Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment, 89309-89313 [2023-28555]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 27, 2023 / Rules and Regulations benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity). E.O. 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. E.O. 14094 (Executive Order on Modernizing Regulatory Review) supplements and reaffirms the principles, structures, and definitions governing contemporary regulatory review established in E.O. 12866 of September 30, 1993 (Regulatory Planning and Review), and E.O. 13563 of January 18, 2011 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review). The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has determined that this rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866, as amended by E.O. 14094. The Regulatory Impact Analysis associated with this rulemaking can be found as a supporting document at www.regulations.gov. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601–612, is not applicable to this rulemaking because notice of proposed rulemaking is not required. 5 U.S.C. 601(2), 603(a), 604(a). Unfunded Mandates The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C. 1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and benefits before issuing any rule that may result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one year. This final rule will have no such effect on State, local, and tribal governments, or on the private sector. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) This final rule contains no provisions constituting a collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3521). Assistance Listing The Assistance Listing numbers and titles for the programs affected by this document are 64.104, Pension for NonService-Connected Disability for Veterans; 64.109, Veterans Compensation for Service-Connected Disability; and 64.110, Veterans Dependency and Indemnity VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Dec 26, 2023 Jkt 262001 Compensation for Service-Connected Death. Congressional Review Act Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 4 Disability benefits. Signing Authority Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, signed and approved this document on December 18, 2023, and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Luvenia Potts, Regulation Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs. For the reasons stated in the preamble, VA adopts as final the interim final rule published on April 14, 2023, at 88 FR 22914. ■ [FR Doc. 2023–28241 Filed 12–26–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 19 [FRL–5906.8–01–OECA] Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is promulgating this final rule to adjust the level of the maximum (and minimum) statutory civil monetary penalty amounts under the statutes the EPA administers. This action is mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended through the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (‘‘the 2015 Act’’). The 2015 Act prescribes a formula for annually adjusting the statutory maximum (and minimum) amount of civil monetary penalties to reflect inflation, maintain the deterrent effect of statutory civil monetary penalties, and promote compliance with the law. The rule does not establish specific civil monetary penalty amounts SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 89309 the EPA may seek in particular cases. The EPA calculates those amounts, as appropriate, based on the facts of particular cases and applicable agency penalty policies. The EPA’s civil penalty policies, which guide enforcement personnel on how to exercise the EPA’s discretion within statutory penalty authorities, take into account a number of fact-specific considerations, e.g., the seriousness of the violation, the violator’s good faith efforts to comply, any economic benefit gained by the violator as a result of its noncompliance, and the violator’s ability to pay. DATES: This final rule is effective December 27, 2023. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Smith-Watts, Office of Civil Enforcement, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Mail Code 2241A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460, telephone number: (202) 564–4083; smithwatts.david@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The 2015 Act 1 requires each Federal agency to adjust the statutory civil monetary penalties under the laws implemented by that agency annually, to account for inflation. Section 4 of the 2015 Act requires each Federal agency to publish these adjustments by January 15 of each year. The purpose of the 2015 Act is to maintain the deterrent effect of civil monetary penalties by translating originally enacted statutory civil penalty amounts to today’s dollars and rounding statutory civil penalties to the nearest dollar. Since January 15, 2017, the EPA has made seven annual adjustments: (1) on January 12, 2017, effective on January 15, 2017 (82 FR 3633); (2) on January 10, 2018, effective on January 15, 2018 (83 FR 1190); (3) on February 6, 2019, effective the same day (84 FR 2056), with a subsequent correction on February 25, 2019 (84 FR 5955); (4) on January 13, 2020, effective the same day (85 FR 1751); (5) on December 23, 2020, effective the same day (85 FR 83818); (6) on January 12, 2022, effective the same day (87 FR 1676); and (7) on January 6, 2023, effective the same day (88 FR 986). This rule implements the eighth annual adjustment mandated by the 2015 Act. 1 The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Section 701 of Pub. L.114–74) was signed into law on November 2, 2015, and amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990. E:\FR\FM\27DER1.SGM 