[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88560-88563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28231]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2023-0029]


2024 Rate Changes for the Basetime, Overtime, Holiday, Laboratory 
Services, and Export Application Fees

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: FSIS is announcing the 2024 rates it will charge meat, 
poultry, and egg products establishments, and importers and exporters 
for providing voluntary, overtime, and holiday inspection and 
identification, certification, and laboratory services. Additionally, 
FSIS is announcing that there will be no changes to the fee FSIS 
assesses to exporters that choose to apply for export certificates 
electronically through the export component of the Agency's Public 
Health Information System. The 2024 basetime, overtime, holiday, and 
laboratory services rates will be applied on January 14, 2024.

[[Page 88561]]


DATES: FSIS will charge the rates announced in this notice beginning 
January 14, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact 
Michael Toner, Director, Budget Division, Office of the Chief Financial 
Officer; Email: [email protected], Telephone: (202) 365-1352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 12, 2011, FSIS published a final rule amending its 
regulations to establish formulas for calculating the rates it charges 
meat, poultry, and egg products establishments and importers and 
exporters for providing voluntary, overtime, and holiday inspection and 
identification, certification, and laboratory services (76 FR 20220). 
In the final rule, FSIS stated that it would use the formulas to 
calculate the annual rates, publish the rates in Federal Register 
notices prior to the start of each calendar year, and apply the rates 
on the first FSIS pay period at the beginning of the calendar year. 
This notice provides the 2024 rates, which will be applied starting on 
January 14, 2024.
    On September 6, 2017, FSIS published the Federal Register notice, 
``Public Health Information System (PHIS) Export Component Country 
Implementation'' (82 FR 42056). The notice announced the delayed 
implementation of the export component to ensure sufficient testing and 
outreach to stakeholders and that the application fee would be 
recalculated based on available costs and number of applications but 
would not be assessed prior to January 1, 2019. In addition, FSIS 
announced that it would implement the PHIS Export Component with a 
limited number of countries and gradually expand implementation to 
additional countries.
    On April 29, 2019, FSIS published the Federal Register notice, 
``Public Health Information System Export Component Fee'' (84 FR 
17999). The notice announced that starting June 1, 2019, FSIS would 
assess a fee of $4.01 to exporters that chose to apply for export 
certificates electronically through the export component of PHIS. As 
noted below, that fee remains unchanged since 2019.

2024 Rates and Calculations

    The following table lists the 2024 Rates per hour, per employee, by 
type of service:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            2024 Rate
                                                            (estimates
                                                            rounded to
                        Service                              reflect
                                                             billable
                                                          quarter hour)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basetime...............................................           $71.64
Overtime...............................................            87.96
Holiday................................................           104.28
Laboratory.............................................           103.24
Export Application.....................................           * 4.01
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Per application.

    The regulations that cover these fees (other than the export 
application fee) state that FSIS will calculate the rates using 
formulas that include the Office of Field Operations (OFO) inspection 
program personnel's previous fiscal year's regular direct pay and 
regular hours (9 CFR 391.2, 391.3, 391.4, 590.126, 590.128, 592.510, 
592.520, and 592.530). The final rates have been rounded to make the 
amount divisible by the quarter hour (15 minutes). Fifteen minutes is 
the minimum charge for the services covered by these rates.
    FSIS determined the 2024 rates using the following calculations:
    Basetime Rate = The quotient of dividing the Office of Field 
Operations (OFO) inspection program personnel's previous fiscal year's 
regular direct pay by the previous fiscal year's regular hours, plus 
the quotient multiplied by the calendar year's percentage of cost-of-
living increase, plus the benefits rate, plus the travel and operating 
rate, plus the overhead rate, plus the allowance for bad debt rate.
    The calculation for the 2024 basetime rate per hour per program 
employee is:

[FY 2023 OFO Regular Direct Pay divided by the previous fiscal year's 
Regular Hours ($476,421,039/15,341,750)] = $31.05 + ($31.05 * 5.2% 
(calendar year 2024 Cost of Living Increase)) = $32.67 + $13.34 
(benefits rate) + $2.75 (travel and operating rate) + $22.86 (overhead 
rate) + $0.00 (bad debt allowance rate) = $71.62, rounded up to $71.64, 
so that it is divisible by 4.

