Department of Agriculture October 26, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes changes in annual standard, appeal, overtime, and holiday hourly fee rates for fiscal years 2010-2012 for Science and Technology (S&T) Laboratory Services in order to recover anticipated laboratory program costs. The Agency is proposing to raise these rates to reflect, among other factors, national and locality pay increases for Federal employees and inflation, operating costs, instrumentation and training, equipment maintenance costs, and program and agency administrative overhead costs. This action also proposes miscellaneous changes for clarity.

On August 11, 2003, the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) implemented new Subtitle B of Title II of the Packers and Stockyards Act which was added by the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 (1999 Act), by establishing the Swine Contract Library (SCL). The statutory authority for the library lapsed on September 30, 2005. On October 5, 2006, the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Reauthorization Act (Reauthorization Act) reauthorized the 1999 Act until September 30, 2010, and also amended the swine reporting requirements of the 1999 Act. This proposed rulemaking would re- establish the regulatory authority for the library's continued operation and incorporate certain changes contained within the Reauthorization Act that impact the SCL, as well as make other changes to enhance the library's overall effectiveness and efficiency in response to input from regulated entities and the public. We also intend to request a 3-year extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection in support of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements for the SCL program. This approval is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act.