27DER1 89310 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 27, 2023 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 The 2015 Act provides a formula for calculating the adjustments. Each statutory maximum and minimum 2 civil monetary penalty, as currently adjusted, is multiplied by the cost-ofliving adjustment multiplier, which is the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI–U) for the month of October 2023 exceeds the CPI–U for the month of October 2022.3 With this rule, the new statutory maximum and minimum penalty levels listed in the third column of Table 1 of 40 CFR 19.4 will apply to all civil monetary penalties assessed on or after December 27, 2023, for violations that occurred after November 2, 2015, the date the 2015 Act was enacted. The former maximum and minimum statutory civil monetary penalty levels, which are in the fourth column of Table 1 to 40 CFR 19.4, will now apply only to violations that occurred after November 2, 2015, where the penalties were assessed on or after January 6, 2023, but before December 27, 2023. The statutory civil monetary penalty levels that apply to violations that occurred on or before November 2, 2015, are codified at Table 2 to 40 CFR 19.4. The fifth column of Table 1 and the seventh column of Table 2 display the statutory civil monetary penalty levels as originally enacted. The formula for determining the costof-living or inflation adjustment to statutory civil monetary penalties consists of the following steps: Step 1: The cost-of-living adjustment multiplier for 2024 is the percentage by which the CPI–U of October 2023 (307.671) exceeds the CPI–U for the month of October 2022 (298.012), which is 1.03241.4 Multiply 1.03241 by the 2 Under Section 3(2)(A) of the 2015 Act, a ‘‘‘civil monetary penalty’ [is] 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.’’ EPAadministered statutes generally refer to statutory maximum penalties, with the following exceptions: Section 311(b)(7)(D) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(D), refers to a minimum penalty of ‘‘not less than $100,000. . .’’; Section 104b(d)(1)(A) of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, 33 U.S.C. 1414b(d)(1)(A), refers to an exact penalty of $600 ‘‘[f]or each dry ton (or equivalent) of sewage sludge or industrial waste dumped or transported by the person in violation of this subsection in calendar year 1992. . .’’; and Section 325(d)(1) of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. 11045(d)(1), refers to an exact civil penalty of $25,000 for each frivolous trade secret claim. 3 Current and historical CPI–U’s can be found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ websites here: https://www.bls.gov/cpi/tables/supplemental-files/ historical-cpi-u-202309.pdf and https:// www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf. 4 Section 5(b) of the 2015 Act provides that the term ‘‘cost-of-living adjustment’’ means the VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Dec 26, 2023 Jkt 262001 current penalty amount. This is the raw adjusted penalty value. Step 2: Round the raw adjusted penalty value. Section 5 of the 2015 Act states that any adjustment shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1. The result is the final penalty value for the year. II. The 2015 Act Requires Federal Agencies To Publish Annual Penalty Inflation Adjustments Notwithstanding Section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act Pursuant to section 4 of the 2015 Act, each Federal agency is required to publish adjustments no later than January 15 each year. In accordance with section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 553, most rules are subject to notice and comment and are effective no earlier than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. However, section 4(b)(2) of the 2015 Act provides that each agency shall make the annual inflation adjustments ‘‘notwithstanding section 553’’ of the APA. Consistent with the language of the 2015 Act, this rule is not subject to notice and an opportunity for public comment and will be effective on December 27, 2023. III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Additional information about these statutes and Executive orders can be found at https://www.epa.gov/lawsregulations/laws-and-executive-orders. A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive Order 14094: Modernizing Regulatory Review This action is not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094, and was therefore not subject to a requirement for Executive Order 12866 review. B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) This action does not impose an information collection burden under the PRA. This rule merely increases the level of statutory civil monetary penalties that can be imposed in the context of a Federal civil administrative percentage (if any) for each civil monetary penalty by which— (A) the Consumer Price Index for the month of October preceding the date of the adjustment, exceeds (B) the Consumer Price Index for the month of October 1 year before the month of October referred to in subparagraph (A). Because the CPI–U for October 2023 is 307.671 and the CPI–U for October 2022 is 298.012, the costof-living multiplier is 1.03241 (307.671 divided by 298.012). PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 enforcement action or civil judicial case for violations of EPA-administered statutes and their implementing regulations. C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) This action is not subject to the RFA. The RFA applies only to rules subject to notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other statute. Because the 2015 