[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52680-52694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25425]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 130

[Docket No. 97-058-1]
RIN 0579-AA87


Import/Export User Fees

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: We propose to change our user fees for import- and export-
related services that we provide for animals, animal products, birds, 
germ plasm, organisms, and vectors. We propose increases for fiscal 
years 2000 through 2004 for standard annual increases in expenses. We 
have determined that the fees must be adjusted annually to reflect the 
anticipated cost of providing these services each year. By publishing 
the annual user fee changes in advance, users can incorporate the fees 
into their budget planning. The user fees pay for the actual cost of 
providing these services. We also propose to make some editorial 
changes to make the regulations easier to read and eliminate 
duplication.


[[Page 52681]]


DATES: We invite you to comment on this docket. We will consider all 
comments that we receive by November 29, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 97-
058-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 
4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.

Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 97-058-1.
    You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our 
reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington 
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS rules, are available on the Internet at http://
www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning services 
provided for animals, animal products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, 
and vectors, contact Dr. Gary Colgrove, Chief Staff Veterinarian, 
National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8364; or e-mail: 
Gary.S.C[email protected].
    For information concerning program operations, contact Ms. Louise 
Lothery, Director, Management Support Staff, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 44, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-7517; or e-mail: 
Louise.R.L[email protected].
    For information concerning user fees or rate development, contact 
Ms. Donna Ford, Section Head, Financial Systems and Services Branch, 
BASE, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 54, Riverdale, MD 20737-1232; (301) 
734-8351; or e-mail: Donna.J.F[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The regulations in 9 CFR part 130 (referred to below as the 
``regulations'') list user fees for import- and export-related services 
provided by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for 
animals, animal products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, and vectors. We 
propose to amend the user fees for these import- and export-related 
services to reflect the increased cost of service and to include 
additional cost components.
    These user fees are authorized by section 2509(c)(1) of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, as amended (21 U.S.C. 
136a). APHIS is authorized to establish and collect fees that will 
cover the cost of providing import- and export-related services for 
animals, animal products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, and vectors.
    Since fiscal year (FY) 1992, APHIS has received no directly 
appropriated funds to provide import- and export-related services for 
animals, animal products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, and vectors. 
Our ability to provide these services depends on user fees. We change 
our user fees through the standard rulemaking process of publishing the 
proposed changes for public comment in the Federal Register, 
considering the comments, publishing the final changes in the Federal 
Register, and making the new user fees effective 30 days after the 
final rule is published. This rulemaking process can be lengthy. As a 
result, our user fees may not reflect our current cost of providing 
services. Since implementing these user fees in 1992, we have only 
adjusted them four times. While a few user fees were adjusted as 
recently as 1998, most of the user fees have not been adjusted since 
1996.
    For our user fees to cover our costs so that we can continue to 
provide services and to inform our customers of user fees in time for 
advance planning, we propose to set user fees for our services in 
advance for fiscal years 2000 through 2004. The proposed user fees are 
based on our costs of providing import- and export-related services in 
FY 1999, plus anticipated annual increases in the salaries of employees 
who provide the services, plus adjustments for inflation. We used 
estimated pay increases of 4.4 percent for FY 2000 and 3.9 percent for 
FY 2001 through FY 2004 published by the U.S. Treasury Department to 
calculate increases in the direct labor costs each year. We estimated 
inflation at 2.3 percent a year based on the Consumer Price Index 
(CPI). The estimated CPI is published in the Economic Assumptions table 
of the Budget for the U.S. Government each year.
    We propose to list the user fees for fiscal years 2000 through 2004 
in the regulations. We also plan to publish a notice in the Federal 
Register prior to the beginning of each fiscal year to remind or notify 
the public of the user fees for that particular fiscal year. We would 
continue to charge the user fees proposed for fiscal year 2004 until 
new user fees are in effect. Therefore, the user fee tables in this 
document do not specify an end date for user fees that would become 
effective on October 1, 2003 (the beginning of fiscal year 2004).

User Fee Components

    We calculated our user fees to cover the full cost of providing the 
services for which we charge the fee. The cost of providing a service 
includes direct labor and direct material costs. It also includes 
administrative support, agency overhead, and departmental charges.
    Direct labor costs are the costs of employee time spent 
specifically to provide the service. For example, at APHIS's Animal 
Import Centers, animal caretakers and veterinarians prepare for the 
arrival of animals or birds to be quarantined in the Center, care for 
them (feed, water, clean cages or stalls) while they are quarantined, 
observe them while they are quarantined, release them from quarantine, 
and clean the quarantine area afterwards. If the service is inspecting 
an animal, the direct labor costs include the time spent by the 
inspector to conduct the inspection. Direct labor costs vary with the 
type of service provided.
    Direct material costs include the cost of any materials needed to 
supply the service. For example, among other things, animals in 
quarantine need feed, water, bedding, disinfectants, and medicine. 
Direct material costs are different for different services.
    Administrative support costs include local clerical and 
administrative activities; indirect labor hours; travel and 
transportation for personnel; supplies, equipment, and other necessary 
items; training; general office supplies; rent; equipment 
capitalization; billings and collections expenses; utilities; chemicals 
and glassware; and contractual services. Indirect labor hours include 
supervision of personnel and time spent doing work that is not directly 
connected with the service but which is nonetheless necessary, such as 
repairing equipment. Rent is the cost of using the space we need to 
perform import- or export-related work. If space is used for import- or 
export-related work and other Agency work, only that portion of the 
costs associated with the import- or export-related work is included in 
the user fees. Equipment capitalization is the cost per year to replace 
equipment. We determine this by establishing the life expectancy, in 
years, of equipment we use to provide a service and by establishing the 
cost to replace the equipment at the end of its useful life. We 
subtract any money we anticipate receiving for selling used equipment. 
Then we divide the

[[Page 52682]]

resulting amount by the life expectancy of the equipment. The result is 
the annual cost to replace equipment. Billing costs are the costs of 
managing user fee accounts for our customers who wish to receive 
monthly invoices for the services they receive from APHIS. Collections 
expenses include the costs of managing customer payments and accurately 
reflecting those payments in our accounting system. Utilities include 
water, telephone, electricity, gas, heating and oil. Contractual 
services include security service, maintenance, trash pickup, etc. The 
type, amount, and cost of administrative support vary with the type of 
service provided.
    Agency overhead is the pro-rata share, attributable to a particular 
service, of the agency's management and support costs. Management and 
support costs include the costs of providing budget and accounting 
services, regulatory services, investigative and enforcement services, 
debt-management services, personnel services, public information 
services, legal services, liaison with Congress, and other general 
program and agency management services provided above the local level.
    Departmental charges are APHIS's share, expressed as a percentage 
of the total cost, of services provided centrally by the Department of 
Agriculture (Department). Services the Department provides centrally 
include the Federal Telephone Service; mail; National Finance Center 
processing of payroll, and other money management; unemployment 
compensation; Office of Workers Compensation Programs; and central 
supply for storing and issuing commonly used supplies and Department 
forms. The Department notifies APHIS how much the agency owes for these 
services. We have included a pro-rata share of these departmental 
charges, as attributable to a particular service, in our fee 
calculations.
    We have added an amount that would provide for a reasonable 
balance, or reserve, in the Veterinary Services user fee account. We 
have determined that a reasonable reserve would be approximately 25 
percent of the annual cost of the Import/Export Program. All user fees 
will contribute to the reserve proportionately. The reserve would 
ensure that we have sufficient operating funds in cases of bad debt, 
customer insolvency, and fluctuations in activity volumes. We intend to 
monitor the balance closely and propose adjustments in our fees as 
necessary to ensure a reasonable balance.
    An outline of the basic process is shown below. The actual 
components, quantities, and costs used to calculate the fee are 
different for each service. The basic steps in the calculation, for 
each particular service, are:

1. Determine the following costs:
    direct labor;
    direct material;
    pro-rata share of administrative support;
    pro-rata share of agency overhead;
    pro-rata share of Departmental charges; and
    pro-rata share of reserve;
2. Add all costs; and
3. Round up to the next $0.25 for all fees less than $10 or round up or 
down to the nearest $1 for all fees greater than $10.

