[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 134 (Thursday, July 13, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36028-36030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16819]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

7 CFR Part 868

RIN 0580-AA27


Fees for Beltsville Commodity Testing Laboratory Services

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), a program of the 
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), is 
increasing service fees charged by the FGIS Commodity Testing 
Laboratory at Beltsville, Maryland, under authority of the Agricultural 
Marketing Act (AMA) of 1946. FGIS is also establishing 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 11, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
George Wollam, USDA-GIPSA, Room 0623-South Building, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20090-6454, 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 increase in the service fees is necessary to recover operating 
losses at the Beltsville Commodity Testing Laboratory. These fees were 
increased on August 1, 1984, (49 FR 26547) and due to increases in the 
operating costs, it is not being covered by revenue. 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 $1,190,700 for FY 93, 
resulting in a 1-year operating loss of $155,289. Given FY 93 volume, 
the fee increase will generate revenue of $1,394,577 or an increase of 
$359,166.
    James R. Baker, Administrator, GIPSA, has determined that this 
final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.

Executive Order 12778

    This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, 
Civil Justice Reform. This action is not intended to have a retroactive 
effect. This final 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.

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 approve by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
number 0580-0013.

Background

    On November 3, 1994, FGIS proposed in the Federal Register (59 FR 
55067) to increase fees charged for Beltsville Commodity Testing 
Laboratory Services and establish a test and unit fee for vomitoxin 
testing at the Laboratory.
    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 868.90, Table 4 of the 
regulations (7 CFR 868.90, Table 4).
    FGIS is adding a vomitoxin laboratory testing service to the 
current list of fees, 7 CFR 868.90, Table 4. The new test is required 
to accommodate frequent grain and food industry requests. In addition, 
changes are made to Table 4 concerning the Tilletia controversa kuhn 
(TCK) laboratory test services. Currently, section 868.90, Table 4 
provides for a Tilletia controversa kuhn (TCK) test for $25.20. While 
the proposed rule effected this test and fee in Table 4, it did not 
separate the TCK testing service to specify quantitative and 
qualitative testing. This final rule changes Table 4 to specify both a 
qualitative and quantitative TCK testing service. The qualitative test 
remains at $25.20 while the quantitative test fee will be $76.00. This 
will recover, as nearly as practicable, projected operating costs.
    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 precentum. 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 $1,190,700 for fiscal year 1993, resulting 
in a 1-year operating loss of $155,289.
    Given fiscal year 1993 volume, the proposed fee increase will 
generate revenue of $1,394,577 or an increase of $359,166.

Comment Review

    FGIS received one comment during the 30-day comment period. That 
comment was from a grain processing trade association. It recognized 
the need for a fee increase after 10 years without an increase and 
applauded initiatives taken to contain operating costs through program 
efficiencies and streamlining. It further suggested that the Beltsville 
Commodity Testing Laboratory be consolidated with and moved to the FGIS 
Technical Center (QARD) in 

[[Page 36029]]
Kansas City, Missouri, in order to reduce ongoing operating expenses 
while enhancing the efficiency and timeliness of testing service.
    It also requested further information regarding cost and revenue 
figures, including both historical and projected, before commenting on 
the reasonableness of the specific proposals. However, FGIS published 
in the proposed rule all cost and revenue information necessary for the 
purpose of increasing fees.
    With regard to the suggestion that the Beltsville Commodity Testing 
Laboratory be consolidated with and moved to QARD was not germane to 
the proposed rule but will be considered if appropriate.
    Based on all available information including the comment received, 
FGIS is increasing the fees charged at the Beltsville Commodity Testing 
Laboratory and making additional changes to Table 4 a provided in this 
action.

Final 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 868.90, Table 4 (as currently shown in section 868.90, 
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 and changes to the Tilletia controversa kuhn (TCK) 
testing as outlined in the background. Pesticide residue testing 
(Carbon Tetrachloride, Methyl Bromide and Ethylene Dibromide) is 
deleted because it is no longer conducted at the Beltsville Commodity 
Testing Laboratory. Such testing is provided for under the United 
States Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.)
    The increased fees for laboratory tests are: Aflatoxin test (other 
than TLC or Minicolumn), Aflatoxin (TLC), Aflatoxin (Minicolumn), 
Appearance and 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 and 
closed up), Free fatty acid, Hydrogen ion activity (pH), Iron 
enrichment, Linolenic acid (fatty acid profile), Lovibond color, 
Moisture, Moisture and volatile matter, Performance test (prepared 
bakery mix), Peroxide value, 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 868

    Administrative practice and procedure, Agriculture commodities.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 7 CFR Part 868 is amended 
as follows:

PART 868--GENERAL REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN 
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES
    1. The authority citation for part 868 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. Section 868.90 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (b) and 
(c) and Table 4 and the undesignated centerhead above paragraph (a) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 868.90  Fees for certain Federal inspection services.

* * * * *
    Table 3 * * *

Fees for Official Laboratory Test Services Performed at the GIPSA 
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) Aflatoxin (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) Phosphorus................................................    14.00
(39) Popcorn kernels (total defects)...........................    19.00
(40) Popping ratio/value popcorn...............................    19.00
(41) Potassium bromate.........................................    20.00
(42) Protein...................................................     7.50
(43) Rope spore count..........................................    31.50
(44) Salmonella................................................    40.00
(45) Salt or sodium content....................................    12.50
(46) Sanitation (filth light)..................................    24.00
(47) Sieve test................................................     5.00
(48) Smoke point...............................................    22.00
(49) Solid fat index...........................................    85.00
(50) Specific volume (bread)...................................    21.80
(51) Staphylococcus aureus.....................................    24.50
(52) Texture...................................................     6.50
(53) Tilletia controversa kuhn (TCK) (Qualitative).............    25.20
(54) Tilletia controversa kuhn (TCK) (Quantitative)............    76.00
(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

[[Page 36030]]
                                                                        
(68) Other laboratory tests....................................      \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ When laboratory test service is provided for GIPSA by a private     
  laboratory, the applicant will be assessed a fee which, as nearly as  
  practicable, covers the costs to GIPSA 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 a moisture test will also be assessed.
    (c) Laboratory tests referenced in Table 4 will be charged at the 
applicable laboratory fee listed in Table 4 when performed at field 
locations other than at the applicant's facility.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 95-16819 Filed 7-12-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-M