Act directs Federal agencies to publish this rule notwithstanding section 553 of the APA, this rule is not subject to notice and comment requirements or the RFA. D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531–1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. This action is required by the 2015 Act, without the exercise of any policy discretion by the EPA. This action also imposes no enforceable duty on any state, local or tribal governments or the private sector. Because the calculation of any increase is formuladriven pursuant to the 2015 Act, the EPA has no policy discretion to vary the amount of the adjustment. E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the National Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments This action does not have Tribal implications as specified in Executive Order 13175. This rule merely reconciles the real value of current statutory civil monetary penalty levels to reflect and keep pace with the levels originally set by Congress when the statutes were enacted or amended. The calculation of the increases is formuladriven and prescribed by statute, and the EPA has no discretion to vary the amount of the adjustment to reflect any views or suggestions provided by commenters. Accordingly, this rule will not have a substantial direct effect on tribal governments, 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. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action. E:\FR\FM\27DER1.SGM 27DER1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 27, 2023 / Rules and Regulations G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks The EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 as applying only to those regulatory actions that concern environmental health or safety risks that the EPA has reason to believe may disproportionately affect children, per the definition of ‘‘covered regulatory action’’ in section 2-202 of the Executive order. This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it does not concern an environmental health risk or safety risk. Since this action does not concern human health, EPA’s Policy on Children’s Health also does not apply. H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution or Use This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, because it is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) The rulemaking does not involve technical standards. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 15:06 Dec 26, 2023 Jkt 262001 K. Congressional Review Act (CRA) This action is subject to the CRA, and the EPA will submit a rule report to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. The CRA allows the issuing agency to make a rule effective sooner than otherwise provided by the CRA if the agency makes a good cause finding that notice and comment rulemaking procedures are impracticable, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest (5 U.S.C. 808(2)). The EPA finds that the APA’s notice and comment rulemaking procedures are unnecessary because the 2015 Act directs Federal agencies to publish their annual penalty inflation adjustments ‘‘notwithstanding section 553 [of the APA].’’ List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 19 Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties. For the reasons set out in the preamble, the EPA amends title 40, chapter I, part 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows: PART 19—ADJUSTMENT OF CIVIL MONETARY PENALTIES FOR INFLATION 1. The authority citation for part 19 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: Pub. L. 101–410, Oct. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 890, as amended by Pub. L. 104– 134, title III, sec. 31001(s)(1), Apr. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 1321–373; Pub. L. 105–362, title XIII, sec. 1301(a), Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3293; Pub. L. 114–74, title VII, sec. 701(b), Nov. 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 599. ■ 2. Revise § 19.2 to read as follows: § 19.2 Effective date. (a) The statutory civil monetary penalty levels set forth in the third column of Table 1 of § 19.4 apply to all violations which occur or occurred after November 2, 2015, where the penalties are assessed on or after December 27, PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4700 2023. The statutory civil monetary penalty levels set forth in the fourth column of Table 1 of § 19.4 apply to all violations which occurred after November 2, 2015, where the penalties were assessed on or after January 6, 2023, but before December 27, 2023. (b) The statutory monetary penalty levels in the third column of Table 2 to § 19.4 apply to all violations which occurred after December 6, 2013, through November 2, 2015, and to violations occurring after November 2, 2015, where penalties were assessed before August 1, 2016. The statutory civil monetary penalty levels set forth in the fourth column of Table 2 of § 19.4 apply to all violations which occurred after January 12, 2009, through December 6, 2013. The statutory civil monetary penalty levels set forth in the fifth column of Table 2 of § 19.4 apply to all violations which occurred after March 15, 2004, through January 12, 2009. The statutory civil monetary penalty levels set forth in the sixth column of Table 2 of § 19.4 apply to all violations which occurred after January 30, 1997, through March 15, 2004. 