    The result of these calculations is the total cost to provide a 
particular service one time.
    As is the case with all APHIS user fees, we intend to review, at 
least annually, activities, programs, and fee assumptions for the user 
fees proposed in this document. We will publish any necessary 
adjustments in the Federal Register.

Hourly Rate User Fees and Minimum Fees for Import and Export 
Veterinary Services

    Several sections of the regulations contain hourly and premium 
hourly rates for import- and export-related service we provide. Section 
130.5 of the regulations lists the hourly and premium hourly rate user 
fees that we provide for animals quarantined in privately owned 
quarantine facilities. Section 130.9 of the regulations lists the 
hourly and premium hourly rate fees for miscellaneous import or entry 
services. Section 130.21 of the regulations lists the hourly and 
premium hourly rate user fees charged for inspection and supervision 
services we provide within the United States for the export of animals, 
birds, and animal products. Sections 130.3 and 130.10 also, contain 
hourly rate user fees for services we provide in connection with 
animals quarantined at APHIS Animal Import Centers and pet birds 
quarantined at APHIS-owned or supervised quarantine facilities, 
respectively.
    In each case, the same hourly and premium hourly rate user fee 
applies. Therefore, we propose to consolidate all the hourly and 
premium hourly rate user fees for import and export services into one 
new section Sec. 130.30. We believe this reorganization would make the 
hourly and premium hourly rates easier for our customers to locate and 
eliminate duplication.
    Sections 130.3, 130.5, 130.6, 130.7, 130.9, 130.10, and 130.21 all 
list a minimum user fee. This minimum fee ensures our basic costs are 
always covered. In Sec. Sec. 130.3, 130.5, 130.9, 130.10, and 130.21, 
the minimum user fee applies to the hourly and premium hourly rate user 
fee. In Sec. Sec. 130.6 and 130.7, the minimum user fee covers the cost 
of handling unusually small importations at ports of entry. In each 
case, the same minimum user fee applies. Therefore, we propose to list 
the minimum user fee in newly proposed Sec. 130.30 and eliminate 
duplication.
    The table below shows the proposed hourly rate, premium hourly 
rate, and minimum user fees for fiscal years 2000-2004. As explained 
above, the proposed user fees are based on FY 1999 costs and include 
direct labor costs adjusted by 4.4 percent for FY 2000 and 3.9 percent 
for FY 2001 through 2004 to cover increases in employee pay, and 
adjustments for inflation at 2.3 percent each year. The percentage 
changes in the user fees from one fiscal year to the next vary based on 
rounding.

                                                        Hourly User Fees (Proposed Sec.  130.30)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          Hourly user fee
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Current user    Oct. 1, 1999-   0ct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                                                fee       Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003  Beginning Oct.
                                                                                                                                              1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hourly rate:
    Per hour............................................          $56.00          $76.00          $76.00          $80.00          $84.00          $84.00
    Per quarter hour....................................           14.00           19.00           19.00           20.00           21.00           21.00
    Per service minimum fee.............................           16.50           22.00           23.00           24.00           24.00           25.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Overtime rates (Outside the employee's normal tour of duty)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Premium hourly rate Monday through Saturday and
 holidays:

[[Page 52683]]

 
    Per hour............................................           65.00           88.00           88.00           92.00           96.00          100.00
    Per quarter hour....................................           16.25           22.00           22.00           23.00           24.00           25.00
Premium hourly rate for Sundays:
    Per hour............................................           74.00          100.00          104.00          104.00          108.00          112.00
    Per quarter hour....................................           18.50           25.00           26.00           26.00           27.00           28.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

User Fees for Animals in APHIS Animal Import Centers (9 CFR 130.2)

    Section 130.2 lists user fees charged for services we provide for 
animals quarantined in APHIS Animal Import Centers.
    We charge a daily user fee for each animal quarantined in an Animal 
Importer Center. Different user fees reflect the varying costs of 
quarantining different animals. The user fee for each category of 
animal includes water, standard feed, housing, care, and handling. A 
separate user fee applies for birds or poultry that require nonstandard 
feed, housing, care, or handling.
    The tables below list the proposed user fees for animal and bird 
quarantine services for fiscal year 2000 through 2004. As explained 
above, the proposed user fees are based on FY 1999 costs and include 
direct labor costs adjusted by 4.4 percent for FY 2000 and 3.9 percent 
for FY 2001 through 2004 to cover increases in employee pay, and 
adjustments for inflation at 2.3 percent each year. The percentage 
changes in the user fees from one fiscal year to the next vary based on 
rounding.

                     User Fees for Individual Animals and Certain Birds Quarantined in APHIS Animal Import Centers (Sec.  130.2(a))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          Daily user fee
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Animal or bird                        Current user    Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                                                fee       Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                                                           Oct. 1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birds (excluding ratites and pet birds imported in
 accordance with Part 93 of this subchapter):
    0-250 grams.........................................           $1.00           $1.50           $1,50           $1.50           $1.50           $1.75
    251-1,000 grams.....................................            3.25            5.00            5.25            5.25            5.50            5.75
    Over 1,000 grams....................................            7.50           12.00           12.00           13.00           13.00           13.00
Domestic or zoo animals (excluding equines, birds, and
 poultry):
    Bison, bulls, camels, cattle, or zoo animals........           56.50           93.00           95.00           97.00          100.00          102.00
    All other, including, but not limited to alpacas,              15.00           24.00           25.00           26.00           26.00           27.00
     llamas, goats, sheep, and swine....................
Equines (including zoo equines, but excluding miniature
 horses):
    1st through 3rd day (fee per day)...................          149.50          245.00          251.00          257.00          264.00          270.00
    4th through 7th day (fee per day)...................          108.25          177.00          182.00          186.00          191.00          195.00
    8th and subsequent days (fee per day)...............           91.75          150.00          154.00          158.00          162.00          166.00
Miniature horses........................................           40.25           56.00           57.00           58.00           60.00           61.00
Poultry (including zoo poultry):
    Doves, Pigeons, and quail...........................            2.00            3.00            3.25            3.25            3.25            3.50
    Chickens, ducks, grouse, guinea fowl, partridges,               3.50            5.75            6.00            6.00            6.26            6.25
     pea fowl, and pheasants............................
    Large poultry and large waterfowl, including, but               8.25           13.00           14.00           14.00           14.00           15.00
     not limited to game cocks, geese, swans, and
     turkeys............................................
Ratites:
    Chicks (less than 3 months old).....................            5.75            8.50            8.75            9.00            9.00            9.25
    Juveniles (3 months through 10 months old)..........            8.00           13.00           13.00           13.00           14.00           14.00
    Adults (11 months old and older)....................           16.25           24.00           25.00           26.00           26.00           27.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 52684]]


