[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 228 (Friday, November 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 65597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31603]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Suspension of Site Registration Fee for Facilities Transferring 
or Receiving Select Agents

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is announcing 
the suspension of the site registration fee for facilities registered 
under (42 CFR 72.6). (Additional Requirements for Facilities 
Transferring or Receiving Select Agents; Final Rule).

DATES: Effective date is November 27, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laboratory Registration/Select Agent 
Transfer (LR/SAT) Program, Office of Health and Safety, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mail Stop 
F-05, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone (404) 639-4418, LR/SAT Program 
website at http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/lrsat.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ``The Antiterrorism and Effective Death 
Penalty Act of 1996,'' Pub. L. 104-132, (42 U.S.C. 262) note, enacted 
on April 24, 1996, established new provisions to regulate transfer of 
certain biological agents and toxins (i.e., select agents), and 
required HHS to issue rules to implement these provisions. The final 
rule was published in the Federal Register on October 24, 1996, and 
became effective April 15, 1997. To comply with the final rule, 
commercial suppliers of select agents, as well as government agencies, 
universities, research institutions, and private companies that 
transfer these agents, must register with the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC). In return for the registration, 
facilities are responsible for paying a site registration fee. (42 CFR 
72.6(a)(2)(iv)).
    CDC calculated the direct costs to manage the program, and in a 
Federal Register Notice dated April 14, 1997, announced those fees. 
(Federal Register notice, April 14, 1997, Vol. 62, No. 71:18134-5). 
Many facilities wishing to register expressed concern that the fees 
were high and constituted a substantial burden, particularly for small 
facilities with limited and inflexible budgets. The CDC has reviewed 
the situation and has determined that for Fiscal Year 1999, funds are 
available within the agency budget to defray the site registration fee.
    Suspension of Site Registration Fee for Facilities Transferrring or 
Receiving Select Agents: Effective November 27, 1998, the site 
registration fee schedule for all facilities will be suspended. 
Facilities registered between April 15, 1997, and the effective date of 
this notice will be contacted by CDC with information regarding the 
refunding of the site registration fee. The decision as to whether to 
impose registration fees will be re-evaluated annually to determine 
whether appropriated funds may be used to cover registration costs.
    The site registration will still cover a three year time period. 
All applications for registration of facilities under this regulation 
should be mailed to: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
Office of Health and Safety, Laboratory Registration/Select Agent 
Transfer Program, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mail Stop F-05, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30333.
    CDC will mail applications to all facilities that express an 
interest. Questions about this notice and requests for application 
packages should be faxed to CDC, Office of Health and Safety, telephone 
(404) 639-0880 or sent by e-mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: November 20, 1998.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 98-31603 Filed 11-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P