3. Revise the section heading, introductory text, and Table 1 of § 19.4 to read as follows: ■ Michael S. Regan, Administrator. J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations and Executive Order 14096: Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All The EPA believes that this type of action does not concern human health or environmental conditions and therefore cannot be evaluated with respect to potentially disproportionate and adverse effects on communities with environmental justice concerns. As mandated by the 2015 Act, this rule adjusts for inflation the statutory civil monetary penalty amounts of the statutes administered by the EPA. EPA acknowledges that the annual mandatory increase in civil penalty amounts to account for inflation may result in further deterrents of environmental violations that may trigger civil penalties. Deterring violations has the benefit of promoting the overarching purpose of VerDate Sep<11>2014 environmental enforcement and may have a positive impact on the human health or environment of all populations including communities with environmental justice concerns. 89311 Sfmt 4700 § 19.4 Statutory civil monetary penalties, as adjusted for inflation, and tables. Table 1 of this section sets out the statutory civil monetary penalty provisions of statutes administered by the EPA, with the third column setting out the latest operative statutory civil monetary penalty levels for violations that occur or occurred after November 2, 2015, where penalties are assessed on or after December 27, 2023. The fourth column displays the operative statutory civil monetary penalty levels where penalties were assessed on or after January 6, 2023, but before December 27, 2023. Table 2 of this section sets out the statutory civil monetary penalty provision of statutes administered by the EPA, with the operative statutory civil monetary penalty levels, as adjusted for inflation, for violations that occurred on or before November 2, 2015, and for violations that occurred after November 2, 2015, where penalties were assessed before August 1, 2016. E:\FR\FM\27DER1.SGM 27DER1 89312 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 27, 2023 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 1 OF § 19.4—CIVIL MONETARY PENALTY INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS U.S. Code citation Environmental statute 7 U.S.C. 136l(a)(1) ........................... FEDERAL INSECTICIDE, FUNGICIDE, AND RODENTICIDE ACT (FIFRA). FIFRA ............................................................. TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT (TSCA). TSCA .............................................................. TSCA .............................................................. PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL REMEDIES ACT (PFCRA). PFCRA ........................................................... CLEAN WATER ACT (CWA) ......................... CWA ............................................................... CWA ............................................................... CWA ............................................................... CWA ............................................................... CWA ............................................................... CWA ............................................................... CWA ............................................................... CWA ............................................................... MARINE PROTECTION, RESEARCH, AND SANCTUARIES ACT (MPRSA). MPRSA ........................................................... CERTAIN ALASKAN CRUISE SHIP OPERATIONS (CACSO). CACSO ........................................................... 7 U.S.C. 136l(a)(2) 1 ......................... 15 U.S.C. 2615(a)(1) ........................ 15 U.S.C. 2647(a) ............................ 15 U.S.C. 2647(g) ............................ 31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(1) ........................ 31 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. 3802(a)(2) ........................ 1319(d) ............................ 1319(g)(2)(A) ................... 1319(g)(2)(B) ................... 1321(b)(6)(B)(i) ................ 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii) ............... 1321(b)(7)(A) ................... 1321(b)(7)(B) ................... 1321(b)(7)(C) ................... 1321(b)(7)(D) ................... 1414b(d)(1)(A) ................. 33 U.S.C. 1415(a) ............................ 33 U.S.C. 1901 note (see 1409(a)(2)(A)). 33 U.S.C. 1901 note (see 1409(a)(2)(B)). 33 U.S.C. 1901 note (see 1409(b)(1)). 33 U.S.C. 1908(b)(1) ........................ 33 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. 1908(b)(2) ........................ 300g–3(b) ........................ 300g–3(g)(3)(A) ............... 300g–3(g)(3)(B) ............... 300g–3(g)(3)(C) ............... 300h–2(b)(1) .................... 300h–2(c)(1) .................... 300h–2(c)(2) .................... 300h–3(c) ........................ 300i(b) ............................. 300i–1(c) ......................... 300j(e)(2) ......................... 300j–4(c) ......................... 300j–6(b)(2) ..................... 300j–23(d) ....................... 4852d(b)(5) ...................... 42 U.S.C. 4910(a)(2) ........................ 42 U.S.C. 6928(a)(3) ........................ ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 Statutory civil monetary penalties for violations that occur or occurred after November 2, 2015, where penalties are assessed on or after December 27, 2023 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. 6928(c) ............................ 6928(g) ............................ 6928(h)(2) ........................ 6934(e) ............................ 6973(b) ............................ 6991e(a)(3) ...................... 6991e(d)(1) ...................... 6991e(d)(2) ...................... 7413(b) ............................ 7413(d)(1) ........................ 