WASHINGTON The Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service has issued a final rule governing user fees charged for agricultural quarantine or inspections.

The announcement in the Federal Register says that user fees that took effect on an interim basis on Jan. 1, 2005, will be made permanent on Thursday. The full text of today's announcement can be viewed at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-14041.htm.

The fees were adopted pending public comment, but after consideration the department made no changes.

Each mode has its own user fee:

Vessels over 100 tons will be charged $490 beginning Oct. 1.

Commercial trucks, $5.25.

Railcars, $7.75

Aircraft, $70.50.

Details of the fees and exemptions are in the Federal Register of Dec. 9, 2004, at http://frwebgate5.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=43908156547+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve .