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 Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket Number FSIS-2018-0051]
 AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
 ACTION: Notice.
 SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the 2019 rates it will charge meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, and importers and exporters for providing voluntary, overtime, and holiday inspection and identification, certification, and laboratory services. The 2019 basetime, overtime, holiday, and laboratory services rates will be applied on the first FSIS pay period approximately 30 days after the publication of this notice, which begins on January 20, 2019.
 DATES: FSIS will charge the rates announced in this notice beginning January 20, 2019.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Michael Toner, Director, Budget Division, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, FSIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2159, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700; Telephone: (202) 690-8398, Fax: (202) 690-4155.


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 and poultry establishments, egg products plants, 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 2019 rates, which will be applied starting on January 20, 2019. 2019 Rates and Calculations The following table lists the 2019 Rates per hour, per employee, by type of service: Service
2019 Rate
                             (estimates rounded to 
                             reflect 
                             billable 
                             quarters)Basetime
$59.96Overtime
74.76Holiday
89.56Laboratory
75.56
 The regulations 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). In 2013, an Agency reorganization eliminated the OIA program office and transferred all of its inspection program personnel to OFO. Therefore, inspection program personnel's pay and hours are identified in the calculations as “OFO inspection program personnel's” pay and hours. FSIS determined the 2019 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 2019 basetime rate per hour per program employee is: [FY 2018 OFO Regular Direct Pay divided by the previous fiscal year's Regular Hours ($461,873,361/15,909,552)] = $29.03 + ($29.03 * 1.9% (calendar year 2019 Cost of Living Increase)) = $29.58 + $10.36 (benefits rate) + $2.10 (travel and operating rate) + $17.92 (overhead rate) + $0.00 (bad debt allowance rate) = $59.96, which is already 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 
                    ( print page 65338)
                    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 2019 overtime rate per hour per program employee is: [FY 2018 OFO Regular Direct Pay divided by previous fiscal year's Regular Hours ($461,873,361/15,909,552)] = $29.03 + ($29.03 * 1.9% (calendar year 2019 Cost of Living Increase)) = $29.58 * 1.5 = $44.37 + $10.36 (benefits rate) + $2.10 (travel and operating rate) + $17.92 (overhead rate) + $0.00 (bad debt allowance rate) = $74.75 rounded up to $74.76, 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 2019 holiday rate per hour per program employee calculation is: [FY 2018 OFO Regular Direct Pay divided by Regular Hours ($461,873,361/15,909,552)] = $29.03 + ($29.03 * 1.9% (calendar year 2019 Cost of Living Increase)) = $29.58 * 2 = $59.17 + $10.36 (benefits rate) + $2.10 (travel and operating rate) + $17.92 (overhead rate) + $0.00 (bad debt allowance rate) = $89.54, rounded up to $89.56, 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 2019 laboratory services rate per hour per program employee is: [FY 2018 OPHS Regular Direct Pay/OPHS Regular hours ($24,480,845/552,168)] = $44.34 + ($44.34 * 1.9% (calendar year 2019 Cost of Living Increase)) = $45.18 + $10.36 (benefits rate) + $2.10 (travel and operating rate) + $17.92 (overhead rate) + $0.00 (bad debt allowance rate) = $75.56, which is already 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. *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 2019 benefits rate per hour per program employee is: [FY 2018 Direct Benefits/(Total Regular hours + Total Overtime hours + Total Holiday hours) ($195,953,150/19,267,813)] = $10.17 + ($10.17* 1.9% (calendar year 2019 Cost of Living Increase)) = $10.36. *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 2019 travel and operating rate per hour per program employee is: [FY 2018 Total Direct Travel and Operating Costs/(Total Regular hours + Total Overtime hours + Total Holiday hours) ($39,709,179/19,267,813)] = $2.06 + ($2.06 * 1.9% (2019 Inflation) = $2.10. *Overhead Rate:*
                     The quotient of dividing the previous fiscal year's indirect costs plus the previous fiscal year's information technology (IT) costs in the Public Health Data Communication Infrastructure System Fund plus the provision for the operating balance less any Greenbook costs (
                    *i.e.,*
                     costs of USDA support services prorated to the service component for which fees are charged) that are not related to food inspection by the previous fiscal year's total hours (regular, overtime, and holiday) worked across all funds, plus the quotient multiplied by the calendar year's percentage of inflation. The calculation for the 2019 overhead rate per hour per program employee is: [FY 2018 Total Overhead/(Total Regular hours + Total Overtime hours + Total Holiday hours) ($ 338,760,688/19,267,813)] = $17.58 + ($17.58 * 1.9% (2019 Inflation) = $17.92. *Allowance for Bad Debt Rate*
                     = Previous fiscal year's total allowance for bad debt (for example, debt owed that is not paid in full by plants and establishments that declare bankruptcy) divided by previous fiscal year's total hours (regular, overtime, and holiday) worked. The 2019 calculation for bad debt rate per hour per program employee is: [FY 2018 Total Bad Debt/(Total Regular hours + Total Overtime hours + Total Holiday hours) = ($73,050/19,267,813)] = $0.00. 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: 
                    *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/​federal-register.* FSIS also will make copies of this publication available 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 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: 
                    *http://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 option to password protect their accounts. USDA Non-Discrimination Statement No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to discrimination any person in the United States under any program or activity conducted by the USDA. How to File a Complaint of Discrimination To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at 
                    *http://www.ocio.usda.gov/​sites/​default/​files/​docs/​2012/​Complain_​combined_​6_​8_​12.pdf,*
                     or write a letter signed by you 
                    ( print page 65339)
                    or your authorized representative. Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email: *Mail:*
                     U.S. Department of Agriculture Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, Fax: (202) 690-7442, Email: 
                    *program.intake@usda.gov* Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). Done at Washington, DC. Paul Kiecker, Acting Administrator.


[FR Doc. 2018-27521 Filed 12-19-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P