81_FR_3985 81 FR 3970 - Reauthorization of the United States Grain Standards Act

81 FR 3970 - Reauthorization of the United States Grain Standards Act

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 15 (January 25, 2016)

Page Range3970-3976
FR Document2016-01083

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is proposing to revise existing regulations and add new regulations under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA), as amended, in order to comply with amendments to the USGSA made by the Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015. Specifically, this rulemaking proposes to eliminate mandatory barge weighing, remove the discretion for emergency waivers of inspection and weighing, revise GIPSA's fee structure, revise exceptions to official agency geographic boundaries, extend the length of licenses and designations, and impose new requirements for delegated States.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 15 (Monday, January 25, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3970-3976]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01083]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 3970]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

7 CFR Part 800

RIN 0580-AB13


Reauthorization of the United States Grain Standards Act

AGENCY: Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers 
and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is proposing to revise existing 
regulations and add new regulations under the United States Grain 
Standards Act (USGSA), as amended, in order to comply with amendments 
to the USGSA made by the Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015. 
Specifically, this rulemaking proposes to eliminate mandatory barge 
weighing, remove the discretion for emergency waivers of inspection and 
weighing, revise GIPSA's fee structure, revise exceptions to official 
agency geographic boundaries, extend the length of licenses and 
designations, and impose new requirements for delegated States.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 24, 2016.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this rule. In your 
comments, please include the Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) and the 
volume, date, and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. 
You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail, hand deliver, or courier to Dexter Thomas, GIPSA, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 2526-S, Washington, DC 20250-
3642.
    Comments will be available online at www.regulations.gov. Comments 
may also be inspected at the mail address listed above between 8:00 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. A 
copy of this proposed rule is available through the GIPSA homepage at 
http://www.gipsa.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Gomoll, 202-720-8286.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact 
the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    On September 30, 2015, President Obama signed into law the 
Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015, Public Law 114-54, (The 
Reauthorization Act). In addition to extending certain provisions of 
the USGSA (7 U.S.C. 71-87k) to 2020, the Reauthorization Act also made 
several changes to the existing law. Therefore, this proposed rule 
would amend 7 CFR part 800 to comply with the amendments made by the 
Reauthorization Act. Specifically, this proposed rule would:
     Remove the requirement to officially weigh inbound barge 
shipments at export port locations (Sec. Sec.  800.15 and 800.216);
     require GIPSA to approve all requests for waivers of 
official inspection and weighing requirements for export grain in 
``emergencies or other circumstances which would not impair the 
objectives of the [USGSA]'' (Sec.  800.18);
     base the portion of fees assessed on tonnage on the 5-year 
rolling average of export tonnage volume (Sec.  800.71);
     adjust fees annually to maintain a 3 to 6 month operating 
reserve for inspection and supervision services (Sec.  800.71);
     remove the provision that allows applicants to request 
service from an official agency outside an assigned geographic region 
after 90 days of nonuse of service (Sec.  800.117);
     waive the geographic boundaries established for official 
agencies between two adjacent official agencies if both official 
agencies agree in writing to the waiver. (Sec.  800.117);
     without changing current termination dates, terminate 
inspection licenses every 5 years instead of every 3 years (Sec.  
800.175);
     require delegated States to notify GIPSA of any intent to 
temporarily discontinue official inspection or weighing services at 
least 72 hours in advance, except in the case of a major disaster 
(Sec.  800.195);
     require delegated States to submit to a GIPSA review of 
their delegation by every 5 years in order to certify that they comply 
with the requirements for delegation under the USGSA (Sec.  800.195);
     require designated official agencies to respond to 
concerns identified during GIPSA's consultations with customers as part 
of the renewal of a designation (Sec.  800.196); and
     extend the minimum length of designation for official 
agencies from 3 years to 5 years (Sec.  800.196).

Fees

    GIPSA last made changes to its fee schedule on May 1, 2013 (78 FR 
22151-66). At that time, GIPSA determined that the existing fee 
schedule for inspection and weighing services would not generate enough 
revenue to adequately cover program costs through fiscal year 2017. To 
correct this problem and to build an operating reserve, GIPSA increased 
fees by 5 percent in fiscal year 2013 and an additional 2 percent for 
each successive year through fiscal year 2017.
    In addition, GIPSA restructured its tonnage fees to more accurately 
reflect the administrative and supervisory costs at the national and 
local level. In order to establish an equitable tonnage fee for all 
export tonnage utilizing the official system, GIPSA began assessing the 
national tonnage fee for all export grain inspected and/or weighed 
(excluding land carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico) by delegated 
States and designated agencies. GIPSA also shifted workers compensation 
costs from the national to the local level to fully reflect where those 
workers compensation costs originated.
    Before the Reauthorization Act, GIPSA used projected future tonnage 
volumes as a basis for tonnage fees. However, the Reauthorization Act 
amended the USGSA to require that tonnage fees be based on the five-
year rolling average of export tonnage volumes. In order to comply with 
this new tonnage fee requirement, under this proposed rule, GIPSA would 
adjust both the national and local tonnage fees on a yearly basis. 
Under this proposed rule,

[[Page 3971]]

the national tonnage fee would be the national program administrative 
costs (the costs of management and support of official inspection and 
weighing) for the previous fiscal year divided by the average export 
tonnage for the previous 5 fiscal years. Also, the local tonnage fees 
would be the Field Office administrative costs (the costs of 
management, support, and maintenance of each Field Office) for the 
previous fiscal year divided by the average tonnage serviced by that 
Field Office for the previous 5 fiscal years.
    The Reauthorization Act further requires adjustment of all of 
GIPSA's fees for the performance, supervision, and administration of 
official inspection and weighing services at least annually to maintain 
a 3 to 6 month operating reserve. Given that the number of requests for 
official inspection and weighing services varies with the amount of 
grain produced and exported, an operating reserve allows funding of 
operations in periods with lower than usual revenue. In order to 
maintain an operating reserve, this proposed rule would increase or 
decrease inspection and weighing fees when the operating reserve is 
less than 3 times or more than 6 times monthly operating expenses. For 
every $1 million that the operating reserve is below 3 months or above 
6 months of operating expenses, GIPSA would increase or decrease fees 
by 2 percent respectively. This proposed rule would also set a 5 
percent limit on changes to fees for service per calendar year. GIPSA's 
annual user fee revenue for performance, supervision, and 
administration of official inspection and weighing is approximately $40 
million. Therefore, an increase or decrease of 2 to 5 percent would 
approximately equal between $0.8 and $2 million annually.
    In addition to annual reviews of fees, GIPSA would continue to 
evaluate the financial status of the official inspection and weighing 
services to ensure that the revenue for each service covers the cost to 
GIPSA of providing that service. Also, GIPSA would continue to seek out 
cost saving measures and implement appropriate changes to reduce costs 
and minimize the need for fee increases.
    This action is authorized under the USGSA (7 U.S.C. 79(j)), which 
provides for the establishment and collection of fees that are 
reasonable and, as nearly as practicable, cover the costs of the 
services rendered, including associated administrative and supervisory 
costs. The tonnage fees cover the GIPSA administrative and supervisory 
costs for the performance of GIPSA's official inspection and weighing 
services; including personnel compensation and benefits, travel, rent, 
communications, utilities, contractual services, supplies, and 
equipment.

Exceptions to Geographic Boundaries

    The Reauthorization Act requires changes to GIPSA's exception 
program for official agencies to operate outside of their 
geographically assigned areas. Before the Reauthorization Act, the 
regulations provided for three types of exceptions: Timely service, 
nonuse of service for 90 consecutive days, and barge probe inspections. 
The Reauthorization Act amended the USGSA to eliminate the nonuse of 
service exception and add a provision for geographically adjacent 
agencies to provide service in each other's assigned geographic 
territories if they both agree in writing at the request of an 
applicant. This proposed rule would revise the current regulations to 
comply with the changes to the USGSA by the Reauthorization Act.
    GIPSA currently has 104 agreements for agencies operating outside 
of their assigned territory and GIPSA would continue to honor those 
agreements. Under this proposed rule, an agency would be permitted to 
provide service at a location in another adjacent agency's territory, 
provided that both agencies and the applicant for service submit an 
agreement in writing to GIPSA.

Delegations

    As required by the Reauthorization Act, this proposed rule would 
impose new requirements on State agencies that GIPSA delegates to 
perform export inspection and weighing services at export port 
locations under the USGSA. The Reauthorization Act requires the 
Secretary to certify that State agencies are meeting statutory 
requirements. Accordingly, every 5 years, a delegated State agency must 
submit to a review as to whether it meets the criteria for delegation 
set forth in the USGSA. This proposed rule would implement a process 
mirroring the existing process that GIPSA uses to renew the 
designations of official agencies. The Reauthorization Act also 
requires that a delegated State must notify GIPSA in writing of any 
intent to discontinue providing official service at least 72 hours 
before any discontinuation. This proposed rule would add this 
requirement to the section of the regulations concerning 
responsibilities of delegated States (7 CFR 800.195(f)).

Emergency Waivers

    The Reauthorization Act amended the USGSA to require GIPSA to waive 
the mandatory official inspection and weighing of export grain ``in 
emergency or other circumstances that would not impair the objectives 
of this Act whenever the parties to a contract for such shipment 
mutually agree to the waiver and documentation of such agreement is 
provided to the Secretary prior to shipment.'' To clarify what 
constitutes an emergency regarding this provision, this proposed rule 
would define the term ``emergency'' in the regulations.
    The final product of all official inspection and weighing services 
is the official certificate. This certificate is used to represent the 
grain shipment in trade and may be presented as prima facie evidence in 
court. Part of GIPSA's mission is to facilitate the marketing of 
cereals and oilseeds. The inability to issue a certificate does not 
achieve this mission. In the single historical instance that an 
emergency was declared, events outside of the control of the State and 
GIPSA prevented inspectors from safely inspecting grain and accordingly 
prevented prompt issuance of certificates. Therefore, this rule would 
define ``emergency'' to be a situation outside the control of GIPSA or 
a delegated State that prevents prompt issuance of certificates. This 
would allow grain shipments to continue in the event that the official 
system is not able to fully perform all of its duties.