7413(d)(3) ........................ 7524(a) ............................ 7524(c)(1) ........................ 7545(d)(1) ........................ 9604(e)(5)(B) ................... 42 42 42 42 42 U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. 9606(b)(1) ........................ 9609(a)(1) ........................ 9609(b) ............................ 9609(c) ............................ 11045(a) .......................... 42 U.S.C. 11045(b)(1)(A) ................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Dec 26, 2023 Statutory civil monetary penalties for violations that occurred after November 2, 2015, where penalties were assessed on or after January 6, 2023, but before December 27, 2023 Statutory civil monetary penalties, as enacted $24,255 $23,494 $5,000 3,558/2,293/3,558 48,512 3,446/2,221/3,446 46,989 1,000/500/1,000 25,000 13,946 11,524 13,946 13,508 11,162 13,508 5,000 5,000 5,000 13,946 66,712 26,685/66,712 26,685/333,552 23,048/57,617 23,048/288,080 57,617/2,304 57,617 57,617 230,464/6,913 1,535 13,508 64,618 25,847/64,618 25,847/323,081 22,324/55,808 22,324/279,036 55,808/2,232 55,808 55,808 223,229/6,696 1,487 5,000 25,000 10,000/25,000 10,000/125,000 10,000/25,000 10,000/125,000 25,000/1,000 25,000 25,000 100,000/3,000 600 242,550/319,953 17,683/44,206 234,936/309,909 17,128/42,818 50,000/125,000 10,000/25,000 17,683/221,026 17,128/214,087 10,000/125,000 CACSO ........................................................... 44,206 42,818 25,000 ACT TO PREVENT POLLUTION FROM SHIPS (APPS). APPS .............................................................. SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT (SDWA) ...... SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. SDWA ............................................................. RESIDENTIAL LEAD–BASED PAINT HAZARD REDUCTION ACT OF 1992. NOISE CONTROL ACT OF 1972 .................. RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT (RCRA). RCRA ............................................................. RCRA ............................................................. RCRA ............................................................. RCRA ............................................................. RCRA ............................................................. RCRA ............................................................. RCRA ............................................................. RCRA ............................................................. CLEAN AIR ACT (CAA) ................................. CAA ................................................................ CAA ................................................................ CAA ................................................................ CAA ................................................................ CAA ................................................................ COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY ACT (CERCLA). CERCLA ......................................................... CERCLA ......................................................... CERCLA ......................................................... CERCLA ......................................................... EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RIGHT–TO–KNOW ACT (EPCRA). EPCRA ........................................................... 90,702 87,855 25,000 18,139 69,733 69,733 13,946/48,586 48,586 69,733 27,894/348,671 13,946/348,671 24,255/51,744 29,154 169,700/1,697,012 12,127 69,733 48,586 12,799/127,983 21,699 17,570 67,544 67,544 13,508/47,061 47,061 67,544 27,018/337,725 13,508/337,725 23,494/50,120 28,239 164,373/1,643,738 11,746 67,544 47,061 12,397/123,965 21,018 5,000 25,000 25,000 5,000/25,000 25,000 25,000 10,000/125,000 5,000/125,000 5,000/10,000 15,000 100,000/1,000,000 2,500 25,000 25,000 5,000/50,000 10,000 45,850 121,275 44,411 117,468 10,000 25,000 73,045 90,702 73,045 18,139 18,139 73,045 29,221 29,221 121,275 57,617/460,926 11,524 57,617/5,761 460,926 57,617 69,733 70,752 87,855 70,752 17,570 17,570 70,752 28,304 28,304 117,468 55,808/446,456 11,162 55,808/5,580 446,456 55,808 67,544 25,000 25,000 25,000 5,000 5,000 25,000 10,000 10,000 25,000 25,000/200,000 5,000 25,000/2,500 200,000 25,000 25,000 69,733 69,733 69,733/209,202 69,733/209,202 69,733 67,544 67,544 67,544/202,635 67,544/202,635 67,544 25,000 25,000 25,000/75,000 25,000/75,000 25,000 69,733 67,544 25,000 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\27DER1.SGM 27DER1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 27, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 89313 TABLE 1 OF § 19.4—CIVIL MONETARY PENALTY INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS—Continued U.S. Code citation 42 42 42 42 42 42 U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. U.S.C. 11045(b)(2) 11045(b)(3) 11045(c)(1) 11045(c)(2) 11045(d)(1) 14304(a)(1) Statutory civil monetary penalties for violations that occur or occurred after November 2, 2015, where penalties are assessed on or after December 27, 2023 Environmental statute ...................... ...................... ...................... ...................... ...................... ...................... 