[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 35147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16908]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Opportunity for Designation in Minnesota and Mississippi

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 
(GIPSA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act), 
provides that official agency designations will end not later than 
triennially and may be renewed. The designations of the Minnesota 
Department of Agriculture (Minnesota) and the Mississippi Department of 
Agriculture and Commerce (Mississippi) will end December 31, 1997, 
according to the Act. GIPSA is asking persons interested in providing 
official services in Minnesota and Mississippi to submit an application 
for designation.

DATES: Applications must be postmarked or sent by telecopier (FAX) on 
or before July 30, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to USDA, GIPSA, Janet M. 
Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, STOP 3604, 1400 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-3604. Applications may 
be submitted by FAX on 202-690-2755. If an application is submitted by 
FAX, GIPSA reserves the right to request an original application. All 
applications will be made available for public inspection at this 
address located at 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., during regular 
business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet M. Hart, telephone 202-720-8525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Action has been reviewed and determined 
not to be a rule or regulation as defined in Executive Order 12866 and 
Departmental Regulation 1512-1; therefore, the Executive Order and 
Departmental Regulation do not apply to this action.
    Section 7(f)(1) of the Act authorizes GIPSA's Administrator to 
designate a qualified applicant to provide official services in a 
specified area after determining that the applicant is better able than 
any other applicant to provide such official services. GIPSA designated 
Minnesota, main office located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and 
Mississippi, main office located in Jackson, Mississippi, to provide 
official inspection and Class X and Class Y weighing services under the 
Act on January 1, 1995.
    Section 7(g)(1) of the Act provides that designations of official 
agencies shall end not later than triennially and may be renewed 
according to the criteria and procedures prescribed in Section 7(f) of 
the Act. The designations of Minnesota and Mississippi end on December 
31, 1997, according to the Act.
    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic 
area, the entire State of Minnesota, except those export port locations 
within the State, is assigned to Minnesota.
    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic 
area, the entire State of Mississippi, except those export port 
locations within the State, is assigned to Mississippi.
    Interested persons, including Minnesota and Mississippi, are hereby 
given the opportunity to apply for designation to provide official 
services in the geographic areas specified above under the provisions 
of Section 7(f) of the Act and section 800.196(d) of the regulations 
issued thereunder. Designation in the Minnesota and Mississippi areas 
is for the period beginning January 1, 1998, and ending December 31, 
2000. Persons wishing to apply for designation should contact the 
Compliance Division at the address listed above for forms and 
information.
    Applications and other available information will be considered in 
determining which applicant will be designated.

    Authority: Pub. L. 94-582, 90 Stat. 2867, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
71 et seq.)

    Dated: June 19, 1997
Neil E. Porter
Director, Compliance Division
[FR Doc. 97-16908 Filed 6-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-F