Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustments, 29509-29515 [2021-11301]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 104 / Wednesday, June 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
Executive Order 13175, Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
PART 1308—SCHEDULES OF
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
Accordingly, the IFR amending 21
CFR part 1308, which published on
October 6, 2020 (85 FR 63014), is
adopted as final without change.
■
This rule does not have tribal
implications warranting the application
of E.O. 13175. It does not have
substantial direct effects on one or more
Indian tribes, on the relationship
between the Federal government and
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities between the
Federal government and Indian tribes.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
In accordance with the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) of 1995,
2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq., DEA has
determined that this action would not
result in any Federal mandate that may
result ‘‘in the expenditure by State,
local, and tribal governments, in the
aggregate, or by the private sector, of
$100,000,000 or more (adjusted
annually for inflation) in any 1 year.’’
Therefore, neither a Small Government
Agency Plan nor any other action is
required under UMRA of 1995.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This action does not impose a new
collection of information requirement
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995. 44 U.S.C. 3501–3521. This action
would not impose recordkeeping or
reporting requirements on State or local
governments, individuals, businesses, or
organizations. An agency may not
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
Congressional Review Act (CRA)
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This rule is not a major rule as
defined by the CRA, 5 U.S.C. 804.
However, pursuant to the CRA, DEA is
submitting a copy of this final rule to
both Houses of Congress and to the
Comptroller General.
List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 1308
Administrative practice and
procedure, Drug traffic control,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
17:10 Jun 01, 2021
[FR Doc. 2021–11512 Filed 6–1–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–09–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
(5 U.S.C. 601–612) applies to rules that
are subject to notice and comment
under section 553(b) of the APA. As
noted in the above discussion regarding
the applicability of the APA, DEA was
not required to publish a general notice
of proposed rulemaking. Consequently,
the RFA does not apply.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
D. Christopher Evans,
Acting Administrator.
Jkt 253001
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement
30 CFR Parts 723, 724, 845, and 846
[Docket ID: OSM 2021–001; S1D1S
SS08011000 SX064A000 212S180110;
S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A00 21XS501520]
RIN 1029–AC79
Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation
Adjustments
Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
Pursuant to the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act),
which further amended the Federal
Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
of 1990 (1990 Act), and Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
guidance, this rule adjusts for inflation
the level of civil monetary penalties
assessed under the Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
(SMCRA).
SUMMARY:
DATES:
Effective June 2, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathleen G. Vello, Office of Surface
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement,
1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop 4558,
Washington, DC 20240; Telephone (202)
208–1908. Email: kvello@osmre.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
A. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of
2015
B. Calculation of Adjustments
C. Effect of the Rule in Federal Program
States and on Indian Lands
D. Effect of the Rule on Approved State
Programs
II. Procedural Matters
A. Regulatory Planning and Review
(Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
C. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act
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29509
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Takings (Executive Order 12630)
F. Federalism (Executive Order 13132)
G. Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order
12988)
H. Consultation With Indian Tribes
(Executive Order 13175 and
Departmental Policy)
I. Paperwork Reduction Act
J. National Environmental Policy Act
K. Effects on Energy Supply, Distribution,
and Use (Executive Order 13211)
L. Clarity of This Regulation
M. Data Quality Act
N. Administrative Procedure Act
I. Background
A. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of
2015
Section 518 of SMCRA, 30 U.S.C.
1268, authorizes the Secretary of the
Interior to assess civil monetary
penalties (CMPs) for violations of
SMCRA. The Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement’s
(OSMRE) regulations implementing the
CMP provisions of section 518 are
located in 30 CFR parts 723, 724, 845,
and 846. We are adjusting CMPs in six
sections—30 CFR 723.14, 723.15,
724.14, 845.14, 845.15, and 846.14.
On November 2, 2015, the President
signed the Federal Civil Penalties
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements
Act of 2015 (Sec. 701 of Pub. L. 114–74)
(2015 Act) into law. The 2015 Act,
which further amended the Federal
Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
of 1990 (codified as amended at 28
U.S.C. 2461 note), requires Federal
agencies to promulgate rules to adjust
the level of CMPs to account for
inflation. The 2015 Act required an
initial ‘‘catch-up’’ adjustment. OSMRE
published the initial adjustment in the
Federal Register on July 8, 2016 (81 FR
44535), and the adjustment took effect
on August 1, 2016. The 2015 Act also
requires agencies to publish annual
inflation adjustments in the Federal
Register no later than January 15 of each
year. These adjustments are aimed at
maintaining the deterrent effect of civil
penalties and furthering the policy goals
of the statutes that authorize the
penalties. Further, the 2015 Act
provides that agencies must adjust civil
monetary penalties ‘‘notwithstanding
section 553 of [the Administrative
Procedure Act (APA)].’’ Therefore, ‘‘the
public procedure the APA generally
requires—notice, an opportunity for
comment, and a delay in effective
date—is not required for agencies to
issue regulations implementing the
annual adjustment.’’ December 23, 2020,
Memorandum for the Heads of
Executive Departments and Agencies
(M–21–10) from Russell T. Vought,
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 104 / Wednesday, June 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
Director, Office of Management and
Budget, Implementation of Penalty
Inflation Adjustments for 2021,
Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements
Act of 2015 (OMB Memorandum), at 3.
Pursuant to SMCRA and the 2015 Act,
this final rule reflects the statutorily
required CMP adjustments as follows:
Points
(where
applicable)
CFR citation
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30 CFR 723.14 ............................................................................................................................
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68
02JNR1
Current
penalty dollar
amounts
$68
137
206
274
342
411
479
546
616
685
752
821
888
958
1,028
1,095
1,163
1,233
1,301
1,369
1,438
1,506
1,574
1,642
1,711
2,054
2,396
2,736
2,949
3,423
3,764
4,106
4,449
4,791
5,133
5,475
5,819
6,160
6,502
6,843
7,188
7,529
7,870
8,213
8,555
8,898
9,239
9,583
9,924
10,266
10,607
10,952
11,294
11,635
11,979
12,320
12,661
13,003
13,347
13,688
14,030
14,373
14,716
15,058
15,399
15,743
16,084
16,426
Adjusted
penalty dollar
amounts
$69
139
208
277
346
416
485
552
623
693
761
831
898
969
1,040
1,108
1,177
1,248
1,316
1,385
1,455
1,524
1,593
1,661
1,731
2,078
2,424
2,768
2,984
3,463
3,808
4,155
4,502
4,848
5,194
5,540
5,888
6,233
6,579
6,924
7,273
7,618
7,963
8,310
8,656
9,003
9,348
9,696
10,041
10,387
10,732
11,081
11,427
11,773
12,121
12,466
12,811
13,157
13,505
13,850
14,196
14,543
14,890
15,236
15,581
15,929
16,274
16,620
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 104 / Wednesday, June 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
Points
(where
applicable)
CFR citation
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30 CFR 723.15(b) (Assessment of separate violations for each day) ........................................
