[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 41335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19926]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Opportunity for Designation in the Lima (OH) and Virginia Areas

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 Lima Grain 
Inspection Service, Inc. (Lima), and the Virginia Department of 
Agriculture and Consumer Services (Virginia), will end January 31, 
1998, according to the Act. GIPSA is asking persons interested in 
providing official services in the Lima and Virginia areas to submit an 
application for designation.

DATES: Applications must be postmarked or sent by telecopier (FAX) on 
or before September 2, 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 
Lima, main office located in Lima, Ohio, and Virginia, main office 
located in Richmond, Virginia, to provide official services under the 
Act on February 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 Lima and Virginia end on January 31, 1998, 
according to the Act.
    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic 
area, in the State of Ohio, is assigned to Lima.
    Bounded on the North by the northern and eastern Williams County 
lines; the northern and eastern Defiance County lines south to U.S. 
Route 24; U.S. Route 24 northeast to State Route 108;
    Bounded on the East by State Route 108 south to Putnam County; the 
northern and eastern Putnam County lines; the eastern Allen County 
line; the northern Hardin County line east to U.S. Route 68 (excluding 
all of Sidney, Ohio); U.S. Route 68 south to U.S. Route 47;
    Bounded on the South by U.S. Route 47 west-southwest to Interstate 
75; Interstate 75 south to the Shelby County line; the southern and 
western Shelby County lines; the southern Mercer County line; and
    Bounded on the West by the Ohio-Indiana State line from the 
southern Mercer County line to the northern Williams County line.
    Lima's assigned geographic area does not include the following 
grain elevator inside Lima's area which has been and will continue to 
be serviced by the following official agency: East Indiana Grain 
Inspection, Inc.: Payne Cooperative Association, Payne, Paulding 
County.
    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic 
area, the entire State of Virginia, except those export port locations 
within the State, is assigned to Virginia.
    Interested persons, including Lima and Virginia, 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 Lima and Virginia areas is for the 
period beginning February 1, 1998, and ending January 31, 2001. 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: July 24, 1997.
Neil E. Porter,
Director, Compliance Division.
[FR Doc. 97-19926 Filed 7-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-F