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Code · REGISTER · 2005-12-01 · Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA · Notices

Notices. Notice

3,675 words·~17 min read·/register/2005/12/01/05-23573

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BILLING CODE 3410-11-M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration [05-02-S] Designation for Alabama, Essex (IL), Springfield (IL), and Washington Areas AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) announces designation of the following organizations to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act):
Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (Alabama); Kankakee Grain Inspection, Inc. (Kankakee); Springfield Grain Inspection, Inc. (Springfield); and Washington Department of Agriculture (Washington). EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2006. ADDRESSES: USDA, GIPSA, Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, STOP 3604, Room 1647-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3604. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet M. Hart at 202-720-8525, e-mail *Janet.M.Hart@usda.gov.* 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. In the June 1, 2005 **Federal Register** (70 FR 9911), GIPSA asked persons interested in providing official services in the geographic areas assigned to the official agencies named above to submit an application for designation. Applications were due by July 1, 2005.
Alabama, Kankakee, Springfield, and Washington were the sole applicants for designation to provide official services in the entire area currently assigned to them, so GIPSA did not ask for additional comments on them. GIPSA evaluated all available information regarding the designation criteria in section 7(f)(l)(A) of the Act and, according to section 7(f)(l)(B), determined that Alabama, Kankakee, Springfield, and Washington are able to provide official services in the geographic areas specified in the June 1, 2005, **Federal Register** , for which they applied.
These designation actions to provide official services are effective January 1, 2006, and terminate December 31, 2008, for Alabama, Kankakee, Springfield, and Washington. Interested persons may obtain official services by calling the telephone numbers listed below. Official Agency Headquarters Location and Telephone Designation Term Alabama Montgomery, AL; 334-240-7231 Additional locations: Mobile, AL, Decatur, AL 01/01/06-12/31/08 Kankakee Essex, IL; 815-365-2268 Additional location:
Tiskilwa, IL 01/01/06-12/31/08 Springfield Springfield, IL; 217-522-5233 01/01/06-12/31/08 Washington Olympia, WA; 360-902-1921, Additional locations: Aberdeen, WA, Colfax, WA, Kalama, WA, Pasco, WA, Seattle, WA, Spokane, WA, Tacoma, WA, Vancouver, WA 01/01/06-12/31/08 Authority: Pub. L. 94-582, 90 Stat. 2867, as amended (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.). David R. Shipman, Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. [FR Doc. E5-6701 Filed 11-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers And Stockyards Administration [05-B-W] Designation of Columbus
(OH)to Provide Class X or Class Y Weighing Services AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, (USDA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: GIPSA announces the designation of Columbus Grain Inspection, Inc. (Columbus), to provide Class X or Class Y weighing services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act). EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2005. ADDRESSES: USDA, GIPSA, Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, STOP 3604, Room 1647-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3604. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet M. Hart, at 202-720-8525, e-mail *Janet.M.Hart@usda.gov.* 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. In the December 1, 2004, **Federal Register** (69 FR9883), GIPSA announced the designation of Columbus to provide official inspection services under the Act, effective January 1, 2005, and ending December 31, 2007. Subsequently, Columbus asked GIPSA to amend their designation to include official weighing services. Section 7A(c)(2) of the Act authorizes GIPSA's Administrator to designate authority to perform official weighing to an agency providing official inspection services within a specified geographic area, if such agency is qualified under section 7(f)(1)(A) of the Act. GIPSA evaluated all available information regarding the designation criteria in section 7(f)(1)(A) of the Act, and determined that Columbus is qualified to provide official weighing services in their currently assigned geographic area. Effective October 1, 2005, and terminating December 31,2007 (the end of Columbus's designation to provide official inspection services), Columbus's present designation is amended to include Class X or Class Y weighing within their assigned geographic area, as specified in the June 1, 2004, **Federal Register** (69FR 30869). Official services may be obtained by contacting Columbus at 740-474-3519. Authority: Pub.L. 94-582, 90Stat. 2867, as amended (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.). David R. Shipman, Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. [FR Doc. E5-6700 Filed 11-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration [05-04-A] Opportunity for Designation in the Topeka (KS), Minot (ND), Lake Village (IN), and Cincinnati