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Office of Management and Budget has designated this proposed 
rule as not significant under Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory 
Planning and Review'' and Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation 
and Regulation Review.'' Since grain export volume can vary 
significantly from year to year, estimating the impact in any future 
fee changes can be difficult. GIPSA recognizes the need to provide 
predictability to the industry for inspection and weighing fees. While 
not required by the Reauthorization Act, this proposed rule would limit 
the impact of a large annual change in fees by setting an annual cap of 
5 percent for increases or decreases in inspection and weighing fees. 
The statutory requirement to maintain an operating reserve between 3 
and 6 months of operating expenses ensures that GIPSA can adequately 
cover its costs without imposing an undue burden on its customers.
    Currently, GIPSA regularly reviews its user-fee financed programs 
to determine if the fees charged for performing official inspection and 
weighing services adequately cover the cost of providing those 
services. This policy remains unchanged in this proposed regulation. 
GIPSA will continue to seek

[[Page 3972]]

out cost saving measures and implement appropriate changes to reduce 
its costs to provide alternatives to fee increases.
    This proposed rule is unlikely to have an annual effect of $100 
million or adversely affect the economy. The changes to the regulation 
in this proposed rule are a direct response to Congressional action. 
Also, under the requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-12), GIPSA has considered the economic impact 
of this proposed rule on small entities. The purpose of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of businesses 
subject to such actions. This ensures that small businesses will not be 
unduly or disproportionately burdened. GIPSA is proposing this rule 
solely because the Reauthorization Act amended the USGSA, which 
requires that the regulations be updated to reflect the changes made to 
the USGSA by the Reauthorization Act.
    The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines small businesses by 
their North American Industry Classification System Codes (NAICS). This 
proposed rule would affect customers of GIPSA's official inspection and 
weighing services in the domestic and export grain markets (NAICS code 
115114). Fees for that program are in Schedules A (Tables 1-3) and B of 
Sec.  800.71 of GIPSA's regulations (7 CFR 800.71).
    Under the USGSA, all grain exported from the United States must be 
officially inspected and weighed. GIPSA provides mandatory inspection 
and weighing services at 45 export facilities in the United States and 
7 facilities for U.S. grain transshipped through Canadian ports. Five 
delegated State agencies provide mandatory inspection and weighing 
services at 13 facilities. All of these facilities are owned by multi-
national corporations, large cooperatives, or public entities that do 
not meet the requirements for small entities established by the SBA. 
Further, the provisions of this proposed rule would apply equally to 
all entities. The USGSA requires the registration of all persons 
engaged in the business of buying grain for sale in foreign commerce. 
In addition, those persons who handle, weigh, or transport grain for 
sale in foreign commerce must also register. The regulations found at 7 
CFR 800.30 define a foreign commerce grain business as persons who 
regularly engage in buying for sale, handling, weighing, or 
transporting grain totaling 15,000 metric tons or more during the 
preceding or current calendar year. Currently, there are 108 
registrants registered to export grain, most of which are not small 
businesses.
    Most users of the official inspection and weighing services do not 
meet the SBA requirements for small entities. Further, GIPSA is 
required by statute to make services available to all applicants and to 
recover the costs of providing such services as nearly as practicable, 
while maintaining a 3 to 6 month operating reserve. There would be no 
additional reporting, record keeping, or other compliance requirements 
imposed upon small entities as a result of this proposed rule. GIPSA 
has not identified any other federal rules which may duplicate, 
overlap, or conflict with this proposed rule. Because this proposed 
rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is 
not provided.

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
``Civil Justice Reform.'' This proposed rule would not preempt State or 
local laws, regulations, or policies unless they represent an 
irreconcilable conflict with this proposed rule. This proposed rule 
would not have retroactive effect.

Executive Order 13132

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 13132, 
``Federalism.'' The policies in this proposed rule would not have any 
substantial direct effect on States, on the relationship between 
federal government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among various levels of government, except as required 
by law. This proposed rule does not impose substantial direct 
compliance costs on State and local governments. Because States already 
retain records for their ordinary operations, the proposed Sec.  
800.195(g)(4) should not have a significant impact on State 
governments. Therefore, consultation with the States is not required.

Executive Order 13175

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 13175, 
``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments.'' To 
our knowledge, this rule would not have tribal implications that 
require tribal consultation under Executive Order 13175. If a Tribe 
requests consultation, GIPSA will work with the USDA Office of Tribal 
Relations to ensure meaningful consultation is provided where changes, 
additions, and modifications identified in this rule are not expressly 
mandated by the Reauthorization Act.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the information collection and record keeping requirements 
included in this proposed rule has been approved by the OMB under 
control number 0580-0013, which expires on January 31, 2018.
    GIPSA is committed to complying with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act, which requires Government agencies in general to 
provide the public the option of submitting information or transacting 
business electronically to maximum extent possible.

E-Government Compliance

    GIPSA is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, to 
promote the use of the Internet and other information technologies to 
provide increased opportunities for citizen access to Government 
information and services, and for other purposes.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 800

    Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Grains, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, GIPSA proposes to amend 7 
CFR part 800 as follows:

PART 800--GENERAL REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 800 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 71-87k.


0
2. In Sec.  800.0, add in alphabetical order definitions for 
``Emergency'', ``Field Office administrative costs'', ``National 
program administrative costs'', ``Operating expenses'', and ``Operating 
reserve'' to read as follows:


Sec.  800.0  Meaning of terms.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    Emergency. A situation outside the control of the Service or a 
delegated State that prevents prompt issuance of certificates in 
accordance with Sec.  800.160(c).
* * * * *
    Field Office administrative costs. The costs of management, 
support, and maintenance of a Field Office, including, but not limited 
to, the management and administrative support personnel, rent, and 
utilities. This does not include any costs directly related to 
providing original or review inspection or weighing services.
* * * * *
    National program administrative costs. The costs of national 
management

[[Page 3973]]

and support of official grain inspection and/or weighing. This does not 
include the Field Office administrative costs and any costs directly 
related to providing service.
* * * * *
    Operating expenses. The total costs to the Service to provide 
official grain inspection and/or weighing services.
    Operating reserve. The amount of funds the Service has available to 
provide official grain inspection and/or weighing services.
* * * * *


Sec.  800.15  [Amended]

0
3. Amend Sec.  800.15 by removing paragraph (b)(2) and redesignating 
paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) as (b)(2) and (b)(3), respectively.
0
4. Revise Sec.  800.18(b)(7) to read as follows:


Sec.  800.18  Waivers of the official inspection and Class X weighing 
requirements.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (7) Emergency waiver. (i) Upon request, the requirements for 
official inspection or Class X weighing must be waived whenever the 
Service determines:
    (A) That an emergency exists that precludes official inspection or 
Class X weighing;
    (B) That granting an emergency waiver will not impair the 
objectives of the Act; and
    (C) The buyer and seller mutually agree to the waiver.
    (ii) To qualify for an emergency waiver, the exporter or elevator 
operator must submit a timely written request to the Service for the 
emergency waiver and also comply with all conditions that the Service 
may require.
* * * * *

0
5. Revise Sec.  800.71 to read as follows:


Sec.  800.71  Fees assessed by the Service.

    (a) Official inspection and weighing services. The fees shown in 
Schedule A apply to official inspection and weighing services performed 
by FGIS in the U.S. and Canada. The fees shown in Schedule B apply to 
official domestic inspection and weighing services performed by 
delegated States and designated agencies, including land carrier 
shipments to Canada and Mexico. The fees charged to delegated States by 
the Service are set forth in the State's Delegation of Authority 
document. Failure of a delegated State or designated agency to pay the 
appropriate fees to the Service within 30 days after becoming due will 
result in an automatic termination of the delegation or designation. 
The delegation or designation may be reinstated by the Service if fees 
that are due, plus interest and any further expenses incurred by the 
Service because of the termination, are paid within 60 days of the 
termination.
    (1) Schedule A--Fees for official inspection and weighing services 
performed in the United States and Canada, effective October 1, 2015. 
Canada fees include the noncontract hourly rate, the Toledo Field 
Office tonnage fee, and the actual cost of travel.

    Table 1 of Schedule A--Fees for Official Services Performed at an Applicant's Facility in an Onsite FGIS
                                                 Laboratory \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Monday to
                                          Monday to  Friday  (6     Friday  (6       Saturday,
                                            a.m. to  6 p.m.)        p.m. to  6      Sunday, and      Holidays
                                                                       a.m.)       overtime \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspection and Weighing Services
 Hourly Rates (per service
 representative):
    1-year contract ($ per hour)......  $40.20..................          $42.10          $48.20          $71.40
    Noncontract ($ per hour)..........  71.40...................           71.40           71.40           71.40
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Additional Tests (cost per test, assessed in addition to the hourly rate): \3\
    (i) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method).......................................................           11.40
    (ii) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method-applicant provides kit) \4\...........................            9.40
    (iii) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit method)..........................................           20.80
    (iv) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit method-applicant provides kit) \4\................           18.80
    (v) NIR or NMR Analysis (protein, oil, starch, etc.)........................................            2.70
    (vi) Waxy corn (per test)...................................................................            2.70
    (vii) Fees for other tests not listed above will be based on the lowest noncontract hourly
     rate
    (viii) Other services
        (a) Class Y Weighing (per carrier):
            (1) Truck/container.................................................................            0.70
            (2) Railcar.........................................................................            1.70
            (3) Barge...........................................................................            3.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Tonnage Fee (assessed in addition to all other applicable fees, only one tonnage fee will be  ..............
 assessed when inspection and weighing services are performed on the same carrier):
    (i) All outbound carriers serviced by the specific Field Office (per-metric ton):
        (a) League City.........................................................................           0.192
        (b) New Orleans.........................................................................           0.094
        (c) Portland............................................................................           0.191
        (d) Toledo..............................................................................           0.306
        (e) Delegated States \5\................................................................           0.061
        (f) Designated Agencies \5\.............................................................           0.061
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Fees apply to original inspection and weighing, re-inspection, and appeal inspection service and include,
  but are not limited to, sampling, grading, weighing, prior to loading stowage examinations, and certifying
  results performed within 25 miles of an employee's assigned duty station. Travel and related expenses will be
  charged for service outside 25 miles as found in Sec.   800.72(a).
\2\ Overtime rates will be assessed for all hours in excess of 8 consecutive hours that result from an applicant
  scheduling or requesting service beyond 8 hours, or if requests for additional shifts exceed existing
  staffing.
\3\ Appeal and re-inspection services will be assessed the same fee as the original inspection service.
\4\ Applicant must provide the test kit, instrument hardware, calibration control, and all supplies required by
  the test kit manufacturer.
\5\ Tonnage fee is assessed on export grain inspected and/or weighed, excluding land carrier shipments to Canada
  and Mexico.