 User Fees for Birds or Poultry Quarantined In APHIS Animal Import Centers and Housed in Nonstandard Housing or Receiving Nonstandard Care and Handling
                                                                    (Sec.  130.2(b))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          Daily user fee
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bird or poultry (nonstandard housing, care, or handling)   Current user    Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                                                fee       Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                                                           Oct. 1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birds 0-250 grams and doves, pigeons, and quail.........           $3.25           $5.00           $5.25           $5.25           $5.50           $5.75
Birds 251-1,000 grams and poultry such as chickens,                 7.50           12.00           12.00           13.00           13.00           13.00
 ducks, grouse, guinea fowl, partridge, pea fowl, and
 pheasants..............................................
Birds over 1,000 grams and large poultry and large                 14.00           23.00           24.00           24.00           25.00           25.00
 waterfowl, including, but not limited to game cocks,
 geese, swans, and turkeys..............................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

User Fees for Exclusive Use of Space at APHIS Animal Import Centers 
(Sec. 130.3)

    Section 130.3 lists user fees charged with an importer uses an 
entire quarantine building at an Animal Import Center. If the space is 
available and the importer has enough animals to fill one of the full 
building spaces, then a single user fee applies. Depending upon the 
number and type of animals in the importation, the single user fee for 
the entire building may be less than the total user fee that would have 
been charged per animal under Sec. 130.2
    Section 130.3 of the regulations lists the location of the spaces, 
the square footage of those spaces, and the user fees for exclusive use 
of those spaces. The fees in Sec. 130.3 cover all costs of the 
quarantine except feed. The importer either provides the fee or pays 
for it on an actual cost basis, including the cost of delivery.
    The table in Sec. 130.3 currently lists the user fees for the 
exclusive use of the Miami, FL, and Newburgh, NY, Animal Import 
Centers. The Miami Animal Import Center is not being used as an 
exclusive use quarantine facility. We do not anticipate any requests 
for the exclusive use of space at the Miami Animal Import Center. 
Therefore, we propose to remove user fees for the exclusive use of the 
Miami Animal Import Center from the listing in Sec. 130.3. The spaces 
at Newburgh, NY, would continue to be available for exclusive use.
    The importer determines the species, sizes, and ages of the animals 
or birds in the importation, calls for a reservation, and requests the 
use of an entire building. At that time we determine, and inform the 
importer of, the maximum number of animals and birds we would permit. 
We limit the number of animals or birds to the maximum number which can 
be cared for without jeopardizing their health. In determining the 
maximum number, the veterinarian in charge of the Animal Import Center 
considers the species, size and age of the animals, animal husbandry 
needs, sanitation, ability to conduct tests, inspections, and support 
procedures.
    The table below lists the proposed user fees for the exclusive use 
of space at APHIS Animal Import Centers for fiscal years 2000-2004. As 
explained above, the proposed user fees are based on FY 1999 costs and 
include direct labor cost adjusted by 4.4 percent for FY 2000 and 3.9 
percent for FY 2001 through 2004 to cover increases in employee pay, 
and adjustments for inflation at 2.3 percent each year. The percentage 
changes in the user fees from one fiscal year to the next vary based on 
rounding.

                        User Fees for Exclusive Use of Space for Animals Quarantined in APHIS Animal Import Centers (Sec.  130.3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         Monthly user fee
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Animal import center                     Current user    Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                                                fee       Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003  Beginning Oct.
                                                                                                                                              1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newburgh, NY:
    Space A 5,396 sq. ft. (503.1 sq. m.)................         $43,102         $53,037         $54,523         $56,054         $57,630         $59,254
    Space B 8,903 sq. ft. (827.1 sq. m.)................          71,118          87,508          89,959          92,484          95,085          97,764
    Space C 905 sq. ft. (84.1 sq. m.)...................           7,229           8,895           9,144           9,401           9,666           9,938
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

User Fees for Inspection of Animals at Ports of Entry

    Sections 130.6 and 130.7 list user fees we charge for inspecting 
animals imported into the United States. We inspect the animals to 
minimize the risk that they could introduce a foreign animal disease 
into the United States. We provide inspection services at U.S. border 
ports, airports, and ocean ports.
    We charge the user fee per animal or per load, depending on whether 
the animals are handled individually or as a group. The user fees vary 
with the location and type of animal. Different types of animals 
require different amounts and types of services. User fees for services 
at the United States-Mexico

[[Page 52685]]

border are listed in Sec. 130.6. User fees for services at other ports 
of entry are listed in Sec. 130.7.
    The tables below list the proposed user fees for inspection of 
animals at ports of entry for fiscal years 2000-2004. As explained 
above, the proposed user fees are based on FY 1999 costs and include 
direct labor costs adjusted by 4.4 percent for FY 2000 and 3.9 percent 
for FY 2001 through 2004 to cover increases in employee pay, and 
adjustments for inflation at 2.3 percent each year. The percentage 
changes in the user fees from one fiscal year to the next vary based on 
rounding.

                     User Fees for Inspection of Animals at Land Border Ports Along the United States-Mexico Border (Sec.  130.6(a))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         Per head user fee
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Type of live animal                     Current user    Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-     Beginning
                                                                fee       Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003    October 1,
                                                                                                                                               2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any ruminants not listed below..........................           $6.00           $8.00           $8.25           $8.50           $8.75           $9.00
Feeder..................................................            1.75            2.25            2.25            2.25            2.50            2.50
Horses, other than slaughter............................           29.25           39.00           41.00           42.00           43.00           44.00
In-bond or in-transit...................................            3.75            5.25            5.25            5.50            5.50            5.75
Slaughter...............................................            2.50            3.50            3.50            3.50            3.75            3.75
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                          User Fees for Inspection of Animals at Land Border Ports at All Other Ports of Entry (Sec.  130.7(a))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                     User fee
                                                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------
            Type of live animal                          Unit                 Current      Oct. 1,      Oct. 1,      Oct. 1,      Oct. 1,     Beginning
                                                                              user fee    1999-Sept.   2000-Sept.   2001-Sept.   2002-Sept.    Oct. 1,
                                                                                           30, 2000     30, 2001     30, 2002     30, 2003       2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Animals being imported into the United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breeding animals (grade animals, except
 horses):
    Sheep and goats.......................  per head......................        $0.50        $0.50        $0.50        $0.50        $0.50        $0.50
    Swine.................................  per head......................         0.50         0.75         0.75         0.75         0.75         0.75
    All others............................  per head......................         2.25         3.00         3.00         3.25         3.25         3.25
Feeder animals:
    Cattle (not including calves).........  per head......................        $1.00        $1.50        $1.50        $1.50        $1.50        $1.50
    Sheep and calves......................  per head......................         0.25         0.50         0.50         0.50         0.50         0.50
    Swine.................................  per head......................         0.25         0.25         0.25         0.25         0.25         0.25
    Horses, other than slaughter and in-    per head......................        19.00        25.00        26.00        27.00        28.00        29.00
     transit.
    Poultry (including eggs), imported for  per load......................        33.00        44.00        46.00        47.00        48.00        50.00
     any purpose.
    Registered animals, all types.........  per head......................         4.00         5.25         5.50         5.50         5.75         6.00
    Slaughter animals, all types..........  per load......................        16.50        22.00        23.00        24.00        24.00        25.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Animals transiting\1\ the United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle....................................  per head......................         1.00         1.25         1.25         1.50         1.50         1.50
Horses and all other animals..............  per head......................         4.50         6.00         6.25         6.50         6.75         6.75
Sheep and goats...........................  per head......................         0.25         0.25         0.25         0.25         0.25         0.25
Swine.....................................  per head......................         0.25         0.25         0.25         0.25         0.25        0.25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The user fee in this section will be charged for in-transit authorizations at the port where the authorization services are performed. For
  additional services provided by APHIS, at any port, the hourly user fee rate in Sec.  130.30 will apply.

