03-22306. Opportunity for Designation in the Champaign (IL), Detroit (MI), Eastern Iowa (IA), Enid (OK), Keokuk (IA), and Michigan (MI) Areas, and Request for Comments on the Official Agencies Serving These Areas

AGENCY:

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The designations of the official agencies listed below will end in March 2004. Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is asking persons interested in providing official services in the areas served by these agencies to submit an application for designation. GIPSA is also asking for comments on the quality of services provided by these currently designated agencies: Champaign-Danville Grain Inspection Departments, Inc. (Champaign); Detroit Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Detroit); Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection and Weighing Service, Inc. (Eastern Iowa); Enid Grain Inspection Company, Inc. (Enid); Keokuk Grain Inspection Service (Keokuk); and Michigan Grain Inspection Services, Inc. (Michigan).

DATES:

Applications and comments must be postmarked or electronically dated on or before October 1, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Submit applications and comments to USDA, GIPSA, Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, STOP 3604, Room 1647-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3604; FAX [phone]. If an application is submitted by FAX, GIPSA reserves the right to request an original application. All applications and comments will be made available for public inspection at Room 1647-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Janet M. Hart at 202-720-8525, e-mail [e-mail].

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.

Section 7(f)(1) of the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act), authorizes GIPSA's Administrator 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.

Section 7(g)(1) of the Act provides that designations of official agencies shall end not later than triennially and may be renewed according to the criteria and procedures prescribed in section 7(f) of the Act.

1. Current Designations Being Announced for Renewal.

Official agency	Main office	Designation start	Designation end
Champaign	Champaign, IL	6/01/2001	3/31/2004
Detroit	Emmett, MI	5/01/2001	3/31/2004
Eastern Iowa	Davenport, IA	6/01/2001	3/31/2004
Enid	Enid, OK	6/01/2001	3/31/2004
Keokuk	Keokuk, IA	5/01/2001	3/31/2004
Michigan	Marshall, MI	5/01/2001	3/31/2004

a. Pursuant to section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic area, in the States of Illinois and Indiana, is assigned to Champaign.

Bounded on the North by the northern Livingston County line from State Route 47; the eastern Livingston County line to the northern Ford County line; the northern Ford and Iroquois County lines east to the Illinois-Indiana State line; the Illinois-Indiana State line south to U.S. Route 24; U.S. Route 24 east to U.S. Route 41;

Bounded on the East by U.S. Route 41 south to the northern Parke County line; the northern Parke and Putnam County lines; the eastern Putnam, Owen and Greene County lines;

Bounded on the South by the southern Greene County line; the southern Sullivan County line west to U.S. Route 41(150); U.S. Route 41(150) south to U.S. Route 50; U.S. Route 50 west across the Indiana-Illinois State line to Illinois State Route 33; Illinois State Route 33 north and west to the Western Crawford County line; and

Bounded on the West by the western Crawford and Clark County lines; the Southern Coles County line; the western Coles and Douglas County lines; the western Champaign County line north to Interstate 72; Interstate 72 southwest to the Piatt County line; the western Piatt County line; the southern McLean County line west to a point 10 miles west of the western Champaign County line, from this point through Arrowsmith to Pontiac along a straight line running north and south which intersects with State Route 116; State Route 116 east to State Route 47; State Route 47 north to the northern Livingston County line.

The following grain elevators, all in Illinois, located outside of the above contiguous geographic area, are part of this geographic area assignment: Moultrie Grain Association, Cadwell, Moultrie County; Tabor Grain Company (3 elevators), Farmer City, Dewitt County; and Topflight Grain Company, Monticello, Piatt County (located inside Decatur Grain Inspection, Inc.'s, area).

Champaign's assigned geographic area does not include the following grain elevators inside Champaign's area which have been and will continue to be serviced by the following official agency: Titus Grain Inspection, Inc.: Kentland Elevator and Supply, Boswell, Benton County, Indiana; ADM, Dunn, Benton County, Indiana; and ADM, Raub, Benton County, Indiana.

b. Pursuant to section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic area, in the State of Michigan, is assigned to Michigan.

Bounded on the North by the northern Clinton County line; the eastern Clinton County line south to State Route 21; State Route 21 east to State Route 52; State Route 52 north to the Shiawassee County line; the northern Shiawassee County line east to the Genesee County line; the western Genesee County line; the northern Genesee County line east to State Route 15; State Route 15 north to Barnes Road; Barnes Road east to Sheridan Road; Sheridan Road north to State Route 46; State Route 46 east to State Route 53; State Route 53 north to the Michigan State line;

Bounded on the East by the Michigan State line south to State Route 50;

Bounded on the South by State Route 50 west to U.S. Route 127; and

Bounded on the West by U.S. Route 127 north to U.S. Route 27; U.S. Route 27 north to the northern Clinton County line.

The following grain elevator, located outside of the above contiguous geographic area, is part of this geographic area assignment: Caldonia Farmers Elevator, St. Johns, Clinton County (located inside Michigan Grain Inspection Services, Inc.'s, area).

c. Pursuant to section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic area, in the States of Illinois and Iowa, is assigned to Eastern Iowa.