[[Page 3974]]


 Table 2 of Schedule A--Services Performed at Other Than an Applicant's
                   Facility in an FGIS Laboratory 1 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Original Inspection and Weighing (Class X)
 Services:
    (i) Sampling only (use hourly rates from Table 1
     of this section)................................
    (ii) Stationary lots (sampling, grade/factor, &
     checkloading):
        (a) Truck/trailer/container (per carrier)....             $22.50
        (b) Railcar (per carrier)....................              33.30
        (c) Barge (per carrier)......................             209.10
        (d) Sacked grain (per hour per service                      0.08
         representative plus an administrative fee
         per hundredweight) (CWT)....................
    (iii) Lots sampled online during loading
     (sampling charge under (1)(i) of this table,
     plus):..........................................
        (a) Truck/trailer container (per carrier)....              13.50
        (b) Railcar (per carrier)....................              28.10
        (c) Barge (per carrier)......................             143.00
        (d) Sacked grain (per hour per service                      0.08
         representative plus an administrative fee
         per hundredweight) (CWT)....................
    (iv) Other services:.............................
        (a) Submitted sample (per sample--grade and                13.50
         factor).....................................
        (b) Warehouseman inspection (per sample).....              23.60
        (c) Factor only (per factor--maximum 2                      6.60
         factors)....................................
        (d) Checkloading/condition examination (use                 0.08
         hourly rates from Table 1 of this section,
         plus an administrative fee per hundredweight
         if not previously assessed) (CWT)...........
        (e) Re-inspection (grade and factor only.                  14.60
         Sampling service additional, item (1)(i) of
         this table).................................
        (f) Class X Weighing (per hour per service                 71.40
         representative).............................
    (v) Additional tests (excludes sampling):........
        (a) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method)........              33.60
        (b) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method-                      31.60
         applicant provides kit) \3\.................
        (c) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit                   43.20
         method).....................................
        (d) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit                   41.20
         method-applicant provides kit) \3\..........
        (e) NIR or NMR Analysis (protein, oil,                     11.40
         starch, etc.)...............................
        (f) Waxy corn (per test).....................              11.40
        (g) Canola (per test-00 dip test)............              11.40
        (h) Pesticide Residue Testing: \4\...........
            (1) Routine Compounds (per sample).......             240.90
            (2) Special Compounds (Subject to                     128.40
             availability)...........................
        (i) Fees for other tests not listed above
         will be based on the lowest noncontract
         hourly rate from Table 1 of this section....
(2) Appeal inspection and review of weighing
 service.\5\
    (i) Board Appeals and Appeals (grade and factor).              91.50
        (a) Factor only (per factor--max 2 factors)..              48.20
        (b) Sampling service for Appeals additional
         (hourly rates from Table 1 of this section).
    (ii) Additional tests (assessed in addition to
     all other applicable tests):
        (a) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method)........              33.60
        (b) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method-                      31.60
         applicant provides kit) \3\.................
        (c) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit                   52.60
         method).....................................
        (d) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit                   50.60
         method-applicant provides kit) \3\..........
        (e) NIR or NMR Analysis (protein, oil,                     19.80
         starch, etc.)...............................
        (f) Sunflower oil (per test).................              19.80
        (g) Mycotoxin (per test-HPLC)................             157.30
        (h) Pesticide Residue Testing: \4\...........
            (1) Routine Compounds (per sample).......             240.90
            (2) Special Compounds (Subject to                     128.40
             availability)...........................
        (i) Fees for other tests not listed above
         will be based on the lowest noncontract
         hourly rate from Table 1 of this section....
    (iii) Review of weighing (per hour per service                 92.30
     representative).................................
(3) Stowage examination (service-on-request):\4\
    (i) Ship (per stowage space) (minimum $285.00 per              57.00
     ship)...........................................
    (ii) Subsequent ship examinations (same as                     57.00
     original) (minimum $171.00 per ship)............
    (iii) Barge (per examination)....................              45.80
    (iv) All other carriers (per examination)........              18.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Fees apply to original inspection and weighing, re-inspection, and
  appeal inspection service and include, but are not limited to,
  sampling, grading, weighing, prior to loading stowage examinations,
  and certifying results performed within 25 miles of an employee's
  assigned duty station. Travel and related expenses will be charged for
  service outside 25 miles as found in Sec.   800.72(a).
\2\ An additional charge will be assessed when the revenue from the
  services in Schedule A, Table 2, does not cover what would have been
  collected at the applicable hourly rate as provided in Sec.
  800.72(b).
\3\ Applicant must provide the test kit, instrument hardware,
  calibration control, and all supplies required by the test kit
  manufacturer.
\4\ If performed outside of normal business, 11/2 times the applicable
  unit fee will be charged.
\5\ If, at the request of the Service, a file sample is located and
  forwarded by the Agency, the Agency may, upon request, be reimbursed
  at the rate of $3.50 per sample by the Service.


            Table 3 of Schedule A--Miscellaneous Services \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Grain grading seminars (per hour per  $71.40.
 service representative) \2\.
(2) Certification of diverter-type        71.40.
 mechanical samplers (per hour per
 service representative) \2\.
(3) Special weighing services (per hour   ..............................
 per service representative): \2\
    (i) Scale testing and certification.  92.90.
    (ii) Scale testing and certification  92.90.
     of railroad track scales.
    (iii) Evaluation of weighing and      92.90.
     material handling systems.

[[Page 3975]]

 
    (iv) NTEP Prototype evaluation        92.90.
     (other than Railroad Track Scales).
    (v) NTEP Prototype evaluation of      92.90.
     Railroad Track Scale.
    (vi) Use of GIPSA railroad track      557.30.
     scale test equipment per facility
     for each requested service. (Track
     scales tested under the Association
     of American Railroads agreement are
     exempt.).
    (vii) Mass standards calibration and  92.90.
     re-verification.
    (viii) Special projects.............  92.90.
(4) Foreign travel (hourly fee) \3\.....  92.90.
(5) Online customized data service:       ..............................
    (i) One data file per week for 1      557.30.
     year.
    (ii) One data file per month for 1    334.40.
     year.
(6) Samples provided to interested        3.50.
 parties (per sample).
(7) Divided-lot certificates (per         2.20.
 certificate).
(8) Extra copies of certificates (per     2.20.
 certificate).
(9) Faxing (per page)...................  2.20.
(10) Special mailing....................  Actual Cost.
(11) Preparing certificates onsite or
 during other than normal business hours
 (use hourly rates from Table 1 of this
 section).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Any requested service that is not listed will be performed at $71.40
  per hour.
\2\ Regular business hours--Monday through Friday--service provided at
  other than regular business hours will be charged at 11/2 times the
  applicable hourly rate. (See the definition of ``business day'' in
  Sec.   800.0(b))
\3\ Foreign travel charged hourly fee of $92.90 plus travel, per diem,
  and related expenditures.

    (2) Schedule B--Fees for FGIS Supervision of Official Inspection 
and Weighing Services Performed by Delegated States and/or Designated 
Agencies in the United States. The supervision fee charged by the 
Service is $0.011 per metric ton of domestic U.S. grain shipments 
inspected and/or weighed, including land carrier shipments to Canada 
and Mexico.
    (b) Annual review of fees. For each calendar year, starting with 
2017, the Service will review the fees in Schedule A and publish fees 
effective January 1 of each year according to the following:
    (1) Tonnage fees. Tonnage fees will consist of the national tonnage 
fee and local tonnage fees and will be calculated and rounded to the 
nearest $0.001 per metric ton. All outbound grain officially inspected 
and/or weighed by the Field Offices in New Orleans, League City, 
Portland, and Toledo will be assessed the national tonnage fee plus the 
appropriate local tonnage fee. Export grain officially inspected and/or 
weighed by delegated States and official agencies, excluding land 
carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico, will be assessed the national 
tonnage fee only. The fees will be set according to the following:
    (i) National tonnage fee. The national tonnage fee is the national 
program administrative costs for the previous fiscal year divided by 
the average yearly tons of export grain officially inspected and/or 
weighed by delegated States and designated agencies, excluding land 
carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico, and outbound grain officially 
inspected and/or weighed by the Service during the previous 5 fiscal 
years.
    (ii) Local tonnage fee. The local tonnage fee is the Field Office 
administrative costs for the previous fiscal year divided by the 
average yearly tons of outbound grain officially inspected and/or 
weighed by the Field Office during the previous 5 fiscal years. The 
local tonnage fee is calculated individually for each Field Office.
    (2) Operating reserve. In order to maintain an operating reserve 
not less than 3 and not more than 6 months, the Service will review the 
value of the operating reserve at the end of each fiscal year and 
adjust fees according to the following:
    (i) Between 3 months and 6 months. If the operating reserve is 
greater than or equal to 3 times the monthly operating expenses and 
less than or equal to 6 times the monthly operating expenses, the 
Service will not make any fee adjustments other than provided for in 
paragraphs (b)(1) and (c) of this section.
    (ii) Less than 3 months. If the operating reserve is less than 3 
times the monthly operating expenses, the Service will increase all 
fees in Schedule A by 2 percent for each $1,000,000, rounded down, that 
the operating reserve is less than 3 times the monthly operating 
expense, with a maximum increase of 5 percent annually. Except for fees 
based on tonnage or hundredweight, all fees will be rounded to the 
nearest $0.10.
    (iii) Greater than 6 months. If the operating reserve is greater 
than 6 times the monthly operating expenses, the Service will decrease 
all fees in Schedule A by 2 percent for each $1,000,000, rounded down, 
that the operating reserve is greater than 6 times the monthly 
operating expense, with a maximum decrease of 5 percent annually. 
Except for fees based on tonnage or hundredweight, all fees will be 
rounded to the nearest $0.10.
    (c) Periodic review. The Service will periodically review and 
adjust all fees in Schedules A and B as necessary to ensure they 
reflect the true cost of providing and supervising official service. 
This process will incorporate any fee adjustments from paragraph (b) of 
this section.
    (d) Miscellaneous fees for other services--(1) Registration 
certificates and renewals. (i) The nature of your business will 
determine the fees that your business must pay for registration 
certificates and renewals:
    (A) If you operate a business that buys, handles, weighs, or 
transports grain for sale in foreign commerce, you must pay $135.00.
    (B) If you operate a business that buys, handles, weighs, or 
transports grain for sale in foreign commerce and you are also in a 
control relationship (see definition in section 17A(b)(2) of the Act) 
with respect to a business that buys, handles, weighs, or transports 
grain for sale in interstate commerce, you must pay $270.00.
    (ii) If you request extra copies of registration certificates, you 
must pay $2.20 for each copy.
    (2) Designation amendments. If you submit an application to amend a 
designation, you must pay $75.00.
    (3) Scale testing organization. If you submit an application to 
operate as a scale testing organization, you must pay $250.00.
0
7. Amend Sec.  800.117 by removing paragraph (b)(2), redesignating 
paragraph (b)(3) as (b)(2), and adding a new paragraph (b)(3) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  800.117  Who shall perform original services.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
* * * * *
    (3) Written agreement. If the assigned official agency agrees in 
writing with the adjacent official agency to waive the

[[Page 3976]]

current geographic area restriction at the request of the applicant for 
service, the adjacent official agency may provide service at a 
particular location upon approval by the Service.
* * * * *
0
8. Revise paragraph (a) of Sec.  800.175 to read as follows:


Sec.  800.175  Termination of licenses.