    Overtime Rate = The quotient of dividing the Office of Field 
Operations (OFO) inspection program personnel's previous fiscal year's 
regular direct pay by the previous fiscal year's regular hours, plus 
that quotient multiplied by the calendar year's percentage of cost-of-
living increase, multiplied by 1.5 (for overtime), plus the benefits 
rate, plus the travel and operating rate, plus the overhead rate, plus 
the allowance for bad debt rate.
    The calculation for the 2024 overtime rate per hour per program 
employee is:

[FY 2023 OFO Regular Direct Pay divided by previous fiscal year's 
Regular Hours ($476,421,039/15,341.750)] = $31.05 + ($31.05 * 5.2% 
(calendar year 2024 Cost of Living Increase)) = $32.67 * 1.5 = $49.01 + 
$13.34 (benefits rate) + $2.75 (travel and operating rate) + $22.86 
(overhead rate) + $0.00 (bad debt allowance rate) = $87.95, rounded up 
to $87.96, so that it is divisible by 4.

    Holiday Rate = The quotient of dividing the Office of Field 
Operations (OFO) inspection program personnel's previous fiscal year's 
regular direct pay by the previous fiscal year's regular hours, plus 
that quotient multiplied by the calendar year's percentage of cost-of-
living increase, multiplied by 2 (for holiday pay), plus the benefits 
rate, plus the travel and operating rate, plus the overhead rate, plus 
the allowance for bad debt rate.
    The calculation for the 2024 holiday rate per hour per program 
employee calculation is:

[FY 2023 OFO Regular Direct Pay divided by Regular Hours ($476,421,039/
15,341,750)] = $31.05 + ($31.05 * 5.2% (calendar year 2024 Cost of 
Living Increase)) = $32.67 * 2 = $65.34 + $13.34 (benefits rate) + 
$2.75 (travel and operating rate) + $22.86 (overhead rate) + $0.00 (bad 
debt allowance rate) = $104.29, rounded down to $104.28, so that it is 
divisible by 4.

    Laboratory Services Rate = The quotient of dividing the Office of 
Public Health Science (OPHS) previous fiscal year's regular direct pay 
by the OPHS previous fiscal year's regular hours, plus the quotient 
multiplied by the calendar year's percentage cost of living increase, 
plus the benefits rate, plus the travel and operating rate, plus the 
overhead rate, plus the allowance for bad debt rate.
    The calculation for the 2024 laboratory services rate per hour per 
program employee is:

[FY 2023 OPHS Regular Direct Pay/OPHS Regular hours ($28,365,622/
464,251)] = $61.10 + ($61.10 * 5.2% (calendar year 2024 Cost of Living 
Increase)) = $64.28 + $13.34 (benefits rate) + $2.75 (travel and 
operating rate) + $22.86 (overhead rate) + $0.00 (bad debt allowance 
rate) = $103.23, rounded up to $103.24, so that it is divisible by 4.

Calculations for the Benefits, Travel and Operating, Overhead, and 
Allowance for Bad Debt Rates

    These rates are components of the basetime, overtime, holiday, and 
laboratory services rates formulas.

[[Page 88562]]

    Benefits Rate: The quotient of dividing the previous fiscal year's 
direct benefits costs by the previous fiscal year's total hours 
(regular, overtime, and holiday), plus that quotient multiplied by the 
calendar year's percentage cost of living increase. Some examples of 
direct benefits are health insurance, retirement, life insurance, and 
Thrift Savings Plan basic and matching contributions.
    The calculation for the 2024 benefits rate per hour per program 
employee is:

[FY 2023 Direct Benefits/(Total Regular hours + Total Overtime hours + 
Total Holiday hours) ($236,947,058/18,687,290)] = $12.68 + ($12.68 * 
5.2% (calendar year 2024 Cost of Living Increase)) = $13.34.

