[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration Designation for the Kansas Area AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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