Rules of Practice for Hearings, 47006-47009 [2016-16969]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 20, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
§ 2.327(d), to reflect advancements in
technology and to bring its regulations
in line with current agency practice.
The revision to § 2.327(d) removes
prescriptive requirements from the
regulation and allows presiding officers
flexibility in determining the method to
prepare corrected transcripts. This
change allows the presiding officer to
list transcript changes in a table
included in or appended to an order;
issue a marked-up version of the
transcript; issue a clean, revised version
of the transcript; or select another
method that ensures a clear and concise
description of transcript changes.
II. Rulemaking Procedure
Under the Administrative Procedure
Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A)), notice and
comment requirements do not apply ‘‘to
interpretive rules, general statements of
policy, or rules of agency organization,
procedure, or practice.’’ Because this
revision affects the NRC’s rules of
agency procedure and practice, the
notice and comment provisions of the
Administrative Procedure Act do not
apply. Moreover, the final rule does not
change the substantive responsibilities
of any person or entity regulated by the
NRC.
The amendments are effective upon
publication in the Federal Register.
Good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)
to dispense with the usual 30-day delay
in the effective date of the final rule
because the amendments are of a minor
and administrative nature dealing with
changes to certain sections that do not
require action by any person or entity
regulated by the NRC.
III. Plain Writing
The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Pub.
L. 111–274) requires Federal agencies to
write documents in a clear, concise, and
well-organized manner. The NRC has
written this document to be consistent
with the Plain Writing Act as well as the
Presidential Memorandum, ‘‘Plain
Language in Government Writing,’’
published June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31883).
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IV. National Environmental Policy Act
The NRC has determined that this
final rule is the type of action described
in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(1). Therefore, neither
an environmental impact statement nor
environmental assessment has been
prepared for this final rule.
V. Paperwork Reduction Act
This final rule does not contain a
collection of information as defined in
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and, therefore,
is not subject to the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
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VI. Congressional Review Act
This final rule is not a rule as defined
in the Congressional Review Act (5
U.S.C. 801–808).
VII. Availability of Guidance
The NRC will not be issuing guidance
for this rulemaking because the revised
rule applies to the NRC only and does
not affect the rights and responsibilities
of outside parties.
List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 2
Administrative practice and
procedure, Antitrust, Byproduct
material, Classified information,
Confidential business information,
Freedom of information, Environmental
protection, Hazardous waste, Nuclear
energy, Nuclear materials, Nuclear
power plants and reactors, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sex discrimination,
Source material, Special nuclear
material, Waste treatment and disposal.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble and under the authority of the
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended;
the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974,
as amended; and 5 U.S.C. 552 and 553,
the NRC is adopting the following
amendments to 10 CFR part 2.
PART 2—AGENCY RULES OF
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
1. The authority citation for part 2
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954,
secs. 29, 53, 62, 63, 81, 102, 103, 104, 105,
161, 181, 182, 183, 184, 186, 189, 191, 234
(42 U.S.C. 2039, 2073, 2092, 2093, 2111,
2132, 2133, 2134, 2135, 2201, 2231, 2232,
2233, 2234, 2236, 2239, 2241, 2282); Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 206
(42 U.S.C. 5841, 5846); Nuclear Waste Policy
Act of 1982, secs. 114(f), 134, 135, 141 (42
U.S.C. 10134(f), 10154, 10155, 10161);
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 552,
553, 554, 557, 558); National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332); 44 U.S.C.
3504 note. Section 2.205(j) also issued under
Sec. 31001(s), Pub. L. 104–134, 110 Stat.
1321–373 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note).
2. In § 2.327, revise paragraph (d) to
read as follows:
■
§ 2.327
Official recording; transcript.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) Transcript corrections. Corrections
ordered or approved by the presiding
officer must be included in the record
through the issuance of an order by the
presiding officer or the Secretary, as
appropriate under the regulations in this
part. The order shall reflect the
corrections to the transcript through the
use of a table, the issuance of a
corrected or new transcript, or some
other method selected by the presiding
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officer that will ensure a clear and
concise description of the corrections.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day
of July, 2016.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Cindy Bladey,
Chief, Rules, Announcements, and Directives
Branch. Office of Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016–17072 Filed 7–19–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
12 CFR Part 263
[Docket No. R–1543]
RIN 7100 AE–55
Rules of Practice for Hearings
Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.
ACTION: Interim final rule.