User Fees for Other Services (Sec. 130.8)

    Section 130.8 lists the user fees we charge for a variety of other 
services we provide related to the importation into or exportation from 
the United States of animals, animals products, birds, germ plasm, 
organisms, and vectors.
    The table below lists the proposed user fees for these services for 
fiscal years 2000-2004. As explained above, the proposed user fees are 
based on FY 1999 costs and include direct labor costs adjusted by 4.4 
percent for FY 2000 and 3.9 percent for FY 2001 through 2004 to cover 
increases in employee pay, and adjustments for inflation at 2.3 percent 
each year. The percentage changes in the user fees from one fiscal year 
to the next vary based on rounding.

                                                      User Fees for Other Services (Sec.  130.8(a))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                             User fee
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Service                       Unit             Current user    Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                                                fee       Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003  Beginning Oct.
                                                                                                                                              1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Embryo collection center        per year................         $278.50         $337.00         $347.00         $358.00         $369.00         $380.00
 inspection and approval (all
 inspections required during
 the year for facility
 approval).
Germ plasm being exported: 1

[[Page 52686]]

 
    Embryo:
        Up to 5 donor pairs...  per certificate.........           54.75           74.00           76.00           79.00           81.00           83.00
        Each additional group   per group of donor pairs           24.75           33.00           34.00           35.00           36.00           37.00
         of donor pairs, up to
         5 pairs per group, on
         the same certificate.
    Semen.....................  per certificate.........           33.50           45.00           46.00           48.00           49.00           51.00
Germ plasm being imported:2
    Embryo....................  per load................           39.50           54.00           55.00           57.00           58.00           60.00
    Semen.....................  per load................           39.50           54.00           55.00           57.00           58.00           60.00
Import compliance assistance:
    Simple (2 hours or less)..  per release.............           51.25           62.00           64.00           66.00           68.00           70.00
    Complicated (more than 2    per release.............          131.75          159.00          164.00          169.00          174.00          180.00
     hours).
Inspection for approval of
 slaughter establishment:
    Initial approval (all       per year................          246.50          332.00          342.00          352.00          362.00          373.00
     inspections).
    Renewal (all inspections).  per year................          213.50          288.00          296.00          305.00          314.00          323.00
Inspection of approved
 establishments, warehouses,
 and facilities under 9 CFR
 parts 94 through 96:
    Approval (compliance        per year................          262.75          354.00          365.00          375.00          386.00          398.00
     agreement) (all
     inspections for first
     year of 3-year approval).
    Renewed approval (all       per year................          152.00          205.00          211.00          217.00          223.00          230.00
     inspections for second
     and third years of 3-year
     approval).
Pet birds (except pet birds of
 U.S. origin entering the
 United States from Canada):
    Which have been out of the  per lot.................          169.75          229.00          236.00          243.00          250.00          257.00
     United States more than
     60 days.
    Which have been out of the  per lot.................           71.25           96.00           99.00          102.00          105.00          108.00
     United States 60 days or
     less.
Processing VS form 16-3,
 ``Application for permit to
 Import Controlled Material/
 Import or Transport Organisms
 or Vectors'':
    For permit to import fetal  per application.........          208.50          275.00          283.00          292.00          300.00          309.00
     bovine serum when
     facility inspection is
     required.
    For all other permits.....  per application.........           27.50           35.00           36.00           37.00           38.00           39.00
    Amended application.......  per amended application.           11.50           14.00           15.00           15.00           16.00           16.00
    Application renewal.......  per application.........           15.00           19.00           19.00           20.00           21.00           21.00
Release from export
 agricultural hold:
    Simple (2 hours or less)..  per release.............           51.25           62.00           64.00           66.00           68.00           70.00
    Complicated (more than 2    per release.............          131.75          159.00          164.00          169.00          174.00         180.00
     hours).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 This user fee includes a single inspection and resealing of the container at the APHIS employee's regular tour of duty station or at a limited port.
  For each subsequent inspection and resealing required, the hourly user fee in Sec.  130.30 will apply.2
2 For inspection of empty containers being imported into the United States, the hourly user fee in Sec.  130.30 will apply, unless a user fee has been
  assessed under 7 CFR part 354.3.

User Fees for Pet Birds (Sec. 130.10)

    Section 130.10 lists user fees charged for services we provide for 
pet birds that must be quarantined in an APHIS owned or supervised 
quarantine facility.
    In accordance with 9 CFR part 93, pet birds are normally 
quarantined for 30 days. We charge a daily user fee. The user fee 
applies per isolette and varies based on the number of pet birds in the 
isolette. That is, all the birds quarantined in one isolette are 
covered by one fee, which is assessed daily for the duration of the 
quarantine.
    This user fee recovers all costs of feeding, housing, handling, and 
caring for the birds. The user fee does not recover the costs of 
testing the birds, for which separate user fees apply.
    The table below lists the proposed user fees for pet birds 
quarantined in APHIS owned or supervised quarantine facilities for 
fiscal years 2000-2004. As explained above, the proposed user fees are 
based on FY 1999 costs and include direct labor costs adjusted by 4.4 
percent for FY 2000 and 3.9 percent for FY 2001 through 2004 to cover 
increases in employee pay, and adjustments for inflation at 2.3 percent 
each year. The percentage changes in the user fees from one fiscal year 
to the next vary based on rounding.

                          User fees for pet birds quarantined in APHIS owned or supervised quarantine facilities (Sec.  130.10)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Daily user fee
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Number of birds in isolette                 Current user    Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-     Beginning
                                                                fee       Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003   Oct. 1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................           $6.50           $8.25           $8.50           $8.75           $9.00           $9.25
2.......................................................            7.75           10.00           10.00           11.00           11.00           11.00
3.......................................................            9.28           12.00           12.00           13.00           13.00           13.00
4.......................................................           10.75           14.00           14.00           15.00           15.00           15.00
5 or more...............................................           12.00           16.00           16.00           17.00           17.00           18.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

User Fees for Endorsing Export Certificates (Sec. 130.20)

    Section 130.20 lists user fees we charge for endorsing certificates 
for animals or animal products exported from the United States. The 
importing countries often require these certificates to show that an 
animal has tested negative to specific animal diseases or that an 
animal or animal product has not been exposed to specific animal 
diseases.
    These user fees are intended to cover all of the costs associated 
with endorsing the certificates. The steps associated with endorsing an 
export certificate may include reviewing supporting documentation; 
confirming that the importing country's requirements have been met; 
verifying laboratory test results for each animal if tests are 
required; reviewing any certification statements required by the 
importing country; and endorsing, or

[[Page 52687]]

signing, the certificates. Because importing countries often require 
these certificates for animals, animal products, and other products, we 
are proposing to change the references in the regulations from ``export 
health certificates'' to ``export certificates.''
    The tables below list the proposed user fees for endorsing these 
certificates for fiscal years 2000-2004. As explained above, the 
proposed user fees are based on FY 1999 costs and include direct labor 
costs adjusted by 4.4 percent for FY 2000 and 3.9 percent for FY 2001 
through 2004 to cover increases in employee pay, and adjustments for 
inflation at 2.3 percent each year. The percentage changes in the user 
fees from one fiscal year to the next vary based on rounding.

