[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51407-51408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25761]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Opportunity for Designation in the Little Rock (AR) Area

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 
(GIPSA), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act), 
provides that official agency designations will end not later than 
triennially and may be renewed. The designation of Arkansas Grain 
Inspection Service (Arkansas) will end October 31, 1997, according to 
the Act. GIPSA has determined that Arkansas will not be redesignated. 
GIPSA is asking persons interested in providing official services in 
the Little Rock area to submit an application for designation.

DATE: Applications must be postmarked or sent by telecopier (FAX) on or 
before October 30, 1997.


[[Page 51408]]


ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to USDA, GIPSA, Janet M. 
Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, STOP 3604 (Room 1647-
S), 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-3604. 
Applications may be submitted by FAX on 202-690-2755. If an application 
is submitted by FAX, GIPSA reserves the right to request an original 
application. All applications will be made available for public 
inspection at this address located at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet M. Hart, telephone 202-720-8525.

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 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. GIPSA designated 
Arkansas, main office located in Little Rock, Arkansas, to provide 
official inspection services under the Act on November 1, 1994.
    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. The designation of Arkansas ends on October 31, 1997, 
according to the Act.
    GIPSA, in the April 14, 1997, Federal Register (62 FR 18084), asked 
persons interested in providing official services in the Little Rock 
area to submit an application for designation. Arkansas was the only 
applicant. Since Arkansas was the only applicant, GIPSA did not ask for 
comments.
    GIPSA has evaluated all available information regarding the 
designation criteria prescribed in section 7(f)(1)(A) of the Act and 
according to the provisions of Section 7(f), determined that the 
designation Arkansas will not be renewed. GIPSA is again asking persons 
interested in providing official services in the Little Rock area, as 
described in the April 14, 1997, Federal Register, to submit an 
application for designation.
    Interested persons are hereby given the opportunity to apply for 
designation to provide official services in the geographic area 
specified in the April 14, 1997, Federal Register. Effective November 
1, 1997, until an official agency can be selected, requests for 
official services should be directed to GIPSA's Stuttgart, Arkansas, 
Field Office at 501-673-2508. Persons wishing to apply for designation 
should contact the Compliance Division at the address listed above for 
forms and information.
    Applications 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.)

    Dated: September 19, 1997.
Neil E. Porter,
Director, Compliance Division.
[FR Doc. 97-25761 Filed 9-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-F