RSPA DELAYS PROPOSED HAZMAT REGISTRATION FEE REDUCTION

RSPA DELAYS PROPOSED HAZMAT REGISTRATION FEE REDUCTION    The U.S. Transportation Department’s Research and Special Programs Administration said it will delay its final action to temporarily lower the registration fees paid by persons who transport or offer for transport of hazardous materials.
   RSPA made the proposal on Dec. 7, but decided to hold off implementation pending the outcome of the Bush administration’s fiscal 2002 budget request. The budget request calls to fund a portion of RSPA’s hazardous materials safety program budget from user fees collected from the Hazardous Materials Registration program.
   The agency’s proposal was to temporarily lower the fee for registrants for the next six registration years (2001-2002 through 2006-2007) to “eliminate an unexpended balance (or surplus) in the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants fund,” RSPA said.
   RSPA had also proposed to amend its small business criteria to reflect the Small Business Administration’s recent replacement of the Standard Industrial Classification code with the North American Industry Classification System. The agency also proposed to allow payment by additional credit cards than previously authorized.
   Under the existing regulations, for registration year 2001-2002, starting July 1, the registration fees remain unchanged at $300 (including a $25 processing fee) for small businesses and $2,000 (including a $25 processing fee) for all other businesses.