[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 148 (Thursday, August 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37613-37615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16409]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 148 / Thursday, August 1, 2019 /
Notices
[[Page 37613]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Document Number AMS-FTPP-19-0064]
United States Warehouse Act Administrative Fees
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing the
fees it will charge warehouse operators for voluntary services
associated with the administration of the United States Warehouse Act.
This action establishes the license action fees, service license fees,
inspection fees, and annual user fees for warehouse services for fiscal
year 2020, which begins October 1, 2019. AMS is increasing all these
fees by approximately 10 percent to ensure fee levels are sufficient to
cover the full cost of program administration.
DATES: August 2, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Schofer, AMS, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 2530-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250; telephone (202) 260-2434, or email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Warehouse Act (USWA), as
amended (7 U.S.C. 241 et seq.), provides for the licensing of public
warehouse operators in the business of storing agricultural products,
examination of such federally licensed warehouses, and collection of
fees to sustain the operation and administration of such efforts.
Participation in USWA program is voluntary. Participants may choose to
obtain licensing under USWA to meet State or other industry
requirements. Warehouse examinations provided by AMS examine the
financial status of the operation, the integrity of the commodities
stored in licensed facilities, as well as the facilities themselves.
This notice announces new fees for licensing and examining
warehouses storing export food aid commodities, grain, nuts,
sweeteners, wool, cotton, cottonseed and dry beans. The new fees will
be effective for fiscal year 2020 (FY 2020), which begins October 1,
2019. AMS is raising the license action fees, service license fees,
inspection fees, and annual user fees charged to licensed warehouses to
assure recovery of operational costs projected for USWA activities in
FY 2020. The FY 2020 fee adjustment reflects an approximately 10
percent increase over the current rates that have not been adjusted
since 2006. AMS finds it necessary to increase fees to meet projected
costs for administering the USWA program.
The regulations that effectuate the USWA are codified at 7 CFR part
735 mandate the collection of fees for costs of administering the USWA
program and authorize annual rate changes, as necessary. USDA last
amended the annual operational fee for warehouse operators effective
January 1, 2006 (70 FR 71262; November 28, 2005). The 2006 operational
fees were 5% higher than the previous rates. USDA most recently amended
USWA licensing and inspection fees effective October 1, 1998 (63 FR
35186; June 29, 1998). Fee increases at that time were approximately
7.5 percent over the previous rates.
In November of 2018, the Secretary of Agriculture delegated
administration of USWA programs to AMS (83 FR 61309; November 29,
2018). Previously, the administration of the USWA was delegated to the
Farm Service Agency (FSA). During 2019, AMS projected a funding deficit
associated with current program staff levels. Fees must cover all
expenses for USWA administrative services including the maintenance of
a sufficient operating reserve. Thus, rates for USWA services for the
2020 fiscal year and beyond demonstrate a remedial action to correct
the budgetary shortfall for administration of the program. USWA
requires that AMS operate in an environment suitable to affect the
needs of the program and mitigate any funding risks.
The fees reflect direct and indirect costs of providing services.
Direct costs include the cost of salaries, employee benefits, and, if
applicable, travel and some operating costs. Indirect or overhead costs
include the cost of AMS administrative activities supporting the
services provided to the industry. Program costs also include
maintaining an operating reserve and, depending on the balance in the
reserve, may provide for adding to or drawing down the reserve to
assure an appropriate balance is maintained.
Delegation of Authority
The Secretary of Agriculture delegated to the Under Secretary for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) authority to ``administer the
U.S. Warehouse Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 241-273) . . .'' 7 CFR
2.22(a)(1)(xiv). The Under Secretary for MRP previously redelegated
authority to administer the USWA to the Administrator of the Farm
Service Agency. A rule published November 29, 2018 (83 FR 61309)
transferred delegated authority to administer the USWA to the AMS
Administrator. See 7 CFR 2.79(a)(21). The delegation to the Under
Secretary of MRP related to administration of the U.S. Warehouse Act at
7 CFR 2.22(a)(1)(xiv) remain unchanged. The AMS Administrator has
authority to administer USWA programs, including publication of this
Notice. A separate Rule addresses the delegation and authority of the
AMS Administrator to revise the USWA Regulations.
New Rates
The schedule below sets out all the relevant fees for licensing and
examination services and reflects the necessary increases.
[[Page 37614]]
United States Warehouse Act
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7 CFR Part 735--Regulations for the United States Warehouse Act Subpart A--General Provisions Sec. 735 Fees
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FEE TABLE--UNITED STATES WAREHOUSE ACT (Effective 10/1/2019)
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Annual user fees
License action Inspection fee -------------------------------------------
fee Annual fee Locations
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Export Food Aid Commodities... $110 $1,100 for 1 to 3 $1,650 for.......... 1 to 3.
locations.
$330 for each $330 for each....... location over 3.
location over 3.
