[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19051-19053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06642]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 61 / Thursday, March 30, 2023 /
Notices
[[Page 19051]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-FGIS-23-0002]
Opportunities in 2023 for United States Grain Standards Act
Designation in Jamestown, ND; Lincoln, Nebraska; Memphis, Tennessee;
Topeka, KS; Cedar Rapids, IA; Minot, ND; Cincinnati, OH; Pocatello, ID;
Evansville, IN; West Sacramento, CA and Richmond, VA; Intent To Certify
Delegated Agencies Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services and Wisconsin Department of Agriculture
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) designations of
the official agencies listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below will
end on the prescribed dates. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
is seeking persons or governmental agencies interested in providing
official services in the areas presently served by these agencies to
apply for designation. Designation provides for private entities or
state governmental agencies to be an integral part of the official
grain inspection system (https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/fgis/official-grain-inspection-weighing-system). Designated agencies work
under the supervision of the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS)
and are authorized to provide official inspection and weighing services
in a defined geographic area. In addition, we request comments on the
quality of services provided by the following designated agencies:
Grain Inspection, Inc. (Jamestown); Lincoln Grain Inspection Service,
Inc. (Lincoln); Midsouth Grain Inspection Service (Midsouth); Kansas
Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Kansas); Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection,
Inc. (Mid-Iowa); Minot Grain Inspection, Inc. (Minot); Tri-State Grain
Inspection, Inc. (Tri-State); Idaho Grain Inspection Service, Inc.
(Idaho); Ohio Valley Grain Inspection, Inc. (Ohio Valley); California
Agri Inspection Co., Ltd. (California); and Virginia Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services (Virginia). AMS encourages
submissions from traditionally underrepresented individuals,
organizations, and businesses to reflect the diversity of this
industry. AMS encourages submissions from qualified applicants,
regardless of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, national origin, religion, disability status, protected
veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. AMS is
also asking for comments on the quality of official services at export
port locations provided by delegated state agencies Virginia Department
of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Virginia) and Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture (Wisconsin). AMS considers comments and other
available information when determining certification.
DATES: Comments for delegated state agency Wisconsin must be received
by May 1, 2023.
Applications and comments for areas of designation terminating on
March 31, 2023, currently operated by Jamestown, Lincoln, and Midsouth
must be received by May 1, 2023.
Applications and comments for areas of designation terminating on
June 30, 2023, currently operated by Kansas, Mid-Iowa, Minot and Tri-
State must be received between April 1, 2023, and April 30, 2023.
Applications and comments for areas of designation terminating on
September 30, 2023, currently operated by Idaho and Ohio Valley must be
received between July 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023.
Applications and comments for areas of designation terminating on
December 31, 2023, currently operated by California and Virginia must
be received between October 1, 2023, and October 31, 2023.
Comments on the quality of official services at export port
locations provided by delegated state agency Virginia must be received
between October 1, 2023-October 31, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Submit applications and comments concerning this Notice
using the following methods:
To apply for USGSA Designation: You will need to obtain an
FGISonline customer number (CIM) and create a USDA eAuthentication
account at https://www.eauth.usda.gov/eauth/b/usda/home prior to
applying. Then go to FGISonline at https://fgisonline.ams.usda.gov/ and
then click on the Delegations/Designations and Export Registrations
(DDR) link. Applicants are encouraged to begin the designation
application process early and allow time for system authentication.
To submit Comments Regarding Current Designated and/or
Delegated Official Agencies: Go to Regulations.gov (https://www.regulations.gov). Instructions for submitting and reading comments
are detailed on the site. All comments must be submitted through the
Federal e-rulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov and should
reference the document number and the date and page number of this
issue of the Federal Register. All comments submitted in response to
this notice will be included in the record and will be made available
to the public. Please be advised that the identity of the individuals
or entities submitting comments will be made public on the internet at
the address provided above.
Read Applications and Comments: If you would like to view the
applications, please contact [email protected]. All comments will be
available for public viewing online at https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Ricardo Espitia, Compliance
Officer, Federal Grain Inspection Service, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (202)
699-0246; or Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The designations of the official agencies
listed below will end on the prescribed dates:
[[Page 19052]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Headquarters location and Designation Applications/comments open
Official agency telephone end period
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grain Inspection, Inc.................... Jamestown, ND, 701-252-1290 3/31/2023 30 Days After Publication.
Lincoln Grain Inspection Service, Inc.... Lincoln, NE, 402-435-4386.. 3/31/2023 30 Days After Publication.
Midsouth Grain Inspection Service........ Memphis, TN, 901-942-3216.. 3/31/2023 30 Days After Publication.
Kansas Grain Inspection Service, Inc..... Topeka, KS, 785-233-7063... 6/30/2023 04/01/2023-04/30/2023.
Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc........... Cedar Rapids, IA, 319-363- 6/30/2023 04/01/2023-04/30/2023.
0239.
Minot Grain Inspection, Inc.............. Minot, ND, 701-838-1734.... 6/30/2023 04/01/2023-04/30/2023.
Tri-State Grain Inspection, Inc.......... Cincinnati, OH, 513-251- 6/30/2023 04/01/2023-04/30/2023.
6571.