42 U.S.C. 14304(g) .......................... EPCRA ........................................................... EPCRA ........................................................... EPCRA ........................................................... EPCRA ........................................................... EPCRA ........................................................... MERCURY-CONTAINING AND RECHARGEABLE BATTERY MANAGEMENT ACT (BATTERY ACT). BATTERY ACT ............................................... Statutory civil monetary penalties for violations that occurred after November 2, 2015, where penalties were assessed on or after January 6, 2023, but before December 27, 2023 Statutory civil monetary penalties, as enacted 69,733/209,202 69,733/209,202 69,733 27,894 69,733 19,437 67,544/202,635 67,544/202,635 67,544 27,018 67,544 18,827 25,000/75,000 25,000/75,000 25,000 10,000 25,000 10,000 19,437 18,827 10,000 1 Note that 7 U.S.C. 136l(a)(2) contains three separate statutory maximum civil penalty provisions. The first mention of $1,000 and the $500 statutory maximum civil penalty amount were originally enacted in 1978 (Pub. L. 95–396), and the second mention of $1,000 was enacted in 1972 (Pub. L. 92–516). * * * * * [FR Doc. 2023–28555 Filed 12–26–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 [Docket No. 231219–0311] RIN 0648–BM60 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan; 2024 Specifications and Management Measures Corrections National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: This rule corrects 2024 harvest specifications for several species of groundfish where the numerical values were mathematically calculated incorrectly and do not accurately reflect the harvest policy recommendations of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council). These harvest specifications are for groundfish caught in the U.S. exclusive economic zone seaward of Washington, Oregon, and California, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP). This rule revises harvest limits or allocations that were previously calculated based on incorrect annual catch limits (ACLs). This action implements corrected ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Dec 26, 2023 Jkt 262001 numerical values that align with the Council’s intended harvest policy decisions and considers the most recent fishery information available at the time those policies were recommended. DATES: This final rule is effective December 27, 2023. ADDRESSES: This rule is accessible via the internet at the Office of the Federal Register website at https:// www.federalregister.gov/. Background information and documents including an analysis for the policy decisions underpinning this action (Analysis), which addresses the statutory requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act are available from the Council’s website at https://www.pcouncil.org. The final 2022 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for Pacific Coast groundfish, as well as the SAFE reports for previous years, are available from the Council’s website at https://www.pcouncil.org. The final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Regulatory Impact Review from the 2023–2024 harvest specifications is available from the NMFS website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/ west-coast. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Hanshew, Fishery Management Specialist, at 206–526– 6147 or gretchen.hanshew@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background This final rule corrects the numerical values of harvest specifications and resulting harvest target management measures for six species or stock complexes for 2024. The harvest policies by which these numerical values are derived were recommended by the Council at its April and June 2022 meetings and published in a proposed rule on October 14, 2022 (87 FR 62676) and final rule on December PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 16, 2022 (87 FR 77007). Hereafter, these proposed and final rules for the 2023– 2024 harvest specifications and management measures will be referred to as the ‘‘original’’ proposed and final rules. In the original proposed and final rules, numerical values were miscalculated for a small subset (six species or stock complexes) of those harvest specifications and harvest target management measures regulations for 127 groundfish stocks or management units. Numerical values were either too high (increasing risk of overfishing) or too low (increasing risk of not achieving optimum yield). Specific details on the errors and corrected values for each species or stock complex are discussed in detail in the proposed rule for this action (88 FR 73810, October 27, 2023). The harvest policies used to calculate the numerical values of the corrected harvest specifications and harvest target management measures in this rule are not revised from those described in the original proposed and final rules for the 2023–2024 harvest specifications and management measures. The Council recommended these corrections at its September 2023 meeting. Corrections to Harvest Specifications and Harvest Targets As described in the proposed rule (88 FR 73810, October 27, 2023) a few species and stock complex harvest specifications, which are numerical values of the harvestable surplus and include overfishing limits (OFLs), annual biological catch (ABCs), and ACLs, were calculated in error. Subsequent harvest target calculations that stem from the ACLs were also erroneous. This final rule corrects the numerical values of harvest specifications and applies the same sharing agreements to corrected ACLs to recalculate harvest targets. The OFLs, E:\FR\FM\27DER1.SGM 27DER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 27, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 89309-89313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28555]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 19

[FRL-5906.8-01-OECA]


Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is promulgating this 
final rule to adjust the level of the maximum (and minimum) statutory 
civil monetary penalty amounts under the statutes the EPA administers. 