    (a) Term of license. Each license shall terminate in accordance 
with the termination date shown on the license and as specified in 
paragraph (b) of this section. The termination date for a license shall 
be no less than 5 years or more than 6 years after the issuance date 
for the initial license; thereafter, every 5 years. Upon request of a 
licensee and for good cause shown, the termination date may be advanced 
or delayed by the Administrator for a period not to exceed 60 days.
* * * * *
0
9. Amend Sec.  800.195 by adding paragraphs (f)(11) and (g)(4) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  800.195  Delegations.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (11) Notification to Secretary. A delegated State shall notify the 
Secretary of its intention to temporarily discontinue official 
inspection and/or weighing services for any reason, except in the case 
of a major disaster. The delegated State must provide written 
notification to the Service no less than 72 hours in advance of the 
discontinuation date.
* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (4) Review. At least once every 5 years, a delegated State shall 
submit to a review of its delegation by the Service in accordance with 
the criteria and procedures for delegation prescribed in section 7(e) 
of the Act, this section of the regulations, and the instructions. The 
Administrator may revoke the delegation of a State according to this 
subsection if the State fails to meet or comply with any of the 
criteria for delegation set forth in the Act, regulations, and 
instructions.
* * * * *
0
10. Amend Sec.  800.196 by revising paragraphs (e)(2)(ii) and (iii), 
adding paragraph (e)(2)(iv), and revising paragraph (h)(1)(i) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  800.196  Designations.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) The applicant meets the conditions and criteria specified in 
the Act and regulations;
    (iii) The applicant is better able than any other applicant to 
provide official services; and
    (iv) The applicant addresses concerns identified during 
consultations that the Service conducts with applicants for service to 
the satisfaction of the Service.
* * * * *
    (h) Termination and renewal--(1) Every 5 years--(i) Termination. A 
designation shall terminate at a time specified by the Administrator, 
but not later than 5 years after the effective date of the designation. 
A notice of termination shall be issued by the Service to a designated 
agency at least 120 calendar days in advance of the termination date. 
The notice shall provide instructions for requesting renewal of the 
designation. Failure to receive a notice from the Service shall not 
exempt a designated agency from the responsibility of having its 
designation renewed on or before the specified termination date.
* * * * *
0
11. Amend Sec.  800.216 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  800.216  Activities that shall be monitored.

* * * * *
    (c) Grain handling activities. Grain handling activities subject to 
monitoring for compliance with the Act include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Shipping export grain without inspection or weighing;
    (2) Violating any Federal law with respect to the handling, 
weighing, or inspection of grain;
    (3) Deceptively loading, handling, weighing, or sampling grain; and
    (4) Exporting grain without a certificate of registration.
* * * * *

Larry Mitchell,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards.
[FR Doc. 2016-01083 Filed 1-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P



                                                      3970

                                                      Proposed Rules                                                                                                 Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                                     Vol. 81, No. 15

                                                                                                                                                                     Monday, January 25, 2016



                                                      This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    also be inspected at the mail address                     • require delegated States to notify
                                                      contains notices to the public of the proposed          listed above between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30                GIPSA of any intent to temporarily
                                                      issuance of rules and regulations. The                  p.m., Monday through Friday, except                    discontinue official inspection or
                                                      purpose of these notices is to give interested          federal holidays. A copy of this                       weighing services at least 72 hours in
                                                      persons an opportunity to participate in the            proposed rule is available through the                 advance, except in the case of a major
                                                      rule making prior to the adoption of the final
                                                                                                              GIPSA homepage at http://                              disaster (§ 800.195);
                                                      rules.
                                                                                                              www.gipsa.usda.gov.                                       • require delegated States to submit
                                                                                                                                                                     to a GIPSA review of their delegation by
                                                                                                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                      DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                                                                                      every 5 years in order to certify that they
                                                                                                              Barry Gomoll, 202–720–8286.
                                                                                                                                                                     comply with the requirements for
                                                                                                                 Persons with disabilities who require
                                                      Grain Inspection, Packers and                                                                                  delegation under the USGSA
                                                                                                              alternative means for communication
                                                      Stockyards Administration                                                                                      (§ 800.195);
                                                                                                              (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.)                  • require designated official agencies
                                                                                                              should contact the USDA Target Center                  to respond to concerns identified during
                                                      7 CFR Part 800                                          at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).                     GIPSA’s consultations with customers
                                                      RIN 0580–AB13                                           SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             as part of the renewal of a designation
                                                                                                              Overview                                               (§ 800.196); and
                                                      Reauthorization of the United States                                                                              • extend the minimum length of
                                                      Grain Standards Act                                        On September 30, 2015, President                    designation for official agencies from 3
                                                                                                              Obama signed into law the Agriculture                  years to 5 years (§ 800.196).
                                                      AGENCY:  Grain Inspection Packers and
                                                                                                              Reauthorizations Act of 2015, Public
                                                      Stockyards Administration, USDA.                                                                               Fees
                                                                                                              Law 114–54, (The Reauthorization Act).
                                                      ACTION: Proposed rule.                                  In addition to extending certain                          GIPSA last made changes to its fee
                                                      SUMMARY:   The Department of                            provisions of the USGSA (7 U.S.C. 71–                  schedule on May 1, 2013 (78 FR 22151–
                                                      Agriculture (USDA) Grain Inspection,                    87k) to 2020, the Reauthorization Act                  66). At that time, GIPSA determined
                                                      Packers and Stockyards Administration                   also made several changes to the                       that the existing fee schedule for
                                                      (GIPSA) is proposing to revise existing                 existing law. Therefore, this proposed                 inspection and weighing services would
                                                      regulations and add new regulations                     rule would amend 7 CFR part 800 to                     not generate enough revenue to
                                                      under the United States Grain Standards                 comply with the amendments made by                     adequately cover program costs through
                                                      Act (USGSA), as amended, in order to                    the Reauthorization Act. Specifically,                 fiscal year 2017. To correct this problem
                                                      comply with amendments to the USGSA                     this proposed rule would:                              and to build an operating reserve,
                                                      made by the Agriculture                                    • Remove the requirement to                         GIPSA increased fees by 5 percent in
                                                      Reauthorizations Act of 2015.                           officially weigh inbound barge                         fiscal year 2013 and an additional 2
                                                      Specifically, this rulemaking proposes                  shipments at export port locations                     percent for each successive year through
                                                      to eliminate mandatory barge weighing,                  (§§ 800.15 and 800.216);                               fiscal year 2017.
                                                                                                                 • require GIPSA to approve all                         In addition, GIPSA restructured its
                                                      remove the discretion for emergency
                                                                                                              requests for waivers of official                       tonnage fees to more accurately reflect
                                                      waivers of inspection and weighing,
                                                                                                              inspection and weighing requirements                   the administrative and supervisory costs
                                                      revise GIPSA’s fee structure, revise
                                                                                                              for export grain in ‘‘emergencies or                   at the national and local level. In order
                                                      exceptions to official agency geographic
                                                                                                              other circumstances which would not                    to establish an equitable tonnage fee for
                                                      boundaries, extend the length of                                                                               all export tonnage utilizing the official
                                                                                                              impair the objectives of the [USGSA]’’
                                                      licenses and designations, and impose                                                                          system, GIPSA began assessing the
                                                                                                              (§ 800.18);
                                                      new requirements for delegated States.
                                                                                                                 • base the portion of fees assessed on              national tonnage fee for all export grain
                                                      DATES: Comments must be received on                     tonnage on the 5-year rolling average of               inspected and/or weighed (excluding
                                                      or before February 24, 2016.                            export tonnage volume (§ 800.71);                      land carrier shipments to Canada and
                                                      ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit                         • adjust fees annually to maintain a 3              Mexico) by delegated States and
                                                      comments on this rule. In your                          to 6 month operating reserve for                       designated agencies. GIPSA also shifted
                                                      comments, please include the                            inspection and supervision services                    workers compensation costs from the
                                                      Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) and                  (§ 800.71);                                            national to the local level to fully reflect
                                                      the volume, date, and page number of                       • remove the provision that allows                  where those workers compensation
                                                      this issue of the Federal Register. You                 applicants to request service from an                  costs originated.
                                                      may submit comments by any of the                       official agency outside an assigned                       Before the Reauthorization Act,
                                                      following methods:                                      geographic region after 90 days of                     GIPSA used projected future tonnage
                                                         • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to                  nonuse of service (§ 800.117);                         volumes as a basis for tonnage fees.
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                                                      http://www.regulations.gov and follow                      • waive the geographic boundaries                   However, the Reauthorization Act
                                                      the online instructions for submitting                  established for official agencies between              amended the USGSA to require that
                                                      comments.                                               two adjacent official agencies if both                 tonnage fees be based on the five-year
                                                         • Mail, hand deliver, or courier to                  official agencies agree in writing to the              rolling average of export tonnage
                                                      Dexter Thomas, GIPSA, USDA, 1400                        waiver. (§ 800.117);                                   volumes. In order to comply with this
                                                      Independence Avenue SW., Room                              • without changing current                          new tonnage fee requirement, under this
                                                      2526–S, Washington, DC 20250–3642.                      termination dates, terminate inspection                proposed rule, GIPSA would adjust both
                                                         Comments will be available online at                 licenses every 5 years instead of every                the national and local tonnage fees on
                                                      www.regulations.gov. Comments may                       3 years (§ 800.175);                                   a yearly basis. Under this proposed rule,


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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                            3971