AGENCY:
The Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (the ‘‘Board’’) is
issuing an interim final rule amending
its rules of practice and procedure to
adjust the amount of each civil
monetary penalty (‘‘CMP’’) provided by
law within its jurisdiction to account for
inflation as required by the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of 2015.
DATES: This interim final rule is
effective on August 1, 2016. Comments
on the interim final rule must be
received on or before August 30, 2016.
ADDRESSES: When submitting
comments, please consider submitting
your comments by email or fax because
paper mail in the Washington, DC area
and at the Board may be subject to
delay. You may submit comments,
identified by Docket No. R–1543 and
RIN 7100 AE 55, by any of the following
methods:
• Agency Web site:
www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments at
www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/
foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: regs.comments@
federalreserve.gov. Include the docket
number in the subject line of the
message.
• Fax: (202) 452–3819 or (202) 452–
3102.
• Mail: Address to Robert deV.
Frierson, Secretary, Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System, 20th
Street and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20551.
All public comments will be made
available on the Board’s Web site at
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 20, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
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www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/
foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted,
unless modified for technical reasons.
Accordingly, comments will not be
edited to remove any identifying or
contact information. Public comments
may also be viewed electronically or in
paper form in Room 3515, 1801 K Street
NW. (between 18th and 19th Streets),
Washington, DC 20551) between 9:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katherine H. Wheatley, Associate
General Counsel (202/452–3779), or
Mehrnoush Bigloo, Senior Attorney
(202/475–6361), Legal Division, Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, 20th Street and Constitution
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20551. For
users of Telecommunication Device for
the Deaf (TDD) only, contact 202/263–
4869.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act
The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act of 1990, 28 U.S.C. 2461
note (‘‘FCPIA Act’’), requires Federal
agencies to adjust, by regulation, the
CMPs within their jurisdiction to
account for inflation. The Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of 2015 (the ‘‘2015
Act’’ or the ‘‘Act’’) 1 amended the FCPIA
to require the adjustment to be made
annually rather than every four years,
and to direct federal agencies to make
the ‘‘catch-up’’ adjustment—the first
inflation adjustment after the date of
enactment of the 2015 Act—through an
interim final rulemaking, to take effect
no later than August 1, 2016.2 The
Board is issuing this interim final rule
to set the new civil monetary penalty
levels pursuant to the required catch-up
adjustment. The Board will apply these
adjusted maximum penalty levels to any
penalties assessed on or after August 1,
2016. Penalties assessed prior to August
1, 2016, will be subject to the amounts
set in the Board’s last adjustment
pursuant to the FCPIA.3
Under the 2015 Act, the initial catchup adjustment is the percentage for each
civil monetary penalty by which the
Consumer Price Index for the month of
October 2015 exceeds the Consumer
Price Index for the month of October of
the calendar year during which the
amount of the penalty was established
or adjusted other than pursuant to the
FCPIA. On February 24, 2016, as
directed by the 2015 Act, the Office of
1 Pub. L. 114–74, 129 Stat. 599 (2015) (codified at
28 U.S.C. 2461 note).
2 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, section 4(b)(1).
3 77 FR 68,680 (Nov. 16, 2012).
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Management and Budget (OMB) issued
guidance to agencies on implementing
the required catch-up adjustment which
included the relevant inflation
multipliers per calendar year.4 Using
OMB’s multipliers, the Board calculated
the adjusted penalties for its civil
monetary penalties, rounding the
penalties to the nearest dollar. Under
the 2015 Act, the amount of any
increase may not exceed 150 percent of
the amount of the penalty on the date
of the enactment of the 2015 Act, which
is November 2, 2015.5 Accordingly, in a
few cases where the calculated penalties
exceeded the statutory maximum, the
Board adjusted the respective penalty
amount to 250 percent of the prior
penalty. The Board also determined that
none of the increases resulting from
application of the 2015 Act’s formula
would have a negative economic impact
and that any social costs of increasing
those penalty limits would not outweigh
the benefits of the increase. For this
reason, the Board did not seek an
exception from the application of the
formula as permitted by section 4(c) of
the 2015 Act.
Administrative Procedure Act
Pursuant to the Administrative
Procedure Act (the ‘‘APA’’), notice of
proposed rulemaking and opportunity
for public comment are not required
prior to the issuance of a final rule if an
agency, for good cause, finds that
‘‘notice and public procedure thereon
are impracticable, unnecessary, or
contrary to the public interest.’’ 6 As
discussed above, the Board calculated
the initial catch-up adjustment strictly
in accordance with the requirements of
the 2015 Act and OMB’s implementing
guidance. Moreover, the 2015 Act
expressly requires the Board to publish
the new catch-up penalty levels through
an interim final rule, meaning that the
rule can become effective prior to the
receipt of public comments.7 For these
reasons, the Board finds good cause to
determine that publishing a notice of
proposed rulemaking and providing
opportunity for public comment prior to
adopting a final rule are unnecessary.8
Nevertheless, because the Board is
required to publish the catch-up penalty
levels through an interim final
rulemaking, the Board is inviting
comments on this interim final rule. In
view of the fact that the Board has
calculated the catch-up adjustments
4 OMB Memorandum M–16–06, Implementation
of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment
Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Feb. 24, 2016).
5 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, section 4(b)(2)(C).
6 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
7 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, section 4(b)(1).
8 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
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strictly in accordance with OMB’s
implementing guidance, the Board
specifically encourages comments
identifying any issues with the Board’s
calculations under that guidance. The
Board also invites comments regarding
its determination that the bases for an
exception under section 4(c) of the 2015
Act were not met.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5
U.S.C. 601 et seq., requires a regulatory
flexibility analysis only for rules for
which an agency is required to publish
a general notice of proposed
rulemaking. Because the 2015 Act
requires agencies’ catch-up adjustments
to be made through an interim final
rule, the Board is not publishing a
notice of proposed rulemaking.
Therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility Act
does not apply.
Paperwork Reduction Act
There is no collection of information
required by this interim final rule that
would be subject to the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 263
Administrative practice and
procedure, Claims, Crime, Equal access
to justice, Lawyers, Penalties.
Authority and Issuance
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, the Board of Governors
amends 12 CFR part 263 as follows:
PART 263—RULES OF PRACTICE FOR
HEARINGS
1. The authority citation for part 263
is revised to read as follows:
■
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504, 554–557; 12
U.S.C. 248, 324, 334, 347a, 504, 505, 1464,
1467, 1467a, 1817(j), 1818, 1820(k), 1829,
1831o, 1831p–1, 1832(c), 1847(b), 1847(d),
1884, 1972(2)(F), 3105, 3108, 3110, 3349,
3907, 3909(d), 4717; 15 U.S.C. 21, 78l(i),
78o–4, 78o–5, 78u–2; 1639e(k); 28 U.S.C.
2461 note; 31 U.S.C. 5321; and 42 U.S.C.
4012a.
2. Section 263.65 is revised to read as
follows:
■
§ 263.65 Civil monetary penalty inflation
adjustments.
(a) Inflation adjustments. In
accordance with the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of 2015, which
further amended the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of
1990, the Board has set forth in
paragraph (b) of this section the
adjusted maximum amounts for each
civil monetary penalty provided by law
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 20, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
within the Board’s jurisdiction. The
authorizing statutes contain the
complete provisions under which the
Board may seek a civil monetary
penalty. The adjusted civil monetary
penalties apply only to penalties
assessed on or after August 1, 2016.
(b) Maximum civil monetary
penalties. The maximum civil monetary
penalties as set forth in the referenced
statutory sections are set forth in the
table in this paragraph (b).
Adjusted civil
monetary
penalty
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Statute
12 U.S.C. 324:
Inadvertently late or misleading reports, inter alia .......................................................................................................................
Other late or misleading reports, inter alia ...................................................................................................................................
Knowingly or reckless false or misleading reports, inter alia .......................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 334 ......................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 374a ....................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 504:
First Tier .......................................................................................................................................................................................
Second Tier ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Third Tier ......................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 505:
First Tier .......................................................................................................................................................................................
Second Tier ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Third Tier ......................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1464(v)(4) ...........................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1464(v)(5) ...........................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1464(v)(6) ...........................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1467a(i)(2) ..........................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1467a(i)(3) ..........................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1467a(r):
First Tier .......................................................................................................................................................................................
Second Tier ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Third Tier ......................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(16):
First Tier .......................................................................................................................................................................................
Second Tier ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Third Tier ......................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1818(i)(2):
First Tier .......................................................................................................................................................................................
Second Tier ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Third Tier ......................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(6)(A)(ii) ...................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1832(c) ................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1847(b) ................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1847(d):
First Tier .......................................................................................................................................................................................
