[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22887-22895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09463]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 354

9 CFR Parts 97 and 130

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0047]


Fee Increases for Overtime Services

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We are proposing to change the hourly rates charged for 
Sundays, holidays, or other overtime work performed by employees of the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for any person, 
firm, or corporation having ownership, custody, or control of regulated 
commodities or articles subject to inspection, laboratory testing, 
certification, or quarantine under the regulations. We are proposing to 
increase these overtime rates for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 
2018 to reflect the anticipated costs associated with providing these 
services during each year. Establishing the overtime rate changes in 
advance would allow users of APHIS' services to incorporate the rates 
into their budget planning. We are also proposing to clarify the 
regulations to indicate that agricultural inspections performed by the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may be billed in accordance with 
DHS overtime regulations for services performed outside of regular 
business hours, as DHS rates may differ from those charged by APHIS.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
24, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0047.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2009-0047, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2009-
0047 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning Plant 
Protection and Quarantine program operations, contact Mr. William E. 
Thomas, AQI Coordinator, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 131, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2306.
    For information concerning Veterinary Services program operations, 
contact Ms. Carol Tuszynski, Director, Planning, Finance, and Strategy 
Staff, Program Support Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 58, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-3463.
    For information concerning APHIS user fee development, contact Ms. 
Kris Caraher, Branch Chief, Review and Analysis, Financial Management 
Division, MRPBS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 55, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 851-2834.
    For information concerning DHS overtime fees, contact Mrs. Kara 
Welty, Chief, Debt Management Branch, Indianapolis, CBP, DHS, 6650 
Telecom Drive Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278-2010; (317) 614-4614.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The regulations in 7 CFR chapter III and 9 CFR chapter I, 
subchapters D and G, require inspection, laboratory testing, 
certification, or quarantine of certain animals, poultry, animal 
byproducts, germ plasm, organisms, vectors, plants, plant products, or 
other regulated commodities or articles intended for importation into, 
or exportation from, the United States. With some exceptions, which are 
explained below, when these services must be provided by an Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) employee on a Sunday or on a 
holiday, or at any other time outside the APHIS employee's regular duty 
hours, the Government charges an hourly overtime fee for the services 
in accordance with 7 CFR part 354 and 9 CFR part 97.
    APHIS has not adjusted the overtime rates for inspection, 
laboratory testing, certification, or quarantine services since we 
published a final rule in the

[[Page 22888]]

Federal Register on July 25, 2002 (67 FR 48519-48525, Docket No. 00-
087-2) that was effective on August 11, 2002. That rule increased 
overtime rates proportionate to, and as a result of, changes to the 
costs associated with providing inspection, laboratory testing, 
certification, and quarantine services outside of an employee's normal 
tour of duty and allowed for yearly increases to the rates charged. The 
last of these annual increases went into effect on October 1, 2005. 
That final rule increased overtime rates so that APHIS could recover 
the costs of providing overtime services.
    Based on continuing changes to the costs associated with providing 
inspection, laboratory testing, certification, and quarantine services, 
as well as annual salary increases for Federal employees, the current 
overtime rates must be adjusted in order for APHIS to properly recover 
the full cost of providing these services. Therefore, we are proposing 
to establish the hourly overtime rates for fiscal years (FYs) 2014 
through 2018; the FY 2014 rates would become effective on the date 
specified in a final rule following this proposed rule, the FY 2015 
through FY 2018 rates would become effective on the first day of each 
of the fiscal years, and the FY 2018 rates would remain in effect until 
new rates were established. The overtime rate tables in this document, 
therefore, do not specify an end date for overtime rates that would 
become effective on October 1, 2017 (the beginning of FY 2018). 
Establishing the overtime rate changes in advance would allow users of 
APHIS' services to incorporate the rates into their budget planning. We 
plan to publish a notice in the Federal Register prior to the beginning 
of each fiscal year to remind and notify the public of the overtime 
rates charged for inspection, laboratory testing, certification, and 
quarantine services for that particular fiscal year.
    The proposed rule would amend the regulations by:
    1. Establishing hourly overtime rates for each of the fiscal years 
2014 through 2018 that are charged to the person, firm, or corporation 
having ownership, custody, or control of plants, plant products, 
animals, poultry, animal byproducts, germ plasm, organisms, vectors, or 
other regulated commodities or articles subject to certain inspection, 
laboratory testing, certification, or quarantine, who needs the 
services of an APHIS employee on a Sunday or holiday, or at any other 
time outside the employee's regular tour of duty; and
    2. Establishing hourly overtime rates for each of the fiscal years 
2014 through 2018 that are charged to an owner or operator of an 
aircraft for inspection or quarantine services provided by an APHIS 
employee at an airport outside of the regularly established hours of 
service.
    The overtime rates proposed in this document are based on our 
review and cost analysis of the current fees, which indicated that 
increases are needed to ensure that the fees charged are adequate for 
APHIS to cover the cost of providing these overtime services. The cost 
analysis is based on our review of data such as anticipated costs due 
to increases in salaries and benefits of Federal employees, indirect 
costs, program management costs, billing and collection service costs, 
Agency overhead costs, and departmental charges.