30 CFR 724.14(b) (Individual civil penalties) ..............................................................................
30 CFR 845.14 ............................................................................................................................
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02JNR1
Current
penalty dollar
amounts
16,768
17,112
2,566
17,112
68
137
206
274
342
411
479
546
616
685
752
821
888
958
1,028
1,095
1,163
1,233
1,301
1,369
1,438
1,506
1,574
1,642
1,711
2,054
2,396
2,736
2,949
3,423
3,764
4,106
4,449
4,791
5,133
5,475
5,819
6,160
6,502
6,843
7,188
7,529
7,870
8,213
8,555
8,898
9,239
9,583
9,924
10,266
10,607
10,952
11,294
11,635
11,979
12,320
12,661
13,003
13,347
13,688
14,030
14,373
14,716
15,058
15,399
15,743
16,084
16,426
29511
Adjusted
penalty dollar
amounts
16,966
17,314
2,596
17,314
69
139
208
277
346
416
485
552
623
693
761
831
898
969
1,040
1,108
1,177
1,248
1,316
1,385
1,455
1,524
1,593
1,661
1,731
2,078
2,424
2,768
2,984
3,463
3,808
4,155
4,502
4,848
5,194
5,540
5,888
6,233
6,579
6,924
7,273
7,618
7,963
8,310
8,656
9,003
9,348
9,696
10,041
10,387
10,732
11,081
11,427
11,773
12,121
12,466
12,811
13,157
13,505
13,850
14,196
14,543
14,890
15,236
15,581
15,929
16,274
16,620
29512
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 104 / Wednesday, June 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
Points
(where
applicable)
CFR citation
30 CFR 845.15(b) (Assessment of separate violations for each day) ........................................
30 CFR 846.14(b) (Individual civil penalties) ..............................................................................
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In the chart above, there are no
numbers listed in the ‘‘Points’’ column
relative to 30 CFR 723.15(b), 30 CFR
724.14(b), 30 CFR 845.15(b), and 30 CFR
846.14(b) because those regulatory
provisions do not set forth numbers of
points. For those provisions, the current
regulations only set forth the dollar
amounts shown in the chart in the
‘‘Current Penalty Dollar Amounts’’
column; the adjusted amounts, which
we are adopting in this rule, are shown
in the ‘‘Adjusted Penalty Dollar
Amounts’’ column.
B. Calculation of Adjustments
OMB issued guidance on the 2021
annual adjustments for inflation. See
OMB Memorandum (December 23,
2020). The OMB Memorandum notes
that the 1990 Act defines ‘‘civil
monetary penalty’’ as ‘‘any penalty, fine,
or other sanction that . . . is for a
specific monetary amount as provided
by Federal law; or . . . has a maximum
amount provided for by Federal law;
and . . . is assessed or enforced by an
agency pursuant to Federal law; and
. . . is assessed or enforced pursuant to
an administrative proceeding or a civil
action in the Federal courts . . . .’’ Id.
at 2. It further instructs that agencies
‘‘are to adjust ‘the maximum civil
monetary penalty or the range of
minimum and maximum civil monetary
penalties, as applicable, for each civil
monetary penalty by the cost-of-living
adjustment.’ ’’ Id. The 1990 Act, as
amended by the 2015 Act, and the OMB
Memorandum specify that the annual
inflation adjustments are based on the
percent change between the Consumer
Price Index for all Urban Consumers
(the CPI–U) published by the
Department of Labor for the month of
October in the year of the previous
adjustment, and the October CPI–U for
the preceding year. The recent OMB
Memorandum specified that the cost-ofliving adjustment multiplier for 2021,
not seasonally adjusted, is 1.01182 (the
October 2020 CPI–U (260.388) divided
by the October 2019 CPI–U (257.346) =
1.01182). OSMRE used this guidance to
identify applicable CMPs and calculate
the required inflation adjustments. The
1990 Act, as amended by the 2015 Act,
specifies that any resulting increases in
CMPs must be rounded according to a
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stated rounding formula and that the
increased CMPs apply only to violations
that occur after the date that the
increases take effect.
Generally, OSMRE assigns points to a
violation as described in 30 CFR 723.13
and 845.13. The CMP owed is based on
the number of points received, ranging
from one point to 70 points. For
example, under our existing regulations
in 30 CFR 845.14, a violation totaling 70
points would amount to a $17,112 CMP.
To adjust this amount, we multiply
$17,112 by the 2020 inflation factor of
1.01182, resulting in a raw adjusted
amount of $17,314.26. Because the 2015
Act requires us to round any increase in
the CMP amount to the nearest dollar,
in this case a violation of 70 points
would amount to a new CMP of
$17,314. Pursuant to the 2015 Act, the
increases in this final rule apply to
CMPs assessed after the date the
increases take effect, even if the
associated violation predates the
applicable increase.
C. Effect of the Rule in Federal Program
States and on Indian Lands
OSMRE directly regulates surface coal
mining and reclamation operations
within a State or on Tribal lands if the
State or Tribe does not obtain its own
approved program pursuant to sections
503 or 710(j) of SMCRA, 30 U.S.C. 1253
or 1300(j). The increases in CMPs
contained in this rule will apply to the
following Federal program States:
Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho,
Massachusetts, Michigan, North
Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South
Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington.
The Federal programs for those States
appear at 30 CFR parts 903, 905, 910,
912, 921, 922, 933, 937, 939, 941, 942,
and 947, respectively. Under 30 CFR
750.18, the increases in CMPs also
apply to Indian lands under the Federal
program for Indian lands.
D. Effect of the Rule on Approved State
Programs
As a result of litigation, see In re
Permanent Surface Mining Regulation
Litigation, No. 79–1144, Mem. Op.
(D.D.C. May 16, 1980), 19 Env’t. Rep.
Cas. (BNA) 1477, State regulatory
programs are not required to mirror all
of the penalty provisions of our
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........................
........................
Current
penalty dollar
amounts
16,768
17,112
2,566
17,112
Adjusted
penalty dollar
amounts
16,966
17,314
2,596
17,314
regulations. Thus, this rule has no effect
on CMPs in States with SMCRA
primacy.
