[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 2, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53021-53022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20844]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service

7 CFR Part 504

RIN 0518-AA05


Changes to Fees and Payment Methods

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes an increase in the fees the 
Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Patent Culture Collection 
charges, and a revision of the method of payment.

DATES: Submits comments on or before November 2, 2015.

ADDRESSES: See FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Kurtz, ARS--Budget and Program 
Management Staff, George Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside 
Avenue, Room 4-1106, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, telephone: (301) 504-
4494, email: [email protected].

[[Page 53022]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Microbial-based agriculture and 
biotechnology rely on superior production strains, new strains with 
novel characteristics, and reference strains for comparative purposes. 
Such strains are often difficult to acquire or are cost prohibitive for 
many researchers. ARS has a staff dedicated to the acquisition and 
distribution of microbial germplasm in which patented strains can be 
deposited in and distributed from its Patent Culture Collection for a 
one-time fee to cover maintenance and distribution costs.
    ARS' Patent Culture Collection receives about 120 patent deposits 
per year, and distributes about 450 cultures per year. Nearly all of 
the accessions and distributions are requested by companies, 
universities, or Government agencies. Currently, ARS charges $500 for 
each microbial culture deposit, as set forth in 7 CFR 504.2(a). For 
each microbial culture distribution ARS charges $20, as set forth in 7 
CFR 504.2(b). The current fees, which were established in 1985, do not 
reflect the actual costs of providing materials and services as set 
forth in the regulation. ARS proposes to increase these fees to reflect 
their actual costs of $670 and $40, respectively, and to apply the 
distribution fee to all patent deposits regardless of the date of the 
deposit. This will not include back billing for deposits.
    ARS also requests to add pay.gov as a method of paying deposit and 
distributions fees. Currently, payment to the Department of Agriculture 
can only be made by check, draft, or money order (7 CFR 504.3(b)).
    The proposed increased fees will enable ARS' Patent Culture 
Collection to continue its mission of supporting microbiological 
research and biotechnological innovation, and serve as a repository 
where patented microbial strains can be deposited and distributed to 
the scientific community.
    The proposed new fee structure and method of receiving payments 
will require 7 CFR 504.2(a) and (b) and 504.3(b) to be amended.

    Dated: August 11, 2015.
Simon Y. Liu,
Associate Administrator, ARS.
[FR Doc. 2015-20844 Filed 9-1-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P