Second Tier ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Third Tier ......................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1884 ....................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 1972(2)(F):
First Tier .......................................................................................................................................................................................
Second Tier ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Third Tier ......................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 3909(d) ................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 3110(a) ................................................................................................................................................................................
12 U.S.C. 3110(c):
First Tier .......................................................................................................................................................................................
Second Tier ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Third Tier ......................................................................................................................................................................................
15 U.S.C. 78u–2(b)(1):
For a natural person .....................................................................................................................................................................
For any other person ....................................................................................................................................................................
15 U.S.C. 78u–2(b)(2):
For a natural person .....................................................................................................................................................................
For any other person ....................................................................................................................................................................
15 U.S.C. 78u–2(b)(3):
For a natural person .....................................................................................................................................................................
For any other person ....................................................................................................................................................................
15 U.S.C. 1639e(k)(1) .........................................................................................................................................................................
15 U.S.C. 1639e(k)(2) .........................................................................................................................................................................
42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(5) ..........................................................................................................................................................................
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20JYR1
$3,787
37,872
1,893,610
275
275
9,468
47,340
1,893,610
9,468
47,340
1,893,610
3,787
37,872
1,893,610
47,340
47,340
3,787
37,872
1,893,610
9,468
47,340
1,893,610
9,468
47,340
1,893,610
311,470
2,750
47,340
3,787
37,872
1,893,610
275
9,468
47,340
1,893,610
2355
43,275
3,462
34,620
1,730,990
8,908
89,078
89,078
445,390
178,156
890,780
10,875
21,749
2056
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 20, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
By order of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, July 13, 2016.
Robert deV. Frierson,
Secretary of the Board.
Billing Code: 6210–01–P
[FR Doc. 2016–16969 Filed 7–19–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 91
I. Overview of Final Rule
This action amends Appendix G of
part 91 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) by removing the
requirement that any applicant for a
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum
(RVSM) authorization must submit an
RVSM maintenance program to the FAA
for approval.
[Docket No.: FAA–2015–1746; Amdt. No.
91–342]
RIN 2120–AK54
Changes to the Application
Requirements for Authorization To
Operate in Reduced Vertical
Separation Minimum Airspace
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This action revises the FAA’s
requirements for an application to
operate in Reduced Vertical Separation
Minimum (RVSM) airspace and
eliminates the burden and expense of
developing, processing, and approving
RVSM maintenance programs. As a
result of this revision, an applicant to
operate in RVSM airspace will no longer
be required to develop and submit an
RVSM maintenance program solely for
the purpose of obtaining an RVSM
authorization. Because of other,
independent FAA airworthiness
regulations, all aircraft operators remain
required to maintain RVSM equipment
in an airworthy condition.
DATES: Effective August 19, 2016.
ADDRESSES: For information on where to
obtain copies of rulemaking documents
and other information related to this
final rule, see ‘‘How To Obtain
Additional Information’’ in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
technical questions concerning this
action, contact Charles Fellows,
Aviation Safety Inspector, Avionics
Branch, Aircraft Maintenance Division,
Flight Standards Services, AFS–360,
Federal Aviation Administration, 950
L’Enfant Plaza North SW., Washington,
DC 20024; telephone (202) 267–1706;
email Charles.Fellows@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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SUMMARY:
Authority for This Rulemaking
The FAA’s authority to issue rules
regarding aviation safety is found in
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Title 49 of the United States Code.
Sections 106(f), 40113, and 44701
authorize the Administrator to prescribe
regulations necessary for aviation safety.
Section 40103 authorizes the
Administrator to prescribe regulations
to enhance the efficiency of the national
airspace. This rulemaking is within the
scope of these authorities because it
removes an existing safety and airspacerelated regulation that the FAA no
longer finds necessary for aviation
safety.
II. Background
The FAA’s vertical separation
standards establish the vertical distance
that must separate aircraft routes in the
national airspace system. In the early
1970’s, rising air-traffic volume and fuel
costs sparked an interest in reducing
vertical separation standards for aircraft
operating above flight level (FL) 290
(above 18,000 ft., flight levels are
assigned in 500-ft. increments; FL290
represents an pressure altitude of 29,000
ft. referenced to a barometric pressure of
29.92 inches at sea level). At the time,
the FAA required aircraft operating
above FL290 to maintain a minimum of
2,000 ft. of vertical separation. Use of
high-altitude routes was desirable,
however, because the diminished
atmospheric drag at these altitudes
results in enhanced aircraft efficiency
and a corresponding decrease in fuel
consumption. Operators, therefore,
sought and continue to seek not only the
most direct routes, but also the most
efficient altitudes for operation of their
aircraft. Higher demand for these highaltitude routes has resulted in greater
congestion.
