§800.160. Official certificates; issuance and distribution. — Inbound Citations

Official certificates shall be issued according to § 800.160. Upon request, a combination inspection and Class X weighing certificate may be issued when both services are performed in a reasonably continuous operation at the same location by the same agency or field office. An official certificate shall not be issued unless the information as required by § 800.46 has been submitted, or official personnel determine that sufficient information has been made available so as to perform the requested service. A record that sufficient information was made available must be included in the record of the official service.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this paragraph, official certificates shall be issued according to § 800.160 and the instructions. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, only the result of the reinspection service shall be reported.

(1) When results of a reinspection on a material portion do not detect a material error, they shall be averaged with the original inspection results. For purposes of this section, a material error is defined as results differing by more than two standard deviations. The averaged inspection results shall replace the original inspection results recorded on the official inspection log. Reinspection results shall replace the original inspection results recorded on the official inspection log if a material error is detected. No certificates will be issued unless requested by the applicant or deemed necessary by official personnel.

(2) When the review of weighing service results indicate that the original weighing results were correct, the applicant will be notified in writing. When the original weighing service results are incorrect, a corrected weight certificate or, if applicable, a corrected combination inspection and Class X weight certificate will be issued according to the provisions of § 800.165.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) of this section, official certificate shall be issued according to § 800.160 and the instructions. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, only the results of the appeal inspection service shall be reported.

(2) Information and statements requested by the applicant but not required by the regulations or instructions may be shown on letterhead stationary of the Service or an agency when (i) ample space is not available for reporting the information or statements on the certificate, (ii) letterhead stationary is determined to be more suitable than the official certificate, and (iii) the certificate is referenced on the letterhead stationary and distributed according to § 800.160. Letterhead stationary of the Service shall be used for all export grain.

(f) Divided-lot certificates shall be issued no later than the close of business on the next business day after the request and be distributed according to § 800.160.

(c) Duplicate certificates shall be issued as promptly as possible and distributed according to § 800.160.

(a) Paragraphs (b) through (m) of this section describe the kinds of official service available. Each kind of service has several levels. §§ 800.115, 800.116, 800.117, and 800.118 explain Original Services, §§ 800.125, 800.126, 800.127, 800.128, and 800.129 explain Reinspection Services and Review of Weighing Services, and §§ 800.135, 800.136, 800.137, 800.138, and 800.139 explain Appeal Inspection Services. The results of each official service listed in paragraphs (b) through (j) will be certificated according to § 800.160.

(1) Service is not timely when an official agency cannot provide the requested official services within 6 hours or cannot provide the results and certificate in accordance with § 800.160(c). Timely service exception requests will also be considered for delays caused by weather events or for official services that the assigned official agency does not offer. The applicant must submit a request for a timely service exception to the Service. The applicant may make this request orally or in writing. If the applicant requests a timely service exception orally, the applicant must submit a written request to the Service within two business days of the request. The applicant must clearly state and support the identified reason for the requested timely service exception. There are three consecutive tiers of timely service exceptions: one-time, 90-day, and long-term. Applicants requesting 90-day or long-term timely service exceptions must progress through each previous tier sequentially. The Service will review timely service exception requests and may contact the applicant, the assigned official agency, or potential gaining official agency with questions during its review.

(i) In the case of an assigned official agency's inability to provide timely service, an applicant may be granted a one-time approval to use another official agency for the associated pending service request, as applicable.

(A) For one-time, timely service exception requests, if the request is made during customary business hours, the Service will provide its decision that day.

(B) If the applicant has an urgent timely service exception request, outside of the Service's customary business hours, an official agency from outside the geographic area may provide one-time service. When providing an urgent service, the gaining official agency must provide written notification to the Service within two business days after service.

(C) Upon returning to official office hours, the Service will review and verify the circumstances of the urgent request, as well as its consistency with the U.S. Grain Standards Act and implementing regulations.

(ii) If there is an occurrence of untimely service within 180 days of the date of the occurrence in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, the applicant may request a 90-day timely service exception. This 90-day window will begin the day the exception is granted.

(iii) If there is an occurrence of untimely service within 365 days after the applicant's return to service with the assigned official agency, following an exception granted under paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, the applicant may request a long-term timely service exception. When granting this exception, the Service may continue the exception up to the date on which the gaining official agency's designation terminates.

(iv) The applicant must submit a request for a timely service exception to the Service. This request may include any associated supporting documentation the applicant feels is warranted. After receipt of the request, the Service will provide the applicant, assigned official agency, and potential gaining official agency an opportunity to submit any additional information in support of the timely service exception request in writing. The Service will request additional information, if needed.

(v) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, prior to granting a timely service exception, the Service must review and verify information submitted with the request. When a timely service exception request is received, the Service will issue a written notification to acknowledge the receipt of the request to the applicant, the assigned official agency, and the potential gaining official agency. When possible, the Service should also attempt to make oral contact.

(vi) Once the applicant's request is received, the Service will notify the applicant and begin the review timeline. The Service will issue a determination within 15 business days for 90-day and long-term timely service exceptions, barring a challenge from the assigned official agency. While awaiting a final decision on 90-day and long-term timely service exceptions, the applicant may receive service from the potential gaining official agency.

(vii) The Service must notify the assigned official agency in writing upon receipt of the request for a timely service exception. At the completion of the request review process, the Service will issue written notification of the determination on the request to the applicant, the assigned official agency, and the gaining official agency. When possible, the Service should also attempt to make oral contact.

(viii) The assigned official agency may challenge a request for a timely service exception for any reason. To challenge a request for a timely service exception, the assigned official agency must object, in writing, and submit the challenge and any supporting documents to the Service.

(A) Given the urgency of a one-time service request, if the assigned official agency wishes to challenge the request, it must be done in a manner which does not further delay the applicant from receiving the pending service. If the one-time timely service exception has already been granted or used, the assigned official agency may still challenge the Service's determination within 14 calendar days.

(B) To challenge a 90-day or long-term timely service exception, the assigned official agency must submit the challenge and any supporting documents within 14 calendar days of the date of notification of the timely service exception request. The documents must clearly identify the objection and support the identified reason for the challenge.

(ix) In the event the Service determines that the assigned official agency is unable to provide official services in a timely manner, the Service will grant a timely service exception.

(x) If an applicant submits a request for a timely service exception that the Service determines to be false or misleading, the Service will not grant the exception and may elect to limit the applicant from submitting further requests for a period of up to 180 days. If an urgent request for a timely service exception, outside of customary business hours, was granted on the basis of a false or misleading request, the Service may deny the applicant from future timely service exceptions for a period of up to 180 days.

(xi) The applicant maintains the option of returning to the assigned official agency within 60 days of notification of termination of the timely service exception to all parties. The applicant must submit a written notification requesting to terminate the timely service exception to the Service, the assigned official agency and the gaining official agency. The timely service exception will be cancelled, and future timely service exception requests must be considered at the beginning of successive-tiered system.

(xii) If the Service determines the assigned official agency's inability to provide a specific service was limited due to weather events or for official services that the assigned official agency does (did) not offer, the cause of which has been resolved, the Service, in consultation with all the parties, may terminate the 90-day or long-term timely service exception. However, if the timely service exception was associated with the official agency's inability to provide service in 6 hours or less, or with its failure to issue the results and certificate in a timely manner, then the Service might elect not to terminate the timely service exception. The Service must notify the applicant, the assigned official agency, and the potential gaining official agency of all timely service exception termination decisions in writing. The assigned official agency must resume service within 60 days of notification.