The southern area:

Bounded on the North, in Iowa, by Interstate 80 from the western Iowa County line east to State Route 38; State Route 38 north to State Route 130; State Route 130 east to Scott County; the western and northern Scott County lines east to the Mississippi River;

Bounded on the East, from the Mississippi River, in Illinois, by the eastern Rock Island County line; the northern Henry and Bureau County lines east to State Route 88; State Route 88 south; the southern Bureau County line; the eastern and southern Henry County lines; the eastern Knox County line;

Bounded on the South by the southern Knox County line; the eastern and southern Warren County lines; the southern Henderson County line west to the Mississippi River; in Iowa, by the southern Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, and Wapello County lines; and

Bounded on the West by the western and northern Wapello County lines; the western and northern Keokuk County lines; the western Iowa County line north to Interstate 80.

The northern area:

Bounded on the North, in Iowa, by the northern Delaware and Dubuque County lines; in Illinois, by the northern Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, and Lake County lines;

Bounded on the East by the eastern Illinois State line south to the northern Will County line; the northern Will County line west to Interstate 55; Interstate 55 southwest to the southern Dupage County line;

Bounded on the South by the southern Dupage, Kendall, Dekalb, and Lee County lines; and

Bounded on the West by the western Lee and Ogle County lines; by the southern Stephenson and Jo Daviess County lines; in Iowa, by the southern Dubuque and Delaware County lines; and the western Delaware County line.

Eastern Iowa's assigned geographic area does not include the export port locations inside Eastern Iowa's area which are serviced by GIPSA.

d. Pursuant to section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic area, in the State of Oklahoma, is assigned to Enid.

Adair, Alfalfa, Atoka, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Creek, Custer, Delaware, Dewey, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Latimer, Le Flore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Major, Marshall, Mayes, Murray, Muskogee, Noble, Nowata, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, Tillman, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington, Washita, Woods, and Woodward Counties.

e. Pursuant to section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic area, in the States of Illinois and Iowa, is assigned to Keokuk.

Adams, Brown, Fulton, Hancock, Mason, McDonough, and Pike (northwest of a line bounded by U.S. Route 54 northeast to State Route 107; State Route 107 northeast to State Route 104; State Route 104 east to the eastern Pike County line) Counties, Illinois.

Davis, Lee, and Van Buren Counties, Iowa.

f. Pursuant to section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic area, in the States of Michigan and Ohio, is assigned to Michigan.

Bounded on the North by the northern Michigan State line;

Bounded on the East by the eastern Michigan State line south and east to State Route 53; State Route 53 south to State Route 46; State Route 46 west to Sheridan Road; Sheridan Road south to Barnes Road; Barnes Road west to State Route 15; State Route 15 south to the Genesee County line; the northern Genesee County line west to the Shiawassee County line; the northern Shiawassee County line west to State Route 52; State Route 52 south to State Route 21; State Route 21 west to Clinton County; the eastern and northern Clinton County lines west to U.S. Route 27; U.S. Route 27 south to U.S. Route 127; U.S. Route 127 south to the Michigan-Ohio State line. In Ohio, the northern State line east to the eastern Fulton County line; the eastern Fulton, Henry, and Putnam County lines; the eastern Allen County line south to the northern Hardin County line; the northern Hardin County line east to U.S. Route 68; U.S. Route 68 south to State Route 47; Bounded on the South by State Route 47 west-southwest to Interstate 75 (excluding all of Sidney, Ohio); Interstate 75 south to the Shelby County line; the southern and western Shelby County lines; the southern Mercer County line; and

Bounded on the West by the Ohio-Indiana State line from the southern Mercer County line to the northern Williams County line; in Michigan, by the southern Michigan State line west to the Branch County line; the western Branch County line north to the Kalamazoo County line; the southern Kalamazoo and Van Buren County lines west to the Michigan State line; the western Michigan State line north to the northern Michigan State line.

Michigan's assigned geographic area does not include the following grain elevators inside Michigan's area which has been and will continue to be serviced by the following official agencies:

1. Detroit Grain Inspection Service, Inc.: Caldonia Farmers Elevator, St. Johns, Clinton County, Michigan.

2. Northeast Indiana Grain Inspection, Inc.: E.M.P. Coop, Payne, Paulding County, Ohio.

2. Opportunity for designation. Interested persons, including Champaign, Detroit, Eastern Iowa, Enid, Keokuk, and Michigan, are hereby given the opportunity to apply for designation to provide official services in the geographic areas specified above under the provisions of section 7(f) of the Act and § 800.196(d) of the regulations issued thereunder. Designation in the specified geographic areas is for the period beginning April 1, 2004, and ending March 31, 2007. Persons wishing to apply for designation should contact the Compliance Division at the address listed above for forms and information, or obtain applications at the GIPSA Web site, www.usda.gov/​gipsa/​oversight/​parovreg.htm.

3. Request for Comments. GIPSA also is publishing this notice to provide interested persons the opportunity to present comments on the quality of services for the Champaign, Detroit, Eastern Iowa, Enid, Keokuk, and Michigan official agencies. In commenting on the quality of services, commenters are encouraged to submit pertinent data including information on the timeliness, cost, and scope of services provided. All comments must be submitted to the Compliance Division at the above address.

Applications, comments, and other available information will be considered in determining which applicant will be designated.

Authority: Pub. L. 94-582, 90 Stat. 2867, as amended (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.).

Donna Reifschneider,

Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.