United States Warehouse Act; Processed Agricultural Products Licensing Agreement, 13973-13974 [2011-5973]

Download as PDF srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2011 / Notices Warehouse Act (USWA). Through this notice, FSA is providing an opportunity for anyone to provide comments on this proposal to offer a license for EFAC. EFAC might include corn soy blend, vegetable oil, or pulses such as peas, beans and lentils. Current USWA licenses for agricultural products include grain, cotton, nuts, cottonseed, and dry beans. Warehouse operators that apply voluntarily agree to be licensed, observe the rules for licensing, and pay associated user fees. DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by April 14, 2011. ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your comment, include volume, date, and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: E-mail address: Send comments to: FSA-USWA@wdc.usda.gov. Mail: Patricia Barrett, Warehouse Operations Program Manager, FSA, United States Department of Agriculture, STOP 0553, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–0553. Fax: (202) 690–3123. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of information for this notice (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720– 2600 (voice and TDD). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Barrett, (202) 720–3877. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USWA (7 U.S.C. 241–256) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to license warehouse operators who store agricultural products; FSA administers this authority. USWA provides for licensing and inspection of warehouses used to store agricultural products, issuance of warehouse receipts, including electronic warehouse receipts for all agricultural products, and for other purposes. USWA licensing program is a voluntary program that is intended to protect depositors of agricultural products in licensed warehouses (7 CFR part 735). The licensing program is based on a written agreement outlining terms and conditions for a warehouse operator to qualify for licensing and requirements to operate the warehouse in compliance with USWA and the regulations. USWA requires FSA to notify the public and provide the opportunity to comment on agricultural products that are under consideration for a warehouse license. FSA is proposing to create a USWA licensing program for port and transload facility operators storing VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:50 Mar 14, 2011 Jkt 223001 EFAC. This proposal is in response to the concerns of export food aid providers regarding the sanitation and security of agricultural commodities temporarily stored and handled in preparation for export under various federal and charitable organization export food aid programs. In many USWA warehouses, commodities are stored in bulk form and commingled. EFAC are typically packaged and ‘‘identity preserved,’’ which means that the commodity is stored and handled separate from all other commodities. In other words, the actual commodity deposited in the warehouse is what will be delivered. The warehouse examination program is designed to ensure the warehouse operator’s initial qualification for licensing and continuing compliance with the standards of approval and operation. FSA will conduct examinations of licensed facilities to determine their suitability for proper storage and handling of commodities. The examination will include review of warehouse records, pest management and control, housekeeping, safety, and security of goods in the care and custody of the licensee. The personnel conducting the examinations will verify that all commodities are properly marked and recorded in the warehouse records, and that commodities are stored in licensed space. Facilities must be kept and maintained in sound physical condition. In addition, 7 CFR 735.6 provides regulations for suspension and revocation of a license for those warehouse operators who do not comply with USWA, the regulations, or any licensing or provider agreement. FSA will review and report on the comments received on this notice. The notice and summary of the comments received will be posted to the USWA Web site at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ FSA/webapp?area=home&subject =coop&topic=was-ua. FSA is inviting you to provide comments to FSA on adding EFAC to the list of products for which FSA issues USWA licenses. In particular, FSA requests comments on EFAC in response to the following questions: • Should FSA offer a license under the authority of the USWA, for export food aid commodity facility storage and handling? • What general warehousing and transload facility specifications should be used in the approval and continued licensing of such storage facilities? • What operational procedures (i.e. records, sanitation, security, insurance, and examinations) should be addressed PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13973 in a written agreement with the warehouse operator? • What level and type of financial assurance (bond, letter of credit) should be required to provide security and protection to depositors? • What fee structure (annual flat rate, hourly, graduated rates based on the size of the facility) should be adopted to fund the administration of this program? • Should the scope of the license cover all commodities stored in licensed space? In addition to this notice, general information about FSA’s administration of its responsibilities from USWA is available on the FSA Web site. Among other things, the information includes a list of licensed warehouses. Signed at Washington, DC, on March 9, 2011. Val Dolcini, Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency. [FR Doc. 2011–5975 Filed 3–14–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–05–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farm Service Agency United States Warehouse Act; Processed Agricultural Products Licensing Agreement Farm Service Agency, USDA. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) proposes adding processed agricultural products to the agricultural products for which warehouse licenses may be issued under the United States Warehouse Act (USWA). Through this notice, FSA is providing an opportunity for anyone to provide comments on this proposal to offer a license for the processed agricultural products that are stored in climate controlled, cooler, and freezer warehouses. An example of a processed agricultural product is apple juice concentrate. In the past, USDA has issued USWA licenses for syrup or sirup, dried fruit, canned foods, coldpack fruit, seeds, and cherries-in-brine. Current USWA licenses for agricultural products include grain, cotton, nuts, cottonseed, and dry beans. Warehouse operators voluntarily agree to be licensed, observe the rules for licensing, and pay associated user fees. DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by April 14, 2011. ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your comment, include volume, date, and page number of this issue of the Federal SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM 15MRN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES 13974 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2011 / Notices Register. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • E-mail address: Send comments to: FSA-USWA@wdc.usda.gov. • Mail: Patricia Barrett, Warehouse Operations Program Manager, FSA, United States Department of Agriculture, Mail Stop 0553, 1400 Independence Ave, SW., Washington, DC 20250–0553. • Fax: (202) 690–3123. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) for this information should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Barrett, (202) 720–3877. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USWA (7 U.S.C. 241–256) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to license warehouse operators who store agricultural products; FSA administers this authority. USWA provides for licensing and inspection of warehouses used to store agricultural products, issuance of warehouse receipts, including electronic warehouse receipts for all agricultural products, and for other purposes. The USWA licensing program is a voluntary program that is intended to protect depositors of agricultural products in licensed warehouses (7 CFR part 735). The licensing program is based on a written agreement outlining the terms and conditions for a warehouse operator to qualify for licensing, and requirements to operate the warehouse in compliance with USWA and the regulations. USWA requires FSA to notify the public and provide the opportunity to comment on agricultural products that are under consideration for a warehouse license. FSA is proposing to create a voluntary USWA licensing program for processed agricultural products that are stored in climate controlled, cooler, and freezer warehouses. This proposal covers specific processed agricultural products such as apple juice concentrate and other similar products. This proposal is in response to an industry request, which is based on their need for the use of negotiable warehouse receipts in their business processes. The warehouse examination program is designed to ensure the warehouse operator’s initial qualification for licensing and continuing compliance with the standards of approval and operation. FSA will conduct examinations of licensed facilities to determine their suitability for proper storage and handling of commodities. The examination will include review of VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:50 Mar 14, 2011 Jkt 223001 warehouse records, pest management and control, housekeeping, safety, and security of goods in the care and custody of the licensee. The personnel conducting the examinations will verify that all commodities are properly marked and recorded in the warehouse records, and that commodities are stored in licensed space. Facilities must be kept and maintained in sound physical condition. In addition, 7 CFR 735.6 provides regulations for suspension and revocation of a license for those warehouse operators who do not comply with USWA, the regulations, or any licensing or provider agreement. FSA will review and report on the comments received on this notice. The notice and summary of the comments received will be posted to the USWA Web site at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ FSA/webapp?area=home&subject =coop&topic=was-ua. FSA is inviting you to submit comments to FSA on adding processed agricultural products to the list of products for which FSA issues USWA licenses. In particular, FSA requests comments on processed agricultural products in response to the following questions: • Should FSA offer a license for processed agricultural products such as apple juice concentrate? • What types of storage facilities should such a license include: climate controlled warehouses, refrigerated warehouses, and freezer warehouses? • What operational procedures (for examples, sanitation, security, records, insurance, examinations) should be addressed in a written agreement with the warehouse operator? • What level and type of financial assurance (bond, letter of credit) should be required to provide security and protection to depositors? • USWA specifies that user fees are to cover the costs to administer this program. Therefore, what fee structure (annual flat rate, hourly, graduated rates based on the size of the facility) should be applied to fund the administration of this program? • Should the scope of the license cover all or only certain agricultural processed products stored in licensed space? In addition to this notice, general information about FSA’s administration of its responsibilities from USWA is available on the FSA Web site. Among other things, the information includes a list of licensed warehouses. PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Signed at Washington, DC, on March 9, 2011. Val Dolcini, Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency. [FR Doc. 2011–5973 Filed 3–14–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–05–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Information Collection; Small Business Timber Sale Set-Aside Program; Appeal Procedures on Recomputation of Shares Forest Service, USDA. Notice; request for comment. AGENCY: ACTION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with no revision of a currently approved information collection, Small Business Timber Sale Set-Aside Program: Appeal Procedures on Recomputation of Shares. DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 16, 2011 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Sharon Nygaard-Scott, Forest Management Staff, Mail Stop 1103, Forest Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250. Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 202–205–1045 or by e-mail to: wosbaprocess@fs.fed.us. In addition, comments may be submitted via the World Wide Web/Internet at: https:// www.regulations.gov. The public may inspect comments received at the Forest Service, USDA, Forest Management Staff Office, Third Floor SW, 201 14th Street, SW., Washington, DC, during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 202–205–1766 to facilitate entrance into the building. Additionally, comments may be viewed on the World Wide Web/Internet at https://fsplaces.fs.fed.us/fsfiles/unit/wo/ wosbaprocess.nsf. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Nygaard Scott, Forest Management Staff, at 202–205–1766. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800– 877–8339, twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM 15MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13973-13974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5973]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