Overtime Rate Components

    We calculated our overtime rates to cover the full cost of 
providing inspection, testing, certification, or quarantine services at 
laboratories, border ports, ocean ports, rail ports, quarantine 
facilities, and airports outside of the normal tour of duty of the 
employee providing these services. The cost of providing these services 
includes direct and indirect costs. The direct costs are an employee's 
salary and specific benefits, which are APHIS' payment of the hospital 
insurance tax and its contribution to the Federal Insurance 
Contribution Act (FICA), and the Agency's costs for work performed at 
night. The indirect costs are area delivery costs, billing and 
collection costs, program direction and support costs, central/
departmental charges, and unfunded leave costs.
    To calculate the proposed overtime rates, we identified and 
projected the direct costs in each of FYs 2014 through 2018 for each of 
the following four overtime rate categories:
    1. Inspection, laboratory testing, certification, or quarantine of 
animals and animal or agricultural products or articles performed by an 
APHIS employee outside of his or her normal tour of duty on Saturdays, 
holidays, or weekdays;
    2. Inspection, laboratory testing, certification, or quarantine of 
animals and animal or agricultural products or articles performed by an 
APHIS employee outside of his or her normal tour of duty on Sundays;
    3. Commercial airline inspection services performed by an APHIS 
employee outside of his or her normal tour of duty on Saturdays, 
holidays, or weekdays; and
    4. Commercial airline inspection services performed by an APHIS 
employee outside of his or her normal tour of duty on Sundays.
    We then identified and added the appropriate indirect costs to the 
direct costs to obtain the ``raw'' hourly overtime rates. For each of 
the four overtime rate categories, we then rounded these raw rates up 
to the nearest whole dollar to arrive at the final hourly overtime 
rates. The following tables list the direct and indirect cost 
components for each of the four overtime rate categories.

Table 1--Proposed Overtime Rates for Inspection, Laboratory Testing, Certification, or Quarantine of Animals and
 Animal or Agricultural Products or Articles Performed by an APHIS Employee Outside of His or Her Normal Tour of
                                    Duty on Saturdays, Holidays, or Weekdays
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                                    [Effective
                                   date of final   Oct. 1, 2014-   Oct. 1, 2015-   Oct. 1, 2016-  Beginning Oct.
         Cost components            rule]-Sept.   Sept. 30, 2015  Sept. 30, 2016  Sept. 30, 2017      1, 2017
                                     30, 2014
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Direct cost components:
    Employee's salary...........          $39.80          $40.00          $40.20          $40.40          $40.60
    Night differential..........            0.10            0.10            0.10            0.10            0.10
    Hospital insurance tax......            0.57            0.57            0.57            0.58            0.58
    FICA........................            1.87            1.88            1.89            1.90            1.91
Indirect cost components:
    Area delivery...............            7.19            7.22            7.26            7.30            7.33
    Billing and collection......            1.61            1.62            1.63            1.64            1.65
    Agency level program                    5.20            5.23            5.25            5.28            5.30
     delivery...................
    Agency level administrative             3.06            3.07            3.09            3.10            3.12
     support....................
    Central/department charges..            1.93            1.94            1.95            1.96            1.97

[[Page 22889]]

