81 FR 41790 - Suspension of Supervision Fee Assessment Under the United States Grain Standards Act

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 124 (June 28, 2016)

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is suspending the assessment of fees for supervision of official inspection and weighing services performed by delegated States and/or designated agencies under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 28, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 41790]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15152]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

7 CFR Part 800


Suspension of Supervision Fee Assessment Under the United States 
Grain Standards Act

AGENCY: Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Notification of suspension of supervision fee assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Grain Inspection, 
Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is suspending the 
assessment of fees for supervision of official inspection and weighing 
services performed by delegated States and/or designated agencies under 
the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA).

DATES: This document is effective beginning July 1, 2016, and remains 
in effect through June 30, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Gomoll by phone at 202-720-8286 
or by email at [email protected]. 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: The Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 
2015, Public Law 114-54, amended the USGSA (7 U.S.C. 71-87k) to require 
GIPSA to adjust fees for the supervision of official grain inspection 
and weighing in order to maintain an operating reserve of not less than 
3 and not more than 6 months (7 U.S.C. 79(j)(4)).
    GIPSA's reorganization efforts over the past 10 years have resulted 
in the centralization of supervision of delegated states and designated 
agencies. Due to this and other GIPSA cost reduction measures, the 
operating reserve of GIPSA's account for supervision of official 
inspection and weighing currently exceeds 6 months by a significant 
margin. Accordingly, GIPSA is issuing this document to announce the 
suspension of the fee for supervision of official inspection and 
weighing services of domestic grain and land carriers to Canada and 
Mexico performed by delegated States and/or designated agencies. 
According to the regulations under the USGSA, GIPSA may suspend any 
provision of the regulations in emergencies or other circumstances 
which would not impair the objectives of the USGSA (7 CFR 800.2). GIPSA 
has determined that suspending supervision fees will not impair the 
objectives of the USGSA because the operating reserve for supervision 
services is sufficient to maintain the service without additional 
funds.
    GIPSA will no longer assess the fee of $0.011 per metric ton of 
domestic shipments officially inspected and/or weighed, including land 
carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico, performed by delegated States 
and/or designated agencies on or after July 1, 2016 (7 CFR 800.71 
Schedule B). These fees will remain suspended for one year, at which 
time GIPSA will reassess the operating reserve for supervision of 
official agency inspection and weighing.
    Official inspection agencies may no longer pass the suspended 
supervision fee on to their customers. Agencies which list GIPSA 
supervision fees as a line item on their fee schedules must eliminate 
the fee. Agencies which include supervision fees as a part of fees that 
they charge to their customers must either reduce fees by the amount of 
the suspended fee or provide justification and detailed cost 
information for retaining current fees. All agencies must submit 
revised fee schedules for GIPSA approval (7 CFR 800.70).

Larry Mitchell,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-15152 Filed 6-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P