82 FR 26843 - Suspension of Supervision Fee Assessment Under the United States Grain Standards Act

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 111 (June 12, 2017)

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is suspending the fees that it charges for the 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 82, Number 111 (Monday, June 12, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 26843]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12032]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 111 / Monday, June 12, 2017 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 26843]]



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 fees 
that it charges for the 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, 2017, and remains 
in effect through June 30, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Ruggles, USDA-GIPSA-FGIS-ODA; 
Telephone: (816) 659-8406; Email: [email protected]. Person 
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)).
    On June 28, 2016, GIPSA published a notice in the Federal Register 
suspending the supervision fee assessment, effective July 1, 2016, 
through June 30, 2017 (81 FR 41790). At the end of fiscal year 2016, 
GIPSA again reviewed its operating reserve to determine if the balance 
had attained the level required by the Agriculture Reauthorizations Act 
of 2015. GIPSA found that its fiscal year 2016 operating reserve for 
the supervision of official inspection and weighing was approximately 
$8.7 million, and continues to exceed the 6 month requirement by a 
significant margin.
    Therefore, GIPSA is announcing that it is suspending for an 
additional year 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 that 
would not impair the objectives of the USGSA (7 CFR 800.2). GIPSA has 
determined that suspending the supervision fees will not impair the 
objectives of the USGSA because the current operating reserve far 
exceeds that needed to maintain the service without additional funds.
    GIPSA will continue the suspension of the assessment fee of $0.011 
per metric ton on 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, 2017 (7 CFR 800.71 Schedule B). These fees will remain 
suspended for 1 year, at which time GIPSA will reassess the operating 
reserve for supervision of official agency inspection and weighing.

Randall D. Jones,
Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-12032 Filed 6-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P