[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 240 (Tuesday, December 15, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69021-69024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33184]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 260
[Docket No. 981023266-8266-01; I.D. 091598A]
Inspection and Certification Fees and Charges
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of inspection fees.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces changes in its fees and charges for voluntary
fishery products inspection, grading, and certification services. NMFS
increased the basic fee for full-time in-plant inspection services by
$1.95, making the hourly rate $46.35. The fees for NMFS laboratory
services and inspection services conducted by the State of Alaska
remain unchanged. It also includes a 3.6-percent base salary increase
and varying locality pay increases effective January 1999. NMFS is
continuing its separate fee structure for facilities with less than
full-time contract services. This fee reflects increases in salary,
general operating, and overhead costs that are charged by NMFS and
NOAA.
DATES: These fee changes were effective on October 1, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard V. Cano, Chief, Seafood
Inspection Division, 301-713-2355.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7
U.S.C. 1621-1627) authorizes the voluntary fishery products inspection,
grading, and certification program, as well as assessment and
collection of such fees as will be reasonable and as nearly as may be
to cover the cost of the service rendered. Reorganization Plan No. 4 of
1970 delegated these authorities to NMFS. Regulations at 50 CFR 260.70
authorize the Secretary of Commerce to review and revise annually the
rates for voluntary fishery products inspection, grading, and
certification services by publishing a notice of fee changes in the
Federal Register. NMFS' annual review
[[Page 69022]]
of the projected income and costs for its various services is the basis
for determining the fees as set forth below.
Effective October 1, 1998, the National Seafood Inspection Program
(Program) increased the basic fee for full-time in-plant inspection
services by $1.95, making the hourly rate $46.35. This fee reflects
increases in salary, general operating, and overhead costs that are
charged by NMFS and NOAA. The fees for NMFS laboratory services and
inspection services conducted by the State of Alaska remain unchanged.
The basic fee will continue to apply to establishments contracting
for 40 hours of inspection service per week. However, to recover
estimated additional costs associated with servicing contract
establishments receiving less than full-time inspection services, the
fee for establishments with Type 1 and Type 3 contracts from 25 to 39
hours per week will be 5 percent above the basic fee; and for
establishments with contracts less than 25 hours per week, the fee will
be 10 percent above the basic fee.
NMFS' annual analysis of the actual costs and projected revenue for
Type 2 and Type 3 services indicates that these fees are determined by
adding factors of 60 and 35 percent, respectively, to the Type 1
service fee. Similarly, to ensure cost recovery, the fee for the Hazard
Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based service is calculated by
adding a factor of 65 percent to the Type 1 service fee. The
regulations at 50 CFR Sec. 260.70 will be amended accordingly in a
separate action.
Users of in-plant (Type 1) services are again advised that the
Program will charge for certain label reviews. There is a mechanism to
permit pre-approval on labels reviewed by facilities that have
demonstrated an adequate understanding of basic labeling requirements
and proper use of the Program's marks. Charges for label review will be
assessed at the consultative rate to those facilities not given pre-
approval authority.
The Program will continue to require that new users of inspection
services, except label review services, that are not under contract
prepay via certified check, money order, Master Card or VISA, or
maintain a surety (bond or check) equivalent to 3 months of estimated
inspection services. Current users not under contract that have a
record of ``late'' or ``nonpayment'' of fees, as determined by each
Regional Inspection Branch, will also be required to prepay or submit a
surety. Prepayment is recommended for all non-contract users.
Effective October 1, 1998, the fees and charges for Type 1, 2, and
3 fishery products inspection services (except Alaska) are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per hour
------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Type 1--In-plant Inspection Services
Non-HACCP 40 Hr/Wk Contracts:
Regular time........................................ $46.35
Overtime............................................ 69.53
Sunday and legal holidays........................... 92.70
Non-HACCP 25-39 Hr/Wk Contracts:
Regular time........................................ 48.67
Overtime............................................ 73.00
Sunday and legal holidays........................... 97.34
Non-HACCP <25 hr/wk="" contracts:="" regular="" time........................................="" 50.99="" overtime............................................="" 76.48="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays...........................="" 101.97="" haccp="" contracts:="" regular="" time........................................="" 76.48="" overtime............................................="" 114.72="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays...........................="" 152.96="" b.="" type="" 2--lot="" inspection--officially="" and="" unofficially="" drawn="" samples="" regular="" time........................................="" 74.16="" overtime............................................="" 111.24="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays...........................="" 148.32="" c.="" type="" 3--miscellaneous="" inspection="" and="" consultative="" services="" 40="" hr/wk="" contracts:="" regular="" time........................................="" 62.57="" overtime............................................="" 93.86="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays...........................="" 125.15="" 25-39="" hr/wk="" contracts:="" regular="" time........................................="" 65.70="" overtime............................................="" 98.55="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays...........................="" 131.40="" under="" 25="" hr/wk="" contracts="" and="" non-contract="" consultative="" services:="" regular="" time........................................="" 68.83="" overtime............................................="" 103.24="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays...........................="" 137.66="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" the="" basis="" for="" determining="" the="" appropriate="" fee="" to="" be="" charged="" is="" as="" follows:="" a="" type="" 1--in-plant="" inspection="" services:="" 1="" regular="" time--services="" provided="" during="" any="" 8-hour="" shift.="" 2="" overtime--services="" provided="" in="" excess="" of="" 8="" hours="" per="" shift="" per="" day.="" in="" addition="" to="" any="" hourly="" service="" charge,="" a="" night="" differential="" fee="" of="" $2.25="" per="" hour="" will="" be="" charged="" for="" each="" hour="" of="" service="" provided="" after="" 6="" p.m.="" and="" before="" 6="" a.m.="" similarly,="" a="" sunday="" differential="" fee="" of="" $5.75="" per="" hour="" will="" be="" charged="" for="" each="" hour="" of="" service="" provided="" between="" midnight="" saturday="" and="" midnight="" sunday.="" a="" cost="" of="" living="" allowance="" (cola)="" fee="" of="" $2.25="" per="" hour="" will="" be="" charged="" for="" services="" in="" puerto="" [[page="" 69023]]="" rico;="" $5.75="" per="" hour="" will="" be="" charged="" for="" services="" in="" american="" samoa="" and="" alaska.="" b.type="" 2="" and="" 3--lot="" inspection="" and="" miscellaneous="" services:="" 1.="" regular="" time--services="" provided="" within="" the="" inspector's="" normal="" work="" schedule,="" monday="" through="" friday.="" 2.="" overtime--services="" provided="" outside="" the="" inspector's="" normal="" work="" schedule,="" monday="" through="" friday,="" and="" on="" saturday.="" it="" is="" the="" intent="" of="" the="" authorizing="" legislation="" and="" the="" policy="" of="" the="" program="" to="" charge="" fees="" to="" recover,="" as="" nearly="" as="" possible,="" the="" costs="" of="" providing="" inspection="" services.="" therefore,="" the="" hourly="" rates="" charged="" to="" contract="" lot="" inspection="" users="" who="" provide="" complete="" and="" acceptable="" inspection="" facilities="" will="" be="" those="" delineated="" under="" type="" 1.="" in="" all="" other="" cases,="" contract="" lot="" inspection="" users="" will="" be="" charged="" type="" 3="" rates.="" analytical="" services="" analyses="" performed="" in="" a="" private="" laboratory="" will="" be="" charged="" at="" the="" current="" rate="" of="" that="" laboratory.="" shipping="" costs="" for="" samples="" will="" also="" be="" assessed.="" charges="" based="" on="" these="" fees="" will="" be="" in="" addition="" to="" any="" hourly="" rates="" charged="" for="" lot,="" miscellaneous,="" and="" consultative="" inspection="" service="" as="" well="" as="" to="" any="" hourly="" rates="" charged="" for="" inspection="" services="" provided="" under="" a="" contract.="" applicants="" requesting="" specific="" analyses="" to="" be="" performed="" in="" a="" nmfs="" laboratory="" will="" be="" charged="" at="" the="" following="" rates:="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" per="" analysis="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" microbiology="" total="" aerobic="" plate="" count.................="" $19.00.="" presumptive="" coliform......................="" 15.00.="" confirmed="" total/fecal="" coliforms...........="" 15.00="" additional.="" e.="" coli...................................="" 15.00="" additional.="" staph.="" aureus.............................="" 54.00.="" salmonella="" bam/ars/tecra="" method:="" step="" 1................................="" 40.00.="" step="" 2................................