II. Procedural Matters
A. Regulatory Planning and Review
(Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)
Executive Order 12866 provides that
the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of
Management and Budget will review all
significant rules. OIRA has determined
that agency regulations exclusively
implementing the annual inflation
adjustments are not significant,
provided they are consistent with the
OMB Memorandum. Because this final
rule exclusively implements the annual
inflation adjustments, is consistent with
the OMB Memorandum, and will have
an annual impact of less than $100
million, it is not significant under
Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the
principles of Executive Order 12866
while calling for improvements in the
Nation’s regulatory system to promote
predictability, to reduce uncertainty,
and to use the best, most innovative,
and least burdensome tools for
achieving regulatory ends. The
Executive Order directs agencies to
consider regulatory approaches that
reduce burdens and maintain flexibility
and freedom of choice for the public
where these approaches are relevant,
feasible, and consistent with regulatory
objectives. Executive Order 13563
emphasizes further that regulations
must be based on the best available
science and that the rulemaking process
must allow for public participation and
an open exchange of ideas. We have
developed this rule in a manner
consistent with these requirements, to
the extent permitted by statute.
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
requires an agency to prepare a
regulatory flexibility analysis for all
rules unless the agency certifies that the
rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. The RFA
applies only to rules for which an
agency is required to first publish a
proposed rule. See 5 U.S.C. 603(a) and
604(a). The Federal Civil Penalties
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 104 / Wednesday, June 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements
Act of 2015 requires agencies to adjust
civil penalties annually for inflation
‘‘notwithstanding section 553 [of the
Administrative Procedure Act].’’ Thus,
no proposed rule will be published, and
the RFA does not apply to this
rulemaking.
C. Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act
This rule is not a major rule under 5
U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act.
This rule:
(a) Will not have an annual effect on
the economy of $100 million or more.
(b) Will not cause a major increase in
costs or prices for consumers,
individual industries, Federal, State, or
local government agencies, or
geographic regions.
(c) Will not have significant adverse
effects on competition, employment,
investment, productivity, innovation, or
the ability of United States-based
enterprises to compete with foreignbased enterprises.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
This rule does not impose an
unfunded mandate on State, local, or
Tribal governments, or the private
sector, of more than $100 million per
year. The rule does not have a
significant or unique effect on State,
local, or Tribal governments or the
private sector. A statement containing
the information required by the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is not required.
E. Takings (Executive Order 12630)
This rule does not effect a taking of
private property or otherwise have
takings implications under Executive
Order 12630. A takings implication
assessment is not required.
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F. Federalism (Executive Order 13132)
Under the criteria in section 1 of
Executive Order 13132, this rule does
not have sufficient federalism
implications to warrant the preparation
of a federalism summary impact
statement. A federalism summary
impact statement is not required.
G. Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order
12988)
This rule complies with the
requirements of Executive Order 12988.
Specifically, this rule:
(a) Meets the criteria of section 3(a)
requiring that all regulations be
reviewed to eliminate errors and
ambiguity and be written to minimize
litigation; and
(b) Meets the criteria of section 3(b)(2)
requiring that all regulations be written
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in clear language and contain clear legal
standards.
H. Consultation With Indian Tribes
(Executive Order 13175 and
Departmental Policy)
The Department of the Interior strives
to strengthen its government-togovernment relationship with Tribes
through a commitment to consultation
with Tribes and recognition of their
right to self-governance and Tribal
sovereignty. We have evaluated this rule
under the Department’s consultation
policy, under Departmental Manual Part
512, Chapters 4 and 5, and under the
criteria in Executive Order 13175 and
have determined that it has no
substantial direct effects on Federallyrecognized Tribes or Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)
Corporations, and that consultation
under the Department’s Tribal
consultation policy is not required.
I. Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule does not contain
information collection requirements,
and a submission to the Office of
Management and Budget under the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.) is not required. We may
not conduct or sponsor, and you are not
required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
J. National Environmental Policy Act
This rule does not constitute a major
Federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment. A
detailed statement under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA) is not required because the rule
is covered by a categorical exclusion.
This rule is excluded from the
requirement to prepare a detailed
statement because it is a regulation of an
administrative nature. (For further
information see 43 CFR 46.210(i).) We
have also determined that the rule does
not involve any of the extraordinary
circumstances listed in 43 CFR 46.215
that would require further analysis
under NEPA.
K. Effects on Energy Supply,
Distribution, and Use (Executive Order
13211)
This rule is not a significant energy
action under the definition in Executive
Order 13211. A Statement of Energy
Effects is not required.
L. Clarity of This Regulation
We are required by Executive Orders
12866 (section 1(b)(12)), 12988 (section
3(b)(1)(B)), and 13563 (section 1(a)), and
by the Presidential Memorandum of
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29513
June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain
language. This means that each rule we
publish must:
(a) Be logically organized;
(b) Use the active voice to address
readers directly;
(c) Use common, everyday words and
clear language rather than jargon;
(d) Be divided into short sections and
sentences; and
(e) Use lists and tables wherever
possible.
If you believe that we have not met
these requirements in issuing this final
rule, please contact the individual listed
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section. Your comments
should be as specific as possible in
order to help us determine whether any
future revisions to the rule are
necessary. For example, you should tell
us the numbers of the sections or
paragraphs that you find unclear, which
sections or sentences are too long, the
sections where you feel lists or tables
would be useful, etc.
M. Data Quality Act
In developing this rule, we did not
conduct or use a study, experiment, or
survey requiring peer review under the
Data Quality Act (Pub. L. 106–554).
N. Administrative Procedure Act
We are issuing this final rule without
prior public notice or opportunity for
public comment. As discussed above,
the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of
2015 requires agencies to publish
adjusted penalties annually. Under the
2015 Act, the public procedure that the
Administrative Procedure Act generally
requires—notice, an opportunity for
comment, and a delay in the effective
date—is not required for agencies to
issue regulations implementing the
annual adjustments required by the
2015 Act. See OMB Memorandum, M–
21–10, at 3.
List of Subjects
30 CFR Part 723
Administrative practice and
procedure, Penalties, Surface mining,
Underground mining.
30 CFR Part 724
Administrative practice and
procedure, Penalties, Surface mining,
Underground mining.
30 CFR Part 845
Administrative practice and
procedure, Law enforcement, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Surface mining,
Underground mining.
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30 CFR Part 846
Administrative practice and
procedure, Penalties, Surface mining,
Underground mining.
TABLE 1 TO § 723.14—Continued
Points
For the reasons given in the preamble,
the Department of the Interior amends
30 CFR parts 723, 724, 845, and 846 as
set forth below.
