Opportunity for Designation in the Grand Forks, North Dakota, Area; Request for Comments on the Official Agency Servicing This Area, 14676 [2017-05618]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 14676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05618]



[[Page 14676]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Opportunity for Designation in the Grand Forks, North Dakota, 
Area; Request for Comments on the Official Agency Servicing This Area

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The designation of the official agency listed below will end 
on March 31, 2017. We are asking persons or governmental agencies 
interested in providing official services in the areas 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: Northern Plains Grain Inspection Service, 
Inc. (Northern Plains).

DATES: Applications and comments must be received by April 21, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit applications and comments concerning this notice 
using any of the following methods:
     Applying for Designation on the Internet: Use FGISonline 
(https://fgis.gipsa.usda.gov/default_home_FGIS.aspx) 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.
     Submit Comments Using the Internet: Go to Regulations.gov. 
(https://www.regulations.gov). Instructions for submitting and reading 
comments are detailed on the site.
     Mail, Courier or Hand Delivery: Mark Wooden, Compliance 
Officer, USDA, GIPSA, FGIS, QACD, 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas 
City, MO 64153.
     Fax: Mark Wooden, 816-872-1257.
     Email: FGIS.QACD@usda.gov.
    Read Applications and Comments: All applications and comments will 
be available for public inspection at the office above during regular 
business hours (7 CFR 1.27(c)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Wooden, 816-659-8413 or 
FGIS.QACD@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 79(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 
79(g) of the USGSA, 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 79(f) of the USGSA.

Areas Open for Designation:

Northern Plains

    Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards 
Act, the following geographic area in the States of Minnesota and North 
Dakota is assigned to this official agency.
In Minnesota
    Kittson, Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Beltrami, Polk, 
Pennington, Red Lake, and Clearwater Counties.
In North Dakota
    Bounded on the north by the North Dakota State line; bounded on the 
east by the North Dakota State line south to the southern Grand Forks 
County line; bounded on the south by the southern Grand Forks and 
Nelson County lines west to the western Nelson County line; the western 
Nelson County line north to the southern Benson County line, the 
southern Benson and Pierce County lines west to State Route 3; and 
bounded on the west by State Route 3 north to the southern Rolette 
County line; the southern Rolette County line west to the western 
Rolette County line to the north to the North Dakota State line.

Opportunity for Designation

    Interested persons or governmental agencies may apply for 
designation to provide official services in the geographic areas 
specified above under the provisions of section 79(f) of the USGSA and 
7 CFR 800.196. Designation in the specified geographic areas in 
Minnesota and North Dakota is for the period beginning April 1, 2017, 
to March 31, 2022. To apply for designation or to request more 
information, contact Mark Wooden at the address listed above.

Request for Comments

    We are publishing this notice to provide interested persons the 
opportunity to comment on the quality of services provided by the 
Northern Plains official agency. In the designation process, we are 
particularly interested in receiving comments citing reasons and 
pertinent data supporting or objecting to the designation of the 
applicant. Submit all comments to Mark Wooden at the above address or 
at https://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.

Randall D. Jones,
Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-05618 Filed 3-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P