 
    Imputed Costs...............           12.17           12.23           12.30           12.36           12.42
    Hourly ``raw'' rate.........           73.49           73.86           74.23           74.60           74.97
    Hourly rate rounded.........           74.00           74.00           75.00           75.00           75.00
    Quarter hour rate...........           18.50           18.50           18.75           18.75           18.75
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Table 2--Proposed Overtime Rates for Inspection, Laboratory Testing, Certification, or Quarantine of Animals and
 Animal or Agricultural Products or Articles Performed by an APHIS Employee Outside of His or Her Normal Tour of
                                                 Duty on Sundays
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                                    [Effective
                                   date of final   Oct. 1, 2014-   Oct. 1, 2015-   Oct. 1, 2016-  Beginning Oct.
         Cost components            rule]-Sept.   Sept. 30, 2015  Sept. 30, 2016  Sept. 30, 2017      1, 2017
                                     30, 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct cost components:
    Employee's salary...........          $53.06          $53.33          $53.60          $53.86          $54.13
    Night differential..........            0.13            0.13            0.13            0.13            0.13
    Hospital insurance tax......            0.76            0.76            0.76            0.77            0.77
    FICA........................            2.49            2.50            2.52            2.53            2.54
Indirect cost components:
    Area delivery...............            9.58            9.63            9.68            9.73            9.78
    Billing and collection......            1.61            1.62            1.63            1.64            1.65
    Agency level program                    6.88            6.91            6.95            6.98            7.02
     delivery...................
    Agency level administrative             4.04            4.06            4.09            4.11            4.13
     support....................
    Central/department charges..            2.55            2.57            2.58            2.59            2.60
    Imputed Costs...............           16.23           16.31           16.39           16.48           16.56
    Hourly ``raw'' rate.........           97.34           97.83           98.32           98.81           99.30
    Hourly rate rounded.........           98.00           98.00           99.00           99.00          100.00
    Quarter hour rate...........           24.50           24.50           24.75           24.75           25.00
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   Table 3--Proposed Overtime Rates for Commercial Airline Inspection Services Performed by an APHIS Employee
                  Outside of His or Her Normal Tour of Duty on Saturdays, Holidays, or Weekdays
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                                    [Effective
                                   date of final   Oct. 1, 2014-   Oct. 1, 2015-   Oct. 1, 2016-  Beginning Oct.
         Cost components            rule]-Sept.   Sept. 30, 2015  Sept. 30, 2016  Sept. 30, 2017      1, 2017
                                     30, 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct cost components:
    Employee's salary...........          $39.80          $40.00          $40.20          $40.40          $40.60
    Night differential..........            0.10            0.10            0.10            0.10            0.10
    Hospital insurance tax......            0.57            0.57            0.57            0.58            0.58
    FICA........................            1.87            1.88            1.89            1.90            1.91
Indirect cost components:
    Area delivery...............            7.19            7.22            7.26            7.30            7.33
    Billing and collection......            1.61            1.62            1.63            1.64            1.65
    Imputed Costs...............           12.17           12.23           12.30           12.36           12.42
    Hourly ``raw'' rate.........           63.30           63.62           63.94           64.26           64.58
    Hourly rate rounded.........           64.00           64.00           64.00           65.00           65.00
    Quarter hour rate...........           16.00           16.00           16.00           16.25           16.25
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   Table 4--Proposed Overtime Rates for Commercial Airline Inspection Services Performed by an APHIS Employee
                              Outside of his or her Normal Tour of Duty on Sundays
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                                    [Effective
                                   date of final   Oct. 1, 2014-   Oct. 1, 2015-   Oct. 1, 2016-  Beginning Oct.
         Cost components            rule]-Sept.   Sept. 30, 2015  Sept. 30, 2016  Sept. 30, 2017      1, 2017
                                     30, 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct cost components:
    Employee's salary...........          $53.06          $53.33          $53.60          $53.86          $54.13
    Night differential..........            0.13            0.13            0.13            0.13            0.13
    Hospital insurance tax......            0.76            0.76            0.76            0.77            0.77
    FICA........................            2.49            2.50            2.52            2.53            2.54
Indirect cost components:
    Area delivery...............            9.58            9.63            9.68            9.73            9.78
    Billing and collection......            1.61            1.62            1.63            1.64            1.65
    Imputed costs...............           16.23           16.31           16.39           16.48           16.56

[[Page 22890]]

 
    Hourly ``raw'' rate.........           83.87           84.29           84.71           85.13           85.56
    Hourly rate rounded.........           84.00           85.00           85.00           86.00           86.00
    Quarter hour rate...........           21.00           21.25           21.25           21.50           21.50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Direct Cost Components