(OH)Areas, 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 June 2006. 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: Kansas Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Kansas); Minot Grain Inspection, Inc. (Minot); Schneider Inspection Service, Inc. (Schneider); and Tri-State Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Tri-State). DATES: Applications and comments must be received by January 1, 2006. ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit applications and comments on this notice. You may submit applications and comments by any of the following methods: • Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver to Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, GIPSA, USDA, Room 1647-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250. • Fax: Send by facsimile transmission to
(202)690-2755, attention: Janet M. Hart. • E-mail: Send via electronic mail to *Janet.M.Hart@usda.gov.* • Mail: Send hardcopy to Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, GIPSA, USDA, STOP 3604, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3604. 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(b)). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet M. Hart at 202-720-8525, e-mail *Janet.M.Hart@usda.gov.* 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 terminate 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 For Kansas, main office in Topeka, Kansas; Minot, main office in Minot, North Dakota; and Tri-State, main office in Cincinnati, Ohio; the current designations started July 1, 2003, and will end June 30, 2006. For Schneider, main office in Lake Village, Indiana; the current one year designation started July 1, 2005, and will end June 30, 2006. Official agency Main office Designation start Designation end Kansas Topeka, KS 07/01/2003 06/30/2006 Minot Minot, ND 07/01/2003 06/30/2006 Schneider Lake Village, IN 07/01/2005 06/30/2006 Tri-State Cincinnati, OH 07/01/2003 06/30/2006 a. Pursuant to section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic area, in the States of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming, is assigned to Kansas. The entire State of Colorado. The entire State of Kansas. In Nebraska: Bounded on the North by the northern Scotts Bluff County line; the northern Morrill County line east to Highway 385; Bounded on the East by Highway 385 south to the northern Cheyenne County line; the northern and eastern Cheyenne County lines; the northern and eastern Deuel County lines; Bounded on the South by the southern Deuel, Cheyenne, and Kimball County lines; and Bounded on the West by the western Kimball, Banner, and Scotts Bluff County lines. Goshen, Laramie, and Platt Counties, Wyoming. Kansas' assigned geographic area does not include the following grain elevators inside Kansas' area which have been and will continue to be serviced by the following official Hastings Grain Inspection, Inc.: Farmers Coop, and Big Springs Elevator, both in Big Springs, Deuel County, Nebraska. b. Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic area, in the State of North Dakota, is assigned to Minot. Bounded on the North by the North Dakota State line east to the eastern Bottineau County line; Bounded on the East by the eastern Bottineau County line south to the northern Pierce County line; the northern Pierce County line east to State Route 3; State Route 3 south to State Route 200; Bounded on the South by State Route 200 west to State Route 41; State Route 41 south to U.S. Route 83; U.S. Route 83 northwest to State Route 200; State Route 200 west to U.S. Route 85; U.S. Route 85 south to Interstate 94; Interstate 94 west to the North Dakota State line; and Bounded on the West by the North Dakota State line. The following grain elevators, located outside of the above contiguous geographic area, are part of this geographic area assignment: Benson Quinn Company, Underwood, and Falkirk Farmers Elevator, Washburn, both in McLean County: and Harvey Farmers Elevator, Harvey, Wells County (located inside Grain Inspection, Inc.'s, area). c. Pursuant to section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic area, in the States of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, is assigned to Schneider. In Illinois and Indiana: Bounded on the North by the northern Will County line from Interstate 57 east to the Illinois-Indiana State line; the Illinois-Indiana State line north to the northern Lake County line; the northern Lake, Porter, Laporte, St. Joseph, and Elkhart County lines; Bounded on the East by the eastern and southern Elkhart County lines; the eastern Marshall County line; Bounded on the South by the southern Marshall and Starke County lines; the eastern Jasper County line south-southwest to U.S. Route 24; U.S. Route 24 west to Indiana State Route 55; Indiana State Route 55 south to the Newton County line; the southern Newton County line west to U.S. Route 41; U.S. Route 41 north to U.S. Route 24; U.S. Route 24 west to the Indiana-Illinois State line; and Bounded on the West by the Indiana-Illinois State line north to Kankakee County; the southern Kankakee County line west to U.S. Route 52; U.S. Route 52 north to Interstate 57; Interstate 57 north to the northern Will County line. Berrien, Cass, and St. Joseph Counties, Michigan. Schneider's assigned geographic area does not include the export port locations inside Schneider's area which are serviced by GIPSA. d. Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act, the following geographic area, in the States of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, is assigned to Tri-State. Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, Rush (south of State Route 244), and Switzerland Counties, Indiana. Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Bracken, Campbell, Clark, Fleming, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Lewis (west of State Route 59), Mason, Montgomery, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, and Robertson Counties, Kentucky. In Ohio: Bounded on the North by the northern Preble County line east; the western and northern Miami County lines east to State Route 296; State Route 296 east to State Route 560; State Route 560 south to the Clark County line; the northern Clark County line east to U.S. Route 68; Bounded on the East by U.S. Route 68 south to U.S. Route 22; U.S. Route 22 east to State Route 73; State Route 73 southeast to the Adams County line; the eastern Adams County line; Bounded on the South by the southern Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Hamilton County lines; and Bounded on the West by the western Hamilton, Butler, and Preble County lines. 2. Opportunity for Designation Interested persons, including Kansas, Minot, Schneider, and Tri-State, 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 section 800.196(d) of the regulations issued thereunder. Designation in the specified geographic areas is for the period beginning July 1, 2006, and ending June 30, 2009. 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 Kansas, Minot, Schneider, and Tri-State official agencies. Substantive comments citing reasons and pertinent data for support or objection to the designation of the applicants will be considered in the designation process. 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.). David R. Shipman, Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. [FR Doc. E5-6702 Filed 11-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), this notice announces the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) intention to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved information collection related to the delivery of services conducted under the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs authorized under the United States Grain Standards Act and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. This voluntary survey would give customers of the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs, who are primarily in the grain, oilseed, rice, lentil, dry pea, edible bean, and related agricultural commodity markets, an opportunity to provide feedback on the quality of services they receive and will provide information on new services that they would like to receive. This feedback would assist GIPSA's Federal Grain Inspection Service
(FGIS)to improve services and service delivery provided by the official inspection, grading, and weighing system. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 30, 2006. ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • E-Mail: Send comments via electronic mail to *comments.gipsa@usda.gov.* • Mail: Send hardcopy written comments to Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1647-S, Washington, DC 20250-3604. • Fax: Send comments by facsimile transmission to:
(202)690-2755. • Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to: Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1647-S, Washington, DC 20250-3604. *Instructions:* All comments should make reference to the date and page number of this issue of the **Federal Register.** *Background Documents:* Information collection package and other documents relating to this action will be available for public inspection in the above office during regular business hours. *Read Comments:* All comments will be available for public inspection in the above office during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Sharpe, Director, Compliance Division, e-mail address: *John.R.Sharpe@usda.gov* , telephone
(202)720-8262. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 71-87) (USGSA), and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA), authorize the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture to establish official inspection, grading, and weighing programs for grains and other agricultural commodities. Under the USGSA and AMA, GIPSA's FGIS offers inspection, weighing, grading, quality assurance, and certification services for a user-fee, to facilitate the efficient marketing of grain, oilseeds, rice, lentils, dry peas, edible beans, and related agricultural commodities in the global marketplace. Under FGIS oversight, the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs are a public-private partnership including Federal, State, and private agencies and provides official inspection, grading, and weighing services to the domestic and export trade. There are approximately 2,500 current users of the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs. These customers are located nationwide and represent a diverse mixture of small, medium, and large producers, merchandisers, processors, exporters, and other financially interested parties. These customers request official services from an FGIS Field Office; delegated, designated, or cooperating State office; or designated private agency office. The goal of FGIS and the official inspection, grading, and weighing system is to provide timely, high quality, accurate, consistent, and professional service that facilitates the orderly marketing of grain and related commodities. To accomplish this goal and in accordance with Executive Order 12862, FGIS is seeking feedback from customers to evaluate the services provided by the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs. *Title:* Survey of Customers of the Official Inspection, Grading, and Weighing Programs (Grain and Related Commodities). *OMB Number:* 0580-0018. *Expiration Date of Approval:* July 31, 2006. *Type of Request:* Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection. *Abstract:* The collection of information using a voluntary customer service survey will provide all paying customers of FGIS and the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs an opportunity to evaluate, on a scale of one to five, the timeliness, cost-effectiveness, accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of services and results, and the professionalism of employees. Customers will also have an opportunity to indicate what new or existing services they would use if such services were offered or available. FGIS needs to have a more formal means of determining customers' expectations or the quality of service that is delivered. To collect this information, FGIS proposes to distribute, over a 3-year period, a voluntary customer service survey. The initial survey instrument will consist of nine questions. Subsequent survey instruments will be tailored to earlier responses. The information collected from the survey will allow FGIS to ascertain customers' satisfaction with existing services, compare results from year to year, and determine what new services customers desire. The customer service survey consists of one document comprised of nine questions where customers assess the timeliness, cost effectiveness, accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of services and results, and the professionalism of employees. Some examples of survey questions include the following: “I receive results in a timely manner,” “Official results are accurate,” and “Inspection personnel are knowledgeable.” These survey questions will be assessed using a one to five rating scale with responses ranging from “strongly disagrees” to “strongly agrees” or “no opinion.” Customers are also asked for which product they primarily request service, and what percentage of their product is officially inspected. There is also space available on the survey for the customer to provide a response to the following statement: “I would use the following new/existing services if they were offered/available.” By obtaining information from customers through a voluntary customer service survey, FGIS could continue to improve services and service delivery provided by the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs to meet or exceed customer expectations. *Estimate of Burden:* Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 minutes ( *i.e.* , 0.167 hours) per response. *Respondents:* The primary respondents will be the direct paying customers of FGIS and the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs. *FY 2006: Estimated Number of Respondents:* 1,875 ( *i.e.* , 2,500 total customers times 75% response rate = 1,875). *Frequency of Responses:* 1. *Estimated Annual Burden:* 313 hours. (1,875 responses times 0.167 hours/ response = 313 hours). *FY 2007: Estimated Number of Respondents:* 1,875. *Frequency of Responses:* 1. *Estimated Annual Burden:* 313 hours. *FY 2008: Estimated Number of Respondents:* 1,875. *Frequency of Responses:* 1. *Estimated Annual Burden:* 313 hours. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Tess Butler, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, FGIS, at
(202)720-7486. *Comments:* Comments are invited on:
(a)Whether the collection of the information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of FGIS, including whether the information will have a practical utility;
(b)the accuracy of FGIS' estimate of the burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques, or other forms of information technology. Comments should be addressed to Tess Butler, as referenced above. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. David R. Shipman, Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. [FR Doc. E5-6703 Filed 11-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS Sunshine Act Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, December 7, 2005, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Place: Cohen Building, Room 3321, 330 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20237. Closed Meeting: The members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors
(BBG)will meet in closed session to review and discuss a number of issues relating to U.S. Government-funded non-military international broadcasting. They will address internal procedural, budgetary, and personnel issues, as well as sensitive foreign policy issues relating to potential options in the U.S. international broadcasting field. This meeting is closed because if open it likely would either disclose matters that would be properly classified to be kept secret in the interest of foreign policy under the appropriate executive order (5 U.S.C. 552b.(c)(1)) or would disclose information the premature disclosure of which would be likely to significantly frustrate implementation of a proposed agency action. (5 U.S.C. 552b.(c)(9)(B)) In addition, part of the discussion will relate solely to the internal personnel and organizational issues of the BBG or the International Broadcasting Bureau. (5 U.S.C. 552b.(c)(2) and (6)) Contact Person For More Information: Persons interested in obtaining more information should contact Carol Booker at
(202)203-4545. Dated: November 28, 2005. Carol Booker, Legal Counsel. [FR Doc. 05-23573 Filed 11-29-05; 2:43 pm]
Connectionstraces to 4
5 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 94-582
  • 90 Stat. 2867
  • 7 CFR 1.27(b)
  • 7 USC 71-87
  • 7 USC 1621-1627
Citation graph
cites case law
Notices
Notice
Pub. L.Pub. L. 94-582
Stat.90 Stat. 2867
Cite7 CFR 1.27(b)
Cite7 USC 71-87
Cite7 USC 1621-1627
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