52968 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 1997 / Notices

specifically talked about the pilot

programs for barges. Of those seven, five

supported the program for barges, and

two did not. Subsequently, GIPSA

determined that this proposed pilot

program was too narrow in scope for the

initial round of pilot programs.

Subsequently, some official agencies

expressed their belief that a pilot

program on the Mississippi River would

be beneficial because there is some

uncertainty over the boundary lines

between official agencies along the

Mississippi River. At one point GIPSA

considered the boundary to be the

middle of a river. Official agencies

found this very difficult to work with,

and GIPSA subsequently changed the

boundary definition to the edge of a

river. The middle of a river was viewed

as an open area to be served by either

contiguous official agency.

In 1993, because of flooding along the

Mississippi River, GIPSA granted a

temporary exception for certain types of

barge inspections along portions of the

Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri

Rivers. This exception made the covered

river areas open to any official agency

for probe sampling and inspections to

expedite barge traffic. GIPSA noted no

problems as a result of this exception.

In addition, some facilities located

along the Mississippi River (Birds Point

Terminal, Bertrand, Missouri; Peavey,

St. Louis, Missouri; ADM, Winona,

Minnesota; and Consolidated Grain,

Caruthersville, Missouri) have received

services from alternative official

agencies under the existing pilot

programs. There have been no

significant problems resulting from the

barge inspections on the Mississippi

River under the existing pilot programs.

GIPSA is requesting comments on the

four barge pilot program options

described below.

1. Barges on the Mississippi River

may be sampled by probe by any official

agency; or

2. Barges on the Mississippi River

may be sampled by probe at any

location by the official agency

designated to serve the geographic area

within which the barge was loaded; or

3. Barges on all rivers may be sampled

by probe by any official agency; or

4. Barges on all rivers may be sampled

by probe at any location by the official

agency designated to serve the

geographic area within which the barge

was loaded.

GIPSA will consider comments on

other possible pilot programs.

Official agencies desiring to

participate in this pilot program would

be asked to submit their plans to

provide official services under such a

pilot program to Compliance Division.

This pilot program will start

approximately January 1, 1998, and run

concurrently with the two existing pilot

programs ending October 31, 1999.

During this time, GIPSA will monitor

these pilot programs. If, at any time,

GIPSA determines that a pilot program

is having a negative impact on the

official system or is not working as

intended, the pilot program may be

modified or discontinued.

Authority: Pub. L. 94–582, 90 Stat. 2867,

as amended (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.).

Dated: October 6, 1997.

Neil E. Porter,

Director, Compliance Division.

[FR Doc. 97–26899 Filed 10–9–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–EN–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and

Stockyards Administration;

Solicitation of Nominations for

Members of the Grain Inspection

Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and

Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Notice to solicit nominees.

SUMMARY: The Grain Inspection, Packers

and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)

is announcing that nominations are

being sought for persons to serve on the

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Advisory Committee.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under

authority of section 20 of the United

States Grain Standards Act (Act) Pub. L.

97–35, the Secretary of Agriculture

established the Federal Grain Inspection

Service (FGIS) Advisory Committee

(Advisory Committee) on September 29,

1981, to provide advice to the

Administrator on implementation of the

Act. Section 14(c) of the United States

Grain Standards Act Amendments of

1993, Pub. L. 103–156, extended the

authority for the Advisory Committee

through September 30, 2000.

The Advisory Committee presently

consists of 15 members, appointed by

the Secretary, who represent the

interests of grain producers, processors,

handlers, merchandisers, consumers,

and exporters, including scientists with

expertise in research related to the

policies in section 2 of the Act.

Members of the Committee serve

without compensation. They are

reimbursed for travel expenses,

including per diem in lieu of

subsistence, for travel away from their

homes or regular places of business in

performance of Committee service, as

authorized under section 5703 of title 5,

United States Code. Alternatively, travel

expenses may be paid by Committee

members.

Nominations are being sought for

persons to serve on the Advisory

Committee to replace the five members

and four alternate members whose terms

expire in December 1997.

Persons interested in serving on the

Advisory Committee, or in nominating

individuals to serve, should contact:

James R. Baker, Administrator, GIPSA,

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop

3601, Washington, D.C. 20250–3601, in

writing and request Form AD–755,

which must be completed and

submitted to the Administrator at the

above address not later than December

9, 1997.

Nominations are open to all

individuals without regard to race,

color, religion, sex, national origin, age,

mental or physical handicap, or marital

status. To ensure that recommendations

of the committee take into account the

needs of the diverse groups served by

the Department, membership shall

include, to the extent practicable,

individuals with demonstrated ability to

represent minorities, women, and

persons with disabilities.

The final selection of Advisory

Committee members and alternates will

be made by the Secretary.

Dated: October 3, 1997.

James R. Baker,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97–26898 Filed 10–9–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–EN–P

COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM

PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR

SEVERELY DISABLED

Procurement List; Proposed Additions

AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From

People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled.

ACTION: Proposed additions to

Procurement List.

SUMMARY: The Committee has received

proposals to add to the Procurement List

services to be furnished by nonprofit

agencies employing persons who are

blind or have other severe disabilities.

COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR

BEFORE: November 10, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase

From People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled, Crystal Square 3, Suite 403,

1735 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Arlington, Virginia 22202–3461.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beverly Milkman (703) 603–7740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice is published pursuant to 41