BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the adoption of New Rules I through IV pertaining to the Analytical Laboratory fees

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ADOPTION

 

TO: All Concerned Persons

 

            1. On July 31, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., the Department of Agriculture will hold a public hearing in Room 225 of the Scott Hart Building, 302 N. Roberts, Helena, Montana, to consider the proposed adoption of the above-stated rules.

 

2. The Department of Agriculture will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this rulemaking process or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact Department of Agriculture no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 27, 2018, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Please contact Cort Jensen, Department of Agriculture, 302 N. Roberts, P.O. Box 200201, Helena, Montana, 59620-0201; telephone (406) 444-3144; fax (406) 444-5409, or e-mail [email protected].

 

3. The rules as proposed to be adopted provide as follows:

 

            NEW RULE I  ANALYTICAL LAB FEE SCHEDULE (1) Fees for Water and Miscellaneous Samples:

(a) Alkalinity....................$50.00

(b) Hardness....................$50.00

(c) Nitrate....................$15.00

(d) Nitrate/Nitrate as Nitrogen....................$150.00

(e) pH....................$15.00

(f) Sulfate....................$50.00

(g) Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) ....................$25.00

(h) Calcium (Ca) ....................$40.00

(i) Copper (Cu) ....................$40.00

(j) Iron (Fe) ....................$40.00

(k) Phosphorus (P) ....................$40.00

(l) Potassium (K) ....................$40.00

(m)  Sodium (Na) ....................$40.00

(n) Zinc (Zn) ....................$40.00

(o) Elemental Screen....................$150.00

(2) Fees for Fertilizer Samples:

(a) Nitrogen, Total....................$25.00

(b) P2O5, Available....................$50.00

(c) K2O Soluble....................$50.00

(d) Sulfur....................$50.00

(e) Calcium (Ca) ....................$40.00

(f) Cobalt....................$40.00

(g) Copper (Cu) ....................$40.00

(h) Iron (Fe) ....................$40.00

(i) Magnesium (Mg) ....................$40.00

(j) Manganese (Mn) ....................$40.00

(k) Molybdenum (Mo)....................$40.00

(l) Sodium (Na)....................$40.00

(m)  Zinc (Zn) ....................$40.00

(3) Fees for Secondary and Micro Nutrient Screening:

(a) Arsenic (As)....................$40.00

(b) Cadmium (Cd)....................$40.00

(c) Cobalt (Co)....................$40.00

(d) Lead (Pb)....................$40.00

(e) Molybdenum (Mo)....................$40.00

(f) Nickel (Ni) ....................$40.00

(g) Selenium (Se) ....................$40.00

(h) Zinc (Zn) ....................$40.00

(i) Metals Screen....................$150.00

(4) Fees for Feed/Forage Samples:

(a) Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF)....................$25.00

(b) Ash....................$15.00

(c) Crude Fat....................$20.00

(d) Crude Fat for Baked/Expanded....................$20.00

(e) Crude Fiber....................$25.00

(f) Crude Protein....................$20.00

(g)  Moisture....................$10.00

(h) Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF)....................$25.00

(i) Nitrate....................$20.00

(j) Non-Protein Nitrogen (Urea)....................$35.00

(k) Relative Feed Value....................$50.00

(l) Salt....................$35.00

(m) TDN from ADF....................$30.00

(n) TDN by Proximate Analysis....................$60.00

(o) Label Claim....................$50.00

(p) Calcium (Ca)....................$40.00

(q) Copper (Cu)....................$40.00

(r) Iron (Fe)....................$40.00

(s) Magnesium (Mg)....................$40.00

(t) Manganese (Mn)....................$40.00

(u) Phosphorus (P)....................$40.00

(v) Potassium (K) ....................$40.00

(w)  Selenium....................$50.00

(x) Sodium (Na) ....................$40.00

(y) Zinc (Zn) ....................$40.00

(z) Elemental Screen....................$150.00

(aa) Amprolium....................$200.00

(ab) Chlortetracycline....................$200.00

(ac) Decoquinate....................$200.00

(ad) Lasalocid....................$200.00

(ae) Lysine/Methionine....................$150.00

(af) Monensin....................$100.00

(ag) Oxytetracycline....................$200.00

(ah) Sulfamethazine....................$200.00

(ai) Vitamin A....................$200.00

 

AUTH: 80-1-104, MCA

IMP: 80-1-104, MCA

 

REASON: The Analytical Lab was housed partially under the administrative auspices of Montana State University and therefore outside normal rule making. These fees for water and miscellaneous samples, fertilizer samples, secondary and micro nutrient screening, and feed/forage samples, are commensurate with the needs of the continued operation of the lab and represent the current fee structure.