    Employee's Salary. The employee's salary covers APHIS' direct labor 
costs for the pay an employee earns when he or she provides inspection, 
laboratory testing, certification, or quarantine services outside of 
his or her normal tour of duty. We used the estimated weighted average 
salary of General Schedule (GS)-10 step 1 at all locations that 
provided these services during FY 2014 to obtain a weighted average 
salary of $55,371 per year. The salary of a GS-10 step 1 is the maximum 
amount at which overtime is paid to an employee for performing these 
services.
    We divided the average salary of $55,371 by 2,087 employee hours 
per year to obtain the average employee's salary amount of $26.53 per 
hour during normal tour of duty hours.
    An APHIS employee is paid 1.5 times the normal employee's salary 
for services performed outside of his or her normal tour of duty on 
Saturdays, holidays, or weekdays, and is paid twice the normal 
employee's salary for those services performed on Sundays. Therefore, 
we multiplied the average employee's salary of $26.53 per hour by 1.5 
to obtain the FY 2014 employee's salary of $39.80 per hour for work 
performed outside an employee's normal tour of duty on Saturdays, 
holidays, and weekdays. We also multiplied the average employee's 
hourly salary of $26.53 by two to obtain the FY 2014 employee's salary 
of $53.06 per hour for those services performed outside of an 
employee's normal tour of duty on Sundays.
    Night Differential. The night differential covers the Agency's 
costs for overtime work performed by an APHIS employee at night. This 
consists of the pay earned by an employee above the basic rate for 
regularly scheduled work performed at night between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., 
and includes an employee's base pay, compensatory time, Sunday double 
time, and ``over 40'' overtime pay for overtime work performed at 
night.
    To obtain the night differential portion of the overtime rates, we 
estimated the percentage of total employee salary costs attributable to 
the night differential costs during FY 2014. The estimated night 
differential costs of $13,629 are 0.24 percent of the total average 
employee salary costs of $5,582,990. This percentage was then applied 
to the employee's salary for each overtime rate category. For example, 
the night differential costs of $0.10 per hour for FY 2014 for work 
performed on a holiday, Saturday, or weekday outside of an employee's 
normal tour of duty equals the FY 2014 employee's salary of $39.80 per 
hour for the same overtime rate category multiplied by 0.24 percent.
    Personnel Benefits. Personnel benefits are limited to those 
additional benefits that accrue to an APHIS employee as a result of the 
employee performing services specifically during overtime periods. 
These benefits are the hospital insurance tax and the FICA 
contributions made by the Agency.
    The hospital insurance tax and the FICA contributions cover APHIS' 
costs for the U.S. Social Security System's Medicare Insurance and the 
U.S. Social Security System's Old Age, Survivor, Death Insurance, 
respectively. The hospital insurance tax is used to help pay for an 
employee's hospital services during retirement. The Agency's FICA 
contributions help pay for an employee's insurance when he or she is 
eligible (usually at age 62), insurance for surviving spouses and/or 
children of deceased employees, and a part of the Social Security 
System's contribution to disability payments in certain cases.
    Because the personnel benefits portion of the overtime rates cost 
is limited to the hospital insurance tax and the FICA contributions 
made by the Agency, a full-blown benefits percentage was not applied in 
the same manner that a benefits percentage would be applied if those 
services were provided during an employee's normal tour of duty. To 
obtain the costs of the hospital insurance portion of the overtime 
rates, we estimated the percentage of total employee salary costs 
attributable to the hospital insurance tax costs in FY 2014. The 
estimated hospital insurance tax costs of $79,583 are 1.43 percent of 
the estimated employee salary costs of $5,582,991. This percentage was 
then applied to the employee's salary for each overtime rate category. 
For example, the hospital insurance tax amount of $0.57 per hour for FY 
2014 for work performed by an employee on Saturdays, holidays, or 
weekdays outside of his or her normal tour of duty equals the FY 2014 
employee's salary of $39.80 per hour for the same overtime rate 
category multiplied by 1.43 percent.
    Similarly, to obtain the FICA portion of the overtime rates, we 
estimated the percentage of total employee salary costs attributable to 
the FICA costs during FY 2014. Estimated FICA costs of $263,579 are 
4.69 percent of the estimated total employee salary costs of $5,582,991 
in FY 2014. This percentage was then applied to the employee's salary 
for each overtime rate category. For example, the FICA amount of $1.87 
per hour for FY 2014 for work performed on Saturdays, holidays, or 
weekdays by an employee outside of his or her normal tour of duty 
equals the FY 2014 employee's salary of $39.80 per hour multiplied by 
4.69 percent.

Indirect Cost Components

    Area Delivery. Area delivery covers APHIS' costs for local clerical 
and administrative activities; indirect labor hours (supervision of 
personnel and time spent doing work that is not directly connected with 
the services but that is nonetheless necessary); travel and 
transportation for personnel; supplies, equipment, and other necessary 
items; training; general supplies for offices, washrooms, cleaning, 
etc.; contract services (such as guard service, maintenance, trash 
pickup, etc.); grounds maintenance; and utilities. Utilities include 
water, telephone, electricity, gas, heating, and oil. These costs are 
accumulated in a distributable account and an appropriate amount is 
charged to the overtime rates account throughout the year.
    To obtain the area delivery costs portion of the overtime rates, we 
estimated the percentage of total employee salary costs attributable to 
the area delivery costs in FY 2014. The estimated area delivery costs 
of $1,008,258 are 18.06 percent of the

[[Page 22891]]

