APHIS Announces Second Public Meeting on Increased AQI User Fees
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has announced that it will be holding a second public meeting to discuss the agricultural quarantine and inspection user fee increases scheduled to go into effect on November 1, 2009.
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The meeting will be held on October 27, 2009 in Riverdale, MD. (The first meeting was held on October 15th. See ITT's Online Archives or 10/15/09, 09101599 13, for BP summary announcing the meeting.)
According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection CSMS message, people can participate in this meeting via telephone. (See CBP's CSMS message for dial in number and passcode information.)
(APHIS recently issued an interim final rule increasing the fiscal year 2010 user fees by 10-14% for AQI services provided in connection with certain commercial vessels, commercial trucks, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international airline passengers arriving at ports in the customs territory of the U.S.)
APHIS Seeks to Gather Feedback, Address Concerns at Meeting
At its meeting, APHIS seeks to gather feedback and to address questions and concerns that stakeholders may have regarding the AQI user fee increases.
In addition, comments on the increase will continue to be accepted until November 27, 2009.
AQI User Fees Will be 10-14% Higher Starting November 1, 2009
APHIS' AQI user fees for FY 2010 will increase beginning November 1, 2009 as follows:
Commercial vessels - up 10%. The fee will be $544.00 per arrival (from $494.00). After the 15th entry, no charge.
Commercial trucks - up 14%. The fee will be $6.00 (from $5.25) per arrival and $120 (from $105) for an annual AQI permit valid for FY 2010.
Loaded commercial railroad cars - up 12%: The fee will be $8.75 per arrival (from $7.75) and $175 (from $155) for an annual AQI permit valid for FY 2010.
Commercial aircraft - up 10%: The fee will be $78.00 (from $70.50).
(Notice of the October 27th meeting is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on October 23, 2009.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 10/01/09 news, 09100105, for BP summary that APHIS delayed the user fee increase until November 1, 2009.
See ITT's Online Archives or 10/21/09 news, 09102130 1, for previous BP summary announcing this meeting.)
APHIS contact - Jessica Milteer (301) 734-3265
APIHS news release (dated 10/20/09) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2009/10/feeadjtm.shtml
APHIS FR notice (on public inspection for 10/23/09) available at http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-25548_PI.pdf
CBP CSMS message on telephone participation (09-000332, dated 10/21/09) available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17725&page=&srch_argv=09-000332&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby