[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54761-54762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26913]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Designation for the Aberdeen (SD) Area and the State of Missouri
AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
(GIPSA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: GIPSA announces the designation of Aberdeen Grain Inspection,
Inc. (Aberdeen), and the Missouri Department of Agriculture (Missouri)
to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards
Act, as amended (Act).
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 1, 1996.
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 May 30, 1996, Federal Register (61 FR 27045), GIPSA asked
persons interested in providing official services in the geographic
areas assigned to Aberdeen and Missouri to submit an application for
designation. Applications were due by June 29, 1996. There were three
applicants: Aberdeen applied for designation to provide official
services in the entire area currently assigned to them. Missouri
applied for designation to provide official services in the entire area
currently assigned to them, and Grain Belt Inspection Service (Grain
Belt), an organization to be formed by Larry and Peggy Aschermann that
plans to establish its main office in Jefferson City, Missouri, applied
for designation to provide official services in the area currently
assigned to Missouri.
Since Aberdeen was the only applicant for the Aberdeen area, GIPSA
did not ask for comments on the applicant. GIPSA requested comments on
the applicants for the Missouri area in the August 1, 1996, Federal
Register (61 FR 40192). Comments were due by September 2, 1996. GIPSA
received 43 comments by the deadline.
Thirty-five comments; 7 grain firms currently served by Missouri, 1
official agency, 2 grain associations, 11 State government officials, 2
farm organizations, and 12 individuals, supported designation of
Missouri. These comments noted with satisfaction Missouri's past
performance of official services, experience in providing official
services, and overall good service. Many of the comments were of the
view that Missouri was best able to continue to provide official
services. Seven comments, 3 grain firms, 3 nongrain businesses, and 1
individual supported designation of Grain Belt based on their view that
Grain Belt was qualified to provide official services, that grain
inspection services should be privatized, and their concerns about the
fees charged and the cost of official services provided by Missouri.
One commentor asked for information.
Six additional comments were received after the due date and these
comments did not differ significantly from previously received
comments.
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 Aberdeen is able to provide official
services in the geographic area for which they applied,
[[Page 54762]]
and that Missouri is better able than any other applicant to provide
official services in the geographic area for which they applied.
Effective December 1, 1996, and ending November 30, 1999, Aberdeen and
Missouri are designated to provide official services in the geographic
areas specified in the May 30, 1996, Federal Register.
Interested persons may obtain official services by contacting
Aberdeen at 605-225-8432 and Missouri at 375-751-5515.
Authority: Pub. L. 94-582, 90 Stat. 2867, as amended (7 U.S.C.
71 et seq.)
Dated: October 15, 1996
Neil E. Porter
Director, Compliance Division
[FR Doc. 96-26913 Filed 10-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-F
