[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 38971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18942]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Designation for the Kansas Area

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: GIPSA announces the designation of Kansas Grain Inspection 
Service, Inc. (Grain Inspection), to provide official services under 
the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act).

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: USDA, GIPSA, Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance 
Division, STOP 3604, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 
20250-3604.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet M. Hart, telephone 202-720-8525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    This action has been reviewed and determined not to be a rule or 
regulation as defined in Executive Order 12866 and Departmental 
Regulation 1512-1; therefore, the Executive Order and Departmental 
Regulation do not apply to this action.
    In the March 5, 1997, Federal Register (62 FR 10022), GIPSA 
announced an Opportunity for Designation in Kansas - Termination of 
Kansas' Designation, Possible Cancellation of Kansas' Designation, and 
Requests for Applications for Designation from Persons Interested in 
Providing Official Services in Kansas. Applications were due by March 
31, 1997. There were four applicants: Amarillo Grain Exchange, Inc., 
applied for designation to provide official services in the Kansas 
counties of Grant, Haskell, Morton, Seward, Stanton, and Stevens; the 
Kansas State Grain Inspection Department (Kansas) applied for 
designation to provide official services in the entire Kansas area (the 
area currently assigned to them); Kansas Grain Inspection Service, Inc. 
(Grain Inspection), a proposed organization being formed by the Kansas 
Grain and Feed Association to function under a trust, that plans to 
establish its main office in Topeka, Kansas, applied for designation to 
provide official services in the entire State of Kansas; and the 
Missouri Department of Agriculture applied for designation to provide 
official services in the Kansas counties of Atchison, Doniphan, 
Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte.
    Kansas, the currently designated official agency, subsequently 
withdrew its application.
    GIPSA requested comments on the applicants for the Kansas area in 
the April 14, 1997, Federal Register (62 FR 18085). Comments were due 
by May 13, 1997. GIPSA received 10 comments by the deadline.
    The 10 commentors: 8 grain firms currently served by Kansas, 1 
financial institution, and 1 grain association, each supported 
designation of Grain Inspection. These comments were of the view that 
Grain Inspection would be best able to provide official services.
    GIPSA evaluated all available information regarding the designation 
criteria in Section 7(f)(l)(A) of the Act; and according to Section 
7(f)(l)(B), determined that Grain Inspection is better able to provide 
official services in the geographic area for which they applied. 
Effective September 1, 1997, and ending August 31, 2000, Grain 
Inspection is designated to provide official services in the geographic 
area specified in the March 5, 1997, Federal Register.
    Interested persons may obtain official services by contacting Grain 
Inspection at 913-296-3451.

    Authority: Pub. L. 94-582, 90 Stat. 2867, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
71 et seq.)

    Dated: July 14, 1997
Neil E. Porter
Director, Compliance Division
[FR Doc. 97-18942 Filed 7-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-F