                                              User Fees for Endorsing Export Certificates (Sec.  130.20(a))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                             User fee
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Certificate categories                    Current user    Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                                                fee       Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003  Beginning Oct.
                                                                                                                                              1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Animal products.........................................          $21.50          $29.00          $30.00          $30.00          $31.00          $32.00
Hatching eggs...........................................           21.00           27.00           28.00           28.00           29.00           30.00
Nonslaughter horses to Canada...........................           26.25           34.00           35.00           36.00           37.00           38.00
Poultry (including slaughter poultry)...................           21.00           27.00           28.00           28.00           29.00           30.00
Slaughter animals, of any type, moving to Canada or                24.50           31.00           32.00           33.00           34.00           35.00
 Mexico.................................................
Other endorsements or certifications....................           16.50           21.00           22.00           22.00           23.00           24.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       User Fees for Endorsing Export Certificates When the Importing Country Requires Tests (Sec.  130.20(b)(1))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                             User fee
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of tests or vaccinations and Number of animals or   Current user    Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                birds on the certificate                        fee       Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003  Beginning Oct.
                                                                                                                                              1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-2 tests or vaccinations:
    First animal........................................          $52.50          $68.00          $70.00          $72.00          $74.00          $76.00
    Each additional animal..............................            3.00            4.00            4.00            4.00            4.25            4.25
3-6 tests or vaccinations:
    First animal........................................           64.75           84.00           86.00           88.00           91.00           94.00
    Each additional animal..............................            5.00            6.50            6.75            7.00            7.00            7.25
7 or more tests or vaccinations:
    First animal........................................           75.75           98.00          100.00          103.00          106.00          109.00
    Each additional animal..............................            6.00            7.75            8.00            8.25            8.25            8.50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. 
The 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.
    Below is a summary of the economic analysis for the changes in 
APHIS user fees proposed in this document. The economic analysis 
provides a cost-benefit analysis as required by Executive Order 12866 
and an analysis of the potential economic effects on small entities as 
required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the full economic 
analysis, which includes comparisons of the change in collections for 
each user fee, is available for review at the location listed in the 
ADDRESSES section at the beginning of this document.
    We do not have enough data for a comprehensive analysis of the 
economic effects of this proposed rule on small entities. Therefore, in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 603, we have performed an Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis for this proposed rule. We are inviting comments 
about this proposed rule as it relates to small entities. In 
particular, we are interested in determining the number and kind of 
small entities who may incur benefits or costs from implementation of 
this proposed rule and the economic impact of those benefits or costs.
    These user fees are authorized by section 2509(c)(1) of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, as amended (21 U.S.C. 
136a). APHIS is authorized to establish and collect fees that will 
cover the cost of providing import- and export-related services for 
animals, animal products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, and vectors.
    Since FY 1992, APHIS has received no directly appropriated funds to 
provide import- and export-related services for animals, animal 
products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, and vectors. Our ability to 
provide these services depends on user fees. We change our user fees 
through the standard rulemaking process of publishing the proposed 
changes for public comment in the Federal Register, considering the 
comments, publishing the final changes in the Federal Register, and 
making the new user fees effective 30 days after the final rule is 
published. This rulemaking process can be lengthy. As a result, our 
user fees may not reflect our current cost of providing services.
    For our user fees to cover our costs so that we can continue to 
provide services and to inform our customers of user fees in time for 
advance planning, we propose to set user fees for our services in 
advance for fiscal years 2000 through 2004. The proposed user fees are 
based on our costs of providing import- and export-related services in 
FY 1999, plus anticipated annual increases in the salaries of employees 
who provide the services, plus adjustments for inflation. We used 
estimated pay increases of 4.4 percent for FY 2000 and 3.9 percent for 
FY 2001 through FY 2004 published by the U.S. Treasury Department to 
calculate increases in the direct labor costs each year. We estimated 
inflation at 2.3 percent a year based on the Consumer Price Index 
(CPI). The estimated CPI is published in the

[[Page 52688]]

Economic Assumptions table of the Budget for the U.S. Government each 
year.
    Since the rulemaking process can be lengthy, it is difficult to 
estimate when proposed user fee changes may become effective. For 
analysis purposes, we based projected collections on calculations using 
an estimated effective date of April 1, 2000 for the proposed FY 2000 
user fees. Our goal is to implement the proposed user fees in a timely 
fashion. In the final rule, we will show revised projections of user 
fee collections based on the effective date of the proposed user fees.
    The following summary table shows annual expenses for providing 
import- and export-related services, current collections, increases in 
collections from the proposed user fee changes, and projected reserve 
amounts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Estimated                                                                      Total FY
                        Calendar dates                           current    FY 2000 \2\    FY 2001      FY 2002      FY 2003      FY 2004      2000 FY
                                                                annual \1\                                                                       2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating reserve, start of year.............................     $382,142     $382,142           $0   $1,083,957   $2,040,005    3,072,364  ...........
Annual income:
    Current collections \3\..................................   11,940,080   11,940,080   11,940,080   11,940,080   11,940,080   11,940,080   71,640,480
    Proposed collections.....................................            0    2,303,817    5,005,404    5,391,637    5,999,739    6,451,365   25,151,962
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total income.........................................   11,940,080   14,243,897   16,945,484   17,331,717   17,939,819   18,391,445   96,792,442
    Annual expenses \4\......................................   11,940,080   14,626,039   15,861,527   16,375,669   16,907,460   17,457,533   93,168,308
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Income, less expenses................................            0    (382,142)    1,083,957      956,048    1,032,359      933,912
    Operating reserve, end of year...........................      382,142            0    1,083,957    2,040,005    3,072,364    4,006,276
    Months (no.).............................................         0.00         0.00         0.82         1.49         2.18        2.75
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Current annual estimates are based on FY 1998.
\2\ FY 2000 estimates are based on an estimated implementation date for the proposed user fees of April 1, 2000. When the estimated implementation date
  changes, we will recalculate the projections using that date.
\3\ Projections for FY 2000-2004 are based on FY 1998 volumes. When FY 1999 volumes are available, we will recalculate the projections using FY 1999
  volumes. Increases in volumes in the outyears would increase income and expenses proportionately.
\4\ The annual expenses shown in the table in the estimated current annual column and in the FY 2000 column reflect expenses constrained by income from
  user fee collections. Our user fees are not high enough to provide the level of service delivery requested for import- and export-related activities.
  Our current user fees are approximately $2.5 million below the performance level of services requested. Even with the proposed user fee increases,
  using an estimated effective date of April 1, 2000 for the proposed FY 2000 user fees, we anticipate that in FY 2000 our user fee collections would be
  over $1 million below the level of anticipated service requests. To constrain expenses down to equal income, we would be required to restrict services
  until user fee increases can be implemented. Adoption of the proposed user fees would allow us to meet customer demand and build an adequate reserve.
  Therefore, once implemented, service restrictions would no longer be required.

