[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 148 (Monday, August 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41224-41225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20071]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Opportunity for Designation in the Alton (IL), Columbus (OH), and 
Farwell (TX) Areas, and Request for Comments on the Alton, Columbus, 
and Farwell Agencies

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 Alton Grain 
Inspection Department (Alton), Columbus Grain Inspection, Inc. 
(Columbus), and Farwell Grain Inspection, Inc. (Farwell), will end 
January 31, 1999, according to the Act. GIPSA is asking persons 
interested in providing official services in the Alton, Columbus, and 
Farwell areas to submit an application for designation. GIPSA is also 
asking for comments on the services provided by Alton, Columbus, and 
Farwell.

DATES: Applications must be postmarked or sent by telecopier (FAX) on 
or before September 1, 1998. Comments are due by October 31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Applications and comments must be submitted to USDA, GIPSA, 
Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, STOP 3604, 
Room 1647-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3604. 
Applications and comments 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 and comments will be made 
available for public inspection at this address located at 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW, during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet M. Hart, at 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 
Alton, main office located in St. Paul, Missouri, Columbus, main office 
located in Circleville, Ohio, and Farwell, main office located in 
Farwell, Texas, to provide official inspection services under the Act 
on February 1, 1996.
    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 Alton, Columbus, and Farwell end on 
January 31, 1999, according to the Act.
    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic 
area, in the State of Illinois, is assigned to Alton.
    Calhoun, Jersey, and Madison (West of State Route 4 and North of 
Interstate 70 and 270) Counties.
    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic 
area, in the States of Michigan and Ohio, is assigned to Columbus.
    In Ohio: Bounded on the North by the northern Lucas County line 
east to Lake Erie; the Lake Erie shoreline east to the Ohio-
Pennsylvania State line;
    Bounded on the East by the Ohio-Pennsylvania State line south to 
the Ohio River;
    Bounded on the South by the Ohio River south-southwest to the 
western Scioto County line; and
    Bounded on the West by the western Scioto County line north to 
State Route 73; State Route 73 northwest to U.S. Route 22; U.S. Route 
22 west to U.S. Route 68; U.S. Route 68 north to Clark County; the 
northern Clark County line west to State Route 560; State Route 560 
north to State Route 296; State Route 296 west to Interstate 75; 
Interstate 75 north to State Route 47; State Route 47 northeast to U.S. 
Route 68 (including all of Sidney, Ohio); U.S. Route 68 north to U.S. 
Route 30; U.S. Route 30 east to State Route 19; State Route 19 north to 
Seneca County; the southern Seneca County line west to State Route 53; 
State Route 53 north to Sandusky County; the southern Sandusky County 
line west to State Route 590; State Route 590 north to Ottawa County; 
the southern and western Ottawa and Lucas County lines.
    In Michigan: those sections of Jackson, Lenawee, and Monroe 
Counties which are east of State Route 127 and south of State Route 50.
    Columbus' assigned geographic area does not include the export port 
locations inside Columbus' area which are serviced by GIPSA.
    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic 
area, in the States of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, is assigned to 
Farwell.
    Maricopa, Pinal, and Yuma Counties, Arizona.
    Bernalillo, Chaves, Curry, DeBaca, Eddy, Guadalupe, Lea, Quay, 
Roosevelt, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance, and Union Counties, New 
Mexico.
    Bailey, Cochran, Deaf Smith (west of State Route 214), Hockley, 
Lamb (south of a line bounded by U.S. Route 70, FM 303, U.S. Route 84, 
and FM 37), and Parmer Counties, Texas.
    Interested persons, including Alton, Columbus, and Farwell 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 Alton, Columbus, and 
Farwell areas is for the period beginning February 1, 1999, and ending 
January 31, 2002. Persons wishing to apply for designation should 
contact the Compliance Division at the address listed above for forms 
and information.
    GIPSA also is publishing this notice to provide interested persons 
the opportunity to present comments on the Alton, Columbus, and Farwell 
official agencies. Commentors are encouraged to submit pertinent data 
concerning the Alton, Columbus, and Farwell official agencies including 
information on the timeliness, cost, quality, and scope of services 
provided. All comments must be submitted to the Compliance Division at 
the above address.
    Applications, comments, and other available information will be 
considered

[[Page 41225]]

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 17, 1998.
Neil E. Porter,
Director, Compliance Division.
[FR Doc. 98-20071 Filed 7-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P