[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50886-50887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20226]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Opportunity for Designation in the Montgomery, AL; Saginaw, TX; 
Essex, IL; Savage, MN; and Olympia, WA Areas; Request for Comments on 
the Official Agencies Serving These Areas

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 
(GIPSA), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The designations of the official agencies listed below will 
end on December 31, 2014. We are asking persons or governmental 
agencies interested in providing official services in the areas 
currently 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: Alabama 
Department of Agriculture and Industries (Alabama); Gulf Country Grain 
Inspection Service, Inc. (Gulf Country); Kankakee Grain Inspection, 
Inc. (Kankakee); State Grain Inspection, Inc. (State); and Washington 
Department of Agriculture (Washington).

DATE: Applications and comments must be received by September 25, 2014.

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, Deputy 
Director, USDA, GIPSA, FGIS, QACD, 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 prescribed in section 79(f) of the 
USGSA.
    Areas Open for Designation:

Alabama

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the following geographic area, in the State of Alabama, is 
assigned to this official agency:

In Alabama

    The entire State, except those export port locations within the 
State, which are served by GIPSA.

Gulf Country

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the following geographic area, in the State of Texas, is assigned 
to this official agency:

In Texas

    Bounded on the north by the northern Young, Jack, Montague, Cooke, 
Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Red River, Morris, and Marion County Lines.
    Bounded on the east by the eastern Red River, Morris, Marion, 
Harrison, Panola, Shelby, Sabine, Newton, Orange, Jefferson, Chambers, 
Galveston, Brazoria, Matagorda, Jackson, Calhoun, Refugio, Aransas, San 
Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Kennedy, Willacy, and Cameron County Lines.
    Bounded on the south by the Southern Texas State Line.
    Bounded on the west by the western Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Zapata, 
Duval, McMullen, Atascosa, Bexar, Comal, Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, 
Mills, Comanche, Eastland, Stephens, Young, and Montague County Lines.
    Excludes export port locations served by GIPSA's League City Field 
Office, Beaumont Sub-office, and Corpus Christi Duty Point.

[[Page 50887]]

Kankakee

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the following geographic area, in the State of Illinois, is 
assigned to this official agency:

In Illinois

    Bounded on the North by the northern Bureau County line; the 
northern LaSalle and Grundy County lines; the northern Will County line 
east-southeast to Interstate 57;
    Bounded on the East by Interstate 57 south to U.S. Route 52; U.S. 
Route 52 south to the Kankakee County line;
    Bounded on the South by the southern Kankakee and Grundy County 
lines; the southern LaSalle County line west to State Route 17; State 
Route 17 west to U.S. Route 51; U.S. Route 51 north to State Route 18; 
State Route 18 west to State Route 26; State Route 26 south to State 
Route 116; State Route 116 south to Interstate 74; Interstate 74 west 
to the western Peoria County line;
    Bounded on the West by the western Peoria and Stark County lines; 
the northern Stark County line east to State Route 40; State Route 40 
north to the Bureau County line.

State

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the following geographic area, in the State of Minnesota, is 
assigned to this official agency:

In Minnesota

    Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Carver, Scott, Dakota, Brown, 
Nicollet, Le Sueur, Rice, Goodhue, Watonwan, Blue Earth, Waseca, 
Steele, Dodge, McLeod, and Sibley Counties.

Washington

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the following geographic area, in the States of Idaho, Oregon, and 
Washington, are assigned to this official agency:

In Idaho

    The northern half of the State of Idaho down to the northern 
boundaries of Adams, Valley, and Lemhi Counties.

In Oregon

    The entire State of Oregon, except those export port locations 
within the State that are served by GIPSA.

In Washington

    The entire State of Washington, except those export port locations 
within the State that are served by GIPSA.

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 January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2017. 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 
Alabama, Gulf Country, Kankakee, State, and Washington 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. 2014-20226 Filed 8-25-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P