    Travel and Operating Rate: The quotient of dividing the previous 
fiscal year's total direct travel and operating costs by the previous 
fiscal year's total hours (regular, overtime, and holiday), plus that 
quotient multiplied by the calendar year's percentage of inflation.
    The calculation for the 2024 travel and operating rate per hour per 
program employee is:

[FY 2023 Total Direct Travel and Operating Costs/(Total Regular hours + 
Total Overtime hours + Total Holiday hours) ($50,219,960/18,687,290)] = 
$2.69 + ($2.69 * 2.3% (2024 Inflation) = $2.75.

    Overhead Rate: The quotient of dividing the previous fiscal year's 
indirect costs plus the previous fiscal year's information technology 
(IT) costs in the Public Health Data Communication Infrastructure 
System Fund plus the provision for the operating balance less any 
Greenbook costs (i.e., costs of USDA support services prorated to the 
service component for which fees are charged) that are not related to 
food inspection by the previous fiscal year's total hours (regular, 
overtime, and holiday) worked across all funds, plus the quotient 
multiplied by the calendar year's percentage of inflation.
    The calculation for the 2024 overhead rate per hour per program 
employee is:

[FY 2023 Total Overhead/(Total Regular hours + Total Overtime hours + 
Total Holiday hours) ($417,650,727/18,687,290)] = $22.35 + ($22.35 * 
2.3% (2024 Inflation) = $22.86.

    Allowance for Bad Debt Rate: Previous fiscal year's total allowance 
for bad debt (for example, debt owed for overtime and holiday 
inspection services that is not paid in full by establishments that 
declare bankruptcy) divided by previous fiscal year's total hours 
(regular, overtime, and holiday) worked.
    The 2024 calculation for bad debt rate per hour per program 
employee is:

[FY 2023 Total Bad Debt/(Total Regular hours + Total Overtime hours + 
Total Holiday hours) = ($73,707/18,687,290)] = $0.00.

2024 Electronic Export Application Fee

    The 2024 Electronic Export Application Fee:
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22DE23.013
    
    As published in FSIS' final rule, Electronic Export Application and 
Certification Charge; Flexibility in the Requirements for Export 
Inspection Marks, Devices, and Certificates; Egg Products Export 
Certification (81 FR 42225), the Electronic Export Application Fee 
Formula is:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22DE23.014

    FSIS stated in the 2016 final rule (81 FR 42225) and the 2017 
Federal Register notice (82 FR 42056) that it would update and 
recalculate the fee based on the best available estimates for costs and 
number of applications; however, the number of export applications (the 
denominator in the formula) cannot be accurately assessed until a 
majority of countries are included in the export component. Therefore, 
because a majority of countries are not yet included in the PHIS Export 
component, the cost estimates and projected export applications in the 
final rule remain the best estimate for 2024, leaving the electronic 
export application fee unchanged.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at: 
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS will also announce and provide a link through the FSIS 
Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS 
policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS 
public meetings, and other types of information that could affect or 
would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The 
Constituent Update is available on the FSIS web page. Through the web 
page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more 
diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription 
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food 
safety news and information. This service is available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves and have the

[[Page 88563]]

option to password protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights 
regulations and policies, USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, staff 
offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering 
USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, 
national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender 
expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, 
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Program information may be made available in languages other than 
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large 
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the 
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET 
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service 
at (800) 877-8339.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should 
complete a Form, AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 
which can be obtained online at https://www.usda.gov/forms/electronic-forms, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a 
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's 
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the 
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the 
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights about the nature and date of an 
alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter 
must be submitted to USDA by: (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; or (2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or 
(202) 690-7442; or (3) Email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

    Done at Washington, DC.
Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-28231 Filed 12-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P