maryhill (within)................................... 76.8 53.9 76.8 54.4 74.5 54 76.5 54.4 78.3 55.3
Goldendale (north).................................. 75 43 75 42 72 43 75 42 77 42
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Moro (south)........................................ N/A 75 44 70 46 73 45 75 46
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The petition also includes a brief discussion of annual
precipitation amounts in the proposed Columbia Hills AVA. The petition
notes that the proposed AVA is approximately 20 miles east of the only
low elevation gap in the Cascade Mountains where moist marine air can
enter the Columbia River basin and influence its climate. The marine
influence rapidly diminishes as one moves eastward from this gap. As a
result, the proposed Columbia Hills AVA only receives about 10 to 20
inches of rainfall annually. Due to the low rainfall amounts, vineyards
in the proposed AVA require irrigation. Farther east, within the
established The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA, annual precipitation rates
drop below 10 inches. By contrast, the established Columbia Gorge AVA,
which is west of the proposed AVA and situated much closer to the gap,
receives over 30 inches of rainfall annually.
[[Page 96626]]
Comparison of the Proposed Columbia Hills AVA to the Existing Columbia
Valley AVA
T.D. ATF-190, published in the Federal Register on November 13,
1984 (49 FR 44895), established the Columbia Valley AVA. That decision
describes the AVA as a ``large, treeless basin surrounding the Yakima,
Snake, and Columbia Rivers in Washington and Oregon.'' The Columbia
Valley AVA has a broadly undulating or rolling topography cut by
rivers. With respect to the climate of the AVA, the growing season is
over 150 days, annual rainfall is 15 inches or less, and GDD
accumulations are typically over 2,000.
The proposed Columbia Hills AVA shares several of the same
characteristics as the larger Columbia Valley AVA, including a growing
season length of over 150 days, limited annual rainfall, and GDD
accumulations that are over 2,000. Unlike the surrounding Columbia
Valley AVA, however, the proposed Columbia Hills AVA is not a large
basin. It is instead a region of hillslopes and flood-carved terraces
within a deeply incised river valley.
TTB Determination
TTB concludes that the petition to establish the 29,387-acre
``Columbia Hills'' AVA merits consideration and public comment, as
invited in this document.
Boundary Description
See the narrative boundary descriptions of the petitioned-for AVA
in the proposed regulatory text published at the end of this document.
Maps
The petitioner provided the required maps, and they are listed
below in the proposed regulatory text. You may also view the proposed
Columbia Hills AVA boundary on the AVA Map Explorer on the TTB website,
at <a href="https://www.ttb.gov/wine/ava-map-explorer">https://www.ttb.gov/wine/ava-map-explorer</a>.
Impact on Current Wine Labels
Part 4 of the TTB regulations prohibits any label reference on a
wine that indicates or implies an origin other than the wine's true
place of origin. For a wine to be labeled with an AVA name or with a
brand name that includes an AVA name, at least 85 percent of the wine
must be derived from grapes grown within the area represented by that
name, and the wine must meet the other conditions listed in 27 CFR
4.25(e)(3). If the wine is not eligible for labeling with an AVA name
and that name appears in the brand name, then the label is not in
compliance and the bottler must change the brand name and obtain
approval of a new label. Similarly, if the AVA name appears in another
reference on the label in a misleading manner, the bottler would have
to obtain approval of a new label. Different rules apply if a wine has
a brand name containing an AVA name that was used as a brand name on a
label approved before July 7, 1986. See 27 CFR 4.39(i)(2) for details.
If TTB establishes this proposed AVA, its name, ``Columbia Hills,''
will be recognized as a name of viticultural significance under Sec.
4.39(i)(3) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.39(i)(3)). The text of the
proposed regulation clarifies this point. Consequently, wine bottlers
using ``Columbia Hills'' in a brand name, including a trademark, or in
another label reference as to the origin of the wine, would have to
ensure that the product is eligible to use the viticultural area's name
``Columbia Hills.'' The approval of the proposed Columbia Hills AVA
would not affect any existing AVA, and any bottlers using ``Columbia
Valley'' as an appellation of origin or in a brand name for wines made
from grapes grown within the Columbia Hills AVA would not be affected
by the establishment of this new AVA. If approved, the establishment of
the proposed Columbia Hills AVA would allow vintners to use ``Columbia
Hills,'' ``Columbia Valley,'' or both, as appellations of origin for
wines made from grapes grown within the proposed AVA, if the wines meet
the eligibility requirements for the appellation.