In 1981, the FAA initiated the Vertical
Studies Program. This program, in
conjunction with the RTCA (formerly
Radio Technical Commission for
Aeronautics) Special Committee (SC)–
150 and the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) Review of General
Concept of Separation Panel (RGCSP),
determined:
• RVSM is ‘‘technically feasible
without imposing unreasonably
demanding technical requirements on
the equipment;’’
• RVSM could provide ‘‘significant
benefits in terms of economy and enroute airspace capacity;’’ and
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47009
• Implementation of RVSM would
require ‘‘sound operational judgment
supported by an assessment of system
performance based on: Aircraft altitudekeeping capability, operational
considerations, system performance
monitoring, and risk assessment.’’
In response to the findings made by
the Vertical Separation Program, the
FAA began a two-phase implementation
of RVSM operations for aircraft
registered in the United States (U.S.). In
1997, and as the first phase, the FAA
published two amendments to part 91 of
Title 14 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR). The first
amendment established § 91.706
(Operations within airspace designed as
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum
Airspace), which, among other things,
allows operators of U.S.-registered
aircraft to fly in RVSM airspace outside
of the U.S. Appendix G (Operations in
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum
(RVSM) Airspace), was added which
contained a set of operational, aircraft
design, and other standards applicable
to those seeking to operate in RVSM
airspace. See Reduced Vertical
Separation Minimum Operations, (62
FR 17480; Apr. 9, 1997). Appendix G
includes the requirement that all
applicants for RVSM authorization must
submit an approved RVSM maintenance
program to the FAA.
The second phase of RVSM
implementation occurred in October
2003, with the publication of a second
RVSM-related FAA rulemaking.
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum
in Domestic Airspace, (68 FR 61304;
Oct. 27, 2003 and 68 FR 70132; Dec. 17,
2003). The 2003 rule introduced RVSM
airspace over the U.S. and, like the 1997
rulemaking, required all U.S.-registered
RVSM operators to comply with the
application, operations, and aircraft
design requirements of part 91,
appendix G. The FAA’s RVSM program
allows for 1,000 ft. of vertical separation
for aircraft between FL290 and FL410 in
U.S. airspace. Before the 2003 rule, air
traffic controllers could only assign
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft
flying at FL290 and above to FL290,
310, 330, 350, 370, 390, and 410 since
the existing vertical separation standard
was 2,000 ft. After the rule changes, IFR
aircraft could also fly at FL300, 320,
340, 360, 380, and 400—nearly doubling
capacity within this particular segment
of airspace, mitigating the fuel penalties
attributed to flying at sub-optimum
altitudes, and increasing the flexibility
of air traffic control.
In 2008, the FAA reviewed its RVSM
authorizations, which applied to more
than 15,000 U.S.-registered aircraft. The
FAA’s evaluation found that the existing
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 20, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47006-47009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16969]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
12 CFR Part 263
[Docket No. R-1543]
RIN 7100 AE-55
Rules of Practice for Hearings
AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
ACTION: Interim final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the
``Board'') is issuing an interim final rule amending its rules of
practice and procedure to adjust the amount of each civil monetary
penalty (``CMP'') provided by law within its jurisdiction to account
for inflation as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015.
DATES: This interim final rule is effective on August 1, 2016. Comments
on the interim final rule must be received on or before August 30,
2016.
ADDRESSES: When submitting comments, please consider submitting your
comments by email or fax because paper mail in the Washington, DC area
and at the Board may be subject to delay. You may submit comments,
identified by Docket No. R-1543 and RIN 7100 AE 55, by any of the
following methods:
Agency Web site: www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments at www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
Email: regs.comments@federalreserve.gov. Include the
docket number in the subject line of the message.
Fax: (202) 452-3819 or (202) 452-3102.
Mail: Address to Robert deV. Frierson, Secretary, Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20551.