PART 723—CIVIL PENALTIES
1. The authority citation for part 723
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201
et seq., and 31 U.S.C. 3701.
2. Revise the table in § 723.14 to read
as follows:
■
§ 723.14 Determination of amount of
penalty.
*
*
*
*
TABLE 1 TO § 723.14
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
Points
1 ............................................
2 ............................................
3 ............................................
4 ............................................
5 ............................................
6 ............................................
7 ............................................
8 ............................................
9 ............................................
10 ..........................................
11 ..........................................
12 ..........................................
13 ..........................................
14 ..........................................
15 ..........................................
16 ..........................................
17 ..........................................
18 ..........................................
19 ..........................................
20 ..........................................
21 ..........................................
22 ..........................................
23 ..........................................
24 ..........................................
25 ..........................................
26 ..........................................
27 ..........................................
28 ..........................................
29 ..........................................
30 ..........................................
31 ..........................................
32 ..........................................
33 ..........................................
34 ..........................................
35 ..........................................
36 ..........................................
37 ..........................................
38 ..........................................
39 ..........................................
40 ..........................................
41 ..........................................
42 ..........................................
43 ..........................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:10 Jun 01, 2021
Dollars
69
139
208
277
346
416
485
552
623
693
761
831
898
969
1,040
1,108
1,177
1,248
1,316
1,385
1,455
1,524
1,593
1,661
1,731
2,078
2,424
2,768
2,984
3,463
3,808
4,155
4,502
4,848
5,194
5,540
5,888
6,233
6,579
6,924
7,273
7,618
7,963
Jkt 253001
7. Revise the table in § 845.14 to read
as follows:
■
Glenda H. Owens,
Deputy Director, Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement.
*
Dollars
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201
et seq., 31 U.S.C. 3701, Pub. L. 100–202, and
Pub. L. 100–446.
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
8,310
8,656
9,003
9,348
9,696
10,041
10,387
10,732
11,081
11,427
11,773
12,121
12,466
12,811
13,157
13,505
13,850
14,196
14,543
14,890
15,236
15,581
15,929
16,274
16,620
16,966
17,314
3. In § 723.15, revise introductory text
of paragraph (b) to read as follows:
■
§ 723.15 Assessment of separate
violations for each day.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) In addition to the civil penalty
provided for in paragraph (a) of this
section, whenever a violation contained
in a notice of violation or cessation
order has not been abated within the
abatement period set in the notice or
order or as subsequently extended
pursuant to section 521(a) of the Act, 30
U.S.C. 1271(a), a civil penalty of not less
than $2,596 will be assessed for each
day during which such failure to abate
continues, except that:
*
*
*
*
*
PART 724—INDIVIDUAL CIVIL
PENALTIES
4. The authority citation for part 724
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201
et seq., and 31 U.S.C. 3701.
5. In § 724.14, revise the first sentence
of paragraph (b) to read as follows:
■
§ 724.14
Amount of individual civil penalty.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) The penalty will not exceed
$17,314 for each violation. * * *
PART 845—CIVIL PENALTIES
6. The authority citation for part 845
continues to read as follows:
■
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
§ 845.14
penalty.
*
*
Determination of amount of
*
*
*
TABLE 1 TO § 845.14
Points
1 ............................................
2 ............................................
3 ............................................
4 ............................................
5 ............................................
6 ............................................
7 ............................................
8 ............................................
9 ............................................
10 ..........................................
11 ..........................................
12 ..........................................
13 ..........................................
14 ..........................................
15 ..........................................
16 ..........................................
17 ..........................................
18 ..........................................
19 ..........................................
20 ..........................................
21 ..........................................
22 ..........................................
23 ..........................................
24 ..........................................
25 ..........................................
26 ..........................................
27 ..........................................
28 ..........................................
29 ..........................................
30 ..........................................
31 ..........................................
32 ..........................................
33 ..........................................
34 ..........................................
35 ..........................................
36 ..........................................
37 ..........................................
38 ..........................................
39 ..........................................
40 ..........................................
41 ..........................................
42 ..........................................
43 ..........................................
44 ..........................................
45 ..........................................
46 ..........................................
47 ..........................................
48 ..........................................
49 ..........................................
50 ..........................................
51 ..........................................
52 ..........................................
53 ..........................................
54 ..........................................
55 ..........................................
56 ..........................................
57 ..........................................
58 ..........................................
59 ..........................................
60 ..........................................
61 ..........................................
E:\FR\FM\02JNR1.SGM
02JNR1
Dollars
69
139
208
277
346
416
485
552
623
693
761
831
898
969
1,040
1,108
1,177
1,248
1,316
1,385
1,455
1,524
1,593
1,661
1,731
2,078
2,424
2,768
2,984
3,463
3,808
4,155
4,502
4,848
5,194
5,540
5,888
6,233
6,579
6,924
7,273
7,618
7,963
8,310
8,656
9,003
9,348
9,696
10,041
10,387
10,732
11,081
11,427
11,773
12,121
12,466
12,811
13,157
13,505
13,850
14,196
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 104 / Wednesday, June 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 1 TO § 845.14—Continued
Points
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
14,543
14,890
15,236
15,581
15,929
16,274
16,620
16,966
17,314
8. In § 845.15, revise introductory text
of paragraph (b) to read as follows:
■
§ 845.15 Assessment of separate
violations for each day.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) In addition to the civil penalty
provided for in paragraph (a) of this
section, whenever a violation contained
in a notice of violation or cessation
order has not been abated within the
abatement period set in the notice or
order or as subsequently extended
pursuant to section 521(a) of the Act, 30
U.S.C. 1271(a), a civil penalty of not less
than $2,596 will be assessed for each
day during which such failure to abate
continues, except that:
*
*
*
*
*
PART 846—INDIVIDUAL CIVIL
PENALTIES
9. The authority citation for part 846
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201
et seq., and 31 U.S.C. 3701.
10. In § 846.14, revise the first
sentence of paragraph (b) to read as
follows:
■
§ 846.14
Amount of individual civil penalty.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) The penalty will not exceed $17,
314 for each violation. * * *
[FR Doc. 2021–11301 Filed 6–1–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–05–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 30
[EPA–HQ–OA–2018–0259; FRL–10024–32–
ORD]
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
RIN 2080–AA15
Strengthening Transparency in Pivotal
Science Underlying Significant
Regulatory Actions and Influential
Scientific Information; Implementation
of Vacatur
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:10 Jun 01, 2021
Jkt 253001
Final rule.