                                                      the national tonnage fee would be the                   utilities, contractual services, supplies,             impair the objectives of this Act
                                                      national program administrative costs                   and equipment.                                         whenever the parties to a contract for
                                                      (the costs of management and support of                                                                        such shipment mutually agree to the
                                                                                                              Exceptions to Geographic Boundaries
                                                      official inspection and weighing) for the                                                                      waiver and documentation of such
                                                      previous fiscal year divided by the                        The Reauthorization Act requires                    agreement is provided to the Secretary
                                                      average export tonnage for the previous                 changes to GIPSA’s exception program                   prior to shipment.’’ To clarify what
                                                      5 fiscal years. Also, the local tonnage                 for official agencies to operate outside of            constitutes an emergency regarding this
                                                      fees would be the Field Office                          their geographically assigned areas.                   provision, this proposed rule would
                                                      administrative costs (the costs of                      Before the Reauthorization Act, the                    define the term ‘‘emergency’’ in the
                                                      management, support, and maintenance                    regulations provided for three types of                regulations.
                                                      of each Field Office) for the previous                  exceptions: Timely service, nonuse of                     The final product of all official
                                                      fiscal year divided by the average                      service for 90 consecutive days, and                   inspection and weighing services is the
                                                      tonnage serviced by that Field Office for               barge probe inspections. The                           official certificate. This certificate is
                                                      the previous 5 fiscal years.                            Reauthorization Act amended the                        used to represent the grain shipment in
                                                         The Reauthorization Act further                      USGSA to eliminate the nonuse of                       trade and may be presented as prima
                                                      requires adjustment of all of GIPSA’s                   service exception and add a provision                  facie evidence in court. Part of GIPSA’s
                                                      fees for the performance, supervision,                  for geographically adjacent agencies to                mission is to facilitate the marketing of
                                                      and administration of official inspection               provide service in each other’s assigned               cereals and oilseeds. The inability to
                                                      and weighing services at least annually                 geographic territories if they both agree              issue a certificate does not achieve this
                                                      to maintain a 3 to 6 month operating                    in writing at the request of an applicant.             mission. In the single historical instance
                                                      reserve. Given that the number of                       This proposed rule would revise the                    that an emergency was declared, events
                                                      requests for official inspection and                    current regulations to comply with the                 outside of the control of the State and
                                                      weighing services varies with the                       changes to the USGSA by the                            GIPSA prevented inspectors from safely
                                                      amount of grain produced and exported,                  Reauthorization Act.                                   inspecting grain and accordingly
                                                      an operating reserve allows funding of                     GIPSA currently has 104 agreements                  prevented prompt issuance of
                                                      operations in periods with lower than                   for agencies operating outside of their                certificates. Therefore, this rule would
                                                      usual revenue. In order to maintain an                  assigned territory and GIPSA would                     define ‘‘emergency’’ to be a situation
                                                      operating reserve, this proposed rule                   continue to honor those agreements.                    outside the control of GIPSA or a
                                                      would increase or decrease inspection                   Under this proposed rule, an agency                    delegated State that prevents prompt
                                                      and weighing fees when the operating                    would be permitted to provide service at               issuance of certificates. This would
                                                      reserve is less than 3 times or more than               a location in another adjacent agency’s                allow grain shipments to continue in the
                                                      6 times monthly operating expenses. For                 territory, provided that both agencies                 event that the official system is not able
                                                      every $1 million that the operating                     and the applicant for service submit an                to fully perform all of its duties.
                                                      reserve is below 3 months or above 6                    agreement in writing to GIPSA.
                                                                                                                                                                     Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 and
                                                      months of operating expenses, GIPSA
                                                                                                              Delegations                                            the Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                      would increase or decrease fees by 2
                                                      percent respectively. This proposed rule                  As required by the Reauthorization                      The Office of Management and Budget
                                                      would also set a 5 percent limit on                     Act, this proposed rule would impose                   has designated this proposed rule as not
                                                      changes to fees for service per calendar                new requirements on State agencies that                significant under Executive Order
                                                      year. GIPSA’s annual user fee revenue                   GIPSA delegates to perform export                      12866, ‘‘Regulatory Planning and
                                                      for performance, supervision, and                       inspection and weighing services at                    Review’’ and Executive Order 13563,
                                                      administration of official inspection and               export port locations under the USGSA.                 ‘‘Improving Regulation and Regulation
                                                      weighing is approximately $40 million.                  The Reauthorization Act requires the                   Review.’’ Since grain export volume can
                                                      Therefore, an increase or decrease of 2                 Secretary to certify that State agencies               vary significantly from year to year,
                                                      to 5 percent would approximately equal                  are meeting statutory requirements.                    estimating the impact in any future fee
                                                      between $0.8 and $2 million annually.                   Accordingly, every 5 years, a delegated                changes can be difficult. GIPSA
                                                         In addition to annual reviews of fees,               State agency must submit to a review as                recognizes the need to provide
                                                      GIPSA would continue to evaluate the                    to whether it meets the criteria for                   predictability to the industry for
                                                      financial status of the official inspection             delegation set forth in the USGSA. This                inspection and weighing fees. While not
                                                      and weighing services to ensure that the                proposed rule would implement a                        required by the Reauthorization Act,
                                                      revenue for each service covers the cost                process mirroring the existing process                 this proposed rule would limit the
                                                      to GIPSA of providing that service. Also,               that GIPSA uses to renew the                           impact of a large annual change in fees
                                                      GIPSA would continue to seek out cost                   designations of official agencies. The                 by setting an annual cap of 5 percent for
                                                      saving measures and implement                           Reauthorization Act also requires that a               increases or decreases in inspection and
                                                      appropriate changes to reduce costs and                 delegated State must notify GIPSA in                   weighing fees. The statutory
                                                      minimize the need for fee increases.                    writing of any intent to discontinue                   requirement to maintain an operating
                                                         This action is authorized under the                  providing official service at least 72                 reserve between 3 and 6 months of
                                                      USGSA (7 U.S.C. 79(j)), which provides                  hours before any discontinuation. This                 operating expenses ensures that GIPSA
                                                      for the establishment and collection of                 proposed rule would add this                           can adequately cover its costs without
                                                      fees that are reasonable and, as nearly as              requirement to the section of the                      imposing an undue burden on its
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                                                      practicable, cover the costs of the                     regulations concerning responsibilities                customers.
                                                      services rendered, including associated                 of delegated States (7 CFR 800.195(f)).                   Currently, GIPSA regularly reviews its
                                                      administrative and supervisory costs.                                                                          user-fee financed programs to determine
                                                      The tonnage fees cover the GIPSA                        Emergency Waivers                                      if the fees charged for performing
                                                      administrative and supervisory costs for                  The Reauthorization Act amended the                  official inspection and weighing
                                                      the performance of GIPSA’s official                     USGSA to require GIPSA to waive the                    services adequately cover the cost of
                                                      inspection and weighing services;                       mandatory official inspection and                      providing those services. This policy
                                                      including personnel compensation and                    weighing of export grain ‘‘in emergency                remains unchanged in this proposed
                                                      benefits, travel, rent, communications,                 or other circumstances that would not                  regulation. GIPSA will continue to seek


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                                                      3972                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      out cost saving measures and implement                    Most users of the official inspection                Paperwork Reduction Act
                                                      appropriate changes to reduce its costs                 and weighing services do not meet the                    In compliance with the Paperwork
                                                      to provide alternatives to fee increases.               SBA requirements for small entities.                   Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
                                                         This proposed rule is unlikely to have               Further, GIPSA is required by statute to               Chapter 35), the information collection
                                                      an annual effect of $100 million or                     make services available to all applicants              and record keeping requirements
                                                      adversely affect the economy. The                       and to recover the costs of providing                  included in this proposed rule has been
                                                      changes to the regulation in this                       such services as nearly as practicable,                approved by the OMB under control
                                                      proposed rule are a direct response to                  while maintaining a 3 to 6 month                       number 0580–0013, which expires on
                                                      Congressional action. Also, under the                   operating reserve. There would be no                   January 31, 2018.
                                                      requirements set forth in the Regulatory                additional reporting, record keeping, or                 GIPSA is committed to complying
                                                      Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601–12),                other compliance requirements imposed                  with the Government Paperwork
                                                      GIPSA has considered the economic                       upon small entities as a result of this                Elimination Act, which requires
                                                      impact of this proposed rule on small                   proposed rule. GIPSA has not identified                Government agencies in general to
                                                      entities. The purpose of the Regulatory                 any other federal rules which may                      provide the public the option of
                                                      Flexibility Act is to fit regulatory actions            duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this              submitting information or transacting
                                                      to the scale of businesses subject to such              proposed rule. Because this proposed                   business electronically to maximum
                                                      actions. This ensures that small                        rule would not have a significant                      extent possible.
                                                      businesses will not be unduly or                        economic impact on a substantial
                                                      disproportionately burdened. GIPSA is                   number of small entities, an initial                   E-Government Compliance
                                                      proposing this rule solely because the                  regulatory flexibility analysis is not                   GIPSA is committed to complying
                                                      Reauthorization Act amended the                         provided.                                              with the E-Government Act, to promote
                                                      USGSA, which requires that the                                                                                 the use of the Internet and other
                                                      regulations be updated to reflect the                   Executive Order 12988
                                                                                                                                                                     information technologies to provide
                                                      changes made to the USGSA by the                          This proposed rule has been reviewed                 increased opportunities for citizen
                                                      Reauthorization Act.                                    under Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil                   access to Government information and
                                                         The Small Business Administration
                                                                                                              Justice Reform.’’ This proposed rule                   services, and for other purposes.
                                                      (SBA) defines small businesses by their
                                                                                                              would not preempt State or local laws,
                                                      North American Industry Classification                                                                         List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 800
                                                                                                              regulations, or policies unless they
                                                      System Codes (NAICS). This proposed                                                                              Administrative practice and
                                                                                                              represent an irreconcilable conflict with
                                                      rule would affect customers of GIPSA’s                                                                         procedure, Exports, Grains, Reporting
                                                                                                              this proposed rule. This proposed rule
                                                      official inspection and weighing                                                                               and recordkeeping requirements.
                                                                                                              would not have retroactive effect.
                                                      services in the domestic and export
                                                                                                                                                                       For the reasons set out in the
                                                      grain markets (NAICS code 115114).                      Executive Order 13132
                                                                                                                                                                     preamble, GIPSA proposes to amend 7
                                                      Fees for that program are in Schedules
                                                                                                                 This proposed rule has been reviewed                CFR part 800 as follows:
                                                      A (Tables 1–3) and B of § 800.71 of
                                                      GIPSA’s regulations (7 CFR 800.71).                     under Executive Order 13132,
                                                                                                              ‘‘Federalism.’’ The policies in this                   PART 800—GENERAL REGULATIONS
                                                         Under the USGSA, all grain exported
                                                      from the United States must be officially               proposed rule would not have any
                                                                                                                                                                     ■ 1. The authority citation for part 800
                                                      inspected and weighed. GIPSA provides                   substantial direct effect on States, on the
                                                                                                                                                                     continues to read as follows:
                                                      mandatory inspection and weighing                       relationship between federal
                                                                                                              government and the States, or on the                       Authority: 7 U.S.C. 71–87k.
                                                      services at 45 export facilities in the
                                                      United States and 7 facilities for U.S.                 distribution of power and                              ■ 2. In § 800.0, add in alphabetical order
                                                      grain transshipped through Canadian                     responsibilities among various levels of               definitions for ‘‘Emergency’’, ‘‘Field
                                                      ports. Five delegated State agencies                    government, except as required by law.                 Office administrative costs’’, ‘‘National
                                                      provide mandatory inspection and                        This proposed rule does not impose                     program administrative costs’’,
                                                      weighing services at 13 facilities. All of              substantial direct compliance costs on                 ‘‘Operating expenses’’, and ‘‘Operating
                                                      these facilities are owned by multi-                    State and local governments. Because                   reserve’’ to read as follows:
                                                      national corporations, large                            States already retain records for their
                                                                                                              ordinary operations, the proposed                      § 800.0   Meaning of terms.
                                                      cooperatives, or public entities that do
                                                      not meet the requirements for small                     § 800.195(g)(4) should not have a                      *     *     *     *    *
                                                      entities established by the SBA. Further,               significant impact on State                              (b) * * *
                                                      the provisions of this proposed rule                    governments. Therefore, consultation                     Emergency. A situation outside the
                                                      would apply equally to all entities. The                with the States is not required.                       control of the Service or a delegated
                                                      USGSA requires the registration of all                                                                         State that prevents prompt issuance of
                                                                                                              Executive Order 13175                                  certificates in accordance with
                                                      persons engaged in the business of
                                                      buying grain for sale in foreign                           This proposed rule has been reviewed                § 800.160(c).
                                                      commerce. In addition, those persons                    under Executive Order 13175,                           *     *     *     *    *
                                                      who handle, weigh, or transport grain                   ‘‘Consultation and Coordination with                     Field Office administrative costs. The
                                                      for sale in foreign commerce must also                  Indian Tribal Governments.’’ To our                    costs of management, support, and
                                                      register. The regulations found at 7 CFR                knowledge, this rule would not have                    maintenance of a Field Office,
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                                                      800.30 define a foreign commerce grain                  tribal implications that require tribal                including, but not limited to, the
                                                      business as persons who regularly                       consultation under Executive Order                     management and administrative support
                                                      engage in buying for sale, handling,                    13175. If a Tribe requests consultation,               personnel, rent, and utilities. This does
                                                      weighing, or transporting grain totaling                GIPSA will work with the USDA Office                   not include any costs directly related to
                                                      15,000 metric tons or more during the                   of Tribal Relations to ensure meaningful               providing original or review inspection
                                                      preceding or current calendar year.                     consultation is provided where changes,                or weighing services.
                                                      Currently, there are 108 registrants                    additions, and modifications identified                *     *     *     *    *
                                                      registered to export grain, most of which               in this rule are not expressly mandated                  National program administrative
                                                      are not small businesses.                               by the Reauthorization Act.                            costs. The costs of national management


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                                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                                                                                     3973

                                                      and support of official grain inspection                                     (7) Emergency waiver. (i) Upon                                           Schedule B apply to official domestic
                                                      and/or weighing. This does not include                                     request, the requirements for official                                     inspection and weighing services
                                                      the Field Office administrative costs and                                  inspection or Class X weighing must be                                     performed by delegated States and
                                                      any costs directly related to providing                                    waived whenever the Service                                                designated agencies, including land
                                                      service.                                                                   determines:                                                                carrier shipments to Canada and
                                                      *     *    *      *     *                                                    (A) That an emergency exists that                                        Mexico. The fees charged to delegated
                                                        Operating expenses. The total costs to                                   precludes official inspection or Class X                                   States by the Service are set forth in the
                                                      the Service to provide official grain                                      weighing;                                                                  State’s Delegation of Authority
                                                      inspection and/or weighing services.                                         (B) That granting an emergency                                           document. Failure of a delegated State
                                                                                                                                 waiver will not impair the objectives of                                   or designated agency to pay the
                                                        Operating reserve. The amount of                                         the Act; and                                                               appropriate fees to the Service within 30
                                                      funds the Service has available to                                           (C) The buyer and seller mutually                                        days after becoming due will result in
                                                      provide official grain inspection and/or                                   agree to the waiver.                                                       an automatic termination of the
                                                      weighing services.                                                           (ii) To qualify for an emergency                                         delegation or designation. The
                                                      *     *    *      *     *                                                  waiver, the exporter or elevator operator                                  delegation or designation may be
                                                                                                                                 must submit a timely written request to                                    reinstated by the Service if fees that are
                                                      § 800.15        [Amended]
                                                                                                                                 the Service for the emergency waiver                                       due, plus interest and any further
                                                      ■ 3. Amend § 800.15 by removing                                            and also comply with all conditions that                                   expenses incurred by the Service
                                                      paragraph (b)(2) and redesignating                                         the Service may require.                                                   because of the termination, are paid
                                                      paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) as (b)(2) and                                 *      *    *     *     *                                                  within 60 days of the termination.
                                                      (b)(3), respectively.                                                      ■ 5. Revise § 800.71 to read as follows:                                      (1) Schedule A—Fees for official
                                                      ■ 4. Revise § 800.18(b)(7) to read as                                                                                                                 inspection and weighing services
                                                      follows:                                                                   § 800.71        Fees assessed by the Service.                              performed in the United States and
                                                                                                                                   (a) Official inspection and weighing                                     Canada, effective October 1, 2015.
                                                      § 800.18 Waivers of the official inspection                                services. The fees shown in Schedule A                                     Canada fees include the noncontract
                                                      and Class X weighing requirements.                                         apply to official inspection and                                           hourly rate, the Toledo Field Office
                                                      *       *    *               *        *                                    weighing services performed by FGIS in                                     tonnage fee, and the actual cost of
                                                          (b) * * *                                                              the U.S. and Canada. The fees shown in                                     travel.

                                                       TABLE 1 OF SCHEDULE A—FEES FOR OFFICIAL SERVICES PERFORMED AT AN APPLICANT’S FACILITY IN AN ONSITE FGIS
                                                                                                   LABORATORY 1
                                                                                                                                                                              Monday to                    Monday to                 Saturday,
                                                                                                                                                                                Friday                       Friday                 Sunday, and                   Holidays
                                                                                                                                                                              (6 a.m. to                   (6 p.m. to                overtime 2
                                                                                                                                                                               6 p.m.)                      6 a.m.)

                                                      (1) Inspection and Weighing Services Hourly Rates (per service rep-
                                                        resentative):
                                                           1-year contract ($ per hour) ...............................................................                $40.20 ..................                     $42.10                    $48.20                     $71.40
                                                           Noncontract ($ per hour) ....................................................................               71.40 ....................                     71.40                     71.40                      71.40

                                                      (2) Additional Tests (cost per test, assessed in addition to the hourly rate): 3
                                                           (i) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method) ...............................................................................................................................................                           11.40
                                                           (ii) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method–applicant provides kit) 4 ........................................................................................................                                         9.40
                                                           (iii) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit method) ...........................................................................................................................                                  20.80
                                                           (iv) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit method-applicant provides kit) 4 .....................................................................................                                                18.80
                                                           (v) NIR or NMR Analysis (protein, oil, starch, etc.) .....................................................................................................................                                       2.70
                                                           (vi) Waxy corn (per test) ...............................................................................................................................................................                        2.70
                                                           (vii) Fees for other tests not listed above will be based on the lowest noncontract hourly rate
                                                           (viii) Other services
                                                                  (a) Class Y Weighing (per carrier):
                                                                       (1) Truck/container .........................................................................................................................................................                          0.70
                                                                       (2) Railcar .......................................................................................................................................................................                    1.70
                                                                       (3) Barge ........................................................................................................................................................................                     3.00

                                                      (3) Tonnage Fee (assessed in addition to all other applicable fees, only one tonnage fee will be assessed when inspection and                                                                          ........................
                                                        weighing services are performed on the same carrier):
                                                           (i) All outbound carriers serviced by the specific Field Office (per-metric ton):
                                                                 (a) League City ......................................................................................................................................................................                    0.192
                                                                 (b) New Orleans ....................................................................................................................................................................                      0.094
                                                                 (c) Portland ............................................................................................................................................................................                 0.191
                                                                 (d) Toledo ..............................................................................................................................................................................                 0.306
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                                                                 (e) Delegated States 5 ...........................................................................................................................................................                        0.061
                                                                 (f) Designated Agencies 5 ......................................................................................................................................................                          0.061
                                                         1 Fees apply to original inspection and weighing, re-inspection, and appeal inspection service and include, but are not limited to, sampling,
                                                      grading, weighing, prior to loading stowage examinations, and certifying results performed within 25 miles of an employee’s assigned duty sta-
                                                      tion. Travel and related expenses will be charged for service outside 25 miles as found in § 800.72(a).
                                                         2 Overtime rates will be assessed for all hours in excess of 8 consecutive hours that result from an applicant scheduling or requesting service
                                                      beyond 8 hours, or if requests for additional shifts exceed existing staffing.
                                                         3 Appeal and re-inspection services will be assessed the same fee as the original inspection service.
                                                         4 Applicant must provide the test kit, instrument hardware, calibration control, and all supplies required by the test kit manufacturer.
                                                         5 Tonnage fee is assessed on export grain inspected and/or weighed, excluding land carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico.




