[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 212 (Thursday, November 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27110]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 3, 1994]


                                                   VOL. 59, NO. 212

                                         Thursday, November 3, 1994

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Grain Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 68

 

Fees for Beltsville Commodity Testing Laboratory Services

AGENCY: Federal Grain Inspection Service, USDA.\1\

    \1\The authority to exercise the functions of the Secretary of 
Agriculture contained in the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) concerning inspection and 
standardization activities related to grain and similar commodities 
and products thereof has been delegated to the Administrator, 
Federal Grain Inspection Service (7 U.S.C. 75a; 7 CFR 68.5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), under authority 
of the Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 1946, is proposing to 
increase service fees charged by the FGIS Commodity Testing Laboratory 
at Beltsville, Maryland. FGIS is also proposing to establish a test and 
unit fee for vomitoxin testing at the Laboratory.
    These revisions are necessary to cover, as nearly as practicable, 
the projected operating costs, including related supervisory and 
administrative costs, for commodity laboratory testing services.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 5, 
1994.

ADDRESSES: Written comments must be submitted to George Wollam, Federal 
Grain Inspection Service, USDA, Room 0624 South Building, P.O. Box 
96454, Washington DC 20090-6454; or FAX (202) 720-4628.
    All comments received will be made available for public inspection 
during regular business hours in room 0623 South Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. (7 CFR 1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
George Wollam, address as above, telephone (202) 720-0292.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This rule has been determined to be significant for the purposes of 
Executive Order 12866 and therefore has been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget.
    This proposed increase in the service fees is necessary to recover 
operating losses at the Beltsville Commodity Testing Laboratory. These 
fees were last increased on December 17, 1984 (57 FR 59887), and due to 
increases in operating costs, revenue is not covering operating costs. 
The overall cost of operating the laboratory increased between FY 92 
and 93 by more than 8 percent. This cost increase occurred 
simultaneously with a more than 17 percent downturn in revenue due to 
fewer service requests. Revenue of $1,035,411 did not cover the 
operating cost of $1,192,669 for FY 93, resulting in a 1-year operating 
loss of $157,228. Given FY 93 volume, the proposed fee increase will 
generate revenue of $1,394,577 or an increase of $355,224.
    Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Federal Grain 
Inspection Service has determined that this proposed action will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Executive Order 12778

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, 
Civil Justice Reform. This action is not intended to have a retroactive 
effect. This proposed rule will not pre-empt any State or local laws, 
regulations, or policies unless they present irreconcilable conflict 
with this rule. There are no administrative procedures which must be 
exhausted prior to any judicial challenge to provisions of this rule.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    David R. Shipman, Acting Administrator, FGIS, has determined that 
this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities as defined in the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) because most users of the 
official commodity laboratory testing services do not meet the 
requirements for small entities. In addition, FGIS is required by 
statute to recover the costs of providing official commodity laboratory 
testing services, as nearly as practicable.

Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements

    In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the previously approved information collection and 
recordkeeping requirements concerning applications for inspection 
services, including official commodity laboratory testing services, 
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
number 0580-0013.

Background

    The fees for commodity laboratory testing services were last 
increased August 1, 1984, (49 FR 26547). Subsequent adjustments were 
made on April 17, 1991, (56 FR 15483), adding several new laboratory 
test services and consolidating others for clarity and efficiency. 
Currently, these fees appear in section 68.90, Table 4 of the 
regulations (7 CFR 68.90, Table 4).
    FGIS is adding a vomitoxin laboratory testing service to the 
current list of fees, 7 CFR 68.90, Table 4. The new test is required to 
accommodate frequent grain and food industry requests for this service.
    FGIS continually strives to contain operating costs through program 
efficiencies and streamlining. In fiscal year 1992, FGIS took specific 
action to reduce chemical disposal costs by implementing new 
technology. FGIS further enhanced laboratory procedures to improve 
overall efficiency. While these changes proved successful in reducing 
certain costs, the overall cost of operating the laboratory increased 
between FY 92 and 93 by more than 8 percentum. This cost increase 
occurred simultaneously with a more than 17 percentum downturn in 
revenue due to fewer service requests. Revenue of $1,035,441 did not 
cover the operating cost of $1,192,669 for fiscal year 1993, resulting 
in a 1-year operating loss of $157,228.
    Given fiscal year 1993 volume, the proposed fee increase will 
generate revenue of $1,394,577 or an increase of $355,224.

