[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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Per hour 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 a. Type 1--In-Plant Inspection Services                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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