All public comments will be made available on the Board's Web site
at
[[Page 47007]]
www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted,
unless modified for technical reasons. Accordingly, comments will not
be edited to remove any identifying or contact information. Public
comments may also be viewed electronically or in paper form in Room
3515, 1801 K Street NW. (between 18th and 19th Streets), Washington, DC
20551) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine H. Wheatley, Associate
General Counsel (202/452-3779), or Mehrnoush Bigloo, Senior Attorney
(202/475-6361), Legal Division, Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC
20551. For users of Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) only,
contact 202/263-4869.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, 28
U.S.C. 2461 note (``FCPIA Act''), requires Federal agencies to adjust,
by regulation, the CMPs within their jurisdiction to account for
inflation. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of 2015 (the ``2015 Act'' or the ``Act'') \1\ amended
the FCPIA to require the adjustment to be made annually rather than
every four years, and to direct federal agencies to make the ``catch-
up'' adjustment--the first inflation adjustment after the date of
enactment of the 2015 Act--through an interim final rulemaking, to take
effect no later than August 1, 2016.\2\ The Board is issuing this
interim final rule to set the new civil monetary penalty levels
pursuant to the required catch-up adjustment. The Board will apply
these adjusted maximum penalty levels to any penalties assessed on or
after August 1, 2016. Penalties assessed prior to August 1, 2016, will
be subject to the amounts set in the Board's last adjustment pursuant
to the FCPIA.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599 (2015) (codified at 28 U.S.C.
2461 note).
\2\ 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, section 4(b)(1).
\3\ 77 FR 68,680 (Nov. 16, 2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under the 2015 Act, the initial catch-up adjustment is the
percentage for each civil monetary penalty by which the Consumer Price
Index for the month of October 2015 exceeds the Consumer Price Index
for the month of October of the calendar year during which the amount
of the penalty was established or adjusted other than pursuant to the
FCPIA. On February 24, 2016, as directed by the 2015 Act, the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) issued guidance to agencies on implementing
the required catch-up adjustment which included the relevant inflation
multipliers per calendar year.\4\ Using OMB's multipliers, the Board
calculated the adjusted penalties for its civil monetary penalties,
rounding the penalties to the nearest dollar. Under the 2015 Act, the
amount of any increase may not exceed 150 percent of the amount of the
penalty on the date of the enactment of the 2015 Act, which is November
2, 2015.\5\ Accordingly, in a few cases where the calculated penalties
exceeded the statutory maximum, the Board adjusted the respective
penalty amount to 250 percent of the prior penalty. The Board also
determined that none of the increases resulting from application of the
2015 Act's formula would have a negative economic impact and that any
social costs of increasing those penalty limits would not outweigh the
benefits of the increase. For this reason, the Board did not seek an
exception from the application of the formula as permitted by section
4(c) of the 2015 Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ OMB Memorandum M-16-06, Implementation of the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Feb.
24, 2016).
\5\ 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, section 4(b)(2)(C).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative Procedure Act
Pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (the ``APA''), notice
of proposed rulemaking and opportunity for public comment are not
required prior to the issuance of a final rule if an agency, for good
cause, finds that ``notice and public procedure thereon are
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' \6\
As discussed above, the Board calculated the initial catch-up
adjustment strictly in accordance with the requirements of the 2015 Act
and OMB's implementing guidance. Moreover, the 2015 Act expressly
requires the Board to publish the new catch-up penalty levels through
an interim final rule, meaning that the rule can become effective prior
to the receipt of public comments.\7\ For these reasons, the Board
finds good cause to determine that publishing a notice of proposed
rulemaking and providing opportunity for public comment prior to
adopting a final rule are unnecessary.\8\ Nevertheless, because the
Board is required to publish the catch-up penalty levels through an
interim final rulemaking, the Board is inviting comments on this
interim final rule. In view of the fact that the Board has calculated
the catch-up adjustments strictly in accordance with OMB's implementing
guidance, the Board specifically encourages comments identifying any
issues with the Board's calculations under that guidance. The Board
also invites comments regarding its determination that the bases for an
exception under section 4(c) of the 2015 Act were not met.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
\7\ 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, section 4(b)(1).
\8\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., requires a
regulatory flexibility analysis only for rules for which an agency is
required to publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking. Because
the 2015 Act requires agencies' catch-up adjustments to be made through
an interim final rule, the Board is not publishing a notice of proposed
rulemaking. Therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply.
Paperwork Reduction Act
There is no collection of information required by this interim
final rule that would be subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 263
Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Crime, Equal access
to justice, Lawyers, Penalties.
