GIPSA Seeks Fee Increase

WASHINGTON - Mar 21/05 - SNS -- The USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration wants to increase fees charged to delegated States and designated official agencies (official agencies) authorized by the Agency to provide official inspection and weighing services to the U.S. grain industry.

Currently, GIPSA charges supervision fees per service for an average cost of approximately 0.8 cent per metric ton of grain. These fees are charged by official agencies to their grain industry customers as part of their overall fee for inspection and weighing services.

The proposed supervision fee is based on the weight of grain (metric tons) and will be 1.1 cents per metric ton. This increase is forecast to minimally increase the total cost of inspection services to the grain industry.

According to GIPSA deputy administrator David R. Shipman, the fee adjustment is necessary to collect sufficient revenue to cover the current and future cost of supervising the performance of the official agencies.

Written comments must be submitted on or before [DATE] via e-mail to comments.gipsa@usda.gov; in hard copy to Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1647-S, Washington, DC 20250-3604; via fax to (202) 690-2755; or via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.