CSMS Message: 09-000330

USDA - APHIS Invitation to an October 27 Public Meeting on the Interim Rule to Increase User Fees

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the user fee regulations by adjusting the fees charged for certain agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) services that are 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 United States. (For more information about the Interim Rule, please visit the following link:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2009/09/adjfees.shtml)

The recent downturn in the U.S. economy has negatively impacted travel volumes, and, as a result, our user fee collections, which fund these services, have diminished. Although the volume of international travel and trade has decreased, inspection and related support services continue to be provided at their existing levels, so expenses have not decreased. As a result, our user fee collections have not been sufficient to enable us to provide those services and maintain a reasonable reserve balance. We are therefore increasing our AQI user fees in order to provide adequate funds for these purposes.

We are holding a public meeting on October 27 to discuss this change and are seeking to engage our stakeholders in an effort to hear their concerns. There will be a notice of this meeting published in the Federal Register by early next week, but we wanted to give you advanced information and hope that you will make plans to attend. The meeting will be held at the USDA APHIS Headquarters Building at 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD, 20737, on October 27, 2009. Registration will begin at 8:30 AM, and the meeting will begin at 9:00 AM and last until 1:00 PM.

Contact William E. Thomas at USDA APHIS with questions regarding this meeting:
Phone: 301-734-8295
Email: William.E.Thomas@aphis.usda.gov

Directions to the USDA APHIS Headquarters Building:
From Subway (Metro)
Exit at the College Park Station from the Green Line (towards Greenbelt/Fort Totten).
Turn right onto River Rd.
Building is 3/4 mile on left (number 4700 River Rd.).

From downtown DC -- Option 1
Take South Capitol Street across the South Capitol Street Bridge
At the fork follow the signs to I- 295 and take the second exit (north)
Bear left onto the Baltimore-Washington Parkway - Exit at Riverdale
Turn left onto Riverdale Road (Maryland Route 410)
Turn right onto Kenilworth Ave. (Maryland Route 201)
Turn left onto River Rd. at second light - Number 4700 - 1/2 mile on
right

From downtown DC -- Option 2
Take New York Ave. East
At the fork follow the Baltimore Washington Pkwy (295) north towards
Baltimore
Exit at Hyattsville / New Carrolton
Turn left onto Riverdale Road (Maryland Route 410)
Turn right onto Kenilworth Ave. (Maryland Route 201)
Turn left onto River Rd. at second light - Number 4700 - 1/2 mile on
right

From the Beltway I-495
Capital Beltway to Exit #23-MD 201-Kenilworth Ave. (towards Bladensburg)
Follow MD 201 about 3 miles - Turn right onto River Rd. - Number 4700 -
1/2 mile on right

From National Airport
Exit the airport and take Geo. Wash. Parkway north
Go into Washington, I-395 north over the 14th Street Bridge
Follow the Southwest Freeway (I- 395) to the South Capitol Street Bridge
exit
Take South Capitol Street across the South Capitol Street Bridge
At the fork follow the signs to I- 295 and take the second exit (north)
Bear left onto the Baltimore- Washington Parkway
Exit at Hyattsville / New Carrolton
Turn left onto Riverdale Road (Maryland Route 410)
Turn right onto Kenilworth Ave. (Maryland Route 201)
Turn left onto River Rd. at second light
Number 4700 - 1/2 mile on right

From Baltimore Washington International Airport
Exit the Airport onto US 195 (West)
Take the Baltimore Washington Pkwy (295) south toward Washington DC
Follow 295 approximately 20 miles - Exit at Riverdale (the first exit
after 495)
Turn right onto Riverdale Rd.-MD 410 - Turn right onto Kenilworth Ave. - MD
201
Turn left onto River Rd. - Number 4700 - 1/2 mile on right

Referenced By

CSMS #09-000332