="" 18.00="" additional.="" step="" 3................................="" 26.00="" additional.="" listeria="" presumptive...........................="" 28.00.="" confirmed.............................="" 42.00.="" chemistry="" histamine.................................="" 120.00.="" indole....................................="" 90.00.="" ammonia...................................="" 66.00.="" sodium="" bisulfite..........................="" 108.00.="" isoelectric="" focusing="" (species="" 108.00.="" identification).="" methylmercury.............................="" 225.00.="" chlorinated="" pesticides....................="" 300.00.="" polychlorinated="" biphenyls.................="" 300.00.="" domoic="" acid...............................="" 90.00.="" bioassay="" paralytic="" shellfish="" poison="" (minimum="" of="" 3="" 150.00="" per="" sample.="" samples).="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" notes="" on="" analytical="" services="" sampling="" time="" and="" travel="" time="" where="" applicable="" will="" be="" assessed="" using="" the="" type="" 2="" rates.="" mileage="" costs="" will="" be="" assessed="" at="" the="" current="" rate.="" for="" other="" analyses="" not="" shown="" or="" not="" frequently="" requested,="" the="" charge="" will="" be="" assessed="" at="" the="" type="" 3="" hourly="" rate="" of="" $68.83="" (2-hour="" minimum)="" or="" separately="" established="" based="" on="" the="" particular="" issues="" of="" the="" case="" involved.="" all="" charges="" are="" per="" sample.="" charges="" for="" services="" provided="" in="" alaska="" by="" nmfs="" inspectors="" will="" be="" at="" the="" rates="" specified="" above,="" plus="" cost="" of="" living="" allowances.="" the="" following="" rates="" for="" the="" state="" of="" alaska="" are="" for="" services="" provided="" by="" cross-licensed="" state="" of="" alaska="" inspectors.="" the="" rates="" charged="" in="" the="" state="" of="" alaska="" are="" subject="" to="" change="" based="" on="" information="" supplied="" by="" the="" alaska="" department="" of="" environmental="" conservation.="" state="" of="" alaska="" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------="" southeast="" and="" aleutian="" south="" central,="" remainder="" of="" chain,="" bristol="" anchorage,="" alaska,="" bay,="" kenai,="" juneau,="" including="" dillingham="" ketchikan="" kodiak="" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------="" type="" 1="" per="" hour="" per="" hour="" per="" hour="" non-haccp:="" regular="" time................................................="" $55.88="" $46.10="" $49.38="" overtime....................................................="" 83.82="" 69.15="" 74.07="" sunday/holiday..............................................="" 111.76="" 92.20="" 98.76="" haccp:="" regular="" time................................................="" 83.82="" 69.15="" 74.07="" overtime....................................................="" 125.75="" 103.73="" 111.05="" sunday/holiday..............................................="" 167.64="" 138.30="" 148.14="" [[page="" 69024]]="" type="" 2="" regular="" time................................................="" 95.00="" 78.37="" 83.95="" overtime....................................................="" 142.50="" 117.56="" 125.92="" sunday/holiday..............................................="" 190.00="" 156.74="" 167.90="" type="" 3="" regular="" time................................................="" 83.82="" 69.15="" 74.07="" overtime....................................................="" 125.73="" 103.73="" 111.11="" sunday/holiday..............................................="" 167.64="" 138.03="" 148.14="" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------="" classification="" this="" action="" is="" taken="" under="" the="" authority="" of="" 50="" cfr="" 260.70="" and="" has="" been="" determined="" to="" be="" not="" significant="" for="" purposes="" of="" e.o.="" 12866.="" regulatory="" flexibility="" act="" analysis="" the="" provisions="" of="" the="" administrative="" procedure="" act="" (5="" u.s.c.="" 553)="" requiring="" notice="" of="" proposed="" rulemaking,="" the="" opportunity="" for="" public="" participation,="" and="" delayed="" effectiveness="" are="" inapplicable="" because="" this="" rule="" falls="" within="" the="" proprietary="" exception="" of="" subparagraph="" (a)(2)="" of="" section="" 553.="" further,="" no="" other="" law="" requires="" that="" a="" notice="" of="" proposed="" rulemaking="" and="" an="" opportunity="" for="" public="" comment="" be="" given="" for="" this="" rule.="" because="" a="" notice="" of="" proposed="" rulemaking="" and="" an="" opportunity="" for="" public="" comment="" are="" not="" required="" to="" be="" given="" for="" this="" rule="" under="" 5="" u.s.c.="" 553="" or="" by="" any="" other="" law,="" the="" requirements="" of="" the="" regulatory="" flexibility="" act="" (5="" u.s.c.="" 601="" et.="" seq.)="" are="" not="" applicable.="" paperwork="" reduction="" act="" of="" 1980="" these="" regulations="" will="" impose="" no="" information="" collection="" requirements="" subject="" to="" the="" paperwork="" reduction="" act="" of="" 1980.="" executive="" order="" 12612="" this="" rule="" does="" not="" contain="" policies="" with="" sufficient="" federalism="" implications="" to="" warrant="" preparation="" of="" a="" federalism="" assessment="" under="" e.o.="" 12612.="" list="" of="" subjects="" in="" 50="" cfr="" part="" 260="" fees,="" food="" grades="" and="" standards,="" food="" labeling,="" inspection,="" seafood.="" authority:="" 7="" u.s.c.="" 1622,="" 1624="" and="" 16="" u.s.c.="" 742e.="" dated:="" december="" 4,="" 1998.="" andrew="" a.="" rosenberg,="" deputy="" assistant="" administrator="" for="" fisheries,="" national="" marine="" fisheries="" service.="" [fr="" doc.="" 98-33184="" filed="" 12-14-98;="" 8:45="" am]="" billing="" code="" 3510-22-p="">