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is removing the
regulatory provisions associated with
the final rule Strengthening
Transparency in Pivotal Science
Underlying Significant Regulatory
Actions and Influential Scientific
Information. This action effectuates the
vacatur of the final rule ordered by the
United States District Court for the
District of Montana. It is also responsive
to the Executive order entitled
‘‘Protecting Public Health and the
Environment and Restoring Science to
Tackle the Climate Crisis,’’ signed on
January 20, 2021.
DATES: This final rule is effective May
28, 2021.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OA—2018–0259 All
documents in the docket are listed on
the https://www.regulations.gov website.
Although listed in the index, some
information may not be publicly
available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available electronically through https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bennett Thompson, Office of Science
Advisor, Policy and Engagement
(8104R), Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 564–1071; email address:
osp_staff@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Dollars
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
ACTION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
This action removes requirements for
how the EPA considers the availability
of dose-response data underlying its
pivotal science used in its significant
regulatory actions and influential
scientific information. The EPA
recognizes any entity interested in
submitting studies to EPA or how EPA
evaluates and considers science in EPA
regulations may be interested in this
final rule.
B. Why is EPA issuing this action?
The EPA is removing the regulatory
provisions associated with the final rule
‘‘Strengthening Transparency in Pivotal
Science Underlying Significant
Regulatory Actions and Influential
Scientific Information’’ (86 FR 469,
January 6, 2021), herein referred to as
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
29515
the ‘‘2021 final rule’’ (Ref. 1). This
action effectuates the vacatur of the final
rule ordered by the United States
District Court for the District of Montana
in Environmental Defense Fund et al. v.
EPA, No. 21–cv–00003 (D. Mon. Feb. 1,
2021) (EDF v. EPA).
Section 553 of the Administrative
Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B),
provides that, when an agency for good
cause finds that notice and public
procedure are impracticable,
unnecessary or contrary to the public
interest, the agency may issue a rule
without providing notice and an
opportunity for public comment. EPA
has determined that there is good cause
under section 553(b)(B) to issue this
final rule without prior proposal and
opportunity for comment because this
action undertakes the ministerial tasks
of removing regulatory provisions
vacated by the court in EDF v. EPA (Ref.
2).
As a matter of law, the order issued
by the court in EDF v. EPA on February
1, 2021 vacated the 2021 final rule. It is,
therefore, unnecessary to provide notice
and an opportunity for comment on this
action, which carries out the court’s
orders by removing the 2021 final rule
from 40 CFR part 30.
In addition, EPA finds that it has good
cause to make these revisions
immediately effective upon publication
under section 553(d) of the
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C.
553(d). Section 553(d) provides that
final rules shall not become effective
until 30 days after publication in the
Federal Register ‘‘except . . . as
otherwise provided by the agency for
good cause. ’’ The purpose of this
provision is to ‘‘give affected parties a
reasonable time to adjust their behavior
before the final rule takes effect.’’
Omnipoint Corp. v. Fed. Commc’n
Comm’n, 78 F.3d 620, 630 (D.C. Cir.
1996); see also United States v.
Gavrilovic, 551 F.2d 1099, 1104 (8th Cir.
1977) (quoting legislative history). Thus,
in determining whether good cause
exists to waive the 30-day delay, an
agency should, ‘‘balance the necessity
for immediate implementation against
principles of fundamental fairness
which require that all affected persons
be afforded a reasonable amount of time
to prepare for the effective date of its
ruling.’’ Gavrilovic, 551 F.2d at 1105.
EPA has determined that there is good
cause under section 553(d) for making
this final rule effective immediately
because this action merely implements
the court order vacating the 2021 final
rule. Delaying the effectiveness of this
rule further would prolong the period of
time between the change in the law (i.e.,
the court’s vacatur) and the
E:\FR\FM\02JNR1.SGM
02JNR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 2, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29509-29515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11301]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
30 CFR Parts 723, 724, 845, and 846
[Docket ID: OSM 2021-001; S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 212S180110; S2D2S
SS08011000 SX064A00 21XS501520]
RIN 1029-AC79
Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustments
AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment
Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act), which further amended the
Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (1990 Act),
and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, this rule adjusts
for inflation the level of civil monetary penalties assessed under the
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA).
DATES: Effective June 2, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen G. Vello, Office of Surface
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop 4558,
Washington, DC 20240; Telephone (202) 208-1908. Email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
A. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of 2015
B. Calculation of Adjustments
C. Effect of the Rule in Federal Program States and on Indian
Lands
D. Effect of the Rule on Approved State Programs
II. Procedural Matters
A. Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and
13563)
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
C. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Takings (Executive Order 12630)
F. Federalism (Executive Order 13132)
G. Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)
H. Consultation With Indian Tribes (Executive Order 13175 and
Departmental Policy)
I. Paperwork Reduction Act
J. National Environmental Policy Act
K. Effects on Energy Supply, Distribution, and Use (Executive
Order 13211)
L. Clarity of This Regulation
M. Data Quality Act
N. Administrative Procedure Act
I. Background
A. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements
Act of 2015
Section 518 of SMCRA, 30 U.S.C. 1268, authorizes the Secretary of
the Interior to assess civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for violations
of SMCRA. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement's
(OSMRE) regulations implementing the CMP provisions of section 518 are
located in 30 CFR parts 723, 724, 845, and 846. We are adjusting CMPs
in six sections--30 CFR 723.14, 723.15, 724.14, 845.14, 845.15, and
846.14.
On November 2, 2015, the President signed the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Sec. 701
of Pub. L. 114-74) (2015 Act) into law. The 2015 Act, which further
amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990
(codified as amended at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note), requires Federal agencies
to promulgate rules to adjust the level of CMPs to account for
inflation. The 2015 Act required an initial ``catch-up'' adjustment.
OSMRE published the initial adjustment in the Federal Register on July
8, 2016 (81 FR 44535), and the adjustment took effect on August 1,
2016. The 2015 Act also requires agencies to publish annual inflation
adjustments in the Federal Register no later than January 15 of each
year. These adjustments are aimed at maintaining the deterrent effect
of civil penalties and furthering the policy goals of the statutes that
authorize the penalties. Further, the 2015 Act provides that agencies
must adjust civil monetary penalties ``notwithstanding section 553 of
[the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)].'' Therefore, ``the public
procedure the APA generally requires--notice, an opportunity for
comment, and a delay in effective date--is not required for agencies to
issue regulations implementing the annual adjustment.'' December 23,
2020, Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
(M-21-10) from Russell T. Vought,
[[Page 29510]]
Director, Office of Management and Budget, Implementation of Penalty
Inflation Adjustments for 2021, Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (OMB Memorandum), at
3.