Effects on Small Entities

    Proposed user fee changes could affect some importers and exporters 
of live animals, animal products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, and 
vectors. Any of these importers or exporters whose annual sales total 
less than $5 million is a small entity according to the Small Business 
Administration (SBA). We do not have adequate information to determine 
the number of entities who import or export live animals and qualify as 
a small entity. Data from the 1995 Bureau of Census indicates that the 
majority of agricultural entities who deal in less valuable animals, 
such as feeding or slaughter animals, can be considered small. This may 
not be the case for entities dealing exclusively in more valuable 
animals. While there is a wide range in the sizes of entities who use 
our import- and export-related services, our experience shows that as 
many as 50 percent may be considered large.
    The profit margins of some entities could decline as user fees for 
import-or export-related services are increased. However, the proposed 
increases are generally small in dollar value. Over the 5 years, more 
than 57 percent of the individual user fee increases are $1.00 or less, 
and more than 88 percent are less than $10.00. In addition, the 
proposed user fees represent a small fraction of the value of the 
affected animals. Purchase and import costs for importing a breeding 
grade animal into the United States can range between $1500 and $5000 
per head. Therefore, the proposed increases are not generally expected 
to reduce profits or impede imports or exports. Indeed, entities 
directly effected by this proposed rule are not likely to bear the full 
burden of the user fee increases, as some of the cost increases are 
expected to be passed on to the purchasers of these imported or 
exported animals or animal products.

Alternatives

    One alternative to this proposed rule would be to make no changes 
to the current user fees. We do not consider making no changes to the 
current user fees a reasonable alternative because we would not recover 
the full cost of providing the import-and export-related services. 
Since 1992, Congress has not appropriated funds for these services; 
these services have been paid for through user fees charged to the 
customer or reimbursable agreements. Therefore, if we had chosen this 
alternative and not proposed changes to the current user fees, funds 
would not be available to continue to provide services at a level 
sufficient to meet customer demand.
    Another alternative to this proposed rule would be to either exempt 
small businesses from these user fees or establish a different user fee 
structure for small businesses. APHIS cannot exempt certain classes of 
users, such as small businesses, from the user fees, and cannot charge 
user fees that recover less than the full cost of providing the 
service. In addition, every business, including small businesses, using 
a government service needs to pay the cost of that service, rather than 
having other businesses pay a disproportionate share or passing those 
costs on to the general public, who are not the primary beneficiary of 
the service. Therefore, we do not consider exempting small businesses 
from these user fees or establishing a different user fee structure for 
small businesses as viable options.
    Another alternative to the user fee changes proposed in this rule 
would be to calculate the increases for the five year period and then 
spread the changes evenly in annual increments. The largest change from 
the current user fees to the proposed FY 2000 user fee comes from the 
additional administrative support cost components: Rent, billing costs 
and collections expenses, and

[[Page 52689]]

equipment capitalization. APHIS is already incurring these costs, 
therefore we need to recover these costs through user fees. If we had 
proposed these increases phased in over the 5 year period, it would 
benefit users in FY 2000 because they would not pay a large increase in 
the first year. However, most of these user fees have not been changed 
since FY 1996 and the current user fees no longer reflect the cost of 
providing import- and export-related services. Therefore, if we 
implemented this alternative, the user fees would still not accurately 
reflect the costs in FY 2000 and we would not recover the costs of 
providing import- or export-related services, so this option is not 
viable. Our intent of offering a multi-year plan so that businesses can 
include these revised user fees in their operating program will be 
effective once these proposed user fees become effective and businesses 
will know what the annual changes will be to incorporate them into 
their budgetary plans. The alternative would be to continue as we have 
with occasional large increases instead of the initial increase to 
bring the user fees up to the cost of providing services and 
implementing annual changes as we have proposed in this document.

Cost Benefit Analysis

    The benefit of user fees is the shift in the payment of services 
from taxpayers as a whole to those persons who are receiving the 
government services. While taxes may not change by the same amount as 
the change in user fee collections, there is a related shift in the 
appropriations of taxes to government programs, which allows those tax 
dollars to be applied to other programs which benefit the public in 
general. Therefore, there could be a relative savings to taxpayers as a 
result of the proposed changes in user fees.
    The administrative cost involved in obtaining these savings would 
be minimal. APHIS already has a user fee program and a mechanism for 
collecting user fees in place. This proposal would update existing user 
fees in the system. Therefore, increases in administrative costs would 
be small. Because the savings are sufficiently large, and the 
administrative costs would be small, it is likely that the net gain in 
reducing the burden on taxpayers as a whole would outweigh the cost of 
administering the revisions of the user fees.
    This proposed rule contains no new information collection or 
recordkeeping requirements.

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) All State 
and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule 
will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this 
rule; and (3) administrative proceedings will not be required before 
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed rule contains no new information collection or 
recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 130

    Animals, Birds, Diagnostic reagents, Exports, Imports, Poultry and 
poultry products, Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Tests.

    Accordingly, we propose to amend 9 CFR part 130 as follows:

PART 130--USER FEES

    1. The authority citation for part 130 would be revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5542; 7 U.S.C. 1622; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 
U.S.C. 102-105, 111, 114, 114a, 134a, 134c, 134d, 134f, 136, and 
136a; 31 U.S.C. 3701, 3716, 3717, 3719, and 3720A; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, 
and 371.2(d).

    2. Section 130.2 would be amended as follows:
    a. In paragraph (a), by revising the table to read as set forth 
below.
    b. In paragraph (b), by revising the table to read as set forth 
below.


Sec. 130.2  User fees for individual animals and certain birds 
quarantined in APHIS Animal Import Centers.

    (a) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Daily user fee
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Animal or bird            Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                  Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                   Oct. 1, 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birds (excluding ratites and pet
 birds imported in accordance
 with Part 93 of this
 subchapter):
    0-250 grams.................           $1.50           $1.50           $1.50           $1.50           $1.75
    251-1,000 grams.............            5.00            5.25            5.25            5.50            5.75
    Over 1,000 grams............           12.00           12.00           13.00           13.00           13.00
Domestic or zoo animals (except
 equines, birds, and poultry):
    Bison, bulls, camels,                  93.00           95.00           97.00          100.00          102.00
     cattle, or zoo animals.....
    All others, including, but             24.00           25.00           26.00           26.00           27.00
     not limited to, alpacas,
     llamas, goats, sheep, and
     swine......................
Equines (including zoo equines,
 but excluding miniature
 horses):
    1st through 3rd day (fee per          245.00          251.00          257.00          264.00          270.00
     day).......................
    4th through 7th day (fee per          177.00          182.00          186.00          191.00          195.00
     day).......................
    8th and subsequent days (fee          150.00          154.00          158.00          162.00          166.00
     per day)...................
Miniature horses................           56.00           57.00           58.00           60.00           61.00
Poultry (including zoo poultry):
    Doves, pigeons, quail.......            3.00            3.25            3.25            3.25            3.50
    Chickens, ducks, grouse,                5.75            6.00            6.00            6.25            6.25
     guinea fowl, partridge, pea
     fowl, pheasants............
    Large poultry and large                13.00           14.00           14.00           14.00           15.00
     waterfowl, including, but
     not limited to game cocks,
     geese, swans, and turkeys..
Ratites:
    Chicks (less than 3 months              8.50            8.75            9.00            9.00            9.25
     old).......................
    Juveniles (3 months through            13.00           13.00           13.00           14.00           14.00
     10 months old).............
    Adults (11 months old and              24.00           25.00           26.00           26.00           27.00
     older).....................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 52690]]

    (b) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Daily user fee
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Bird or poultry (nonstandard     Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
   housing, care, or handling)    Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                   Oct. 1, 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Birds 0-250 grams and doves,           $5.00           $5.25           $5.25           $5.50           $5.75
     pigeons, and quail.........
    Birds 251-1,000 grams and              12.00           12.00           13.00           13.00           13.00
     poultry such as chickens,
     ducks, grouse, guinea fowl,
     partridge, pea fowl, and
     pheasants..................
    Birds over 1,000 grams and             23.00           24.00           24.00           25.00           25.00
     large poultry and large
     waterfowl, including, but
     not limited to game cocks,
     geese, swans, and turkeys..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    3. Section 130.3 would be amended as follows:
    a. In paragraph (a)(1), the table would be revised to read as set 
forth below.
    b. By revising paragraph (c)(3) to read as set forth below.


