Opportunities for United States Grain Standards Act Designation in the Lower Northwest Texas Area; the Southeast Texas Area; the Keokuk, Iowa Area; and the Fargo, North Dakota Area
| Published date | 18 July 2024 |
| Record Number | 2024-15815 |
| Citation | 89 FR 58327 |
| Court | Agricultural Marketing Service |
| Section | Notices |
Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58327-58328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15815]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 138 / Thursday, July 18, 2024 /
Notices
[[Page 58327]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-FGIS-24-0029]
Opportunities for United States Grain Standards Act Designation
in the Lower Northwest Texas Area; the Southeast Texas Area; the
Keokuk, Iowa Area; and the Fargo, North Dakota Area
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments and applications for designation.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) requests comments on
the need for U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA) services in the newly
formed Lower Northwest Texas and Southeast Texas geographic areas
described below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. AMS is also
asking persons, entities, or governmental agencies interested in
providing official inspection and weighing services, in those areas, to
apply for designation. The designated USGSA authority for two official
agencies, Keokuk Grain Inspection (Keokuk) and North Dakota Grain
Inspection, Inc. (NDGI), will end on the prescribed dates listed in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. AMS is requesting designation
applications from interested persons, entities, or governmental
agencies that would like to provide official inspection and weighing
services for the areas presently served by these two agencies. In
addition to this request for applications, AMS seeks comments on the
quality of services provided by Keokuk and NDGI.
DATES: Comments expressing the need for and applications to provide
USGSA services for the Lower Northwest Texas and Southeast Texas
geographic must be received by August 19, 2024.
Applications and comments for the areas of designation terminating
on March 31, 2025, currently serviced by Keokuk, must be received
between November 1 and November 30, 2024.
Applications and comments for the areas of designation terminating
on December 31, 2025, currently serviced by NDGI, must be received
between August 1 and August 31, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Submit applications and comments concerning this Notice
using the following methods:
To apply for USGSA Designation: New applicants (not currently
designated) seeking designation or currently designated applicants
seeking to apply for designation in a new geographic area can find
detailed instructions at https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/FGISApplyingforDesignation_NewApplicants.pdf. Applicants will
need to obtain a Login.gov account, a MyFGIS number, and to request
access to FGISonline Delegations/Designations and Export Registrations
(DDR) prior to applying. Applicants are encouraged to begin the
application process early to allow time for system authentication.
To submit Comments Regarding Currently Designated Official
Agencies: Go to Regulations.gov (https://www.regulations.gov).
Instructions for submitting and reading comments are detailed on the
website. All comments must be submitted through the Federal e-
rulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov and 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 submitted, please contact [email protected]. All comments
will be available for public viewing online at https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Weiland, Grain Marketing
Specialist, Telephone 202-720-8598; Email: [email protected]
or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 7(f) of the United States Grain
Standards Act (USGSA) authorizes the Secretary to designate a qualified
private entity or state governmental agency to provide official
services in a specified area after determining the applicant is better
able than any other applicant to provide such official services (7
U.S.C. 79(f)). A designated agency works under the supervision of the
Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and are authorized to provide
official inspection service and/or Class X or Class Y weighing services
at locations other than export port locations. Under section 7(g) of
the USGSA, designations of official agencies may be awarded 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 part 800.196 for further information
and guidance.
AMS encourages application submissions from traditionally
underrepresented individuals, organizations, and businesses to reflect
the diversity of this industry. The Agency welcomes 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.
Description of New Geographic Areas
The following describes the new geographic areas about which AMS
requests comments on the need for USGSA services and designation
applications: Applicants may apply for all or part of the Lower
Northwest Texas or Southeast Texas geographic areas.
Lower Northwest Texas: The Texas counties of Bailey, Cochran,
Hockley, Parmer and sections of Deaf Smith and Lamb Counties. In Deaf
Smith County: The area north and west of TX-214. In Lamb County: The
area south of CR FM 37 to US-84, south of US-84 to CR FM 303, west of
CR FM 303 to US-70, south of US-70.
Southeast Texas: The Texas counties of Aransas, Bee, Brazoria,
Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Colorado, Dimmit, Duval, Fort Bend,
Galveston, Goliad, Harris, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim
Wells, Kennedy, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Matagorda, McMullen,
Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Waller, Webb, Wharton,
Willacy, Zapata.
[[Page 58328]]
Existing Designation Application Locations
Below are 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.
Keokuk: Areas of designation includes parts of Illinois and Iowa.
See the April 28, 2016, issue of the Federal Register (81 FR 17428) for
descriptions of the areas open for designation.
North Dakota Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (NDGI): Areas of
designation include parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,
North Dakota, and Ohio. Please see the November 10, 2022, issue of the
Federal Register (87 FR 67855) reference to NDGI and the December 12,
2016, Federal Register (81 FR 89428) reference to Decatur, Indiana, for
descriptions of the areas open for designation.
The designated USGSA authority for these two official agencies will
end on the prescribed dates listed in the table below:
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Headquarters location and Designation Applications/comments open
Official agency telephone end period
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Keokuk Grain Inspection................ Keokuk, IA, 319-524-6482. 3/31/2025 11/01/2024-11/30/2024
North Dakota Grain Inspection Service, Fargo, ND, 701-293-7420.. 12/31/2025 08/01/2025-08/31/2025
Inc..
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Designation Timelines
Interested persons, entities or governmental agencies may apply for
designation to provide official services in the geographic area noted
below under the provisions of section 7(f) of the USGSA and 7 CFR part
800.196. The designation time frame for Lower Northwest Texas and
Southeast Texas territories will be determined as part of the
application analysis. In the event multiple applicants are deemed
qualified, AMS may issue an additional notice requesting public comment
about the applicant(s) and their ability to provide quality official
services.
Designations in the specified geographic areas for Keokuk will
occur no sooner than April 1, 2025. Designations in the specified
geographic areas for NDGI will occur no sooner than January 1, 2026. To
apply for designation or to request more information on the geographic
areas serviced by these official agencies contact [email protected].
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-15815 Filed 7-17-24; 8:45 am]
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