[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14840-14844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7939]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

7 CFR Part 800

RIN 05800-AA59


Fees for Official Inspection and Official Weighing Services

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

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 
(GIPSA) is proposing an approximate 2.9 percent increase in certain 
service fees for official inspection and weighing services performed in 
the United States under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA), 
as amended. The proposed increase covers hourly rates and certain unit 
rates on tests performed at other than an applicant's facility. The 
proposed increase is designed to generate additional revenue required 
to recover operational costs created by cost-of-living increases to 
Federal salaries in fiscal year 1998.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 26, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments must be submitted to George Wollam, USDA,

[[Page 14841]]

GIPSA, ART, Stop 3649, Washington, D.C. 20250-3649, or FAX them to 
(202) 720-4628. All comments received will be made available for public 
inspection during regular business hours in Room 0623, South Building, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-3649 (7 CFR 
1.27(b)). Comments may also be sent by electronic mail or Internet to: 
[email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined to be nonsignificant for the purpose 
of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget.

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. This action is not intended to have a retroactive 
effect. The USGSA provides in Sec. 87g that no subdivision may require 
or impose any requirements or restrictions concerning the inspection, 
weighing, or description of grain under the Act. Otherwise, this 
proposed rule will not preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or 
policies unless they present irreconcilable conflict with this proposed 
rule. There are no administrative procedures which must be exhausted 
prior to any judicial challenge to provisions of this proposed rule.

Effects on Small Entities

    James R. Baker, Administrator, GIPSA, 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.). Most users of GIPSA inspection 
and weighing services do not meet the requirements for small entities. 
GIPSA is required by statute to make services available and to recover 
costs of providing such services, as nearly as practicable.
    The proposed fee revision is primarily applicable to entities 
engaged in the export of grain. Under provisions of the USGSA, most 
grain exported from U.S. export port locations must be officially 
inspected and weighed. Mandatory inspection and weighing services are 
provided by GIPSA on a fee basis at 37 export facilities. All of the 
export facilities are owned and managed by multi-national corporations, 
large cooperatives, or public entities that do not meet the criteria 
for small entities as defined under the Regulatory Flexibility Act and 
the regulations issued thereunder. Some users of the service who 
request non-mandatory official inspection and weighing services (most 
of which represent appeals) at other than export locations could be 
considered small entities. However, this fee increase merely reflects 
the cost-of-living increases in Federal salaries for hourly and certain 
unit fees.
    In fiscal year 1997, GIPSA's obligations were $22,972,026 with 
revenue of $21,527,695, resulting in a loss of $1,444,331 and retained 
earnings of negative $419,417. In fiscal year 1998, as of January 31, 
GIPSA's obligations were $8,116,935 with revenue of $8,170,327 and 
retained earnings of negative $374,608. GIPSA cannot absorb the 2.9 
percent increase in salary costs with the existing deficit in retained 
earnings. Additionally, GIPSA will continue to monitor its costs to 
improve operating efficiencies, and adopt cost saving measures, where 
possible and practicable.
    The approximate 2.9 percent proposed increase in fees would not 
have a significant impact on either small or large entities. GIPSA 
estimates an annual increase of $509,000 in revenue based on a work 
volume of 74,045,472 metric tons, the equivalent to fiscal year 1997.

Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements

    In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the information collection and recordkeeping requirements 
in Part 800 have been previously approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget under control number 0580-0013.

