[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 70397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29756]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

[02-b]


Cancellation of Oregon's Designation, Request for Comments on the 
Need for Official Service in Oregon, and the Opportunity for 
Designation in the Oregon Area

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

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 Oregon Department of Agriculture 
(Oregon), is designated to provide official inspection services until 
June 30, 2005, according to the Act. Oregon informed Grain Inspection, 
Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) that they will cease 
providing official inspection effective November 27, 2002. Accordingly, 
GIPSA is announcing that Oregon's designation terminates effective 
November 27, 2002. GIPSA is also asking for comments on the need for 
service in the area, and asking for applicants for service in the area.

DATES: Applications and comments must be postmarked or electonically 
dated on or before December 23, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit applications and comments to USDA, GIPSA, Janet M. 
Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, STOP 3604, room 1647-
S, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-3604; FAX 202-690-
2755; e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet M. Hart at 202-720-8525, e-mail 
[email protected].

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' 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 
Oregon, main office in Salem, Oregon, to provide official inspection 
services under the Act on July 1, 2002.
    Section 7(g)(1) of the Act provides that designations of official 
agencies will end not later than triennially and may be renewed 
according to the criteria and procedures prescribed in Section 7(f) of 
the Act. The designation of Oregon ends on June 30, 2005, according to 
the Act. However, Oregon advised GIPSA that they will close their sole 
specified service point in Pendleton, Oregon, on November 27, 2002. 
Accordingly, GIPSA is canceling Oregon's designation effective November 
27, 2002, asking for comments on the need for official service in 
Oregon, and asking for applicants to provide service. GIPSA will select 
an applicant for service only if there is a demonstrated need.
    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic 
area is open for designation; the entire State of Oregon, except those 
export port locations within the State which are serviced by GIPSA. 
Interested persons are hereby given the opportunity to apply for 
designation to provide official services in the geographic areas 
specified above under provisions of Section 7(f) of the Act and section 
800.196(d) of the regulations issued thereunder. Persons wishing to 
apply for designation should contact the Compliance Division at the 
address listed above for forms and information, or obtain applications 
at the GIPSA Web site, http://www.usda.gov/gipsa/oversight/parovreg.htm.
    Any firms in Oregon that require official service after November 
27, 2002 should contact GIPSA's Portland Field Office at 503-326-7887.

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

    Dated: November 6, 2002.
Donna Reifschneider,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-29756 Filed 11-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P