Department of Agriculture November 1, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is adding Chile to the list of countries eligible to export poultry and poultry products to the United States. Reviews by FSIS of Chile's laws, regulations, and inspection implementation show that its poultry inspection system requirements are equivalent to the relevant provisions of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) and its implementing regulations. With this final rule, poultry and poultry products processed in certified Chilean establishments may be exported to the United States. All such products will be subject to reinspection at United States ports-of-entry by FSIS inspectors.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to amend the Rules of Practice under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) (7 CFR part 47) to increase informal complaint filing fees and formal complaint handling fees. The proposal would increase from $60 to $100 the fee for filing an informal complaint; and would increase from $300 to $500 the fee for handling a formal complaint.

The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center, located within the Chugach National Forest in Alaska will change the fee it charges after consideration of public comments. New fees are to begin on Memorial Day Weekend 2008. The increased fee that it collects will help to make up the shortfall in operations and maintenance costs that it is experiencing due to declining Federal budgets and a change in fee authority. The expanded fee program will allow the visitor center to reopen its doors to the public on weekends from October through May, and to offer interpretive presentations to the public during the summer months, as well as upkeep the center and its exhibits and audio-visual programs and equipment. We are also planning to charge facility use fees, as outlined in our ``Amended Business and Communication Plan 2007,'' for special use of the visitor center. As a result we are also seeking input from the public on the fee structure for special facility use during the same comment period. The special facility use fees will be a part of the amended Recreation Fee structure for the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center and help us to meet our operation and maintenance needs. Currently the only fee charged at the center is a fee for the movie ``Voices From the Ice.'' The fee is currently $1 per person (age 16 and older). Starting on Memorial Day Weekend 2008, we propose to charge a higher fee to all visitors (age 16 and older). The expanded fee will allow these visitors to see the movie, visit the exhibits and participate in any of our interpretive walks and presentations offered. Those people who do not pay for this expanded standard amenity fee will be able to use the restrooms, shop in the Alaska Natural History Association bookstore or ask questions of our staff at the front desk.