Background

    The USGSA requires GIPSA to charge and collect reasonable fees for 
performing official inspection and weighing services. The fees are to 
cover, as nearly as practicable, GIPSA's costs for performing these 
services, including related administrative and supervisory costs.
    The proposed 2.9 percent fee increase generates additional revenue 
required to recover operational costs created by a January 1998 cost-
of-living increase to Federal salaries. The average salary increase for 
GIPSA employees in calendar year 1998 is approximately 2.9 percent. 
This proposed action is being taken to ensure that the service fees 
charged by GIPSA generate adequate revenue to cover the additional cost 
created by the January 1998 Federal salary increase.
    The current USGSA fees covering hourly rates and certain unit rates 
on tests performed at other than an applicant's facility were published 
in the Federal Register on June 11, 1997 (62 FR 31701), and became 
effective on June 15, 1997. They will appear in the 1998 edition of 7 
CFR 800.71, Schedule A, Fees for Official Inspection and Weighing 
Services Performed in the United States. The hourly fees covered by 
this proposal generate revenue to cover the basic salary, benefits, and 
leave for those employees providing direct service delivery. GIPSA has 
also identified certain unit fees, for services not performed at an 
applicant's facility, that contain direct labor costs. This proposal 
increases those unit fees based on a 2.9 percent increase to the labor 
cost of each unit. Other associated costs, including overhead, are 
collected through additional fees contained in the published fee 
schedule and are not included under this proposal.
    The amount of revenue collected as a result of this proposal is a 
direct function of the work volume. GIPSA estimates an annual increase 
of $509,000 in revenue based on a work volume of 74,045,472 metric 
tons, the equivalent to fiscal year 1997. If GIPSA foregoes this 
adjustment, GIPSA will incur a net loss equivalent to 2.9 percent for 
every hour worked by an employee providing direct service delivery.
    In fiscal year 1997, GIPSA's obligations were $22,972,026 with 
revenue of $21,527,695, resulting in a loss of $1,444,331 and retained 
earnings of negative $419,417. In fiscal year 1998, as of January 31, 
GIPSA's obligations were $8,116,935 with revenue of $8,170,327 and 
retained earnings of negative $374,608. GIPSA cannot afford to absorb 
an additional $509,000 loss due to the 2.9 percent increase in salary 
costs with the existing deficit in retained earnings. Additionally, 
GIPSA will continue to monitor its costs to improve operating 
efficiencies and adopt cost saving measures, where possible and 
practicable.

Proposed Action

    GIPSA proposes to apply an approximate 2.9 percent increase to 
those hourly and certain unit rates in 7 CFR 800.71, Table 1--Fees for 
Official Services Performed at an Applicant's Facility in an Onsite 
GIPSA Laboratory; Table 2--Services Performed at Other Than an 
Applicant's Facility in a GIPSA Laboratory; and Table 3, Miscellaneous 
Services.
    In reviewing the fee schedule to identify fees that would require 
an approximate 2.9 percent increase, GIPSA has identified several fees 
that

[[Page 14842]]

under the current fee schedule are at levels that would not require any 
change. Accordingly, these fees would remain the same at this time.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 800

    Administrative practice and procedure, Grains.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 7 CFR Part 800 is proposed 
to be revised as follows:

PART 800--GENERAL REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for Part 800 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Pub. L. 94-582, 90 Stat. 2867, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
71 et seq.)

    2. In Sec. 800.71 Paragraph(s), Schedule A is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 800.71  Fees assessed by the Service.

    (a) * * *
    Schedule A.--Fees for Official Inspection and Weighing Services 
Performed in the United States

   Table 1.--Fees For Official Services Performed at an Applicant's Facility in an Onsite FGIS Laboratory \1\   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Monday to    Monday to                           
                                                               Friday (6    Friday (6    Saturday,              
                                                                a.m to 6    p.m. to 6   Sunday, and    Holidays 
                                                                 p.m.)        a.m.)       Overtime              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\2\-----------------
    (1) Inspection and Weighing Services Hourly Rates (per service representative)                              
                                                                                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-year contract.............................................       $24.40       $26.40       $34.40       $41.40
6-month contract............................................        26.80        28.60        36.60        47.80
3-month contract............................................        30.60        31.60        39.80        49.40
Noncontract.................................................        35.40        37.40        45.40        55.80
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Additional Tests (cost per test, assessed in addition to the 
hourly rate) \3\

