[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14622-14623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06969]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Notice of Intent To Certify Virginia Department of Agriculture 
and Consumer Services (Virginia); Request for Comments

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: AMS is asking for comments on the quality of services provided 
by this Delegated State: Virginia Department of Agriculture and 
Consumer Services (Virginia). The realignment of offices within the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized by the Secretary's Memorandum 
dated November 14, 2017, eliminates the Grain Inspection, Packers and 
Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) as a standalone agency. The grain 
inspection activities formerly part of GIPSA are now organized under 
AMS.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments concerning this Notice using any of the 
following methods:
     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: Mark Wooden, Compliance 
Officer, USDA, AMS, FGIS, QACD, 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas 
City, MO 64153.
     Fax: Mark Wooden, 816-872-1257.
     Email: [email protected] or 
[email protected].
    Read Comments: All comments are available for public inspection at 
the office above during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(c)).

[[Page 14623]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Wooden, 816-659-8413, 
[email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 7(e)(2)(A) of the United States 
Grain Standards Act (USGSA) designates that if the Secretary 
determines, pursuant to paragraph (3) of Section 7(e), that a State 
agency is qualified to perform official inspection, meets the criteria 
in subsection (f)(1)(A) of Section 7, and (i) was performing official 
inspection at an export port location under this chapter on July 1, 
1976, or (ii)(I) performed official inspection at an export port 
location at any time prior to July 1, 1976, (II) was designated under 
subsection (f) of Section 7 on December 22, 1982, to perform official 
inspections at locations other than export port locations, and (III) 
operates in a State from which total annual exports do not exceed, as 
determined by the Secretary, five per centum of the total amount of 
grain exported from the United States annually, the Secretary may 
delegate authority to the State agency to perform all or specified 
functions involving official inspection (other than appeal inspection) 
at export port locations within the State, including export port 
locations which may in the future be established, subject to such 
rules, regulations, instructions, and oversight as the Secretary may 
prescribe, and any such official inspection shall continue to be the 
direct responsibility of the Secretary. Any such delegation may be 
revoked by the Secretary, at the discretion of the Secretary, at any 
time upon notice to the State agency without opportunity for a hearing. 
Under Section 7(e) of the USGSA, every five years, the Secretary shall 
certify that each State agency with a delegation of authority is 
meeting the criteria described in subsection (f)(1)(A). Delegations 
shall be renewed according to the criteria and procedures set forth in 
Section 7(e)(2)(B) of the USGSA.

Area of Delegation

Virginia

    Pursuant to Section 7(e)(2) of the USGSA, the following export port 
locations in the State of Virginia are assigned to this State agency.
    In Virginia:
    All export port locations in the State of Virginia.

Request for Comments

    We are publishing this Notice to provide interested persons the 
opportunity to comment on the quality of services provided by the State 
of Virginia. We are particularly interested in receiving comments 
citing reasons and pertinent data supporting or objecting to the 
delegation of the applicant. Submit all comments to Mark Wooden at the 
above address or at http://www.regulations.gov.
    We consider comments and other available information when 
determining certification.

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

    Dated: April 2, 2018.
Greg Ibach,
Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2018-06969 Filed 4-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P