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                                                      3974                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      TABLE 2 OF SCHEDULE A—SERVICES PERFORMED AT OTHER THAN AN APPLICANT’S FACILITY IN AN FGIS LABORATORY 1 2
                                                      (1) Original Inspection and Weighing (Class X) Services:
                                                           (i) Sampling only (use hourly rates from Table 1 of this section).
                                                           (ii) Stationary lots (sampling, grade/factor, & checkloading):
                                                                  (a) Truck/trailer/container (per carrier) ............................................................................................................................                     $22.50
                                                                  (b) Railcar (per carrier) ....................................................................................................................................................              33.30
                                                                  (c) Barge (per carrier) .....................................................................................................................................................              209.10
                                                                  (d) Sacked grain (per hour per service representative plus an administrative fee per hundredweight) (CWT) ............                                                                       0.08
                                                           (iii) Lots sampled online during loading (sampling charge under (1)(i) of this table, plus):.
                                                                  (a) Truck/trailer container (per carrier) ............................................................................................................................                      13.50
                                                                  (b) Railcar (per carrier) ....................................................................................................................................................              28.10
                                                                  (c) Barge (per carrier) .....................................................................................................................................................              143.00
                                                                  (d) Sacked grain (per hour per service representative plus an administrative fee per hundredweight) (CWT) ............                                                                       0.08
                                                           (iv) Other services:.
                                                                  (a) Submitted sample (per sample—grade and factor) ..................................................................................................                                       13.50
                                                                  (b) Warehouseman inspection (per sample) ...................................................................................................................                                23.60
                                                                  (c) Factor only (per factor—maximum 2 factors) ............................................................................................................                                  6.60
                                                                  (d) Checkloading/condition examination (use hourly rates from Table 1 of this section, plus an administrative fee
                                                                     per hundredweight if not previously assessed) (CWT) ...............................................................................................                                       0.08
                                                                  (e) Re-inspection (grade and factor only. Sampling service additional, item (1)(i) of this table) ...................................                                                       14.60
                                                                  (f) Class X Weighing (per hour per service representative) ...........................................................................................                                      71.40
                                                           (v) Additional tests (excludes sampling):.
                                                                  (a) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method) .................................................................................................................................                     33.60
                                                                  (b) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method-applicant provides kit) 3 ...........................................................................................                                  31.60
                                                                  (c) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit method) ..............................................................................................................                             43.20
                                                                  (d) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit method-applicant provides kit) 3 ........................................................................                                          41.20
                                                                  (e) NIR or NMR Analysis (protein, oil, starch, etc.) ........................................................................................................                               11.40
                                                                  (f) Waxy corn (per test) ...................................................................................................................................................                11.40
                                                                  (g) Canola (per test-00 dip test) ......................................................................................................................................                    11.40
                                                                  (h) Pesticide Residue Testing: 4.
                                                                       (1) Routine Compounds (per sample) .....................................................................................................................                              240.90
                                                                       (2) Special Compounds (Subject to availability) ......................................................................................................                                128.40
                                                                  (i) Fees for other tests not listed above will be based on the lowest noncontract hourly rate from Table 1 of this
                                                                     section..
                                                      (2) Appeal inspection and review of weighing service.5
                                                           (i) Board Appeals and Appeals (grade and factor) ................................................................................................................                                  91.50
                                                                  (a) Factor only (per factor—max 2 factors) ....................................................................................................................                             48.20
                                                                  (b) Sampling service for Appeals additional (hourly rates from Table 1 of this section).
                                                           (ii) Additional tests (assessed in addition to all other applicable tests):
                                                                  (a) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method) .................................................................................................................................                     33.60
                                                                  (b) Aflatoxin (rapid test kit method-applicant provides kit) 3 ...........................................................................................                                  31.60
                                                                  (c) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit method) ..............................................................................................................                             52.60
                                                                  (d) All other Mycotoxins (rapid test kit method-applicant provides kit) 3 ........................................................................                                          50.60
                                                                  (e) NIR or NMR Analysis (protein, oil, starch, etc.) ........................................................................................................                               19.80
                                                                  (f) Sunflower oil (per test) ...............................................................................................................................................                19.80
                                                                  (g) Mycotoxin (per test-HPLC) ........................................................................................................................................                     157.30
                                                                  (h) Pesticide Residue Testing: 4.
                                                                       (1) Routine Compounds (per sample) .....................................................................................................................                              240.90
                                                                       (2) Special Compounds (Subject to availability) ......................................................................................................                                128.40
                                                                  (i) Fees for other tests not listed above will be based on the lowest noncontract hourly rate from Table 1 of this
                                                                     section..
                                                           (iii) Review of weighing (per hour per service representative) ..............................................................................................                                      92.30
                                                      (3) Stowage examination (service-on-request):4
                                                           (i) Ship (per stowage space) (minimum $285.00 per ship) ...................................................................................................                                        57.00
                                                           (ii) Subsequent ship examinations (same as original) (minimum $171.00 per ship) ............................................................                                                       57.00
                                                           (iii) Barge (per examination) ...................................................................................................................................................                  45.80
                                                           (iv) All other carriers (per examination) ..................................................................................................................................                       18.00
                                                         1 Fees apply to original inspection and weighing, re-inspection, and appeal inspection service and include, but are not limited to, sampling,
                                                      grading, weighing, prior to loading stowage examinations, and certifying results performed within 25 miles of an employee’s assigned duty sta-
                                                      tion. Travel and related expenses will be charged for service outside 25 miles as found in § 800.72(a).
                                                         2 An additional charge will be assessed when the revenue from the services in Schedule A, Table 2, does not cover what would have been col-
                                                      lected at the applicable hourly rate as provided in § 800.72(b).
                                                         3 Applicant must provide the test kit, instrument hardware, calibration control, and all supplies required by the test kit manufacturer.
                                                         4 If performed outside of normal business, 11/2 times the applicable unit fee will be charged.
                                                         5 If, at the request of the Service, a file sample is located and forwarded by the Agency, the Agency may, upon request, be reimbursed at the
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                                                      rate of $3.50 per sample by the Service.

                                                                                                                TABLE 3 OF SCHEDULE A—MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES 1
                                                      (1) Grain grading seminars (per hour per service representative) 2 ................................................................................................                          $71.40.
                                                      (2) Certification of diverter-type mechanical samplers (per hour per service representative) 2 ......................................................                                        71.40.
                                                      (3) Special weighing services (per hour per service representative): 2
                                                           (i) Scale testing and certification ...............................................................................................................................................     92.90.
                                                           (ii) Scale testing and certification of railroad track scales ........................................................................................................                  92.90.
                                                           (iii) Evaluation of weighing and material handling systems ......................................................................................................                       92.90.



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                                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                                                                              3975

                                                                                                     TABLE 3 OF SCHEDULE A—MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES 1—Continued
                                                           (iv) NTEP Prototype evaluation (other than Railroad Track Scales) ........................................................................................                                   92.90.
                                                           (v) NTEP Prototype evaluation of Railroad Track Scale ..........................................................................................................                             92.90.
                                                           (vi) Use of GIPSA railroad track scale test equipment per facility for each requested service. (Track scales tested under                                                                    557.30.
                                                               the Association of American Railroads agreement are exempt.).
                                                           (vii) Mass standards calibration and re-verification ...................................................................................................................                     92.90.
                                                           (viii) Special projects .................................................................................................................................................................    92.90.
                                                      (4) Foreign travel (hourly fee) 3 ........................................................................................................................................................        92.90.
                                                      (5) Online customized data service:
                                                           (i) One data file per week for 1 year .........................................................................................................................................              557.30.
                                                           (ii) One data file per month for 1 year ......................................................................................................................................               334.40.
                                                      (6) Samples provided to interested parties (per sample) .................................................................................................................                         3.50.
                                                      (7) Divided-lot certificates (per certificate) ........................................................................................................................................           2.20.
                                                      (8) Extra copies of certificates (per certificate) ................................................................................................................................               2.20.
                                                      (9) Faxing (per page) ........................................................................................................................................................................    2.20.
                                                      (10) Special mailing ..........................................................................................................................................................................   Actual Cost.
                                                      (11) Preparing certificates onsite or during other than normal business hours (use hourly rates from Table 1 of this section).
                                                         1 Anyrequested service that is not listed will be performed at $71.40 per hour.
                                                         2 Regular business hours—Monday through Friday—service provided at other than regular business hours will be charged at 11/2 times the
                                                      applicable hourly rate. (See the definition of ‘‘business day’’ in § 800.0(b))
                                                        3 Foreign travel charged hourly fee of $92.90 plus travel, per diem, and related expenditures.




