Grading and Inspection, General Specifications for Approved Plants and Standards for Grades of Dairy Products: Revision of User Fees

The Agricultural Marketing Service is increasing the fees charged for services provided under the dairy grading program. This rule will yield an estimated $87,000 of additional user fee revenue in FY 1996. The program is a voluntary, user-fee funded program conducted under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended. This action increases the hourly rate to $43.00 per hour for continuous resident services and $48.00 per hour for nonresident services between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. These fees represent a $0.80 per hour increase for both resident and nonresident services. The fee for nonresident services between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. is $52.80 per hour, which represents an increase of $0.80 per hour. The fees need to be increased to cover the costs of recent salary increases and locality adjustments, the full funding of standardization activities, and normal inflationary pressures.