estimated employee salary costs of $5,582,991 in FY 2014. This 
percentage was then applied to the employee's salary for each overtime 
rate category. For example, the area delivery amount of $7.19 per hour 
for FY 2014 for work performed on a holiday, Saturday, or weekday 
outside of an employee's normal tour of duty equals the estimated FY 
2014 salary of $39.80 per hour for the same overtime rate category 
multiplied by 18.06 percent.
    Billings and Collections. The billings and collections portion of 
the overtime rates covers APHIS' costs for physically billing and 
collecting for services covered by the overtime rates. Billing costs 
are the costs of managing user fee accounts for our customers. 
Collections expenses include the costs of managing customer payments 
and accurately reflecting those payments in our accounting system.
    To calculate the billings and collections portion of the overtime 
rates, we estimated our billings and collections costs for FY 2014 
through FY 2018 by identifying the specific employees who provide 
billing and collection services and estimating the percentage of time 
each of those employees will spend on user fee billings and collections 
for inspection, laboratory testing, or quarantine services performed by 
an APHIS employee on a Sunday, holiday, or any other time outside of 
the employee's normal tour of duty. We then added related billings and 
collections costs, such as credit bureau costs, mailing costs, 
materials, printing costs, and the cost of our accounting system.
    Imputed Costs. Imputed costs include Office of Worker's 
Compensation costs from the Department of Labor; costs of employee 
leave earned in a prior fiscal year and used in the current fiscal 
year; headquarters space operation and maintenance costs; Office of 
Personnel Management and State Department costs to provide retirement, 
health, and life insurance benefits to employees; unemployment 
compensation costs; and Department of Justice judgment fund costs. 
Collections for the part of the fee for imputed costs is not retained 
in the reimbursable overtime account but is forwarded to the U.S. 
Treasury in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Circular A-25, User Charges,\1\ Government Accountability Office 
guidance, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Departmental 
Regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ OMB Circular A-25, User Charges is available on the Internet 
at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a025.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To calculate the imputed costs portion of the overtime rates, we 
estimated the reimbursable overtime's portion of the FY 2014 APHIS 
imputed costs. The estimated imputed costs of $1,707,714 are 30.59 
percent of the estimated employee salary costs of $5,582,991. This 
percentage was then applied to the employee's salary for each overtime 
rate category. For example, the imputed costs amount of $12.17 per hour 
for FY 2014 for work performed on a holiday, Saturday, or weekday 
outside of an employee's normal tour of duty equals the estimated FY 
2014 salary of $39.80 per hour for the same overtime rate category 
multiplied by 30.59 percent.
    Agency Level Program Delivery. Agency level program delivery costs 
are management support costs the APHIS programs incur at APHIS' 
headquarters and includes the costs of management support staffs; 
planning, finance and strategy work; program directors' offices; and 
program regional offices. We used the APHIS standard overhead rate of 
10.17 percent to calculate this cost component for the appropriate 
reimbursable overtime rates.
    Agency Level Administrative Support. Agency level administrative 
support includes the pro-rata share of the costs of certain Agency 
activities, including budget and accounting services, regulatory and 
legal services, Administrator's office costs, personnel services, 
public information services, and liaison with Congress. We used the 
APHIS standard agency support costs rate of 5.98 percent to calculate 
this cost component for the appropriate reimbursable overtime rates.
    Central/Departmental Charges. This component includes APHIS' share, 
expressed as a percentage of the total cost, of services provided 
centrally by the USDA. Services that the USDA 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 USDA forms. 
The USDA notifies APHIS how much the Agency owes for these services. We 
have included a pro-rata share of these USDA charges that is 
attributable to overtime services of 3.25 percent for the calculation 
of the appropriate reimbursable overtime rates.
    Costs for Agency level program delivery, agency level 
administrative support, and central/departmental charges are not 
included in our calculations for commercial airline inspection services 
performed by an APHIS employee outside of his or her normal tour of 
duty on Saturdays, holidays, weekdays, or Sundays. Those inspections 
are administered under the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970, 
which limits the rate to be charged after normal tour of duty hours to 
only the cost actually incurred in performing the inspection, and 
includes the cost of employee salary, benefits, night differential, 
hospital insurance tax, FICA, area delivery, billing and collection, 
and unfunded leave costs only.
    As is the case with all APHIS user fees, we intend to review, at 
least annually, the activities, programs, and fee assumptions for the 
user fees proposed in this document. We will publish any necessary 
adjustments in the Federal Register.

Hourly Overtime Rates

    The regulations in 7 CFR 354.1(a)(1) and 9 CFR 97.1(a) contain the 
hourly overtime rates charged to any person, firm, or corporation 
having ownership, custody, or control of animals, poultry, animal 
byproducts, germ plasm, organisms, vectors, plants, plant products, or 
other regulated commodities subject to inspection, laboratory testing, 
certification, or quarantine under the regulations. We are proposing to 
amend 7 CFR 354.1(a)(1) and 9 CFR 97.1(a) to reflect the hourly 
overtime rates that would be charged for fiscal years 2014 through 
2018. The table below shows the current and proposed hourly overtime 
rates.

[[Page 22892]]



                                                      Table 5--Current and Proposed Overtime Rates
                                                                       [Per Hour]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Fiscal year
                                      Outside      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 employee's normal                   [Effective date
                                    tour of duty      Current rate    of final rule]   Oct. 1, 2014-    Oct. 1, 2015-    Oct. 1, 2016-   Beginning  Oct.
                                                                      Sept. 30, 2014   Sept. 30, 2015   Sept. 30, 2016   Sept. 30, 2017      1, 2017
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection, testing,             Monday-Saturday                $51              $74              $74              $75              $75              $75
 certification, or quarantine     and holidays.                  67               98               98               99               99              100
 of animals and animal or        Sundays..........
 agricultural products.
Commercial airline inspection    Monday-Saturday                 41               64               64               64               65               65
 services.                        and holidays.
                                 Sundays..........               55               84               85               85               86               86
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These changes to the hourly overtime rates are the only substantive 
changes this proposed rule would make to the regulations in 7 CFR 
354.1(a)(1) and 9 CFR 97.1(a) regarding overtime rates. Other 
provisions of the overtime rates for inspection, laboratory testing, 
certification, and quarantine services performed outside of an 
employee's normal tour of duty would continue to apply if these 
proposed overtime rates were made effective.
    In addition to those overtime fees described above, APHIS also 
charges user fees for certain other services. The regulations in 7 CFR 
part 354 and 9 CFR part 130 set out user fees for other inspection and 
quarantine services provided by APHIS for the import and export of 
plants, plant products, animals, animal byproducts, or other regulated 
commodities or articles. The user fees would not be affected by the 
overtime rate changes proposed in this rule. However, users who request 
import- or export-related services that are covered by flat rate user 
fees on a Sunday, holiday, or any time outside of an employee's normal 
tour of duty, and who are subject to the overtime rates set forth in 7 
CFR 354.1 or 9 CFR 97.1, would be charged the hourly overtime rate 
changes proposed in this rule, in addition to the flat rate user fees. 
The overtime rates charged to users who request flat rate user fee 
services are set out in the table in 9 CFR 130.50(b)(3)(i). We would, 
therefore, amend the table in Sec.  130.50(b)(3)(i) to reflect the 
overtime rates in proposed 7 CFR 354.1 and 9 CFR 97.1.

Department of Homeland Security Inspection Overtime Fees

    We are also proposing to include language in 7 CFR 354.1, 9 CFR 
97.1, and 9 CFR 130.50 to clarify that any agricultural inspection 
performed by an employee of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection on a Sunday, holiday, or 
anytime outside of the employee's normal tour of duty may be billed in 
accordance with the regulations in 5 CFR part 551, 7 CFR 354.1, 9 CFR 
97.1, 9 CFR 130.50, or 19 CFR 24.16. This action is necessary because 
the costs associated with such DHS inspections may differ from those 
incurred by APHIS, therefore, varying overtime charges may apply in 
such circumstances in order for DHS to properly recover costs and 
adequately fund program operations.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule is subject to Executive Order 12866. However, 
for this action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    We have prepared an initial regulatory flexibility analysis that 
examines the potential economic effects of this proposed rule on small 
entities, as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The economic 
analysis is summarized below. Copies of the full analysis are available 
by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
or on the Regulations.gov Web site (see ADDRESSES above for 
instructions for accessing Regulations.gov).
    Based on the information we have, there is no reason to conclude 
that adoption of this proposed rule would result in any significant 
economic effect on a substantial number of small entities. However, we 
do not currently have all of the data necessary for a comprehensive 
analysis of the effects of this proposed rule on small entities. 
Therefore, we are inviting comments on potential effects. In 
particular, we are interested in determining the number and kind of 
small entities that may incur benefits or costs from the implementation 
of this proposed rule.
    APHIS charges hourly overtime rates to individuals, firms, and 
corporations requesting inspection, testing, certification, or 
quarantine services at laboratories, border ports, ocean ports, rail 
ports, quarantine facilities, and airports outside of the regularly 
established hours of service. These overtime rates are charged to the 
individuals, firms, or corporations requesting the services, and the 
fees vary depending on the type of service performed and when the 
service is provided. This proposed rule would amend the user fees for 
reimbursable overtime user fees to reflect increases in costs 
associated with providing these services.
    APHIS is updating these fees to take into account the routine 
increases in the cost of conducting business during overtime hours. The 
cost to the import/export program to provide these services has 
increased year to year, and these proposed increases are necessary to 
more accurately provide the full cost recovery of this Agency activity.
    Currently, APHIS charges $51 per hour per employee for work other 
than inspection of a commercial aircraft outside the employee's regular 
tour of duty, and $67 per hour per employee for work other than 
inspection of a commercial aircraft that is performed on Sundays 
outside the employee's regular tour of duty. APHIS charges $55 per hour 
per employee for inspection of a commercial aircraft performed outside 
of the employee's normal tour of duty on a Sunday, and $41 per hour per 
employee for inspection of a

[[Page 22893]]

commercial aircraft performed outside of the regularly established 
hours of service on a holiday or any other period. This proposed rule 
change would establish hourly overtime rates for each of the fiscal 
years 2014 through 2018. These rates would increase over a 5-year 
period by $24 for regular work other than inspection of a commercial 
aircraft, by $33 for Sunday work other than inspection of a commercial 
aircraft, by $24 for regular inspection of a commercial aircraft, and 
by $31 for Sunday inspection of a commercial aircraft.