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) Aflatoxin (other than Thin Layer Chromatography).......        $8.50
(ii) Aflatoxin (Thin Layer Chromatography method)..........        20.00
(iii) Soybean protein and oil (one or both)................         1.50
(iv) Wheat protein (per test)..............................         1.50
(v) Sunflower oil (per test)...............................         1.50
(vi) Vomitoxin (qualitative)...............................         7.50
(vii) Vomitoxin (quantitative).............................        12.50
(viii) Waxy corn (per test)................................         1.50
(ix) Fees for other tests not listed above will be based on             
 the lowest noncontract hourly rate........................             
(x) Other services                                                      
    (a) Class Y Weighing (per carrier)                                  
        (1) Truck/container................................          .30
        (2) Railcar........................................         1.25
        (3) Barge..........................................         2.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) Administrative Fee (assessed in addition to all other 
applicable fees, only one administrative fee will be assessed when 
inspection and weighing services are performed on the same carrier).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) All outbound carriers (per-metric-ton) \4\                          
    (a) 1-1,000,000........................................      $0.1013
    (b) 1,000,001--1,500,000...............................        .0923
    (c) 1,500,001--2,000,000...............................        .0473
    (d) 2,000,001--5,000,000...............................        .0360
    (e) 5,000,001--7,000,000...............................        .0192
    (f) 7,000,000+.........................................       .0023 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Fees apply for original inspection and weighing, reinspection, and  
  appeal inspection service include, but are not limited to, sampling,  
  grading, weighing, prior to loading stowage examinations, and         
  certifying results performed within 25 miles of an employee's assigned
  duty station. Travel and related expenses will be charged for service 
  outside 25 miles as found in Sec.  800.72 (a).                        
\2\ Overtime rates will be assessed for all hours in excess of 8        
  consecutive hours that result from an applicant scheduling or         
  requesting service beyond 8 hours, or if requests for additional      
  shifts exceed existing staffing.                                      
\3\ Appeal and reinspection services will be assessed the same fee as   
  the original inspection service.                                      
\4\ The administrative fee is assessed on an accumulated basis beginning
  at the start of the Service's fiscal year (October 1 each year).      


 Table 2.-- Services Performed at Other Than an Applicant's Facility in 
                       an FGIS Laboratory \1\ \2\                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
(1) Original Inspection and Weighing (Class X) Services                 
    (i) Sampling only (use hourly rates from Table 1)                   
    (ii) Stationary lots (sampling, grade/factor, &                     
     checkloading)                                                      
        (a) Truck/trailer/container (per carrier)..........       $18.00
        (b) Railcar (per carrier)..........................        27.50
        (c) Barge (per carrier)............................       174.25
        (d) Sacked grain (per hour per service                          
         representative plus an administrative fee per                  
         hundredweight) (CWT)..............................         0.02
    (iii) Lots sampled online during loading (sampling                  
     charge under (i) above, plus):                                     
        (a) Truck/trailer container (per carrier)..........         9.75
        (b) Railcar (per carrier)..........................        19.00
        (c) Barge (per carrier)............................       108.00

[[Page 14843]]