Sec. 130.3  User fees for exclusive use of space at APHIS Animal Import 
Centers.

    (a)(1) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Monthly user fee
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Animal import center         Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                  Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                   Oct. 1, 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newburgh, NY:
Space A 5,396 sq. ft. (503.1 sq.         $53,037         $54,523         $56,054         $57,630         $59,254
 m.)
    Space B 8,903 sq. ft (827.1           87,508          89,959          92,484          95,085          97,764
     sq. m.)....................
    Space C 905 sq. ft. (84.1              8,895           9,144           9,401           9,666           9,938
     sq. m.)....................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (c) * *  *
    (3) If the importer requests additional services, then the user 
fees for those services will be calculated at the hourly rate user fee 
listed in Sec. 130.30, for each employee required to perform the 
service.
* * * * *
    4. Section 130.5 would be revised to read as follows:


Sec. 130.5  User fees for services at privately operated permanent and 
temporary import quarantine facilities.

    (a) User fees for each animal quarantined in a privately operated 
permanent or temporary import quarantine facility will be calculated at 
the hourly user fee rate listed in Sec. 130.30, for each employee 
required to perform the service. The person for whom the service is 
provided and the person requesting the service are jointly and 
severally liable for payment of these user fees in accordance with 
Secs. 130.50 and 130.51.
    (b) [Reserved]

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
number 0579-0094)

    5. Section 130.6 would be revised to read as follows:


Sec. 130.6  User fees for inspection of live animals at land border 
ports along the United States-Mexico border.

    (a) User fees for live animals presented for importation into or 
entry into the United States through a land border port along the 
United States-Mexico border are listed in the following table. The 
minimum user fee for this service is listed in Sec. 130.30. The person 
for whom the service is provided and the person requesting the service 
are jointly and severally liable for payment of these user fees in 
accordance with Secs. 130.50 and 130.51.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Per head user fee
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Type of live animal         Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                  Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                   Oct. 1, 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Any ruminants not covered              $8.00           $8.25           $8.50           $8.75           $9.00
     below......................
    Feeder......................            2.25            2.25            2.25            2.50            2.50
    Horses, other than slaughter           39.00           41.00           42.00           43.00           44.00
    In-bond or in-transit.......            5.25            5.25            5.50            5.50            5.75
    Slaughter...................            3.50            3.50            3.50            3.75            3.75
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) [Reserved]

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
numbers 0579-0055 and 0579-0094)

    6. Section 130.7 would be revised to read as follows:


Sec. 130.7  User fees for inspection of live animals at all other ports 
of entry.

    (a) User fees for live animals presented for importation into or 
entry into the United States through any port of entry, other than a 
land border port along the border between the United States and Mexico, 
are listed in the following table. The minimum user fee for this 
service is listed in Sec. 130.30. The person for whom the service is 
provided and the person requesting the service are jointly and 
severally liable for payment of these user fees in accordance with 
Secs. 130.50 and 130.51.

[[Page 52691]]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                             User fee
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Type of live animal                          Unit                 Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                                                          Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003  Beginning Oct.
                                                                                                                                              1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Animals being imported into the
            United States:
Breeding animals (Grade animals,
 except horses):
    Sheep and goats..................  per head.........................           $0.50           $0.50           $0.50           $0.50           $0.50
    Swine............................  per head.........................            0.75            0.75            0.75            0.75            0.75
    All others.......................  per head.........................            3.00            3.00            3.25            3.25            3.25
Feeder animals:
    Cattle (not including calves)....  per head.........................            1.50            1.50            1.50            1.50            1.50
    Sheep and calves.................  per head.........................            0.50            0.50            0.50            0.50            0.50
    Swine............................  per head.........................            0.25            0.25            0.25            0.25            0.25
Horses, other than slaughter and in-   per head.........................           25.00           26.00           27.00           28.00           29.00
 transit.
    Poultry (including eggs),          per load.........................           44.00           46.00           47.00           48.00           50.00
     imported for any purpose.
Registered animals, all types........  per head.........................            5.25            5.50            5.50            5.75            6.00
Slaughter animals, all types.........  per load.........................           22.00           23.00           24.00           24.00           25.00
Animals transiting \1\ the United
 States:
    Cattle...........................  per head.........................            1.25            1.25            1.50            1.50            1.50
    Horses and all other animals.....  per head.........................            6.00            6.25            6.50            6.75            6.75
    Sheep and goats..................  per head.........................            0.25            0.25            0.25            0.25            0.25
    Swine............................  per head.........................            0.25            0.25            0.25            0.25           0.25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The user fee in this section will be charged for in-transit authorizations at the port where the authorization services are performed. For
  additional services provided by APHIS, at any port, the hourly user fee rate in Sec.  130.30 will apply.

    (b) [Reserved]

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
numbers 0579-0055 and 0579-0094)

    7. Section 130.8 would be revised to read as follows:


Sec. 130.8  User fees for other services.

    (a) User fees for other services that are not specifically 
addressed elsewhere in part 130 are listed in the following table. The 
person for whom the service is provided and the person requesting the 
service are jointly and severally liable for payment of these user fees 
in accordance with Secs. 130.50 and 130.51.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            User fee--
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Service                                Unit                 Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                                                          Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                                                           Oct. 1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Embryo collection center inspection    Per year.........................         $337.00         $347.00         $358.00         $369.00         $380.00
 and approval (all inspections
 required during the year for
 facility approval).
Germ plasm being exported: \1\
    Embryo:
        Up to 5 donor pairs..........  Per certificate..................           74.00           76.00           79.00           81.00           83.00
        Each additional group of       Per group of donor pairs.........           33.00           34.00           35.00           36.00           37.00
         donor pairs, up to 5 pairs
         per group, on the same
         certificate.
        Semen........................  Per certificate..................           45.00           46.00           48.00           49.00           51.00
Germ plasm being imported: \2\
    Embryo...........................  Per load.........................           54.00           55.00           57.00           58.00           60.00
    Semen............................  Per load.........................           54.00           55.00           57.00           58.00           60.00
Import compliance assistance:
    Simple (2 hours or less).........  Per release......................           62.00           64.00           66.00           68.00           70.00
    Complicated (more than 2 hours)..  Per release......................          159.00          164.00          169.00          174.00          180.00
Inspection for approval of slaughter
 establishment:
    Initial approval (all              Per year.........................          332.00          342.00          352.00          362.00          373.00
     inspections).
    Renewal (all inspections)........  Per year.........................          288.00          296.00          305.00          314.00          323.00
Inspection of approved
 establishments, warehouses, and
 facilities under 9 CFR parts 94
 through 96:
    Approval (compliance agreement)    Per year.........................          354.00          365.00          375.00          386.00          398.00
     (all inspections for first year
     of 3-year approval).

