[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 249 (Friday, December 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76453-76454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31318]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Opportunity for Designation in Amarillo, TX; Cairo, IL; Baton 
Rouge, LA; Raleigh, NC; and Belmond, IA Areas; Request for Comments on 
the Official Agencies Servicing 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 September 30, 2013. We are asking persons or governmental 
agencies interested in providing official services in the areas 
presently served by these agencies to submit an application for 
designation. In addition, we are asking for comments on the quality of 
services provided by the following designated agencies: Amarillo Grain 
Exchange, Inc. (Amarillo); Cairo Grain Inspection Agency, Inc. (Cairo); 
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (Louisiana); North 
Carolina Department of Agriculture (North Carolina); and D.R. Schaal 
Agency, Inc. (Schaal).

DATE: Applications and comments must be received by January 28, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit applications and comments concerning this notice 
using any of the following methods:
     Applying for Designation on the Internet: Use FGISOnline 
(https://fgis.gipsa.usda.gov/default_home_FGIS.aspx) and then click 
on the Delegations/Designations and Export Registrations (DDR) link. 
You will need to obtain an FGISOnline customer number and USDA 
eAuthentication username and password prior to applying.
     Submit Comments Using the Internet: Go to Regulations.gov 
(http://www.regulations.gov). Instructions for submitting and reading 
comments are detailed on the site.
     Mail, Courier or Hand Delivery: Eric J. Jabs, Chief, USDA, 
GIPSA, FGIS, QACD, QADB, 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 
64153
     Fax: Eric J. Jabs, 816-872-1257
     Email: [email protected]
    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(c)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric J. Jabs, 816-659-8408 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 79(f) of the United States Grain 
Standards Act (USGSA) authorizes the Secretary 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)). Under section 
79(g) of the USGSA, designations of official agencies are effective for 
three years unless terminated by the Secretary, but may be renewed 
according to the criteria and procedures

[[Page 76454]]

prescribed in section 79(f) of the USGSA.

Areas Open for Designation

Amarillo

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the following geographic areas, in the States of Oklahoma and 
Texas are assigned to this official agency:

In Texas

    Armstrong (north of Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River), 
Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith (east of U.S. 
Route 385), Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hall (east of U.S. Route 287), 
Harley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, 
Potter, Randall (north of Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River, State 
Route 217 and FM 1062), Roberts, Sherman, and Wheeler Counties.

In Oklahoma

    Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas Counties.

Cairo

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the following geographic areas, in the States of Illinois, 
Kentucky, and Tennessee are assigned to this official agency:

In Illinois

    Alexander, Jackson County (south of State Route 3, State Route 149, 
and State Route 13; west of U.S. Route 51), Johnson, Hardin, Massac, 
Pope, Pulaski, Randolph County (south of State Route 150 and south of 
State Route 3), and Union Counties.

In Kentucky

    Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, 
Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, and Trigg Counties.

In Tennessee

    Benton, Dickson, Henry, Houston, Humphreys, Lake, Montgomery, 
Obion, Stewart, and Weakley Counties.

Louisiana

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the entire State of Louisiana, except those export port locations 
within the State which are serviced by GIPSA, is assigned to this 
official agency.

North Carolina

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the entire State of North Carolina, except those export port 
locations within the State which are serviced by GIPSA, is assigned to 
this official agency.

D.R. Schaal

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the following geographic areas, in the States of Iowa, Minnesota, 
New Jersey, and New York are assigned to this official agency:

In Iowa

    Butler (north of County Road C23 and County Road C33, east of 
County Road T47, and west of State Highway 188/County Road T64), Cerro 
Gordo, Floyd (west of County Road T64 and north of County Road B60), 
Franklin (north of County Road C55, County Road C25, and County Road 
C23 and west of U.S. Route 65, County Road S41, and County Road S56), 
Hancock, Kossuth (east of U.S. Route 169), Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth, 
Wright (north of State Route 3 and Interstate 35 and east of State 
Route 17 and U.S. Route 65) Counties.

In Minnesota

    Faribault, Freeborn, and Mower Counties.

In New Jersey

    The entire State of New Jersey, except those export port locations 
within the State which are serviced by GIPSA, is assigned to this 
official agency.

In New York

    The entire State of New York, except those export port locations 
within the State which are serviced by GIPSA, is assigned to this 
official agency.

Opportunity for Designation

    Interested persons or governmental agencies may apply for 
designation to provide official services in the geographic areas 
specified above under the provisions of section 79(f) of the USGSA and 
7 CFR 800.196. Designation in the specified geographic areas is for the 
period beginning October 1, 2013 and ending September 30, 2016. To 
apply for designation or for more information, contact Eric J. Jabs at 
the address listed above or visit GIPSA's Web site at http://www.gipsa.usda.gov.

Request for Comments

    We are publishing this notice to provide interested persons the 
opportunity to comment on the quality of services provided by the 
Amarillo, Cairo, Louisiana, North Carolina and Schaal official 
agencies. In the designation process, we are particularly interested in 
receiving comments citing reasons and pertinent data supporting or 
objecting to the designation of the applicants. Submit all comments to 
Eric J. Jabs at the above address or at http://www.regulations.gov.
    We consider applications, comments, and other available information 
when determining which applicants will be designated.

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

Larry Mitchell,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-31318 Filed 12-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P