[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 74966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30449]


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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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) increases its Patent 
Culture Collection charges, and revises the method of payment.

DATES: This rule is effective December 1, 2015.

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].

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, did not 
reflect the actual costs of providing materials and services. ARS is 
increasing 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.
    Currently, payment for deposit and requisition of microbial 
cultures is made by check, draft, or money order payable to the USDA, 
National Finance Center, as set forth in 7 CFR 504.3(b). ARS is adding 
pay.gov as a method of payment to assist customers.
    The 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. All of the current services will continue to be offered 
under the revised fee schedule and method of payment.
    This rule was published as a proposed rule for comment on September 
2, 2015. See 80 FR 53021, September 2, 2015. No comments were received.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 504

    Agricultural research.

    For reasons set forth in the preamble, ARS amends 7 CFR part 504 as 
set forth below:

PART 504--USER FEES

0
1. The authority citation for part 504 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  31 U.S.C. 9701.

0
2. Revise Sec.  504.2 to read as follows:


Sec.  504.2  Fees for deposit and requisition of microbial cultures.

    (a) Depositors of microbial cultures must pay a one-time $670 user 
fee for each culture deposited on or after December 1, 2015.
    (b) For cultures deposited on or after December 1, 2015, requestors 
must pay a $40 user fee for each culture distributed.


0
3. Revise Sec.  504.3 to read as follows:


Sec.  504.3  Payment of fees.

    (a) Payment of user fees must accompany a culture deposit or 
request.
    (b) Payment shall be made by check, draft, money order, or pay.gov, 
payable to USDA, National Finance Center.

    Dated: November 23, 2015.
Simon Y. Liu,
Associate Administrator, ARS.
[FR Doc. 2015-30449 Filed 11-30-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-03-P