2012-13019. Designation for the Topeka, KS; Cedar Rapids, IA; Minot, ND; and Cincinnati, OH Areas

AGENCY:

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

GIPSA is announcing the designation of Kansas Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Kansas); Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa); Minot Grain Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa); and Tri-State Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Tri-State) to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA), as amended.

DATES:

Effective Date: July 1, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Eric J. Jabs, Chief, USDA, GIPSA, FGIS, QACD, QADB, 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Eric J. Jabs, 816-659-8408 or [e-mail].

Read Applications: All applications and comments will be available for public inspection at the office above during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(c)).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In the February 9, 2012 Federal Register (76 FR 6781), GIPSA requested applications for designation to provide official services in the geographic areas presently serviced by Kansas, Mid-Iowa, Minot, and Tri-State. Applications were due by March 12, 2012.

Topeka, KS; Cedar Rapids, IA; Minot, ND and Cincinnati, OH areas were the sole applicants for designation to provide official services in those areas. As a result, GIPSA did not ask for additional comments.

GIPSA evaluated all available information regarding the designation criteria in section 79(f) of the USGSA (7 U.S.C. 79(f)) and determined that the applicants Kansas, Mid-Iowa, Minot, and Tri-State are qualified to provide official services in the geographic area specified in the Federal Register on February 9, 2012. This designation action to provide official services in these specified areas is effective July 1, 2012 and terminates on June 30, 2015. Interested persons may obtain official services by contacting this agency at the following telephone numbers:

Official agency	Headquarters location and telephone	Designation start	Designation end
Kansas	Topeka, KS; [phone]	7/1/2012	6/30/2015
Mid-Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA; [phone]	7/1/2012	6/30/2015
Minot	Minot, ND; [phone]	7/1/2012	6/30/2015
Tri-State	Cincinnati, OH; [phone]	7/1/2012	6/30/2015

Section 79(f) of the 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 no longer than three years unless terminated by the Secretary; however, designations may be renewed according to the criteria and procedures prescribed in section 79(f) of the USGSA.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 71-87k.

Alan R. Christian,

Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.