Public Participation
Comments Invited
TTB invites comments from interested members of the public on
whether TTB should establish the proposed Columbia Hills AVA. TTB is
interested in receiving comments on the sufficiency and accuracy of the
name, boundary, and other required information submitted in support of
the AVA petition. In addition, because the proposed AVA would be within
the existing Columbia Valley AVA, TTB is interested in comments on
whether the evidence submitted in the petition regarding the
distinguishing features of the proposed AVA sufficiently differentiates
it from the existing AVA. TTB is also interested in comments on whether
the geographic features of the proposed AVA are so distinguishable from
the Columbia Valley AVA that the proposed Columbia Hills AVA should not
be part of the established AVA. Please provide any available specific
information in support of your comments.
Because of the potential impact of the establishment of the
proposed Columbia Hills AVA on wine labels that include the term
``Columbia Hills'' as discussed above under Impact on Current Wine
Labels, TTB is particularly interested in comments regarding whether
there will be a conflict between the proposed area names and currently
used brand names. If a commenter believes that a conflict will arise,
the comment should describe the nature of that conflict, including any
anticipated negative economic impact that approval of the proposed AVA
will have on an existing viticultural enterprise. TTB is also
interested in receiving suggestions for ways to avoid conflicts, for
example, by adopting a modified or different name for the proposed AVA.
Submitting Comments
You may submit comments on this proposal as an individual or on
behalf of a business or other organization via the <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>
website or via postal mail, as described in the ADDRESSES section of
this document. Your comment must reference Notice No. 235 and must be
submitted or postmarked by the closing date shown in the DATES section
of this document. You may upload or include attachments with your
comment. You also may request a public hearing on this proposal. The
TTB Administrator reserves the right to determine whether to hold a
public hearing.
Confidentiality and Disclosure of Comments
All submitted comments and attachments are part of the rulemaking
record and are subject to public disclosure. Do not enclose any
material in your comments that you consider confidential or that is
inappropriate for disclosure. TTB will post, and you may view, copies
of this document, the related petition and selected supporting
materials, and any comments TTB receives about this proposal within the
related <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> docket. In general, TTB will post comments as
submitted, and it will not redact any identifying or contact
information from the body of a comment or attachment. Please contact
TTB's Regulations and Rulings division by email using the web form
available at <a href="https://www.ttb.gov/contact-rrd">https://www.ttb.gov/contact-rrd</a>, or by telephone at 202-
453-2265, if you have any questions about commenting on this proposal
or to request copies of this document, the related petition and its
supporting materials, or any comments received.
[[Page 96627]]
Regulatory Flexibility Act
TTB certifies that this proposed regulation, if adopted, would not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. The proposed regulation imposes no new reporting,
recordkeeping, or other administrative requirement. Any benefit derived
from the use of a viticultural area name would be the result of a
proprietor's efforts and consumer acceptance of wines from that area.
Therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required.
Executive Order 12866
This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action as
defined by Executive Order 12866, as amended. Therefore, it requires no
regulatory assessment.
List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9
Wine.
Proposed Regulatory Amendment
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, we propose to amend
title 27, chapter I, part 9, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:
PART 9--AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREAS
0
1. The authority citation for part 9 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 27 U.S.C. 205.
Subpart C--Approved American Viticultural Areas
0
2. Add Sec. 9.___ to read as follows:
Sec. 9.___ Columbia Hills.
(a) Name. The name of the viticultural area described in this
section is ``Columbia Hills''. For purposes of part 4 of this chapter,
``Columbia Hills'' is a term of viticultural significance.
(b) Approved maps. The two United States Geological Survey (USGS)
1:100,000 scale topographic maps used to determine the boundary of the
viticultural area are as follows:
(1) Hood River OR-WA, 1982; and
(2) Goldendale, WA-OR, 1980.
(c) Boundary. The Columbia Hills viticultural area is located in
Klickitat County, Washington. The boundary of the Columbia Hills
viticultural area is as described as follows:
(1) The beginning point is on the Hood River map at the
intersection of the northern shoreline of the Columbia River and an
unnamed creek due east of the marked ``Cold Spring.'' From the
beginning point, proceed northerly along the unnamed creek to its
intersection with the 300-meter elevation contour; then
(2) Proceed east along the 300-meter elevation contour to the
eastern boundary of the Hood River map; then
(3) Proceed north along the map boundary for approximately 400
feet; then
(4) Proceed east onto 320-meter elevation contour on the Goldendale
map and continue east along the 320-meter elevation contour to its
intersection with the boundary between Range 18 East and Range 19 East,
south of Sand Spring Canyon; then
(5) Proceed southeast in a straight line for 9,000 feet (1.7 miles)
to the intersection of the boundary between sections 31 and 32, T3N/
R19E and the northern shoreline of the Columbia River; then
(6) Proceed west along the northern shoreline of the Columbia
River, returning to the beginning point.
Signed: November 26, 2024.
Mary G. Ryan,
Administrator.
Approved: November 27, 2024.
Aviva R. Aron-Dine,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy).
[FR Doc. 2024-28438 Filed 12-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P
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