Executive Order 12372

    This program/activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.025 and is subject to Executive Order 12372, 
which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local 
officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V.)

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) No 
retroactive effect will be given to this rule; and (2) 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

7 CFR Part 354

    Animal diseases, Exports, Government employees, Imports, Plant 
diseases and pests, Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Travel and transportation expenses.

9 CFR Part 97

    Exports, Government employees, Imports, Livestock, Poultry and 
poultry products, Travel and transportation expenses.

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 7 CFR part 354 and 9 CFR parts 97 
and 130 as follows:

Title 7

PART 354--OVERTIME SERVICES RELATING TO IMPORTS AND EXPORTS; AND 
USER FEES

0
1. The authority citation for part 354 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 7701-7772, 7781-7786, and 8301-8317; 21 
U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 49 U.S.C. 80503; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

0
2. Section 354.1 is amended as follows:
0
a. By revising paragraph (a)(1) introductory text, including the table.
0
b. In paragraph (a)(1)(i), by removing the words ``the Customs Service, 
Immigration and Naturalization Service'' and adding the words ``U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection'' in their place.
0
c. By revising the table in paragraph (a)(1)(iii).
0
d. In paragraph (a)(2), by removing the word ``A'' in the first 
sentence and adding the words ``Except as provided in paragraph (a)(3) 
of this section, a'' in its place.
0
e. By adding paragraph (a)(3).
0
f. In paragraphs (a)(2), (b), (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3), (d)(4), (e)(1), 
(e)(2), (e)(4), and (f), by adding the words ``or U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection'' after the words ``Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service'' each time they appear.
    The addition and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  354.1  Overtime work at border ports, sea ports, and airports.

    (a)(1) Any person, firm, or corporation having ownership, custody, 
or control of plants, plant products, animals, animal byproducts, or 
other commodities or articles subject to inspection, laboratory 
testing, certification, or quarantine under this chapter and subchapter 
D of chapter I, title 9 CFR, who requires the services of an employee 
of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection on a Sunday or holiday, or at any other time outside 
the regular tour of duty of that employee, shall sufficiently in 
advance of the period of Sunday, holiday, or overtime service request 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection inspector in charge to furnish the service during the 
overtime or Sunday or holiday period, and shall pay the Government at 
the rate listed in the following table, except as provided in 
paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii), and (a)(3) of this section:

  Overtime for Inspection, Laboratory Testing, Certification, or Quarantine of Plant, Plant Products, Animals,
                                 Animal Products or Other Regulated Commodities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Overtime rates (per hour)
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Outside the employee's normal     [Effective
          tour of duty             date of final   Oct. 1, 2014-   Oct. 1, 2015-   Oct. 1, 2016-  Beginning Oct.
                                    rule]-Sept.   Sept. 30, 2015  Sept. 30, 2016  Sept. 30, 2017      1, 2017
                                     30, 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Saturday and                  $74             $74             $75             $75             $75
 holidays.......................
Sundays.........................              98              98              99              99             100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (iii) * * *

                             Overtime for Commercial Airline Inspection Services \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Overtime rates (per hour)
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Outside the employee's normal     [Effective
          tour of duty             date of final   Oct. 1, 2014-   Oct. 1, 2015-   Oct. 1, 2016-  Beginning Oct.
                                    rule]-Sept.   Sept. 30, 2015  Sept. 30, 2016  Sept. 30, 2017      1, 2017
                                     30, 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Saturday and                  $64             $64             $64             $65             $65
 holidays.......................

[[Page 22894]]

 
Sundays.........................              84              85              85              86              86
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These charges exclude administrative overhead costs.

* * * * *
    (3) The overtime rate and all other charges, including minimum and 
commute compensation charges, to be billed for services provided by an 
employee of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall be established and 
charged according to the provisions of this section, 5 CFR part 551, or 
19 CFR 24.16.
* * * * *

Title 9

PART 97--OVERTIME SERVICES RELATING TO IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

0
3. The authority citation for part 97 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 8301-8317; 49 U.S.C. 80503; 7 CFR 2.22, 
2.80, and 371.4.