                                                         (2) Schedule B—Fees for FGIS                                           fiscal year divided by the average yearly                                  ensure they reflect the true cost of
                                                      Supervision of Official Inspection and                                    tons of outbound grain officially                                          providing and supervising official
                                                      Weighing Services Performed by                                            inspected and/or weighed by the Field                                      service. This process will incorporate
                                                      Delegated States and/or Designated                                        Office during the previous 5 fiscal years.                                 any fee adjustments from paragraph (b)
                                                      Agencies in the United States. The                                        The local tonnage fee is calculated                                        of this section.
                                                      supervision fee charged by the Service                                    individually for each Field Office.                                          (d) Miscellaneous fees for other
                                                      is $0.011 per metric ton of domestic                                         (2) Operating reserve. In order to                                      services—(1) Registration certificates
                                                      U.S. grain shipments inspected and/or                                     maintain an operating reserve not less                                     and renewals. (i) The nature of your
                                                      weighed, including land carrier                                           than 3 and not more than 6 months, the                                     business will determine the fees that
                                                      shipments to Canada and Mexico.                                           Service will review the value of the                                       your business must pay for registration
                                                         (b) Annual review of fees. For each                                    operating reserve at the end of each                                       certificates and renewals:
                                                      calendar year, starting with 2017, the                                    fiscal year and adjust fees according to                                     (A) If you operate a business that
                                                      Service will review the fees in Schedule                                  the following:                                                             buys, handles, weighs, or transports
                                                      A and publish fees effective January 1                                       (i) Between 3 months and 6 months.                                      grain for sale in foreign commerce, you
                                                      of each year according to the following:                                  If the operating reserve is greater than or                                must pay $135.00.
                                                         (1) Tonnage fees. Tonnage fees will                                    equal to 3 times the monthly operating                                       (B) If you operate a business that
                                                      consist of the national tonnage fee and                                   expenses and less than or equal to 6                                       buys, handles, weighs, or transports
                                                      local tonnage fees and will be calculated                                 times the monthly operating expenses,                                      grain for sale in foreign commerce and
                                                      and rounded to the nearest $0.001 per                                     the Service will not make any fee                                          you are also in a control relationship
                                                      metric ton. All outbound grain officially                                 adjustments other than provided for in                                     (see definition in section 17A(b)(2) of
                                                      inspected and/or weighed by the Field                                     paragraphs (b)(1) and (c) of this section.                                 the Act) with respect to a business that
                                                      Offices in New Orleans, League City,                                         (ii) Less than 3 months. If the                                         buys, handles, weighs, or transports
                                                      Portland, and Toledo will be assessed                                     operating reserve is less than 3 times the                                 grain for sale in interstate commerce,
                                                      the national tonnage fee plus the                                         monthly operating expenses, the Service                                    you must pay $270.00.
                                                      appropriate local tonnage fee. Export                                     will increase all fees in Schedule A by                                      (ii) If you request extra copies of
                                                      grain officially inspected and/or                                         2 percent for each $1,000,000, rounded                                     registration certificates, you must pay
                                                      weighed by delegated States and official                                  down, that the operating reserve is less                                   $2.20 for each copy.
                                                      agencies, excluding land carrier                                          than 3 times the monthly operating                                           (2) Designation amendments. If you
                                                      shipments to Canada and Mexico, will                                      expense, with a maximum increase of 5                                      submit an application to amend a
                                                      be assessed the national tonnage fee                                      percent annually. Except for fees based                                    designation, you must pay $75.00.
                                                      only. The fees will be set according to                                   on tonnage or hundredweight, all fees                                        (3) Scale testing organization. If you
                                                      the following:                                                            will be rounded to the nearest $0.10.                                      submit an application to operate as a
                                                         (i) National tonnage fee. The national                                    (iii) Greater than 6 months. If the                                     scale testing organization, you must pay
                                                      tonnage fee is the national program                                       operating reserve is greater than 6 times                                  $250.00.
                                                      administrative costs for the previous                                     the monthly operating expenses, the                                        ■ 7. Amend § 800.117 by removing
                                                      fiscal year divided by the average yearly                                 Service will decrease all fees in                                          paragraph (b)(2), redesignating
                                                      tons of export grain officially inspected                                 Schedule A by 2 percent for each                                           paragraph (b)(3) as (b)(2), and adding a
                                                      and/or weighed by delegated States and                                    $1,000,000, rounded down, that the                                         new paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:
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                                                      designated agencies, excluding land                                       operating reserve is greater than 6 times
                                                      carrier shipments to Canada and                                           the monthly operating expense, with a                                      § 800.117         Who shall perform original
                                                      Mexico, and outbound grain officially                                     maximum decrease of 5 percent                                              services.
                                                      inspected and/or weighed by the                                           annually. Except for fees based on                                         *     *     *    *      *
                                                      Service during the previous 5 fiscal                                      tonnage or hundredweight, all fees will                                      (b) * * *
                                                      years.                                                                    be rounded to the nearest $0.10.                                           *     *     *    *      *
                                                         (ii) Local tonnage fee. The local                                         (c) Periodic review. The Service will                                     (3) Written agreement. If the assigned
                                                      tonnage fee is the Field Office                                           periodically review and adjust all fees                                    official agency agrees in writing with
                                                      administrative costs for the previous                                     in Schedules A and B as necessary to                                       the adjacent official agency to waive the


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                                                      3976                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      current geographic area restriction at the                (iii) The applicant is better able than              ACTION:   Notice of proposed rulemaking.
                                                      request of the applicant for service, the               any other applicant to provide official
                                                      adjacent official agency may provide                    services; and                                          SUMMARY:    The Coast Guard is amending
                                                      service at a particular location upon                     (iv) The applicant addresses concerns                and updating its special local
                                                      approval by the Service.                                identified during consultations that the               regulations relating to recurring marine
                                                                                                              Service conducts with applicants for                   parades, regattas, and other events that
                                                      *     *     *     *     *
                                                                                                              service to the satisfaction of the Service.            take place in the Coast Guard Sector
                                                      ■ 8. Revise paragraph (a) of § 800.175 to
                                                                                                                                                                     Ohio Valley area of responsibility
                                                      read as follows:                                        *      *    *     *     *                              (AOR). This document informs the
                                                                                                                (h) Termination and renewal—(1)                      public of regularly scheduled events
                                                      § 800.175   Termination of licenses.
                                                                                                              Every 5 years—(i) Termination. A                       that require additional safety measures
                                                         (a) Term of license. Each license shall              designation shall terminate at a time
                                                      terminate in accordance with the                                                                               through establishing a special local
                                                                                                              specified by the Administrator, but not                regulation. Through this document the
                                                      termination date shown on the license                   later than 5 years after the effective date
                                                      and as specified in paragraph (b) of this                                                                      current list of recurring special local
                                                                                                              of the designation. A notice of                        regulations is updated with revisions,
                                                      section. The termination date for a                     termination shall be issued by the
                                                      license shall be no less than 5 years or                                                                       additional events, and removal of events
                                                                                                              Service to a designated agency at least                that no longer take place in Sector Ohio
                                                      more than 6 years after the issuance date               120 calendar days in advance of the
                                                      for the initial license; thereafter, every 5                                                                   Valley’s AOR. When these special local
                                                                                                              termination date. The notice shall                     regulations are enforced, certain
                                                      years. Upon request of a licensee and for               provide instructions for requesting
                                                      good cause shown, the termination date                                                                         restrictions are placed on marine traffic
                                                                                                              renewal of the designation. Failure to                 in specified areas. Additionally, this one
                                                      may be advanced or delayed by the                       receive a notice from the Service shall
                                                      Administrator for a period not to exceed                                                                       proposed rulemaking project reduces
                                                                                                              not exempt a designated agency from                    administrative costs involved in
                                                      60 days.                                                the responsibility of having its
                                                      *      *     *     *     *                                                                                     producing separate proposed rules for
                                                                                                              designation renewed on or before the                   each individual recurring special local
                                                      ■ 9. Amend § 800.195 by adding                          specified termination date.
                                                      paragraphs (f)(11) and (g)(4) to read as                                                                       regulation and serves to provide notice
                                                                                                              *      *    *     *     *                              of the known recurring special local
                                                      follows:
                                                                                                              ■ 11. Amend § 800.216 by revising                      regulations throughout the year.
                                                      § 800.195   Delegations.                                paragraph (c) to read as follows:                      DATES: Comments and related material
                                                      *      *     *    *     *                               § 800.216 Activities that shall be                     must be received by the Coast Guard on
                                                         (f) * * *                                            monitored.                                             or before April 25, 2016.
                                                         (11) Notification to Secretary. A                                                                           ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
                                                      delegated State shall notify the                        *     *     *      *     *
                                                                                                                (c) Grain handling activities. Grain                 identified by docket number USCG–
                                                      Secretary of its intention to temporarily                                                                      2015–1039 using the Federal
                                                      discontinue official inspection and/or                  handling activities subject to monitoring
                                                                                                              for compliance with the Act include,                   eRulemaking Portal at http://
                                                      weighing services for any reason, except                                                                       www.regulations.gov. See the ‘‘Public
                                                      in the case of a major disaster. The                    but are not limited to:
                                                                                                                (1) Shipping export grain without                    Participation and Request for
                                                      delegated State must provide written                                                                           Comments’’ portion of the
                                                      notification to the Service no less than                inspection or weighing;
                                                                                                                (2) Violating any Federal law with                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
                                                      72 hours in advance of the                                                                                     further instructions on submitting
                                                      discontinuation date.                                   respect to the handling, weighing, or
                                                                                                              inspection of grain;                                   comments.
                                                      *      *     *    *     *                                 (3) Deceptively loading, handling,                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
                                                         (g) * * *
                                                         (4) Review. At least once every 5                    weighing, or sampling grain; and                       you have questions on this proposed
                                                      years, a delegated State shall submit to                  (4) Exporting grain without a                        rule, call or email Petty Officer James
                                                      a review of its delegation by the Service               certificate of registration.                           Robinson, Sector Ohio Valley, U.S.
                                                      in accordance with the criteria and                     *     *     *      *     *                             Coast Guard; telephone (502) 779–5347,
                                                      procedures for delegation prescribed in                                                                        email James.C.Robinson@uscg.mil.
                                                                                                              Larry Mitchell,
                                                      section 7(e) of the Act, this section of                                                                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                              Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and
                                                      the regulations, and the instructions.                  Stockyards.                                            I. Table of Abbreviations
                                                      The Administrator may revoke the                        [FR Doc. 2016–01083 Filed 1–22–16; 8:45 am]
                                                      delegation of a State according to this                                                                        CFR Code of Federal Regulations
                                                                                                              BILLING CODE 3410–KD–P                                 DHS Department of Homeland Security
                                                      subsection if the State fails to meet or                                                                       E.O. Executive order
                                                      comply with any of the criteria for                                                                            FR Federal Register
                                                      delegation set forth in the Act,                                                                               NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
                                                      regulations, and instructions.                          DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
                                                                                                                                                                     Pub. L. Public Law
                                                                                                              SECURITY
                                                      *      *     *    *     *                                                                                      § Section
                                                      ■ 10. Amend § 800.196 by revising                                                                              U.S.C. United States Code
                                                                                                              Coast Guard
                                                      paragraphs (e)(2)(ii) and (iii), adding                                                                        II. Background, Purpose, and Legal
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      paragraph (e)(2)(iv), and revising                      33 CFR Part 100                                        Basis
                                                      paragraph (h)(1)(i) to read as follows:
                                                                                                              [Docket Number USCG–2015–1039]                            The Captain of the Port (COTP) Ohio
                                                      § 800.196   Designations.                                                                                      Valley is proposing to establish, amend,
                                                                                                              RIN 1625–AA08
                                                      *      *    *    *    *                                                                                        and update its current list of recurring
                                                        (e) * * *                                             Special Local Regulations; Sector Ohio                 special local regulations.
                                                        (2) * * *                                             Valley Annual and Recurring Special                       These special local regulations are
                                                        (ii) The applicant meets the                          Local Regulations Update                               proposed to be added, amended, and
                                                      conditions and criteria specified in the                                                                       updated to the list of annually recurring
                                                      Act and regulations;                                    AGENCY:    Coast Guard, DHS.                           special local regulations under 33 CFR


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Document Created: 2018-02-02 12:35:12
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 12:35:12
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesComments must be received on or before February 24, 2016.
ContactBarry Gomoll, 202-720-8286.
FR Citation81 FR 3970 
RIN Number0580-AB13
CFR AssociatedAdministrative Practice and Procedure; Exports; Grains and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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