Idaho Grain Inspection Service, Inc...... Pocatello, ID, 208-233-8303 9/30/2023 07/01/2023-07/31/2023.
Ohio Valley Grain Inspection, Inc........ Evansville, IN, 812-423- 9/30/2023 07/01/2023-07/31/2023.
9010.
California Agri Inspection Co., Ltd...... Sacramento, CA, 916-374- 12/31/2023 10/01/2023-10/31/2023.
9700.
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Richmond, VA, 757-494-2455. 12/31/2023 10/01/2023-10/31/2023.
Consumer Services.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 7(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)). A designated agency may provide
official inspection service and/or Class X or Class Y weighing services
at locations other than port locations. Under section 7(g) of the
USGSA, designations of official agencies are effective for no longer
than five years, unless terminated by the Secretary, and may be renewed
according to the criteria and procedures prescribed in section 7(f) of
the USGSA. See also, 7 CFR 800.196 for further information and
guidance.
Additionally, the USGSA Section 7(e) (7 U.S.C. 79(e)), requires the
Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to certify, every five years, that
each State agency with a delegation of authority is meeting the
criteria described for carrying out inspections on behalf of the
Secretary. This certification process includes: (1) Publishing, in the
Federal Register, a notice of intent to certify a State agency and
provide a 30-day period for public comment; (2) evaluating the public
comments received; and (3) conducting an investigation to determine
whether the State agency is qualified. Findings must be based on public
comments received and investigation conducted. Once concluded, USDA
will publish a Federal Register notice announcing whether the
certification has been granted, describing the basis on which the
Secretary made the decision.
Designation Application Locations
The following list identifies the currently operating designated
official agencies and the specific areas of operation for designation
applications. These are listed in order of anticipated designation
termination date.
Jamestown: Areas of designation include parts of North Dakota and
Minnesota. Please see the April 18, 2018, issue of the Federal Register
(83 FR 17138) for descriptions of the areas open for designation.
Lincoln: Areas of designation include parts of Iowa and Nebraska.
Please see the September 05, 2017, issue of the Federal Register (82 FR
41913) for descriptions of the areas open for designation.
Midsouth: Areas of designation include parts of Arkansas,
Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. Please see the September 05, 2017,
issue of the Federal Register (82 FR 41911) for descriptions of the
areas open for designation.
Kansas: Areas of designation include parts of Colorado, Kansas,
Nebraska, and Wyoming. Please see the February 11, 2015, issue of the
Federal Register (80 FR 7564) for descriptions of the areas open for
designation.
Mid-Iowa: Areas of designation include parts of Iowa, Illinois, and
Minnesota. Please see the February 10, 2020, issue of the Federal
Register (85 FR 7527) for descriptions of the areas open for
designation.
Minot: Areas of designation include parts of North Dakota. Please
see the February 11, 2015, issue of the Federal Register (80 FR 7564)
for descriptions of the areas open for designation.
Tri-State: Areas of designation include parts of Indiana, Kentucky,
and Ohio.
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
eastern Miami County line; eastern Miami County line south to U.S. 36;
U.S. 36 east to State Route 560; State Route 560 south to Valley Pike
Road; Valley Pike Road 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.
Idaho: Areas of designation include parts of Idaho. Please see the
July 01, 2015, issue of the Federal Register (80 FR 37581) for
descriptions of the areas open for designation.
Ohio Valley: Areas of designation include parts of Indiana,
Kentucky, and Tennessee. Please see the July 01, 2015, issue of the
Federal Register (80 FR 37581) for descriptions of the areas open for
designation.
California: Areas of designation include parts of the State of
California. Please see the July 01, 2015, issue of the Federal Register
(80 FR 37580) for descriptions of the areas open for designation.
Virginia: Areas of designation include the entire state of Virginia
except export port locations within the state. Please see the July 01,
2015, issue of the Federal Register (80 FR 37580) for descriptions of
the areas open for designation.
Opportunity for Designation
Interested persons or governmental agencies may apply for
designation to provide official services in the geographic areas of the
official agencies specified above under the provisions of section 7(f)
of the USGSA and 7 CFR 800.196. Designations in the specified
geographic areas for Jamestown, Lincoln, and Midsouth will occur no
sooner than April 1, 2023. Designations in the specified geographic
areas for Kansas, Mid-Iowa, Minot and Tri-State will occur no sooner
than July 1, 2023. Designations in the specified geographic areas for
Idaho and Ohio Valley will occur no sooner than October 1, 2023.
Designations in the specified geographic areas for California and
Virginia will
[[Page 19053]]
occur no sooner than January 1, 2024. To apply for designation or to
request more information on the geographic areas serviced by these
official agencies contact [email protected].
Please note that sampling, weighing, and inspection services may be
offered by designated agencies under the Agricultural Marketing Act of
1946 for other commodities under the auspices of FGIS through separate
cooperative service agreements with AMS. The service area for such
cooperative agreements mirrors the USGSA designation area. For further
information, see 7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq or contact [email protected].
Areas 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.
Wisconsin
Pursuant to Section 7(e)(2) of the USGSA, the following export port
locations in the State of Wisconsin are assigned to this State agency.
In Wisconsin: All export port locations in the State of Wisconsin.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 71-87k.
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06642 Filed 3-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P