[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67585-67588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33640]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 260
[Docket No. 971128280-7280-01; I.D. 090997C]
Inspection and Certification Fees and Charges
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of inspection fees.
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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 $44.40. This fee reflects increases in
salary and includes a 3-percent base salary increase and varying
locality pay increases effective January 1998. NMFS is continuing its
separate fee structure for facilities with less than full-time contract
services.
DATES: These fee changes are effective on December 29, 1997.
[[Page 67586]]
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 of the projected income and costs
for its various services serves as the basis for determining the fees
as set forth below.
Effective October 1, 1997, the National Seafood Inspection Program
(Program) increased the basic fee for full-time in-plant inspection
services by $1.95, making the hourly rate $44.40. This fee reflects
increases in salary, general operating, and overhead costs that are
charged by NMFS and NOAA.
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.
Users of in-plant (Type 1) services are 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 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, 1997, the fees and charges for Type 1, 2, and
3 fishery products inspection services (except Alaska) are as follows.
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Per hour
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a. Type 1--In-Plant Inspection Services
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Non-HACCP 40 Hr/Wk Contracts:
Regular time........................................... $44.40
Overtime............................................... 66.60
Sunday and legal holidays.............................. 88.80
Non-HACCP 25-39 Hr/Wk Contracts:
Regular time........................................... 46.62
Overtime............................................... 69.93
Sunday and legal holidays.............................. 93.24
Non-HACCP <25 hr/wk="" contracts:="" regular="" time...........................................="" 48.84="" overtime...............................................="" 73.26="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays..............................="" 97.68="" haccp="" contracts:="" regular="" time...........................................="" 73.26="" overtime...............................................="" 109.89="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays..............................="" 146.52="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" b.="" type="" 2--lot="" inspection--officially="" and="" unofficially="" drawn="" samples="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" regular="" time...........................................="" $71.04="" overtime...............................................="" 106.56="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays..............................="" 142.08="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" c.="" type="" 3--miscellaneous="" inspection="" and="" consultative="" services="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" 40="" hr/wk="" contracts:="" regular="" time...........................................="" $59.94="" overtime...............................................="" 89.91="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays..............................="" 119.88="" 25-39="" hr/wk="" contracts:="" regular="" time...........................................="" 62.94="" overtime...............................................="" 94.41="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays..............................="" 125.87="" under="" 25="" hr/wk="" contracts="" and="" non-contract="" consultative="" services:="" regular="" time...........................................="" 65.93="" overtime...............................................="" 98.90="" sunday="" and="" legal="" holidays..............................="" 131.87="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" [[page="" 67587]]="" 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="" 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="" saturdays.="" 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="" applicants="" requesting="" specific="" analyses="" to="" be="" performed="" in="" a="" nmfs="" laboratory="" will="" be="" charged="" at="" the="" following="" rates.="" shipping="" costs="" for="" samples="" will="" also="" be="" assessed.="" analyses="" performed="" in="" a="" private="" laboratory="" will="" be="" charged="" at="" the="" current="" rate="" of="" that="" laboratory.="" 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.="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" 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="" 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="" $65.93="" (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="" below,="" plus="" cost="" of="" living="" allowances.="" the="" rates="" outlined="" below="" 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.="" [[page="" 67588]]="" state="" of="" alaska="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" southeast="" &="" aleutian="" south="" chain,="" central,="" remainder="" bristol="" anchorage,="" of="" alaska,="" bay,="" kenai,="" including="" dillingham="" juneau,="" kodiak="" (per="" hour)="" ketchikan="" (per="" hour)="" (per="" hour)="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" type="" 1:="" 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="" 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="" 103.74="" 111.11="" sunday/holiday...............="" 167.64="" 138.03="" 148.14="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" a.="" classification="" under="" executive="" order="" 12866="" 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.="" b.="" 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.="" c.="" paperwork="" reduction="" act="" of="" 1980="" these="" regulations="" will="" impose="" no="" information="" collection="" requirements="" subject="" to="" the="" paperwork="" reduction="" act="" of="" 1980.="" d.="" e.o.="" 12612="" this="" rule="" does="" not="" contain="" policies="" with="" sufficient="" federalism="" implications="" to="" warrant="" preparation="" of="" a="" federalism="" assessment="" under="" executive="" order="" 12612.="" list="" of="" subjects="" in="" 50="" cfr="" part="" 260="" food="" grades="" and="" standards,="" food="" labeling,="" seafood.="" authority:="" 16="" u.s.c.="" 742e="" and="" 7="" u.s.c.="" 1622,="" 1624.="" dated:="" december="" 17,="" 1997.="" david="" l.="" evans,="" deputy="" assistant="" administrator="" for="" fisheries,="" national="" marine="" fisheries="" service.="" [fr="" doc.="" 97-33640="" filed="" 12-24-97;="" 8:45="" am]="" billing="" code="" 3510-22-p="">