[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63514-63515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31334]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Designation for the State of Minnesota

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: GIPSA announces the designation of the Minnesota Department of 
Agriculture (Minnesota) to provide official services under the United 
States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act).

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: USDA, GIPSA, Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance 
Division, STOP 3604, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 
20250-3604.

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.
    In the June 30, 1997, Federal Register (62 FR 35147), GIPSA asked 
persons interested in providing official services in the geographic 
area assigned to

[[Page 63515]]

Minnesota to submit an application for designation. Applications were 
due by July 30, 1997. There were three applicants for the Minnesota 
area: Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc., applied for designation to 
provide official services in the Minnesota counties of Filmore, 
Houston, and Winona; Minnesota applied for designation to provide 
official services in the entire Minnesota area; and Sioux City 
Inspection and Weighing Service Company, applied for designation to 
provide official services in the Minnesota counties of Murray, Nobles, 
Pipestone, and Rock.
    GIPSA requested comments on the applicants for the Minnesota area 
in the September 2, 1997, Federal Register (62 FR 46245). Comments were 
due by October 1, 1997. GIPSA received no comments by the deadline.
    GIPSA evaluated all available information regarding the designation 
criteria in Section 7(f)(l)(A) of the Act and, according to Section 
7(f)(l)(B), determined that Minnesota is better able to provide 
official services in the Minnesota area.
    Effective January 1, 1998, and ending December 31, 2000, Minnesota 
is designated to provide official services in the geographic area 
specified in the June 30, 1997, Federal Register.
    Interested persons may obtain services by contacting Minnesota at 
612-341-7190.

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

    Dated: November 21, 1997.
Neil E. Porter,
Director, Compliance Division.
[FR Doc. 97-31334 Filed 11-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P