Authority and Issuance
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Board of Governors
amends 12 CFR part 263 as follows:
PART 263--RULES OF PRACTICE FOR HEARINGS
0
1. The authority citation for part 263 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504, 554-557; 12 U.S.C. 248, 324, 334, 347a,
504, 505, 1464, 1467, 1467a, 1817(j), 1818, 1820(k), 1829, 1831o,
1831p-1, 1832(c), 1847(b), 1847(d), 1884, 1972(2)(F), 3105, 3108,
3110, 3349, 3907, 3909(d), 4717; 15 U.S.C. 21, 78l(i), 78o-4, 78o-5,
78u-2; 1639e(k); 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 31 U.S.C. 5321; and 42 U.S.C.
4012a.
0
2. Section 263.65 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 263.65 Civil monetary penalty inflation adjustments.
(a) Inflation adjustments. In accordance with the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which
further amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of
1990, the Board has set forth in paragraph (b) of this section the
adjusted maximum amounts for each civil monetary penalty provided by
law
[[Page 47008]]
within the Board's jurisdiction. The authorizing statutes contain the
complete provisions under which the Board may seek a civil monetary
penalty. The adjusted civil monetary penalties apply only to penalties
assessed on or after August 1, 2016.
(b) Maximum civil monetary penalties. The maximum civil monetary
penalties as set forth in the referenced statutory sections are set
forth in the table in this paragraph (b).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted civil
Statute monetary
penalty
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 U.S.C. 324:
Inadvertently late or misleading reports, inter alia $3,787
Other late or misleading reports, inter alia........ 37,872
Knowingly or reckless false or misleading reports, 1,893,610
inter alia.........................................
12 U.S.C. 334........................................... 275
12 U.S.C. 374a.......................................... 275
12 U.S.C. 504:
First Tier.......................................... 9,468
Second Tier......................................... 47,340
Third Tier.......................................... 1,893,610
12 U.S.C. 505:
First Tier.......................................... 9,468
Second Tier......................................... 47,340
Third Tier.......................................... 1,893,610
12 U.S.C. 1464(v)(4).................................... 3,787
12 U.S.C. 1464(v)(5).................................... 37,872
12 U.S.C. 1464(v)(6).................................... 1,893,610
12 U.S.C. 1467a(i)(2)................................... 47,340
12 U.S.C. 1467a(i)(3)................................... 47,340
12 U.S.C. 1467a(r):
First Tier.......................................... 3,787
Second Tier......................................... 37,872
Third Tier.......................................... 1,893,610
12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(16):
First Tier.......................................... 9,468
Second Tier......................................... 47,340
Third Tier.......................................... 1,893,610
12 U.S.C. 1818(i)(2):
First Tier.......................................... 9,468
Second Tier......................................... 47,340
Third Tier.......................................... 1,893,610
12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(6)(A)(ii)............................. 311,470
12 U.S.C. 1832(c)....................................... 2,750
12 U.S.C. 1847(b)....................................... 47,340
12 U.S.C. 1847(d):
First Tier.......................................... 3,787
Second Tier......................................... 37,872
Third Tier.......................................... 1,893,610
12 U.S.C. 1884.......................................... 275
12 U.S.C. 1972(2)(F):
First Tier.......................................... 9,468
Second Tier......................................... 47,340
Third Tier.......................................... 1,893,610
12 U.S.C. 3909(d)....................................... 2355
12 U.S.C. 3110(a)....................................... 43,275
12 U.S.C. 3110(c):
First Tier.......................................... 3,462
Second Tier......................................... 34,620
Third Tier.......................................... 1,730,990
15 U.S.C. 78u-2(b)(1):
For a natural person................................ 8,908
For any other person................................ 89,078
15 U.S.C. 78u-2(b)(2):
For a natural person................................ 89,078
For any other person................................ 445,390
15 U.S.C. 78u-2(b)(3):
For a natural person................................ 178,156
For any other person................................ 890,780
15 U.S.C. 1639e(k)(1)................................... 10,875
15 U.S.C. 1639e(k)(2)................................... 21,749
42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(5)................................... 2056
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 47009]]
By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, July 13, 2016.
Robert deV. Frierson,
Secretary of the Board.
Billing Code: 6210-01-P
[FR Doc. 2016-16969 Filed 7-19-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-P
