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7 C.F.R. §§ 800.70–800.73

4 sections in range

§800.70. Fees for official services performed by agencies.

7 C.F.R. § 800.70

(a)
Assessment and use of fees.
(1)
Fees assessed by an agency for official inspection and Class X or Class Y weighing services or testing of inspection equipment shall be reasonable and nondiscriminatory.
(2)
In the case of a State or local governmental agency, fees shall not be used for any purpose other than to finance the cost of the official inspection and Class X or Class Y weighing service and inspection equipment testing service performed by the agency or the cost of other closely related programs administered by the agency.
(b)
Approval required—
(1)
Restriction. Only fees that meet the requirements stated in this section and are approved by the Service as reasonable and nondiscriminatory may be charged by an agency.
(2)
Exceptions. For good cause shown by an agency, the Administrator may grant case-by-case exceptions to the requirements in this section, provided that a determination is made that the agency fees would be reasonable and nondiscriminatory.
(c)
Reasonable fees. In determining if an agency's fees are reasonable, the Service will consider whether the fees:
(1)
Cover the estimated total cost to the agency of
(i)
Official inspection services,
(ii)
Class X or Class Y weighing services,
(iii)
Inspection equipment testing services, and
(iv)
Related supervision and monitoring activities performed by the agency;
(2)
Are reasonably consistent with fees assessed by adjacent agencies for similar services;
(3)
Are assessed on the basis of the average cost of performing the same or similar services at all locations served by the agency; and
(4)
Are supported by sufficient information which shows how the fees were developed.
(d)
Nondiscriminatory fees. In determining if fees are nondiscriminatory, the Service will consider whether the fees are collected from all applicants for official service in accordance with the approved fee schedule. Charges for time and travel incurred in providing service at a location away from a specified service point shall be assessed in accordance with the approved fee schedule.
(e)
Schedule of fees to be established.
(1)
Each agency shall establish a schedule of fees for official services which the agency is delegated or designated the authority to perform. The schedule shall be in a standard format in accordance with the instructions. Such schedules may include fees for nonofficial services provided by the agency, but they shall be clearly identified and will not be subject to approval by the Service.
(2)
The schedule shall be published and made available by the agency to all users of its services.
(f)
Request for approval of fees—
(1)
Time requirement. A request for approval of a new or revised fee shall be submitted to the Service not less than 60 days in advance of the proposed effective date for the fee. Failure to submit a request within the prescribed time period may be considered grounds for postponment or denial of the request.
(2)
Contents of request. Each request shall show (i) the present fee, if any, and the proposed fee, together with data showing in detail how the fee was developed, and (ii) the proposed effective date.
(g)
Review of request—
(1)
Approval action. If upon review the Service finds that the request and supporting data justify the new or revised fee, the request will be marked “approved” and returned to the agency.
(2)
Denial action. If the Service finds that the request and supporting data do not justify the new or revised fee, approval of the request will be withheld pending receipt of any additional supporting data which the agency has to offer. If the data are not submitted within a reasonable period, the request shall be denied. In the case of a denial of a request, the agency shall be notified of the reason for denial.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Amendments

[45 FR 15810, Mar. 11, 1980; 45 FR 55119, Aug. 18, 1980, as amended at 48 FR 44453, Sept. 29, 1983; 50 FR 30131, July 24, 1985]

Authority

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

Source

Source: 45 FR 15810, Mar. 11, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

Amendments

[45 FR 15810, Mar. 11, 1980; 45 FR 55119, Aug. 18, 1980, as amended at 48 FR 44453, Sept. 29, 1983; 50 FR 30131, July 24, 1985]

§800.71. Fees assessed by the Service.