 

            NEW RULE II PESTICIDE SAMPLE FEES (1) The fee is based on the matrix and whether it is being tested for the presence of one chemical residue or multiple as illustrated below:

 

                 (a) Matrix       Individual      Multi-Residue

            Water:            $200.00         $400.00

            Soil:                $250.00          $300.00

            Vegetation:     $250.00          $300.00

 

            (2) The lab may not be able to perform certain residue tests based on the quality of the sample, the availability of equipment, or the matrix/residue in question.

            (3) Custom testing requests are charged according to the amount of time and resources needed for the test.

 

AUTH: 80-1-104, MCA

IMP: 80-1-104, MCA

 

REASON: The Analytical Lab was housed partially under the administrative auspices of Montana State University and therefore outside normal rule making. These pesticide sample fees are commensurate with the needs of the continued operation of the lab and represent the current fee structure.

 

            NEW RULE III DISCOUNTS  (1) To be eligible for a discount, samples must be submitted at the same time for the same test.

            (2) Discount by number of samples:

            (a) 1-2....................No Discount

            (b) 3-6....................10% Discount

            (c) 7+....................20% Discount

 

AUTH: 80-1-104, MCA

IMP: 80-1-104, MCA

 

REASON: The Analytical Lab was housed partially under the administrative auspices of Montana State University and therefore outside normal rule making. These discounts are commensurate with the needs of the continued operation of the lab and represent the current fee structure.

 

            NEW RULE IV CONTRACT WORK (1) As time permits, the lab may take on contract work for other governmental or private entities to perform services needed and within the scope of the expertise of the lab. The lab will set fees for this based on negotiations.

 

AUTH: 80-1-104, MCA

IMP: 80-1-104, MCA

 

REASON: The Analytical Lab was housed partially under the administrative auspices of Montana State University and therefore outside normal rule making. These fees are commensurate with the needs of the continued operation of the lab and shall be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

 

The cumulative annual increase in revenue, based on an average of the Analytical Lab revenue from the past 8 years, is $7,430.  The number of persons affected is estimated to be 2,500 based on the number of customers currently entered in the Analytical Lab database (2,835). 

 

            4. Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments either orally or in writing at the hearing. Written data, views, or arguments may also be submitted to: Cort Jensen, Department of Agriculture, 302 N. Roberts, P.O. Box 200201, Helena, Montana, 59620-0201; telephone (406) 444-3144; fax (406) 444-5409; or e-mail [email protected], and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., August 10, 2018.

 

5. Cort Jensen, Department of Agriculture, has been designated to preside over and conduct this hearing.

 

6. The department maintains a list of interested persons who wish to receive notices of rulemaking actions proposed by this agency. Persons who wish to have their name added to the list shall make a written request that includes the name, e-mail, and mailing address of the person to receive notices and specifies for which program the person wishes to receive notices. Notices will be sent by e-mail unless a mailing preference is noted in the request. Such written request may be mailed or delivered to the contact person in 4 above or may be made by completing a request form at any rules hearing held by the department.

 

7. The bill sponsor contact requirements of 2-4-30, MCA, do not apply.

 

8. With regard to the requirements of 2-4-111, MCA, the department has determined that the adoption of the above-referenced rules will not significantly and directly impact small businesses.

 

 

 

/s/ Cort Jensen                                            /s/ Ben Thomas                                          

Cort Jensen                                                 Ben Thomas

Rule Reviewer                                             Director

                                                                     Agriculture

           

Certified to the Secretary of State June 26, 2018.