On April 22, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a press release announcing proposed changes to adjust the fees for agricultural quarantine inspections (AQI) and overtime rates worked by APHIS officers.
The proposed adjustments are the first fee increases in nearly a decade and, according to the release, are essential since “revenue from fees charged has been insufficient to cover all costs and compelled the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to use appropriated funds that should be available for other important homeland security functions and initiatives.” The release further explains that, "Because the proposal aligns fees with actual program costs, some fees will be lowered under the proposed structure."
The proposed rate changes for AQI services include the following adjustments:
| Fee Service Activity |
Current |
Proposed |
| Air Passenger |
$5.00 |
$4.00 |
| Commercial aircraft |
$70.75 |
$225.00 |
| Commercial maritime cargo vessel |
$496.00 |
$825.00 |
| Commercial Truck |
$5.25 |
$8.00 |
| Commercial Truck Transponder |
$105.00 |
$320.00 |
| Commercial Cargo Railcar |
$7.75 |
$2.00 |
| Sea Passenger |
No Fee |
$2.00 |
| Treatments |
No Fee |
$375.00 |
The Overtime Rates would be adjusted as follows:
|
|
Fiscal Year |
|||||
| Hours |
Current |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
| Mon-Sat, Holidays |
$51.00 |
$74.00 |
$74.00 |
$75.00 |
$75.00 |
$75.00 |
| Sundays |
$67.00 |
$98.00 |
$98.00 |
$99.00 |
$99.00 |
$100.00 |
The Federal Register notices are expected to be published later this week. Comments are due 60 days from the publication.
The announcement can be accessed here
The Federal Register notices can be viewed here and here
