[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 231 (Monday, December 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72762-72764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28246]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Opportunity for Designation in Topeka, KS; Cedar Rapids, IA; 
Minot, ND; and Cincinnati, OH, Areas and Request for Comments on the 
Official Agencies Serving These Areas

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The designations of the official agencies listed below will 
end on June 30, 2009. GIPSA is asking persons interested in providing 
official services in the areas served by these agencies to submit 
applications for designation. GIPSA is also asking for comments on the 
quality of services provided by these currently designated agencies:
    Kansas Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Kansas);
    Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa);
    Minot Grain Inspection, Inc. (Minot); and
    Tri-State Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Tri-State).

DATES: Applications and comments must be received on or before January 
2, 2009.

ADDRESSES: GIPSA invites you to submit applications and comments on 
this notice by any of the following methods:
     To apply for designation, go to ``FGISonline'' at https://fgis.gipsa.usda.gov/default_home_FGIS.aspx then select Delegations/
Designations and Export Registrations (DDR). You will need a USDA e-
authentication, username, password, and a customer number prior to 
applying.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Karen Guagliardo, Review Branch 
Chief, Compliance Division, GIPSA, USDA, Room 1647-S, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250.
     Fax: (202) 690-2755, to the attention of: Karen 
Guagliardo.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: Karen Guagliardo, Review Branch Chief, Compliance 
Division, GIPSA, USDA, STOP 3604, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-3604.

[[Page 72763]]

     Internet: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
online instructions for submitting and reading comments online.
    Read Applications and Comments: All applications and comments will 
be available for public inspection at the office above during regular 
business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Guagliardo at 202-720-7312, e-
mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 7(f)(1) of the United States Grain 
Standards Act (USGSA or Act) (7 U.S.C. 71-87k) 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.
    Under section 7(g)(1) of the USGSA, designations of official 
agencies are effective for 3 years unless terminated by the Secretary, 
but may be renewed according to the criteria and procedures prescribed 
in section 7(f) of the Act.

                                Current Designations Being Announced for Renewal
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                                                                                    Designation     Designation
                Official agency                            Main office                 start            end
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Kansas........................................  Topeka, KS......................        7/1/2009       6/30/2012
Mid-Iowa......................................  Cedar Rapids, IA................        7/1/2009       6/30/2012
Minot.........................................  Minot, ND.......................        7/1/2009       6/30/2012
Tri-State.....................................  Cincinnati, OH..................        7/1/2009       6/30/2012
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Kansas

    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the USGSA, the following geographic 
area, in the States of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming is 
assigned to Kansas:
    The entire State of Colorado.
    The entire State of Kansas.
    In Nebraska:
    Bounded on the North by the northern Scotts Bluff County line; the 
northern Morrill County line east to Highway 385;
    Bounded on the East by Highway 385 south to the northern Cheyenne 
County line; the northern and eastern Cheyenne County lines; the 
northern and eastern Deuel County lines;
    Bounded on the South by the southern Deuel, Cheyenne, and Kimball 
County lines; and
    Bounded on the West by the western Kimball, Banner, and Scotts 
Bluff County lines.
    In Wyoming:
    Goshen, Laramie, and Platt Counties.
    Kansas' assigned geographic area does not include the following 
grain elevators inside Kansas' area which have been and will continue 
to be serviced by Hastings Grain Inspection, Inc.: Farmers Coop and Big 
Springs Elevator, both in Big Springs, Deuel County, Nebraska.

Mid-Iowa

    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the USGSA, the following geographic 
area in the States of Minnesota and Iowa is assigned to Mid-Iowa:
    In Minnesota:
    Wabasha, Olmstead, Winona, Houston, and Fillmore Counties.
    In Iowa:
    Bounded on the North by the northern Winneshiek and Allamakee 
County lines;
    Bounded on the East by the eastern Allamakee County line; the 
eastern and southern Clayton County lines; the eastern Buchanan County 
line; the northern and eastern Jones County lines; the eastern Cedar 
County line south to State Route 130;
    Bounded on the South by State Route 130 west to State Route 38; 
State Route 38 south to Interstate 80; Interstate 80 west to U.S. Route 
63; and
    Bounded on the West by U.S. Route 63 north to State Route 8; State 
Route 8 east to State Route 21; State Route 21 north to D38; D38 east 
to State Route 297; State Route 297 north to V49; V49 north to Bremer 
County; the southern Bremer County line; the western Fayette and 
Winneshiek County lines.

Minot

    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the USGSA, the following geographic 
area, in the State of North Dakota, is assigned to Minot:
    Bounded on the North by the North Dakota State line east to the 
eastern Bottineau County line;
    Bounded on the East by the eastern Bottineau County line south to 
the northern Pierce County line; the northern Pierce County line east 
to State Route 3; State Route 3 south to State Route 200;
    Bounded on the South by State Route 200 west to State Route 41; 
State Route 41 south to U.S. Route 83; U.S. Route 83 northwest to State 
Route 200; State Route 200 west to U.S. Route 85; U.S. Route 85 south 
to Interstate 94; Interstate 94 west to the North Dakota State line; 
and
    Bounded on the West by the North Dakota State line.
    The following grain elevators, located outside of the above 
contiguous geographic area, are part of this geographic area 
assignment: Benson Quinn Company, Underwood, and Falkirk Farmers 
Elevator, Washburn, both in McLean County, North Dakota; and Harvey 
Farmers Elevator, Harvey, Wells County, North Dakota (located inside 
Grain Inspection, Inc.'s, area).

Tri-State

    Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the USGSA, the following geographic 
area in the States of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio is assigned to Tri-
State:
    In Indiana:
    Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, Rush (south of State 
Route 244), and Switzerland Counties.
    In Kentucky:
    Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Bracken, Campbell, Clark, Fleming, Gallatin, 
Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Lewis (west of State Route 59), Mason, 
Montgomery, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, and Robertson Counties.
    In Ohio:
    Bounded on the North by the northern Preble County line east; the 
western and northern Miami County lines east to State Route 296; State 
Route 296 east to State Route 560; State Route 560 south to the Clark 
County line; the northern Clark County line east to U.S. Route 68;
    Bounded on the East by U.S. Route 68 south to U.S. Route 22; U.S. 
Route 22 east to State Route 73; State Route 73 southeast to the Adams 
County line; the eastern Adams County line;
    Bounded on the South by the southern Adams, Brown, Clermont, and 
Hamilton County lines; and
    Bounded on the West by the western Hamilton, Butler, and Preble 
County lines.

Opportunity for Designation

    Interested persons, including Kansas, Mid-Iowa, Minot, and Tri-
State, may apply for designation to provide official services in the 
geographic areas specified above under the provisions of section 7(f) 
of the USGSA and 7 CFR

[[Page 72764]]

800.196(d). Designation in the specified geographic areas is for the 
period beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2012. To apply for 
designation or for more information contact the Compliance Division at 
the address listed above or visit the GIPSA Web site at http://www.gipsa.usda.gov.

Request for Comments

    GIPSA is also publishing this notice to provide interested persons 
the opportunity to comment on the quality of services provided by the 
Kansas, Mid-Iowa, Minot, and Tri-State official agencies. In the 
designation process, GIPSA is particularly interested in receiving 
comments citing reasons and pertinent data in support of or objection 
to the designation of the applicants. Submit all comments to the 
Compliance Division at the above address or at http://www.regulations.gov.
    GIPSA will consider applications, comments, and other available 
information to determine which applicant will be designated.

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

Alan Christian,
Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-28246 Filed 11-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P