Pursuant to SMCRA and the 2015 Act, this final rule reflects the
statutorily required CMP adjustments as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Adjusted
CFR citation Points (where penalty dollar penalty dollar
applicable) amounts amounts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 CFR 723.14................................................... 1 $68 $69
2 137 139
3 206 208
4 274 277
5 342 346
6 411 416
7 479 485
8 546 552
9 616 623
10 685 693
11 752 761
12 821 831
13 888 898
14 958 969
15 1,028 1,040
16 1,095 1,108
17 1,163 1,177
18 1,233 1,248
19 1,301 1,316
20 1,369 1,385
21 1,438 1,455
22 1,506 1,524
23 1,574 1,593
24 1,642 1,661
25 1,711 1,731
26 2,054 2,078
27 2,396 2,424
28 2,736 2,768
29 2,949 2,984
30 3,423 3,463
31 3,764 3,808
32 4,106 4,155
33 4,449 4,502
34 4,791 4,848
35 5,133 5,194
36 5,475 5,540
37 5,819 5,888
38 6,160 6,233
39 6,502 6,579
40 6,843 6,924
41 7,188 7,273
42 7,529 7,618
43 7,870 7,963
44 8,213 8,310
45 8,555 8,656
46 8,898 9,003
47 9,239 9,348
48 9,583 9,696
49 9,924 10,041
50 10,266 10,387
51 10,607 10,732
52 10,952 11,081
53 11,294 11,427
54 11,635 11,773
55 11,979 12,121
56 12,320 12,466
57 12,661 12,811
58 13,003 13,157
59 13,347 13,505
60 13,688 13,850
61 14,030 14,196
62 14,373 14,543
63 14,716 14,890
64 15,058 15,236
65 15,399 15,581
66 15,743 15,929
67 16,084 16,274
68 16,426 16,620
[[Page 29511]]
69 16,768 16,966
70 17,112 17,314
30 CFR 723.15(b) (Assessment of separate violations for each .............. 2,566 2,596
day)...........................................................
30 CFR 724.14(b) (Individual civil penalties)................... .............. 17,112 17,314
30 CFR 845.14................................................... 1 68 69
2 137 139
3 206 208
4 274 277
5 342 346
6 411 416
7 479 485
8 546 552
9 616 623
10 685 693
11 752 761
12 821 831
13 888 898
14 958 969
15 1,028 1,040
16 1,095 1,108
17 1,163 1,177
18 1,233 1,248
19 1,301 1,316
20 1,369 1,385
21 1,438 1,455
22 1,506 1,524
23 1,574 1,593
24 1,642 1,661
25 1,711 1,731
26 2,054 2,078
27 2,396 2,424
28 2,736 2,768
29 2,949 2,984
30 3,423 3,463
31 3,764 3,808
32 4,106 4,155
33 4,449 4,502
34 4,791 4,848
35 5,133 5,194
36 5,475 5,540
37 5,819 5,888
38 6,160 6,233
39 6,502 6,579
40 6,843 6,924
41 7,188 7,273
42 7,529 7,618
43 7,870 7,963
44 8,213 8,310
45 8,555 8,656
46 8,898 9,003
47 9,239 9,348
48 9,583 9,696
49 9,924 10,041
50 10,266 10,387
51 10,607 10,732
52 10,952 11,081
53 11,294 11,427
54 11,635 11,773
55 11,979 12,121
56 12,320 12,466
57 12,661 12,811
58 13,003 13,157
59 13,347 13,505
60 13,688 13,850
61 14,030 14,196
62 14,373 14,543
63 14,716 14,890
64 15,058 15,236
65 15,399 15,581
66 15,743 15,929
67 16,084 16,274
68 16,426 16,620
[[Page 29512]]
69 16,768 16,966
70 17,112 17,314
30 CFR 845.15(b) (Assessment of separate violations for each .............. 2,566 2,596
day)...........................................................
30 CFR 846.14(b) (Individual civil penalties)................... .............. 17,112 17,314
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the chart above, there are no numbers listed in the ``Points''
column relative to 30 CFR 723.15(b), 30 CFR 724.14(b), 30 CFR
845.15(b), and 30 CFR 846.14(b) because those regulatory provisions do
not set forth numbers of points. For those provisions, the current
regulations only set forth the dollar amounts shown in the chart in the
``Current Penalty Dollar Amounts'' column; the adjusted amounts, which
we are adopting in this rule, are shown in the ``Adjusted Penalty
Dollar Amounts'' column.
B. Calculation of Adjustments
OMB issued guidance on the 2021 annual adjustments for inflation.
See OMB Memorandum (December 23, 2020). The OMB Memorandum notes that
the 1990 Act defines ``civil monetary penalty'' as ``any penalty, fine,
or other sanction that . . . is for a specific monetary amount as
provided by Federal law; or . . . has a maximum amount provided for by
Federal law; and . . . is assessed or enforced by an agency pursuant to
Federal law; and . . . is assessed or enforced pursuant to an
administrative proceeding or a civil action in the Federal courts . . .
.'' Id. at 2. It further instructs that agencies ``are to adjust `the
maximum civil monetary penalty or the range of minimum and maximum
civil monetary penalties, as applicable, for each civil monetary
penalty by the cost-of-living adjustment.' '' Id. The 1990 Act, as
amended by the 2015 Act, and the OMB Memorandum specify that the annual
inflation adjustments are based on the percent change between the
Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (the CPI-U) published by
the Department of Labor for the month of October in the year of the
previous adjustment, and the October CPI-U for the preceding year. The
recent OMB Memorandum specified that the cost-of-living adjustment
multiplier for 2021, not seasonally adjusted, is 1.01182 (the October
2020 CPI-U (260.388) divided by the October 2019 CPI-U (257.346) =
1.01182). OSMRE used this guidance to identify applicable CMPs and
calculate the required inflation adjustments. The 1990 Act, as amended
by the 2015 Act, specifies that any resulting increases in CMPs must be
rounded according to a stated rounding formula and that the increased
CMPs apply only to violations that occur after the date that the
increases take effect.
Generally, OSMRE assigns points to a violation as described in 30
CFR 723.13 and 845.13. The CMP owed is based on the number of points
received, ranging from one point to 70 points. For example, under our
existing regulations in 30 CFR 845.14, a violation totaling 70 points
would amount to a $17,112 CMP. To adjust this amount, we multiply
$17,112 by the 2020 inflation factor of 1.01182, resulting in a raw
adjusted amount of $17,314.26. Because the 2015 Act requires us to
round any increase in the CMP amount to the nearest dollar, in this
case a violation of 70 points would amount to a new CMP of $17,314.
