[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35154-35155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12363]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2022-0010]


Elimination of Deadline for Partial Refunds of Overtime and 
Holiday Inspection Fees for Small and Very Small Establishments

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On July 15, 2021, the Food Safety and Inspection Service 
(FSIS) announced in the Federal Register that, while funding is 
available, it will reduce overtime and holiday inspection fees for 
small and very small establishments. In the notice, FSIS stated that 
small and very small establishments need to submit an Overtime/Holiday 
Rate Reduction form to request an overtime or holiday inspection fee 
reduction. FSIS also explained that establishments that submit their 
forms by March 11, 2022, and that qualify for a fee reduction, would 
receive a partial refund for overtime and holiday inspection fees paid 
since October 11, 2020, i.e., the first day of the pay period after the 
beginning of Fiscal Year 2021. FSIS is eliminating the March 11, 2022, 
deadline for partial refunds. Therefore, all establishments that 
qualify and submit their forms will be eligible to receive the partial 
refund for overtime and holiday fees paid since October 11, 2020, while 
funding is available.

ADDRESSES: Small and very small establishments should submit their 
completed forms to the FSIS inspection personnel assigned to their 
establishment or, alternatively, email the completed form to the 
appropriate FSIS District Office, ``Attention Grant Curator.'' Contact 
information for the FSIS District Offices, including email addresses, 
is available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/contactus/fsis-offices/office-field-operations-ofo.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Edelstein, Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development by telephone at 
(202) 205-0495.
    For billing issues and to request refunds contact the Financial 
Service Center Customer Contact Center: (515) 334-2000 option 1 or 
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a2c4d1cbd18cc0cbcececbccc5e2d7d1c6c38cc5cdd4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e88e9b819bc68a81848481868fa89d9b8c89c68f879e">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 
(Pub. L. 117-2, 135 Stat. 242), Congress provided FSIS with $100 
million in budget authority to reduce the costs of overtime inspection 
for federally-inspected small and very small meat, poultry, and egg 
products establishments. Congress provided a period of availability up 
until fiscal year 2030, which ends September 30, 2030. On July 15, 
2021, FSIS announced in the Federal Register that it implemented this 
provision by reducing overtime and holiday inspection fees for small 
establishments by 30 percent and very small establishments by 75 
percent (86 FR 37276). FSIS also announced that it developed an 
Overtime/Holiday Rate Reduction form that official establishments must 
submit to request an overtime or holiday inspection fee reduction (86 
FR 37276). The form is available on FSIS' website at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2021-07/FSIS-5200-16-OvertimeHolidayRateReductionForm_v6-4re508.pdf.
    While in the July 15 Federal Register notice (86 FR 37276), FSIS 
stated that establishments must submit their forms by March 11, 2022, 
to receive a partial refund back to October 11, 2020, the Agency has 
decided to eliminate the deadline for establishments to submit their 
forms to qualify for a partial refund for overtime and holiday 
inspection fees paid since October 11, 2020. Therefore, all 
establishments that qualify and submit their forms will be eligible to 
receive the partial refund for overtime and holiday fees paid since 
October 11, 2020, while funding is available.
    Small and very small establishments should submit their completed 
forms to the FSIS inspection personnel assigned to their establishment 
or, alternatively, email the completed form to the appropriate FSIS 
District Office, ``Attention Grant Curator.''

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 to this Federal Register 
publication 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 can 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 
option to password protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are

[[Page 35155]]

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.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and 
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in 
the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a 
copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed 
form or letter 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; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) 
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ceceef3fbeefdf1b2f5f2e8fdf7f9dce9eff8fdb2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="83f3f1ece4f1e2eeadeaedf7e2e8e6c3f6f0e7e2ade4ecf5">[email protected]</span></a>. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, 
employer, and lender.

Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-12363 Filed 6-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P


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