Proposed Action

    Section 203(h) of the AMA (7 U.S.C. 1622(h)) provides for the 
establishment and collection of fees that are reasonable, and as nearly 
as practicable, to cover the costs of the services rendered.
    These fees cover the FGIS administrative and supervisory costs for 
the performance of official services. FGIS costs include personnel 
compensation, personnel benefits, travel, rent, communications, 
utilities, contractual services, supplies, and equipment.
    Section 68.90, Table 4 (as currently shown in section 68.90, Table 
4 of the regulations) is revised to provide for the increase in 
laboratory commodity testing fees and the addition of the vomitoxin 
laboratory testing as outlined in the background.
    The increased fees for laboratory tests are: Aflatoxin test (other 
than TLC or Minicolumn), Aflatoxin (TLC), Aflatoxin (Minicolumn), 
Appearance & Odor, Ash, Bacteria count, Baking test (cookies), Bostwick 
(uncooked/cook test/dispersibility), Brix, Calcium, Carotenoid Color, 
Cold test (oil), Cooking test (other than corn soy blend), Crude fat, 
Crude fiber, Dough handling (baking), E. coli, Falling number, Fat 
(acid hydrolysis), Fat-stability (A.O.M.), Flash point (point & closed 
cup), Free fatty acid, Hydrogen ion activity (pH), Iron enrichment, 
Linolenic acid (fatty acid profile), Lovibond color, Moisture, Moisture 
& volatile matter, Performance test (prepared bakery mix), Peroxide 
value, Pesticide residue (carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide, 
ethylene dibromide), Phosphorus, Popcorn kernels (total defects), 
Popping ratio/value popcorn, Potassium bromate, Protein, Salmonella, 
Salt or sodium content, Sanitation (light filth), Sieve test, Smoke 
point, Solid fat index, Unsaponifiable matter, Urease activity, Visual 
exam (hops pellet), Visual exam (insoluble impurities, oils, and 
shortening), Visual exam (pasta), Visual exam (processed grain 
products), Vitamin enrichment, and Water activity.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 68

    Administrative practice and procedure, Agriculture commodities.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 7 CFR Part 68 is proposed 
to be amended as follows:

PART 68--REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS FOR INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION 
OF CERTAIN AGRICULTURE COMMODITIES AND THEIR PRODUCTS.

    1. The authority citation for part 68 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 202-208, 60 Stat. 1087, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
1621 et seq.)


Sec. 68.90  [Amended]

    2. Section 68.90 is amended by revising the section heading, 
paragraph (a), Table 4, and paragraphs (b) and (c) to read as follows: 
Fees for Official Laboratory Test Services Performed at the FGIS 
Commodity Testing Laboratory at Beltsville, Maryland. For Processed 
Agricultural Products.
    (a) In addition to the fees, if any, for sampling or other 
requested service, a fee will be assessed for each laboratory test 
(original, retest, or appeal) as follows:

                      Table 4.--Laboratory Fees\1\                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Laboratory tests                           Fees  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Alpha monoglycerides......................................    $18.00
(2) Aflatoxin test (other than TLC or Minicolumn method)......     22.50
(3) Aflatoxin (TLC)...........................................     48.00
(4) Alfatoxin (Minicolumn method).............................     25.00
(5) Appearance & odor.........................................      3.00
(6) Ash.......................................................      8.50
(7) Bacteria count............................................     10.00
(8) Baking test (cookies).....................................     28.00
(9) Bostwick (cooked).........................................     12.60
(10) Bostwick (uncooked/cook test/dispersibility).............      6.50
(11) Brix.....................................................      8.00
(12) Calcium..................................................     12.50
(13) Carotenoid color.........................................     12.50
(14) Cold test (oil)..........................................     10.00
(15) Color test (syrups)......................................      6.50
(16) Cooking test (other than corn soy blend).................      7.00
(17) Crude fat................................................     10.00
(18) Crude fiber..............................................     13.00
(19) Dough handling (baking)..................................      8.50
(20) E. coli..................................................     19.00
(21) Falling number...........................................     12.00
(22) Fat (acid hydrolysis)....................................     14.00
(23) Fat stability (A.O.M.)...................................     27.00
(24) Flash point (open & close cup)...........................     14.00
(25) Free fatty acid..........................................     12.00
(26) Hydrogen ion activity (ph)...............................      9.50
(27) Iron enrichment..........................................     15.00
(28) Iodine number/value......................................      9.50
(29) Linolenic acid (fatty acid profile)......................     50.00
(30) Lipid phosphorous........................................     47.00
(31) Lovibond color...........................................     10.00
(32) Margarine (nonfat solids)................................     23.60
(33) Moisture.................................................      6.00
(34) Moisture average (crackers)..............................      4.00
(35) Moisture & volatile matter...............................      8.50
(36) Performance test (prepared bakery mix)...................     32.00
(37) Peroxide value...........................................     13.50
(38) Pesticide residue (carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide &          
 ethylene dibromide)..........................................     50.00
(39) Phosphorus...............................................     14.00
(40) Popcorn kernels (total defects)..........................     19.00
(41) Popping ratio/value popcorn..............................     19.00
(42) Potassium bromate........................................     20.00
(43) Protein..................................................      7.50
(44) Rope spore count.........................................     31.50
(45) Salmonella...............................................     40.00
(46) Salt or sodium content...................................     12.50
(47) Sanitation (filth light).................................     24.00
(48) Sieve test...............................................      5.00
(49) Smoke point..............................................     22.00
(50) Solid fat index..........................................     85.00
(51) Specific volume (bread)..................................     21.80
(52) Staphylococcus aureus....................................     24.50
(53) Texture..................................................      6.50
(54) Tilletia controversa kuhn (TCK)..........................     25.20
(55) Unsaponifiable matter....................................     25.00
(56) Urease activity..........................................     12.50
(57) Visual exam (hops pellet)................................      7.50
(58) Visual exam (insoluble impurities, oils & shortening)....      5.00
(59) Visual exam (pasta)......................................     10.50
(60) Visual exam (processed grain products)...................     12.00
(61) Visual exam (total foreign material other than cereal              
 grains)......................................................      6.50
(62) Vitamin enrichment.......................................      7.00
(63) Vomitoxin (TLC)..........................................     40.00
(64) Vomitoxin (Qualitative)..................................     30.00
(65) Vomitoxin (Quantitative).................................     40.00
(66) Water activity...........................................     20.00
(67) Wiley melting point......................................     12.50
(68) Other laboratory tests...................................       \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\When laboratory test service is provided for FGIS by a private       
  laboratory, the applicant will be assessed a fee which, as nearly as  
  practicable, covers the costs to FGIS for the service provided.       
\2\Fees for other laboratory tests not referenced above will be based on
  the noncontract hourly rate listed in Table 1.                        

    (b) If a requested test is to be reported on a specified moisture 
basis, a fee for moisture test will also be assessed.
    (c) Laboratory tests referenced above will be charged at the 
applicable laboratory fee listed in Table 4 when performed at field 
locations other than at the applicant's facility.

    Dated: October 25, 1994.
Patricia Jensen,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 94-27110 Filed 11-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-M