Pursuant to the 2015 Act, the increases in this final rule apply to
CMPs assessed after the date the increases take effect, even if the
associated violation predates the applicable increase.
C. Effect of the Rule in Federal Program States and on Indian Lands
OSMRE directly regulates surface coal mining and reclamation
operations within a State or on Tribal lands if the State or Tribe does
not obtain its own approved program pursuant to sections 503 or 710(j)
of SMCRA, 30 U.S.C. 1253 or 1300(j). The increases in CMPs contained in
this rule will apply to the following Federal program States: Arizona,
California, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina,
Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington. The
Federal programs for those States appear at 30 CFR parts 903, 905, 910,
912, 921, 922, 933, 937, 939, 941, 942, and 947, respectively. Under 30
CFR 750.18, the increases in CMPs also apply to Indian lands under the
Federal program for Indian lands.
D. Effect of the Rule on Approved State Programs
As a result of litigation, see In re Permanent Surface Mining
Regulation Litigation, No. 79-1144, Mem. Op. (D.D.C. May 16, 1980), 19
Env't. Rep. Cas. (BNA) 1477, State regulatory programs are not required
to mirror all of the penalty provisions of our regulations. Thus, this
rule has no effect on CMPs in States with SMCRA primacy.
II. Procedural Matters
A. Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)
Executive Order 12866 provides that the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget will
review all significant rules. OIRA has determined that agency
regulations exclusively implementing the annual inflation adjustments
are not significant, provided they are consistent with the OMB
Memorandum. Because this final rule exclusively implements the annual
inflation adjustments, is consistent with the OMB Memorandum, and will
have an annual impact of less than $100 million, it is not significant
under Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of Executive Order
12866 while calling for improvements in the Nation's regulatory system
to promote predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best,
most innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory
ends. The Executive Order directs agencies to consider regulatory
approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of
choice for the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible,
and consistent with regulatory objectives. Executive Order 13563
emphasizes further that regulations must be based on the best available
science and that the rulemaking process must allow for public
participation and an open exchange of ideas. We have developed this
rule in a manner consistent with these requirements, to the extent
permitted by statute.
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires an agency to prepare
a regulatory flexibility analysis for all rules unless the agency
certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities. The RFA applies only to rules
for which an agency is required to first publish a proposed rule. See 5
U.S.C. 603(a) and 604(a). The Federal Civil Penalties
[[Page 29513]]
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 requires agencies to
adjust civil penalties annually for inflation ``notwithstanding section
553 [of the Administrative Procedure Act].'' Thus, no proposed rule
will be published, and the RFA does not apply to this rulemaking.
C. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This rule:
(a) Will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million
or more.
(b) Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for
consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government
agencies, or geographic regions.
(c) Will not have significant adverse effects on competition,
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of
United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based
enterprises.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
This rule does not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or
Tribal governments, or the private sector, of more than $100 million
per year. The rule does not have a significant or unique effect on
State, local, or Tribal governments or the private sector. A statement
containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is not required.
E. Takings (Executive Order 12630)
This rule does not effect a taking of private property or otherwise
have takings implications under Executive Order 12630. A takings
implication assessment is not required.
F. Federalism (Executive Order 13132)
Under the criteria in section 1 of Executive Order 13132, this rule
does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the
preparation of a federalism summary impact statement. A federalism
summary impact statement is not required.
G. Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)
This rule complies with the requirements of Executive Order 12988.
Specifically, this rule:
(a) Meets the criteria of section 3(a) requiring that all
regulations be reviewed to eliminate errors and ambiguity and be
written to minimize litigation; and
(b) Meets the criteria of section 3(b)(2) requiring that all
regulations be written in clear language and contain clear legal
standards.
H. Consultation With Indian Tribes (Executive Order 13175 and
Departmental Policy)
The Department of the Interior strives to strengthen its
government-to-government relationship with Tribes through a commitment
to consultation with Tribes and recognition of their right to self-
governance and Tribal sovereignty. We have evaluated this rule under
the Department's consultation policy, under Departmental Manual Part
512, Chapters 4 and 5, and under the criteria in Executive Order 13175
and have determined that it has no substantial direct effects on
Federally-recognized Tribes or Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
(ANCSA) Corporations, and that consultation under the Department's
Tribal consultation policy is not required.
I. Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule does not contain information collection requirements, and
a submission to the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) is not required. We may not
conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
J. National Environmental Policy Act
This rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the human environment. A detailed statement
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not
required because the rule is covered by a categorical exclusion. This
rule is excluded from the requirement to prepare a detailed statement
because it is a regulation of an administrative nature. (For further
information see 43 CFR 46.210(i).) We have also determined that the
rule does not involve any of the extraordinary circumstances listed in
43 CFR 46.215 that would require further analysis under NEPA.
K. Effects on Energy Supply, Distribution, and Use (Executive Order
13211)
This rule is not a significant energy action under the definition
in Executive Order 13211. A Statement of Energy Effects is not
required.
L. Clarity of This Regulation
We are required by Executive Orders 12866 (section 1(b)(12)), 12988
(section 3(b)(1)(B)), and 13563 (section 1(a)), and by the Presidential
Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain language. This
means that each rule we publish must:
(a) Be logically organized;
(b) Use the active voice to address readers directly;
(c) Use common, everyday words and clear language rather than
jargon;
(d) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and
(e) Use lists and tables wherever possible.
If you believe that we have not met these requirements in issuing
this final rule, please contact the individual listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Your comments should be as
specific as possible in order to help us determine whether any future
revisions to the rule are necessary. For example, you should tell us
the numbers of the sections or paragraphs that you find unclear, which
sections or sentences are too long, the sections where you feel lists
or tables would be useful, etc.
M. Data Quality Act
In developing this rule, we did not conduct or use a study,
experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the Data Quality Act
(Pub. L. 106-554).
N. Administrative Procedure Act
We are issuing this final rule without prior public notice or
opportunity for public comment. As discussed above, the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 requires
agencies to publish adjusted penalties annually. Under the 2015 Act,
the public procedure that the Administrative Procedure Act generally
requires--notice, an opportunity for comment, and a delay in the
effective date--is not required for agencies to issue regulations
implementing the annual adjustments required by the 2015 Act. See OMB
Memorandum, M-21-10, at 3.
List of Subjects
30 CFR Part 723
Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties, Surface mining,
Underground mining.
30 CFR Part 724
Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties, Surface mining,
Underground mining.