[[Page 52692]]

 
    Renewed approval (all inspections  Per year.........................          205.00          211.00          217.00          223.00          230.00
     for second and third years of 3-
     year approval).
Pet birds (except pet birds of U.S.
 origin entering the United States
 from Canada):
    Which have been out of the United  Per lot..........................          229.00          236.00          243.00          250.00          257.00
     States more than 60 days.
    Which have been out of the United  Per lot..........................           96.00           99.00          102.00          105.00          108.00
     States 60 days or less.
Processing VS form 16-3,
 ``Application for Permit to Import
 Controlled Material/Import or
 Transport Organisms or Vectors'':
    For permit to import fetal bovine  Per application..................          275.00          283.00          292.00          300.00          309.00
     serum when facility inspection
     is required.
    For all other permits............  Per application..................           35.00           36.00           37.00           38.00           39.00
    Amended application..............  Per amended application..........           14.00           15.00           15.00           16.00           16.00
    Application renewal..............  Per application..................           19.00           19.00           20.00           21.00           21.00
Release from export agricultural
 hold:
    Simple (2 hours or less).........  Per release......................           62.00           64.00           66.00           68.00           70.00
    Complicated (more than 2 hours)..  Per release......................          159.00          164.00          169.00          174.00          180.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This user fee includes a single inspection and resealing of the container at the APHIS employee's regular tour of duty station or at a limited port.
  For each subsequent inspection and resealing required, the hourly user fee in Sec.  130.30 will apply.
\2\ For inspection of empty containers being imported into the United States, the hourly user fee in Sec.  130.30 will apply, unless a user fee has been
  assessed under 7 CFR part 354.3.

    (b) [Reserved]

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
numbers 0579-0015, 0579-0040, 0579-0055 and 0579-0094)


Sec. 130.9  [Removed and Reserved]

    8. Section 130.9 would be removed and reserved.
    9. Section 130.10 would be amended as follows:
    a. In paragraph (a), by revising the table to read as set forth 
below.
    b. By revising paragraph (c) to read as set forth below.


Sec. 130.10  User fees for pet birds quarantined at APHIS-owned or 
supervised quarantine facilities.

    (a) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Daily user fee--
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Number of birds in isolette     Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                  Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                   Oct. 1, 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................           $8.25           $8.50           $8.75           $9.00           $9.25
2...............................           10.00           10.00           11.00           11.00           11.00
3...............................           12.00           12.00           13.00           13.00           13.00
4...............................           14.00           14.00           15.00           15.00           15.00
5 or more.......................           16.00           16.00           17.00           17.00           18.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (c) If the importer requests additional services, then the user 
fees for those services will be calculated at the hourly rate user fee 
listed in Sec. 130.30, for each employee required to perform the 
service.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
number 0579-0094)

    10. Section 130.20 would be amended as follows:
    a. By revising the section heading to read as set forth below.
    b. In paragraph (a), by revising the table to read as set forth 
below.
    c. In paragraph (b)(1), by revising the table to read as set forth 
below.


Sec. 130.20  User fees for endorsing export certificates.

    (a) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    User fee--
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Certificate categories        Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                  Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                   Oct. 1, 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Animal products.................          $29.00          $30.00          $30.00          $31.00          $32.00

[[Page 52693]]

 
Hatching eggs...................           27.00           28.00           28.00           29.00           30.00
Nonslaughter horses to Canada...           34.00           35.00           36.00           37.00           38.00
Poultry (including slaughter               27.00           28.00           28.00           29.00           30.00
 poultry).......................
Slaughter animals, of any type,            31.00           32.00           33.00           34.00           35.00
 moving to Canada or Mexico.....
Other endorsements or                      21.00           22.00           22.00           23.00           24.00
 certifications.................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b)(1) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    User fee--
 Number of tests or vaccinations -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 and Number of animals or birds    Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
       on the certificate         Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                   Oct. 1, 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-2 tests or vaccinations:
    First animal................          $68.00          $70.00          $72.00          $74.00          $76.00
    Each additional animal......            4.00            4.00            4.00            4.25            4.25
3-6 tests or vaccinations:
    First animal................           84.00           86.00           88.00           91.00           94.00
    Each additional animal......            6.50            6.75            7.00            7.00            7.25
7 or more tests or vaccinations:
    First animal................           98.00          100.00          103.00          106.00          109.00
    Each additional animal......            7.75            8.00            8.25            8.25            8.50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *


Sec. 130.21  [Removed and Reserved]

    11. Section 130.21 would be removed and reserved.
    12. A new Sec. 130.30 would be added to read as follows:


130.30   Hourly rate user fees.

    (a) User fees for import-or export-related veterinary services 
listed in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(10) of this section will be 
calculated at the hourly rate listed in the following table for each 
employee required to perform the service. The person for whom the 
service is provided and the person requesting the service are jointly 
and severally liable for payment of these user fees in accordance with 
Secs. 130.50 and 130.51.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Hourly user fee
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
                                  Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003     Beginning
                                                                                                   Oct. 1, 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hourly rate:
    Per hour....................          $76.00          $76.00          $80.00          $84.00          $84.00
    Per quarter hour............           19.00           19.00           20.00           21.00           21.00
    Per service minimum fee.....           22.00           23.00           24.00           24.00           25.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) Conducting inspections, including laboratory and facility 
inspections, required to obtain permits, either to import animal 
products, aquaculture products, organisms or vectors, or to maintain 
compliance with import permits.
    (2) Obtaining samples required to be tested, either to obtain 
import permits or to ensure compliance with import permits.
    (3) Providing services for imported birds or ratites that are not 
subject to quarantine.
    (4) Supervising the opening of in-bond shipments.
    (5) Providing services for in-bond or in-transit animals to exit 
the United States.
    (6) Inspecting an export isolation facility and the animals in it.
    (7) Supervising animal or bird rest periods prior to export.
    (8) Supervising loading and unloading of animals or birds for 
export shipment.
    (9) Inspecting means of conveyance used to export animals or birds.
    (10) Conducting inspections under part 156 of this chapter.
    (11) Inspecting and approving an artificial insemination center or 
a semen collection center or the animals in it.
    (12) Providing other import-or export-related veterinary services 
for which there is no flat rate user fee specified elsewhere in this 
part.
    (b) When do I pay an additional amount for employee(s) working 
overtime? You must pay an additional amount if you need an APHIS 
employee to work on a Sunday, on a holiday, or at any time outside the 
normal tour of duty of that employee. Instead of paying the hourly rate 
user fee, you pay the rate listed in the following table for each 
employee needed to get the work done.

[[Page 52694]]



 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Premium rate user fee--
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Overtime rates (outside the     Oct. 1, 1999-   Oct. 1, 2000-   Oct. 1, 2001-   Oct. 1, 2002-
 employee's normal tour of duty)  Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 2001  Sept. 30, 2002  Sept. 30, 2003  Beginning Oct.
                                                                                                      1, 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Premium hourly rate Monday
 through Saturday and holidays:
    Per hour....................          $88.00          $88.00          $92.00          $96.00         $100.00
    Per quarter hour............           22.00           22.00           23.00           24.00           25.00
Premium hourly rate for Sundays:
    Per hour....................          100.00          104.00          104.00          108.00          112.00
    Per quarter hour............           25.00           26.00           26.00           27.00           28.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
numbers 0579-0055 and 0579-0094)

    13. In Sec. 130.50, paragraph (b)(3)(ii) would be revised to read 
as follows:


Sec. 130.50   Payment of user fees.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (ii) What additional amount do I pay if I receive an hourly rate 
user fee service? Instead of paying the hourly rate user fee, you pay 
the rate listed in Sec. 130.30(b) for each employee needed to get the 
work done.
* * * * *
    Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of September 1999.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25425 Filed 9-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P