2020-15200. Opportunity for Designation in the Fargo, North Dakota, Area; Request for Comments on the Official Agency Servicing This Area

AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The designation of the official agency listed below will end on December 31, 2020. We are asking persons or governmental agencies interested in providing official services in the area presently served by this agency to submit an application for designation. In addition, we are asking for comments on the quality of services provided by the following designated agency: North Dakota Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (NDGI).

DATES:

Applications and comments must be received by August 14, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Submit applications and comments concerning this notice using the following methods:

• To apply for Designation: Use FGISonline (https://fgisonline.ams.usda.gov) and then click on the Delegations/Designations and Export Registrations (DDR) link. You will need to obtain an FGISonline customer number and USDA eAuthentication username and password prior to applying.
• To submit Comments: Go to Regulations.gov (http://www.regulations.gov). Instructions for submitting and reading comments are detailed on the site. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning this notice. All comments must be submitted through the Federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov and should 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: All comments will be available for public inspection online at http://www.regulations.gov. If you would like to view the applications, please contact us at [e-mail] (7 CFR 1.27(c)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert Waller, 816-866-2224 or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 7(f) of the United States Grain Standards Act (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 7(g) of the USGSA (7 U.S.C. 79(g)), designations of official agencies are effective 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.

Area Open for Designation

Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the USGSA, the following geographic area, in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Ohio, is assigned to NDGI:

In Illinois

Bounded on the east by the eastern Cumberland County line; the eastern Jasper County line south to State Route 33; State Route 33 east-southeast to the Indiana-Illinois State line; the Indiana-Illinois State line south to the southern Gallatin County line; bounded on the south by the southern Gallatin, Saline, and Williamson County lines; the southern Jackson County line west to U.S. Route 51; U.S. Route 51 north to State Route 13; State Route 13 northwest to State Route 149; State Route 149 west to State Route 3; State Route 3 northwest to State Route 51; State Route 51 south to the Mississippi River; and bounded on the west by the Mississippi River north to the northern Calhoun County line; bounded on the north by the northern and eastern Calhoun County lines; the northern and eastern Jersey County lines; the northern Madison County line; the western Montgomery County line north to a point on this line that intersects with a straight line, from the junction of State Route 111 and the northern Macoupin County line to the junction of Interstate 55 and State Route 16 (in Montgomery County); from this point southeast along the straight line to the junction of Interstate 55 and State Route 16; State Route 16 east-northeast to a point approximately one mile northeast of Irving; a straight line from this point to the northern Fayette County line; the northern Fayette, Effingham, and Cumberland County lines.

In Indiana

Bartholomew, Blackford, Boone, Brown, Carroll (south of State Route 25), Cass, Clinton, Delaware, Fayette, Fulton (bounded on east by eastern Fulton County line south to State Route 19; State Route 19 south to State Route 114; State Route 114 southeast to the eastern Fulton County line), Grant, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Jay, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Randolph, Richmond, Rush (north of State Route 244), Shelby, Tipton, Union, and Wayne Counties.

In Michigan

Bounded on the west by State Route 127 at the Michigan-Ohio State line north to State Route 50; bounded on the north by State Route 50 at State Route 127 east to the Michigan State line; the Michigan State line south to the Michigan-Ohio State line.

In Minnesota

Koochiching, St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Itasca, Norman, Mahnomen, Hubbard, Cass, Clay, Becker, Wadena, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Carlton, Wilkin, and Otter Tail Counties, except those export port locations within the state, which are serviced by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

In North Dakota

Bounded on the north by the northern Steele County line from State Route 32 east; the northern Steele and Trail County lines east to the North Dakota State line; bounded on the east by the eastern North Dakota State line; bounded on the south by the southern North Dakota State line west to State Route 1; and bounded on the west by State Route 1 north to Interstate 94; Interstate 94 west to State Route 1; State Route 1 north to State Route 200; State Route 200 east to State Route 45; State Route 45 north to State Route 32; State Route 32 north.

In Ohio

The northern Ohio State line east to the to the Ohio-Pennsylvania State line; bounded on the east by the Ohio-Pennsylvania State line south to the Ohio River; bounded on the south by the Ohio River south-southwest to the western Scioto County line; and bounded on the west by the western Scioto County line north to State Route 73; State Route 73 northwest to U.S. Route 22; U.S. Route 22 west to U.S. Route 68; U.S. Route 68 north to Clark County; the northern Clark County line west to Valley Pike Road; Valley Pike Road north to State Route 560; State Route 560 north to U.S. Route 36; U.S. Route 36 west to the eastern Miami County line; the eastern Miami County line to the northern Miami County line; the northern Miami County line west to Interstate 75; Interstate 75 north to State Route 47; State Route 47 northeast to U.S. Route 68 (including all of Sidney, Ohio); U.S. Route 68 north to the southern Hancock County line; the southern Hancock County line west to the western Hancock, Wood, and Lucas County lines north to the Michigan-Ohio State line; the Michigan-Ohio State line west to State Route 127; plus all of Darke County.

NDGI's assigned geographic area does not include the export port locations inside the state of Ohio, which are serviced by the Federal Grain Inspection Service.

The following grain elevators are not part of this geographic area assignment and are assigned to Titus Grain Inspection, Inc.: The Andersons, Delphi, Carroll County; Frick Services, Inc., Leiters Ford, Fulton County; and Cargill, Inc., Linden, Montgomery County, Indiana.

Opportunity for Designation

Interested persons or governmental agencies may apply for designation to provide official services in the geographic area specified above under the provisions of section 7(f) of the USGSA and 7 CFR 800.196. Designation in the specified geographic area in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Ohio is for the period beginning January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2025. To apply for designation, please apply at FGISonline (https://fgisonline.ams.usda.gov); or, to request more information, contact Robert Waller at the email address or telephone number listed above.

Request for Comments

In this designation process, we are requesting comments on the quality of services provided by the NDGI official agency. We are, also, interested in receiving comments citing reasons and pertinent data supporting or objecting to the designation of an applicant. Such comments should be submitted through the Federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

We consider applications, comments, and other available information when determining which applicants will be designated.

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

Bruce Summers,

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.