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Annual user fees
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Annual fee for Annual fee for
License action Service Inspection fee each warehouse each warehouse
fee license fee Licensed capacities (in location with a location without
bushels) CCC storage a CCC storage
agreement agreement
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Grain............................ $90 $40 $19 for each 10,000 1-150,000 $170 $340
bushels. MIN $190; MAX 150,001-250,000 340 680
$1,900 250,001-500,000 500 1,000
500,001-750,000 675 1,350
750,001-1,000,000 840 1,680
1,000,001-1,200,000 1,010 2,020
1,200,001-1,500,000 1,180 2,360
1,500,001-2,000,000 1,340 2,680
2,000,001-2,500,000 1,515 3,030
2,500,001-5,000,000 1,680 3,360
5,000,001-7,500,000 1,855 3,710
7,500,001-10,000,000 2,025 4,050
10,000,001+ * 2,025 ** 4,050
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* Plus $55 per million bushels above 10,000,000, or
fraction thereof.
** Plus $105 per million bushels above 10,000,000, or
fraction thereof.
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Annual user fees
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Annual fee for Annual fee for
License action Service Inspection fee each warehouse each warehouse
fee license fee Licensed capacities (in location with a location without
short tons) CCC storage a CCC storage
agreement agreement
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Nuts............................. $90 $40 $9.35 for each 100 short 1-4,500 $275 $550
tons of Peanuts. MIN 4,501-7,500 450 900
$190; MAX $1,900; and 7,501-15,000 640 1,280
$17 for each 1,000 15,001-22,500 820 1,640
hundredweight of other 22,501-30,000 995 1,990
nuts; MIN $190; MAX 30,001-36,000 1,165 2,330
$1,900 36,001-45,000 1,340 2,680
45,001-60,000 1.515 3,030
60,001-75,000 1,690 3,380
75,001-150,000 1,860 3,720
150,001-225,000 2,025 4,040
225,001+ * 2,195 ** 4,390
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* Plus $12 per 100 short tons above 225,000 short tons, or
fraction thereof.
** Plus $21 per 100 short tons above 225,000 short tons, or
fraction thereof.
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Annual user fees
License action Service -----------------------------------
fee license fee Inspection fee Licensed
Annual fee capacities
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Sweeteners................ $90 $40 $7.15 for each $7.15 for each 5,000 gallons of
5,000 gallons $750 MIN or liquid, or
of liquid. MIN $7.15 for each fraction
$190; MAX $750 MIN thereof or
$1,900; or 55,000 pounds
$7.15 for each of dry
55,000 pounds capacity, or
of pounds of fraction
dry capacity; thereof.
MIN $190; MAX
$1,900
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Annual user fees
License action Service -----------------------------------
fee license fee Inspection fee Licensed
Annual fee capacities
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Wool...................... $90 $40 $19 for each $19 for each. 100,000 pounds,
100,000 pounds. $750 MIN or fraction
MIN $190; MAX thereof.
$1,900
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[[Page 37615]]
Annual user fees
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Annual fee for Annual fee for
License action Service Inspection fee each warehouse each warehouse
fee license fee Licensed capacities (in location with a location without
bales) CCC storage a CCC storage
agreement agreement
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Cotton........................... $90 $40 $95 for each 1,000 1-20,000 $645 $1,290
bales. MIN $190; MAX 20,001-40,000 850 1,700
$1,900 40,001-60,000 1,035 2,070
60,001-80,000 1,230 2,460
80,001-100,000 1,620 3,240
100,001-120,000 1.935 3,870
120,001-140,000 2,260 4,520
140,001-160,000 2,585 5,170
* 160,001 * 2,585 ** 5,170
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* Plus $65 per 5,000 bale capacity above 160,000 bales, or
fraction thereof.
** Plus $130 per 5,000 bale capacity above 160,000 bales,
or fraction thereof.
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Annual user fees
License action Service -----------------------------------
fee license fee Inspection fee Licensed
Annual fee capacities
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Cottonseed................ $90 $40 $19 for each $19 for each 1,000 short
1,000 short $750 MIN tons, or
tons. MIN $190; fraction
MAX $1,900 thereof.
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Annual user fees
License action Service ------------------------------------------
fee license fee Inspection fee Licensed capacities (in
hundredweight) Annual fee
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Dry beans................................. $90 $40 $19 for each 1,000 hundredweight. 100-90,000 $925
MIN $190; MAX $1,900 90,001-150,000 1,290
150,001-300,000 1,670
300,001-450,000 2,040
450,001-600,000 2,405
600,001-720,000 2,765
720,001-900,000 3,145
900,001-1,200,000 3,520
1,200,001-1,500,000 3,880
1,500,001-3,000,000 4,245
3,000,001+ * 4,620
** Plus $1.55 per 1,000 hundredweight
above 3,000,000, or fraction thereof.
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Authority: 7 U.S.C. 241-256.
Dated: July 29, 2019.
Greg Ibach,
Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2019-16409 Filed 7-31-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P