                                                                        
        (d) Sacked grain (per hour per service                          
         representative plus an administrative fee per                  
         hundredweight) (CWT)..............................         0.02
    (iv) Other services                                                 
        (a) Submitted sample (per sample--grade and factor)        10.50
        (b) Warehouseman inspection (per sample)...........        17.50
        (c) Factor only (per factor--maximum 2 factors)....         4.50
        (d) Checkloading/condition examination ( use hourly             
         rates from Table 1, plus an administrative fee per             
         hundredweight if not previously assessed) (CWT)...         0.02
(e) Reinspection (grade and factor only. Sampling service               
 additional, item (i) above)                                       11.50
        (f) Class X Weighing (per hour per service                      
         representative)...................................        46.40
    (v) Additional tests (excludes sampling)                            
        (a) Aflatoxin (per test--other than TLC method)....        25.50
        (b) Aflatoxin (per test--TLC method)...............       101.50
        (c) Soybean protein and oil (one or both)..........         8.00
        (d) Wheat protein (per test).......................         8.00
        (e) Sunflower oil (per test).......................         8.00
        (f) Vomitoxin (qualitative)........................        26.00
        (g) Vomitoxin (quantitative).......................        31.00
        (h) Waxy corn (per test)...........................         9.25
        (i) Canola (per test--00 dip test).................         9.25
        (j) Pesticide Residue Testing \3\                               
            (1) Routine Compounds (per sample).............       200.00
            (2) Special Compounds (per service                          
             representative)...............................       100.00
        (k) Fees for other tests not listed above will be               
         based on the lowest noncontract hourly rate from               
         Table 1.                                                       
(2) Appeal inspection and review of weighing service.\4\                
    (i) Board Appeals and Appeals (grade and factor).......        75.25
        (a) Factor only (per factor--max 2 factors)........        39.00
        (b) Sampling service for Appeals additional (hourly             
         rates from Table 1)...............................  ...........
    (ii) Additional tests (assessed in addition to all                  
     other applicable fees)                                             
        (a) Aflatoxin (per test, other than TLC)...........        25.75
        (b) Aflatoxin (TLC)................................       111.00
        (c) Soybean protein and oil (one or both)..........        15.75
        (d) Wheat protein (per test).......................        15.75
        (e) Sunflower oil (per test).......................        15.75
        (f) Vomitoxin (per test--qualitative)..............        36.00
        (g) Vomitoxin (per test--quantitative).............        41.00
        (h) Vomitoxin (per test--HPLC Board Appeal)........       128.00
        (i) Pesticide Residue Testing \3\..................             
            (1) Routine Compounds (per sample).............       200.00
(2) Special Compounds (per service representative)                100.00
        (j) Fees for other tests not listed above will be               
         based on the lowest noncontract hourly rate from               
         Table 1.                                                       
    (iii) Review of weighing (per hour per service                      
     representative)                                               67.40
(3) Stowage examination (service-on-request) \3\                        
    (i) Ship (per stowage space) (minimum $250 per ship)...        50.00
    (ii) Subsequent ship examinations (same as original)                
     (minimum $150 per ship)...............................  ...........
    (iii) Barge (per examination)..........................        40.00
    (iv) All other carriers (per examination)..............       15.00 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Fees apply for original inspection and weighing, reinspection, and  
  appeal inspection service include, but are not limited to, sampling,  
  grading, weighing, prior to loading stowage examinations, and         
  certifying results performed within 25 miles of an employee's assigned
  duty station. Travel and related expenses will be charged for service 
  outside 25 miles as found in Sec.  800.72 (a).                        
\2\ An additional charge will be assessed when the revenue from the     
  services in Schedule A, Table 2, does not cover what would have been  
  collected at the applicable hourly rate as provided in Sec.  800.72   
  (b).                                                                  
\3\ If performed outside of normal business, 1\1/2\ times the applicable
  unit fee will be charged.                                             
\4\ If, at the request of the Service, a file sample is located and     
  forwarded by the Agency for an official agency, the Agency may, upon  
  request, be reimbursed at the rate of $2.50 per sample by the Service.


                  Table 3.--Miscellaneous Services \1\                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
(1) Grain grading seminars (per hour per service                        
 representative) \2\.......................................       $46.40
(2) Certification of diverter-type mechanical samplers (per             
 hour per service representative) \2\......................        46.40
(3) Special weighing services (per hour per service                     
 representative) \2\.......................................             
    (i) Scale testing and certification....................        46.40
    (ii) Evaluation of weighing and material handling                   
     systems...............................................        46.40
    (iii) NTEP Prototype evaluation (other than Railroad                
     Track Scales).........................................        46.40
    (iv) NTEP Prototype evaluation of Railroad Track.......        46.40
      Scales (plus usage fee per day for test car).........       100.00
    (v) Mass standards calibration and reverification......        46.40
    (vi) Special projects..................................        46.40
(4) Foreign travel (per day per service representative)....       430.00
(5) Online customized data EGIS service....................             
    (i) One data file per week for 1 year..................       500.00
    (ii) One data file per month for 1 year................       300.00
(6) Samples provided to interested parties (per sample)....         2.50

[[Page 14844]]

                                                                        
(7) Divided-lot certificates (per certificate).............         1.50
(8) Extra copies of certificates (per certificate).........         1.50
(9) Faxing (per page)......................................         1.50
(10) Special mailing (actual cost).........................             
(11) Preparing certificates onsite or during other than                 
 normal business hours (use hourly rates from Table 1) ....             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Any requested service that is not listed will be performed at $46.40
  per hour.                                                             
\2\ Regular business hours-Monday thru Friday-service provided at other 
  than regular hours charged at the applicable overtime hourly rate.    

* * * * *
    Dated: March 20, 1998.
James R. Baker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-7939 Filed 3-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P