30 CFR Part 845
Administrative practice and procedure, Law enforcement, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Surface mining, Underground
mining.
[[Page 29514]]
30 CFR Part 846
Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties, Surface mining,
Underground mining.
Glenda H. Owens,
Deputy Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
For the reasons given in the preamble, the Department of the
Interior amends 30 CFR parts 723, 724, 845, and 846 as set forth below.
PART 723--CIVIL PENALTIES
0
1. The authority citation for part 723 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., and 31
U.S.C. 3701.
0
2. Revise the table in Sec. 723.14 to read as follows:
Sec. 723.14 Determination of amount of penalty.
* * * * *
Table 1 to Sec. 723.14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Points Dollars
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................................... 69
2....................................................... 139
3....................................................... 208
4....................................................... 277
5....................................................... 346
6....................................................... 416
7....................................................... 485
8....................................................... 552
9....................................................... 623
10...................................................... 693
11...................................................... 761
12...................................................... 831
13...................................................... 898
14...................................................... 969
15...................................................... 1,040
16...................................................... 1,108
17...................................................... 1,177
18...................................................... 1,248
19...................................................... 1,316
20...................................................... 1,385
21...................................................... 1,455
22...................................................... 1,524
23...................................................... 1,593
24...................................................... 1,661
25...................................................... 1,731
26...................................................... 2,078
27...................................................... 2,424
28...................................................... 2,768
29...................................................... 2,984
30...................................................... 3,463
31...................................................... 3,808
32...................................................... 4,155
33...................................................... 4,502
34...................................................... 4,848
35...................................................... 5,194
36...................................................... 5,540
37...................................................... 5,888
38...................................................... 6,233
39...................................................... 6,579
40...................................................... 6,924
41...................................................... 7,273
42...................................................... 7,618
43...................................................... 7,963
44...................................................... 8,310
45...................................................... 8,656
46...................................................... 9,003
47...................................................... 9,348
48...................................................... 9,696
49...................................................... 10,041
50...................................................... 10,387
51...................................................... 10,732
52...................................................... 11,081
53...................................................... 11,427
54...................................................... 11,773
55...................................................... 12,121
56...................................................... 12,466
57...................................................... 12,811
58...................................................... 13,157
59...................................................... 13,505
60...................................................... 13,850
61...................................................... 14,196
62...................................................... 14,543
63...................................................... 14,890
64...................................................... 15,236
65...................................................... 15,581
66...................................................... 15,929
67...................................................... 16,274
68...................................................... 16,620
69...................................................... 16,966
70...................................................... 17,314
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
3. In Sec. 723.15, revise introductory text of paragraph (b) to read
as follows:
Sec. 723.15 Assessment of separate violations for each day.
* * * * *
(b) In addition to the civil penalty provided for in paragraph (a)
of this section, whenever a violation contained in a notice of
violation or cessation order has not been abated within the abatement
period set in the notice or order or as subsequently extended pursuant
to section 521(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 1271(a), a civil penalty of not
less than $2,596 will be assessed for each day during which such
failure to abate continues, except that:
* * * * *
PART 724--INDIVIDUAL CIVIL PENALTIES
0
4. The authority citation for part 724 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., and 31
U.S.C. 3701.
0
5. In Sec. 724.14, revise the first sentence of paragraph (b) to read
as follows:
Sec. 724.14 Amount of individual civil penalty.
* * * * *
(b) The penalty will not exceed $17,314 for each violation. * * *
PART 845--CIVIL PENALTIES
0
6. The authority citation for part 845 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., 31 U.S.C.
3701, Pub. L. 100-202, and Pub. L. 100-446.
0
7. Revise the table in Sec. 845.14 to read as follows:
Sec. 845.14 Determination of amount of penalty.
* * * * *
Table 1 to Sec. 845.14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Points Dollars
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................................... 69
2....................................................... 139
3....................................................... 208
4....................................................... 277
5....................................................... 346
6....................................................... 416
7....................................................... 485
8....................................................... 552
9....................................................... 623
10...................................................... 693
11...................................................... 761
12...................................................... 831
13...................................................... 898
14...................................................... 969
15...................................................... 1,040
16...................................................... 1,108
17...................................................... 1,177
18...................................................... 1,248
19...................................................... 1,316
20...................................................... 1,385
21...................................................... 1,455
22...................................................... 1,524
23...................................................... 1,593
24...................................................... 1,661
25...................................................... 1,731
26...................................................... 2,078
27...................................................... 2,424
28...................................................... 2,768
29...................................................... 2,984
30...................................................... 3,463
31...................................................... 3,808
32...................................................... 4,155
33...................................................... 4,502
34...................................................... 4,848
35...................................................... 5,194
36...................................................... 5,540
37...................................................... 5,888
38...................................................... 6,233
39...................................................... 6,579
40...................................................... 6,924
41...................................................... 7,273
42...................................................... 7,618
43...................................................... 7,963
44...................................................... 8,310
45...................................................... 8,656
46...................................................... 9,003
47...................................................... 9,348
48...................................................... 9,696
49...................................................... 10,041
50...................................................... 10,387
51...................................................... 10,732
52...................................................... 11,081
53...................................................... 11,427
54...................................................... 11,773
55...................................................... 12,121
56...................................................... 12,466
57...................................................... 12,811
58...................................................... 13,157
59...................................................... 13,505
60...................................................... 13,850
61...................................................... 14,196
[[Page 29515]]
62...................................................... 14,543
63...................................................... 14,890
64...................................................... 15,236
65...................................................... 15,581
66...................................................... 15,929
67...................................................... 16,274
68...................................................... 16,620
69...................................................... 16,966
70...................................................... 17,314
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
8. In Sec. 845.15, revise introductory text of paragraph (b) to read
as follows:
Sec. 845.15 Assessment of separate violations for each day.
* * * * *
(b) In addition to the civil penalty provided for in paragraph (a)
of this section, whenever a violation contained in a notice of
violation or cessation order has not been abated within the abatement
period set in the notice or order or as subsequently extended pursuant
to section 521(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 1271(a), a civil penalty of not
less than $2,596 will be assessed for each day during which such
failure to abate continues, except that:
* * * * *
PART 846--INDIVIDUAL CIVIL PENALTIES
0
9. The authority citation for part 846 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., and 31
U.S.C. 3701.
0
10. In Sec. 846.14, revise the first sentence of paragraph (b) to read
as follows:
Sec. 846.14 Amount of individual civil penalty.
* * * * *
(b) The penalty will not exceed $17, 314 for each violation. * * *
[FR Doc. 2021-11301 Filed 6-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P