United States Warehouse Act; Processed Agricultural Products 
Licensing Agreement

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) proposes adding processed 
agricultural products to the agricultural products for which warehouse 
licenses may be issued under the United States Warehouse Act (USWA). 
Through this notice, FSA is providing an opportunity for anyone to 
provide comments on this proposal to offer a license for the processed 
agricultural products that are stored in climate controlled, cooler, 
and freezer warehouses. An example of a processed agricultural product 
is apple juice concentrate. In the past, USDA has issued USWA licenses 
for syrup or sirup, dried fruit, canned foods, cold-pack fruit, seeds, 
and cherries-in-brine. Current USWA licenses for agricultural products 
include grain, cotton, nuts, cottonseed, and dry beans. Warehouse 
operators voluntarily agree to be licensed, observe the rules for 
licensing, and pay associated user fees.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by April 14, 2011.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comment, include volume, date, and page number of this issue of the 
Federal

[[Page 13974]]

Register. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail address: Send comments to: FSA-USWA@wdc.usda.gov.
     Mail: Patricia Barrett, Warehouse Operations Program 
Manager, FSA, United States Department of Agriculture, Mail Stop 0553, 
1400 Independence Ave, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0553.
     Fax: (202) 690-3123.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) for this 
information should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 
(voice and TDD).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Barrett, (202) 720-3877.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    USWA (7 U.S.C. 241-256) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 
license warehouse operators who store agricultural products; FSA 
administers this authority.
    USWA provides for licensing and inspection of warehouses used to 
store agricultural products, issuance of warehouse receipts, including 
electronic warehouse receipts for all agricultural products, and for 
other purposes.
    The USWA licensing program is a voluntary program that is intended 
to protect depositors of agricultural products in licensed warehouses 
(7 CFR part 735). The licensing program is based on a written agreement 
outlining the terms and conditions for a warehouse operator to qualify 
for licensing, and requirements to operate the warehouse in compliance 
with USWA and the regulations.
    USWA requires FSA to notify the public and provide the opportunity 
to comment on agricultural products that are under consideration for a 
warehouse license. FSA is proposing to create a voluntary USWA 
licensing program for processed agricultural products that are stored 
in climate controlled, cooler, and freezer warehouses. This proposal 
covers specific processed agricultural products such as apple juice 
concentrate and other similar products. This proposal is in response to 
an industry request, which is based on their need for the use of 
negotiable warehouse receipts in their business processes.
    The warehouse examination program is designed to ensure the 
warehouse operator's initial qualification for licensing and continuing 
compliance with the standards of approval and operation. FSA will 
conduct examinations of licensed facilities to determine their 
suitability for proper storage and handling of commodities. The 
examination will include review of warehouse records, pest management 
and control, housekeeping, safety, and security of goods in the care 
and custody of the licensee. The personnel conducting the examinations 
will verify that all commodities are properly marked and recorded in 
the warehouse records, and that commodities are stored in licensed 
space. Facilities must be kept and maintained in sound physical 
condition. In addition, 7 CFR 735.6 provides regulations for suspension 
and revocation of a license for those warehouse operators who do not 
comply with USWA, the regulations, or any licensing or provider 
agreement.
    FSA will review and report on the comments received on this notice. 
The notice and summary of the comments received will be posted to the 
USWA Web site at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=coop&topic=was-ua.
    FSA is inviting you to submit comments to FSA on adding processed 
agricultural products to the list of products for which FSA issues USWA 
licenses. In particular, FSA requests comments on processed 
agricultural products in response to the following questions:
     Should FSA offer a license for processed agricultural 
products such as apple juice concentrate?
     What types of storage facilities should such a license 
include: climate controlled warehouses, refrigerated warehouses, and 
freezer warehouses?
     What operational procedures (for examples, sanitation, 
security, records, insurance, examinations) should be addressed in a 
written agreement with the warehouse operator?
     What level and type of financial assurance (bond, letter 
of credit) should be required to provide security and protection to 
depositors?
     USWA specifies that user fees are to cover the costs to 
administer this program. Therefore, what fee structure (annual flat 
rate, hourly, graduated rates based on the size of the facility) should 
be applied to fund the administration of this program?
     Should the scope of the license cover all or only certain 
agricultural processed products stored in licensed space?
    In addition to this notice, general information about FSA's 
administration of its responsibilities from USWA is available on the 
FSA Web site. Among other things, the information includes a list of 
licensed warehouses.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on March 9, 2011.
Val Dolcini,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011-5973 Filed 3-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P
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