[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]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 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.
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  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]]



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                                            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]
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