7 C.F.R. § 800.71

(a)
Official inspection and weighing services. The fees described for Direct Service in paragraph (a)(1) of this section apply to official inspection and weighing services performed by the Service in the U.S. and Canada. The fees described for Supervision in paragraph (a)(2) of this section 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)
Direct Service—Fees for official inspection and weighing services performed by the Service in the United States and Canada. For each calendar year, the Service will calculate Direct Service fees as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. The Service will publish a notice in the Federal Register and post Direct Service fees on its public website.
(2)
Supervision—Fees for supervision of official inspection and weighing services performed by delegated States and designated agencies in the United States. The Service will assess a Supervision fee per metric ton of domestic U.S. grain shipments inspected or weighed, or both, including land carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico. For each calendar year, the Service will calculate Supervision fees as provided in paragraph (d) of this section. The Service will publish a notice in the Federal Register and post the Supervision fees on its public website.
(b)
Annual review of tonnage fees. For each calendar year, the Service will review and adjust fees included in this section and publish fees each year according to the following:
(1)
Tonnage fees. Tonnage fees for Direct Service in paragraph (a)(1) of this section will consist of the national tonnage fee and local tonnage fees and the Service will calculate and round the fee to the nearest $0.001 per metric ton. All outbound grain officially inspected and/or weighed by the Field Offices 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)
[Reserved]
(c)
Annual review of hourly and unit fees. The Service will calculate the rate for program services, per hour per program employee using the following formulas:
(1)
Regular rate. The total direct pay of program personnel performing grading, weighing, laboratory services, and equipment testing divided by the total direct hours for the previous year, which is then multiplied by the next year's percentage cost-of-living increase, plus the benefits rate, plus the operating rate, plus the allowance for bad debt rate. If applicable, travel expenses will be added to the cost of providing the service through the operating rate or the travel will be billed separately.
(2)
Overtime rate. The total direct pay of program personnel performing grading, weighing, laboratory services, and equipment testing divided by the total direct hours for the previous year, which is then multiplied by the next year's percentage cost-of-living increase and then multiplied by 1.5, plus the benefits rate, plus the operating rate, plus the allowance for bad debt rate. If applicable, travel expenses will be added to the cost of providing the service through the operating rate or the travel will be billed separately.
(3)
Holiday rate. The total direct pay of program personnel performing grading, weighing, laboratory services, and equipment testing divided by the total direct hours for the previous year, which is then multiplied by the next year's percentage cost-of-living increase and then multiplied by 2, plus the benefits rate, plus the operating rate, plus the allowance for bad debt rate. If applicable, travel expenses will be added to the cost of providing the service through the operating rate or the travel will be billed separately.
(4)
Benefits rate, operating rate, and allowance for bad debt rate. For each calendar year, based on previous fiscal year costs, the Service will calculate the benefits rate, operating rate, and allowance for bad debt rate as follows:
(i)
Benefits rate. The total direct benefits costs of program personnel performing grading, weighing, laboratory services, and equipment testing divided by the total hours (regular, overtime, and holiday) worked, which is then multiplied by the next calendar year's percentage cost-of-living increase.
(ii)
Operating rate. The total operating costs of program personnel performing grading, weighing, laboratory services, and equipment testing divided by total hours (regular, overtime, and holiday) worked, which is then multiplied by the percentage of inflation.
(iii)
Allowance for bad debt rate. The total allowance for bad debt for personnel performing grading, weighing, laboratory services, and equipment testing divided by total hours (regular, overtime, and holiday) worked.
(5)
Cost of living and inflation factors. The Service will use the most recent economic factors released by the Office of Management and Budget for budget development purposes to derive the cost-of-living expenses and percentage of inflation factors used in the formulas in this section.
(6)
Operating reserve adjustment. The Service will review the operating reserve at the end of each fiscal year and adjust the fees as needed to ensure an operating reserve of 3 to 6 months of expenses. This adjustment is included in the calculation for operating cost.
(d)
Annual review of Supervision fees. Fees for Supervision in paragraph (a)(2) of this section will be set according to the following:
(1)
Supervision tonnage fee. The supervision tonnage fee is the sum of the prior fiscal year program costs plus an operating reserve adjustment divided by the average yearly tons of domestic U.S. grain shipments inspected or weighed, or both, including land carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico, during the previous 5 fiscal years. If the calculated value is zero or a negative value, the Service will suspend the collection of supervision tonnage fees for 1 calendar year.
(2)
Operating reserve adjustment. The operating reserve adjustment is the supervision program costs for the previous fiscal year divided by 2, less the end of previous fiscal year operating reserve balance.
(e)
Periodic review. The Service will periodically review and adjust all Direct Service and Supervision fees in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section, respectively, as necessary to ensure they reflect the true cost of providing and supervising official service. This process will incorporate any fee adjustments from paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.
(f)
Miscellaneous fees for other services. For each calendar year, the Service will review fees included in this section and publish fees in the Federal Register and on its public website.
(1)
Registration certificates and renewals. The fee for registration certificates and renewals will be published annually in the Federal Register and on the Service's public website, and the Service will calculate the fee using the noncontract hourly rate published pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section multiplied by 5. If you operate a business that buys, handles, weighs, or transports grain for sale in foreign commerce, or you are in a control relationship with respect to a business that buys, handles, weighs, or transports grain for sale in interstate commerce, you must complete an application and pay the published fee.
(2)
Designation amendments. The fee for amending designations will be published annually in the Federal Register and on the Service's public website. The Service will calculate the fee using the cost of publication plus 1 hour at the noncontract hourly rate. If submitting an application to amend a designation, the published fee must be paid.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Amendments

