[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 106 (Monday, June 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 31430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12236]



[[Page 31430]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Designation for the Georgia, Montana, and Cedar Rapids (IA) Areas

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are announcing designation of the following organizations 
to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards 
Act, as amended (USGSA): Georgia Department of Agriculture (Georgia); 
Montana Department of Agriculture (Montana); and Mid-Iowa Grain 
Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa). We are also announcing an amendment of 
Mid-Iowa's designated geographic area.

DATES: Effective July 1, 2008.

ADDRESSES: USDA, GIPSA, Karen Guagliardo, Chief, Review Branch, 
Compliance Division, STOP 3604, Room 1647-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-3604.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Guagliardo at 202-720-7312, e-
mail [email protected].
    Read Applications: All applications and comments will be available 
for public inspection at the office above during regular business hours 
(7 CFR 1.27(b)).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the December 3, 2007, Federal Register 
(72 FR 67885), we requested applications for designation to provide 
official services in the geographic areas assigned to the official 
agencies named above. The notice stated incorrectly that applications 
were due by January 2, 2009. This was subsequently corrected in the 
February 15, 2008, Federal Register (73 FR 8851), and applications were 
due by February 25, 2008.
    Georgia and Montana were the sole applicants for designation to 
provide official services in the entire area currently assigned to 
them, so GIPSA did not ask for additional comments on them. There were 
three applicants for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area consisting of parts of 
northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and eastern Texas, so GIPSA asked 
for additional comments on the three applicants:
     Gulf Country Inspection Service, Inc. (Gulf Country) 
applied for the entire Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. Gulf Country 
subsequently amended its application and applied for just the east 
Texas region.
     South Texas Grain Inspection, LLC (South Texas) applied 
for a part of the east Texas region.
     Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa) applied for its 
entire current designation in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
    In the March 26, 2008 Federal Register (73 FR 15968), we requested 
comments on the applicants for designation to provide official services 
in the geographic areas assigned to Mid-Iowa. Comments were due by 
April 25, 2008. GIPSA received six positive comments on South Texas 
from officials of four grain companies.
    We evaluated all available information regarding the designation 
criteria in section 7(f)(1) of USGSA (7 U.S.C. 79(f)) and determined 
that Georgia and Montana are able to provide official services in the 
geographic areas specified in the December 3, 2007, Federal Register, 
for which they applied. These designation actions to provide official 
services are effective July 1, 2008, and terminate June 30, 2011, for 
Georgia and Montana. GIPSA determined that Mid-Iowa is able to provide 
official services in the Iowa and Minnesota geographic areas specified 
in the December 3, 2007, Federal Register, for which it applied. The 
designation for Mid-Iowa is a one-year designation, effective July 1, 
2008, and terminating June 30, 2009 to allow GIPSA additional time to 
determine the adequacy of performance in its Iowa and Minnesota 
geographic area. In accordance with section 7(f)(1)(A), GIPSA 
determined that none of the applicants are able to provide service in 
the Texas region that is described as follows:
    Bounded on the north by the northern Young, Jack, Montague, Cooke, 
Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Red River, Morris, and Marion County line east 
to the Texas State line;
    Bounded on the east by the eastern Texas State line south to the 
southern Texas State line;
    Bounded on the south by the southern Texas State line west to the 
western Val Verde County line;
    Bounded on the west by the western Val Verde, Edwards, Kimble, 
Mason, San Saba, Mills, Comanche, Eastland, Stephens, and Young County 
lines north to the northern Young County line. The geographic area does 
not include the export port locations which are serviced by GIPSA.
    Since a qualified applicant is not available on an interim basis, 
GIPSA will provide needed services in the east Texas region until such 
time that a qualified applicant is available. Interested persons may 
obtain official services by calling the telephone numbers listed below.

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                Official agency                   Headquarters location and telephone     Designation start-end
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Georgia.......................................  Atlanta, GA, 229-386-3129, Additional        7/1/2008-6/30/2011.
                                                 Location: Tifton, GA.
Montana.......................................  Helena, MT, 406-452-9561, Additional         7/1/2008-6/30/2011.
                                                 Location: Great Falls, MT.
Mid-Iowa......................................  Cedar Rapids, IA, 319-363-0239,              7/1/2008-6/30/2009.
                                                 Additional Location: Des Moines, IA.
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       GIPSA field office             Telephone
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League City....................  281-338-2787......  Service starting 7/1/2008 in part of Texas (described
                                                      above).
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    Section 7(f)(1) of the USGSA, 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 (7 U.S.C. 
79(f)(1)).
    Section 7(g)(1) of USGSA provides that designations of official 
agencies will terminate not later than three years and may be renewed 
according to the criteria and procedures prescribed in section 7(f) of 
USGSA.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 71-87k.

Alan Christian,
Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-12236 Filed 5-30-08; 8:45 am]
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