0
4. Section 97.1 is amended as follows:
0
a. By revising paragraph (a) introductory text, including the table.
0
b. In paragraph (a)(1), by removing the words ``the Customs Service, 
Immigration and Naturalization Service'' and adding the words ``U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection'' in their place.
0
c. By revising the table in paragraph (a)(3).
0
d. By adding paragraph (a)(4).
0
e. In paragraphs (a) introductory text, (b), (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3), 
(d)(4), (e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(4), and (f), by adding the words ``or U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection'' after the words ``Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service'' each time they appear.
    The addition and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  97.1  Overtime work at laboratories, border ports, ocean ports, 
and airports.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ For designated ports of entry for certain animals, animal 
semen, poultry, and hatching eggs, see Sec. Sec.  93.102, 93.203, 
93.303, 93.403, 93.503, 93.703, and 93.805 of this chapter. For 
designated ports of entry for certain purebred animals see 
Sec. Sec.  151.1 through 151.3 of this chapter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (a) Any person, firm, or corporation having ownership, custody, or 
control of animals, animal byproducts, or other commodities or articles 
subject to inspection, laboratory testing, certification, or quarantine 
under this subchapter and subchapter G of this chapter, and who 
requires the services of an employee of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service or U.S. Customs and Border Protection on a Sunday or 
holiday, or at any other time outside the regular tour of duty of the 
employee, shall sufficiently in advance of the period of Sunday, 
holiday, or overtime service request the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service or U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspector in 
charge to furnish the service and shall pay the Government at the rate 
listed in the following table, except as provided in paragraphs (a)(1), 
(a)(2), (a)(3), and (a)(4) of this section:

  Overtime for Inspection, Laboratory Testing, Certification, or Quarantine of Plant, Plant Products, Animals,
                                 Animal Products or Other Regulated Commodities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Overtime rates (per hour)
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Outside the employee's normal     [Effective
          tour of duty             date of final   Oct. 1, 2014-   Oct. 1, 2015-   Oct. 1, 2016-  Beginning Oct.
                                    rule]-Sept.   Sept. 30, 2015  Sept. 30, 2016  Sept. 30, 2017      1, 2017
                                     30, 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Saturday and                  $74             $74             $75             $75             $75
 holidays.......................
Sundays.........................              98              98              99              99             100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (3) * * *

                             Overtime for Commercial Airline Inspection Services \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Overtime rates (per hour)
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Outside the employee's normal     [Effective
          tour of duty             date of final   Oct. 1, 2014-   Oct. 1, 2015-   Oct. 1, 2016-  Beginning Oct.
                                    rule]-Sept.   Sept. 30, 2015  Sept. 30, 2016  Sept. 30, 2017      1, 2017
                                     30, 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Saturday and                  $64             $64             $64             $65             $65
 holidays.......................
Sundays.........................              84              85              85              86              86
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These charges exclude administrative overhead costs.

* * * * *
    (4) The overtime rate and all other charges, including minimum and 
commute compensation charges, to be billed for services provided by an 
employee of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall be established and 
charged according to the provisions of

[[Page 22895]]

this section, 5 CFR part 551, or 19 CFR 24.16.
* * * * *

PART 130--USER FEES

0
5. The authority citation for part 130 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 5542; 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301-8317; 21 
U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 3701, 3716, 3717, 3719, and 3720A; 7 
CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

0
6. Section 130.50 is amended as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (b)(3) introductory text, by removing the words ``or 
(ii)'' and adding the words ``, (ii), or (iii)'' in their place.
0
b. By revising the table in paragraph (b)(3)(i).
0
c. By adding paragraph (b)(3)(iii).
    The addition and revision read as follows:


Sec.  130.50  Payment of user fees.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (i) * * *

                                                          Overtime for Flat Rate User Fees 1 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Overtime rates (per hour)
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Outside of the employee's     [Effective
                                                 normal tour of duty       date of final   Oct. 1, 2014-   Oct. 1, 2015-   Oct. 1, 2016-  Beginning Oct.
                                                                            rule]-Sept.   Sept. 30, 2015  Sept. 30, 2016  Sept. 30, 2017      1, 2017
                                                                             30, 2014
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rate for inspection, testing,               Monday-Saturday and holidays             $74             $74             $75             $75             $75
 certification or quarantine of animals,    Sundays.....................              98              98              99              99             100
 animal products or other commodities.3
Rate for commercial airline inspection      Monday-Saturday and holidays              64              64              64              65              65
 services.4
                                            Sundays.....................              84              85              85              86              86
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Minimum charge of 2 hours, unless performed on the employee's regular workday and performed in direct continuation of the regular workday or begun
  within an hour of the regular workday.
2 When the 2-hour minimum applies, you may need to pay commuted travel time. (See Sec.   97.1(b) of this chapter for specific information about commuted
  travel time.)
3 See Sec.   97.1(a) of this chapter or 7 CFR 354.3 for details.
4 See Sec.   97.1(a)(3) of this chapter for details.

* * * * *
    (iii) For information on rules pertaining to the charges associated 
with employees of U.S. Customs and Border Protection performing 
agricultural inspection services, please see 7 CFR 354.1 and 9 CFR 
97.1.
* * * * *

    Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of April 2014.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-09463 Filed 4-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P