Notice2022-04419
Adjustment of Fees for Seafood Inspection Services
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 3, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The NMFS Seafood Inspection Program is notifying program participants of a revised fee schedule.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 12115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04419]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB863]
Adjustment of Fees for Seafood Inspection Services
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of a revised fee schedule for seafood inspection
services.
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SUMMARY: The NMFS Seafood Inspection Program is notifying program
participants of a revised fee schedule.
DATES: The revised fee schedule applies to services rendered as of
April 1, 2022, until notified otherwise.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Wilson, Office of International
Affairs and Seafood Inspection, 301-427-8350 or at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1360677665767d3d647a7f607c7d537d7c72723d747c65"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="deadaabba8bbb0f0a9b7b2adb1b09eb0b1bfbff0b9b1a8">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
operates a fee-for-service seafood inspection program (Program) under
the authorities of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended,
the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, and the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of
1970. The regulations implementing the Program are contained in 50 CFR
parts 260 and 261. The Program offers inspection, grading, and
certification services, including the use of official quality grade
marks which indicate that specific products have been Federally
inspected. Those wishing to participate in the program must request the
services and submit specific compliance information. Since 1992, NMFS
has offered inspection services based on guidelines recommended by the
National Academy of Sciences, known as Hazard Analysis Critical Control
Point (HACCP).
Under the implementing regulations for the Program, fees are
reviewed at least annually to ascertain that the hourly fees charged
are adequate to recover the costs of the services rendered. Any
necessary adjustments to fees are made in accordance with the
requirements of 50 CFR 260.81 and are notified to program participants
as stipulated at 50 CFR 260.70. This Federal Register notice serves to
inform program participants of an adjusted fee schedule, which applies
to services rendered as of April 1, 2022, until notified otherwise.
NMFS will adjust its fees as outlined in this notice, which will
apply until notified otherwise. Fees will be charged to contract and
non-contract customers requesting services as listed below. The cost of
other applicable services rendered will be recovered through fee
collection using the base rate of $164 per hour.
NMFS will continue to monitor revenues and expenses and will use
adaptive adjustments to react to changing levels of demand and
expenses. NMFS expects to announce additional changes to fees within
the next year to recover the cost of the Program as nearly as possible.
Additional fee increases may need to occur regularly to promote full
cost recovery and to ensure the level and structure of reasonable fees
are consistent with the cost of the services rendered and in accordance
with accounting requirements.
Revised Fees and Charges for the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDC)
Seafood Inspection Program
Effective April 1, 2022, per hour fees and charges for fishery
products inspection services will be as follows. The base contract and
non-contract rates will increase by 15 percent from the current
established rate and will apply until notified otherwise. The rate for
certificate requests will remain at the established rate in effect as
of June 2021. The rate for HACCP/Quality Management Program (QMP)
contract services will decrease by 12 percent based on current
estimates of the direct cost of delivering the services.
Contract Rates
Regular time: Services provided during any 8-hour shift.
Overtime: Services provided outside the inspector's normal work
schedule.
In addition to any hourly service charge, a night differential fee
equal to 10 percent of the employee's hourly salary will be charged for
each hour of service provided after 6:00 p.m. and before 6:00 a.m. A
guarantee of payment is required for all contracts equal to three
months of service or $10,000, whichever is greater.
Non-Contract Rates
Regular time: Services provided within the inspector's normal work
schedule, Monday through Friday.
Overtime: Services provided outside the inspector's normal work
schedule.
Any services under contract in excess of the contracted hours will
be charged at the non-contract rate.
Contract Rates
Non-HACCP Contracts
Regular Time: $164.00
Overtime: $246.00
Sunday & Holidays: $328.00
HACCP/QMP Contracts
HACCP Regular: $271.00
HACCP Overtime: $407.00
HACCP Sunday & Holidays: $542.00
All Non-Contract Work Rates
Regular Time: $248.00
Overtime: $372.00
Sunday & Holidays: $496.00
Certificates
All certificate requests, whether or not a product inspection was
conducted, will be billed at a set flat rate of $99 per request.
Additional information about, and applications for, Program
services and fees may be obtained from NMFS (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
Dated: February 25, 2022.
Alexa Cole,
Director, Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-04419 Filed 3-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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