[90 FR 534, Jan. 6, 2025]

Authority

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

Source

Source: 45 FR 15810, Mar. 11, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

Amendments

[90 FR 534, Jan. 6, 2025]

§800.72. Explanation of additional service fees for services performed in the United States only.

7 C.F.R. § 800.72

(a)
When transportation of the service representative to the service location (at other than a specified duty point) is more than 25 miles from an FGIS office, the actual transportation cost in addition to the applicable hourly rate for each service representative will be assessed from the FGIS office to the service point and return. When commercial modes of transportation (e.g., airplanes) are required, the actual expense incurred for the round-trip travel will be assessed. When services are provided to more than one applicant, the travel and other related charges will be prorated between applicants.
(b)
In addition to a 2-hour minimum charge for service on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, an additional charge will be assessed when the revenue from the services in § 800.71(a)(1) does not equal or exceed what would have been collected at the applicable hourly rate. The additional charge will be the difference between the actual unit fee revenue and the hourly fee revenue. Hours accrued for travel and standby time shall apply in determining the hours for the minimum fee.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Amendments

[61 FR 43305, Aug. 22, 1996, as amended at 81 FR 49862, July 29, 2016; 90 FR 535, Jan. 6, 2025]

Authority

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

Source

Source: 45 FR 15810, Mar. 11, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

Amendments

[61 FR 43305, Aug. 22, 1996, as amended at 81 FR 49862, July 29, 2016; 90 FR 535, Jan. 6, 2025]

§800.73. Computation and payment of service fees; general fee information.

7 C.F.R. § 800.73

(a)
Computing hourly rates. The applicable hourly rate will be assessed in quarter hour increments for:
(1)
Travel from the FGIS field office or assigned duty station to the service point and return;
(2)
The performance of the requested service, less mealtime.
(b)
Application of fees when service is delayed or dismissed by the applicant. The applicable hourly rate will be assessed for the entire period of scheduled service when:
(1)
Service has been requested at a specified location;
(2)
A service representative is on duty and ready to provide service but is unable to do so because of a delay not caused by the Service; and
(3)
FGIS officials determine that the service representative cannot be utilized to provide service elsewhere without cost to the Service.
(c)
Application of fees when an application for service is withdrawn or dismissed. The applicable hourly rate will be assessed to the applicant for the entire period of scheduled service if the request is withdrawn or dismissed after the service representative departs for the service point, or if the service request is not canceled by 2 p.m., local time, the business day preceding the date of scheduled service. However, the applicable hourly rate will not be assessed to the applicant if FGIS officials determine that the service representative can be utilized elsewhere or released without cost to the Service.
(d)
To whom fees are assessed. Fees for inspection, weighing, and related services performed by service representatives, including additional fees as provided in § 800.72, shall be assessed to and paid by the applicant for the service.
(e)
Advance payment. As necessary, the Administrator may require that fees shall be paid in advance of the performance of the requested service. Any fees paid in excess of the amount due shall be used to offset future billings, unless a request for a refund is made by the applicant.
(f)
Form of payment. Bills for fees assessed under the regulations in this part for official services performed by FGIS shall be paid by check, draft, or money order, payable to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Amendments

[61 FR 43305, Aug. 22, 1996, as amended at 69 FR 26490, May 13, 2004; 89 FR 48265, June 6, 2024; 90 FR 535, Jan. 6, 2025]

Authority

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

Source

Source: 45 FR 15810, Mar. 11, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

Amendments

[61 FR 43305, Aug. 22, 1996, as amended at 69 FR 26490, May 13, 2004; 89 FR 48265, June 6, 2024; 90 FR 535, Jan. 6, 2025]