[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78283-78284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25145]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FGIS-23-0029]


Opportunity for United States Grain Standards Act Designation in 
Decatur, IN and Marshall, MI

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking persons or 
governmental agencies interested in providing official services in the 
areas noted below to submit an application 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, as 
appropriate.

[[Page 78284]]

In addition, we request comments on the quality of services provided by 
designated agency Michigan Grain Inspection Services, Inc. (Michigan 
Grain Inspection). 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.

DATES: Applications for the Decatur, IN, designation area must be 
received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on December 15, 2023.
    Applications and comments for the Marshall, MI, designation area, 
which is currently operated by Michigan Grain Inspection, must be 
received between January 1, 2024, and January 31, 2024.

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 
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 official agencies: 
Go to Regulations.gov (https://www.regulations.gov). Instructions for 
submitting and reading comments are detailed on the site.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. 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.
    To 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] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
revoked Northeast Indiana Grain Inspection Inc.'s designation as an 
agency that may perform official grain inspection and weighing services 
on August 21, 2023, due to its failure to comply with requirements of 
the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA). Further information and 
documentation on this legal matter can be received by contacting the 
USDA Hearing Clerk's office at 202.720.4443 or via email at 
[email protected]. Due to the designation revocation in 
this territory, USDA seeks new applicants for the Decatur, IN, 
designation area. Applications must be received by December 15, 2023.
    Additionally, the designation of the official agency listed below 
will end on the prescribed date:

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                                             Headquarters location and     Designation    Applications/comments
             Official agency                         telephone                 End             open period
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Michigan Grain Inspection Services, Inc..  Marshall, MI, 269-781-2711..       3/31/2024    01/01/2024-01/31/2024
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    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. Please see the regulation at 7 CFR 800.196 for further 
information and guidance.

Designation Application Locations

    The following identifies the specific areas of operation for 
designation applications.
    Decatur, Indiana: The designation area includes parts of Indiana. 
Please see the December 12, 2016, issue of the Federal Register (81 FR 
89428) for a description of the area open for designation. The 
designation area is listed under the subheading titled ``IN INDIANA.''
    Marshall, Michigan: The designation area includes parts of Michigan 
and Ohio. Please see the March 29, 2016, issue of the Federal Register 
(81 FR 17428-17431) for a description of the area open for designation. 
The designation area is listed under the subheading titled ``Marshall, 
MI.''

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. Designation in the specified geographic 
area in the Decatur, IN, area will begin after a designation decision 
is issued by the Agricultural Marketing Service. The designation in the 
specified geographic area for Michigan is expected to begin no sooner 
than April 1, 2024. If you have questions about how to apply for 
designation or wish to request more information on the geographic areas 
open for designation, please 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].
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 71-87k.

Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25145 Filed 11-14-23; 8:45 am]
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