This action is mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended through the Federal Civil Penalties 
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (``the 2015 Act''). 
The 2015 Act prescribes a formula for annually adjusting the statutory 
maximum (and minimum) amount of civil monetary penalties to reflect 
inflation, maintain the deterrent effect of statutory civil monetary 
penalties, and promote compliance with the law. The rule does not 
establish specific civil monetary penalty amounts the EPA may seek in 
particular cases. The EPA calculates those amounts, as appropriate, 
based on the facts of particular cases and applicable agency penalty 
policies. The EPA's civil penalty policies, which guide enforcement 
personnel on how to exercise the EPA's discretion within statutory 
penalty authorities, take into account a number of fact-specific 
considerations, e.g., the seriousness of the violation, the violator's 
good faith efforts to comply, any economic benefit gained by the 
violator as a result of its noncompliance, and the violator's ability 
to pay.

DATES: This final rule is effective December 27, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Smith-Watts, Office of Civil 
Enforcement, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Mail Code 
2241A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20460, telephone number: (202) 564-4083; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The 2015 Act \1\ requires each Federal agency to adjust the 
statutory civil monetary penalties under the laws implemented by that 
agency annually, to account for inflation. Section 4 of the 2015 Act 
requires each Federal agency to publish these adjustments by January 15 
of each year. The purpose of the 2015 Act is to maintain the deterrent 
effect of civil monetary penalties by translating originally enacted 
statutory civil penalty amounts to today's dollars and rounding 
statutory civil penalties to the nearest dollar.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act 
Improvements Act of 2015 (Section 701 of Pub. L.114-74) was signed 
into law on November 2, 2015, and amended the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Since January 15, 2017, the EPA has made seven annual adjustments: 
(1) on January 12, 2017, effective on January 15, 2017 (82 FR 3633); 
(2) on January 10, 2018, effective on January 15, 2018 (83 FR 1190); 
(3) on February 6, 2019, effective the same day (84 FR 2056), with a 
subsequent correction on February 25, 2019 (84 FR 5955); (4) on January 
13, 2020, effective the same day (85 FR 1751); (5) on December 23, 
2020, effective the same day (85 FR 83818); (6) on January 12, 2022, 
effective the same day (87 FR 1676); and (7) on January 6, 2023, 
effective the same day (88 FR 986). This rule implements the eighth 
annual adjustment mandated by the 2015 Act.

[[Page 89310]]

    The 2015 Act provides a formula for calculating the adjustments. 
Each statutory maximum and minimum \2\ civil monetary penalty, as 
currently adjusted, is multiplied by the cost-of-living adjustment 
multiplier, which is the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index 
for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the month of October 2023 exceeds 
the CPI-U for the month of October 2022.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Under Section 3(2)(A) of the 2015 Act, a ```civil monetary 
penalty' [is] 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.'' EPA-administered 
statutes generally refer to statutory maximum penalties, with the 
following exceptions: Section 311(b)(7)(D) of the Clean Water Act, 
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(D), refers to a minimum penalty of ``not less 
than $100,000. . .''; Section 104b(d)(1)(A) of the Marine 
Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, 33 U.S.C. 1414b(d)(1)(A), 
refers to an exact penalty of $600 ``[f]or each dry ton (or 
equivalent) of sewage sludge or industrial waste dumped or 
transported by the person in violation of this subsection in 
calendar year 1992. . .''; and Section 325(d)(1) of the Emergency 
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. 11045(d)(1), 
refers to an exact civil penalty of $25,000 for each frivolous trade 
secret claim.
    \3\ Current and historical CPI-U's can be found on the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics' websites here: https://www.bls.gov/cpi/tables/supplemental-files/historical-cpi-u-202309.pdf and https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With this rule, the new statutory maximum and minimum penalty 
levels listed in the third column of Table 1 of 40 CFR 19.4 will apply 
to all civil monetary penalties assessed on or after December 27, 2023, 
for violations that occurred after November 2, 2015, the date the 2015 
Act was enacted. The former maximum and minimum statutory civil 
monetary penalty levels, which are in the fourth column of Table 1 to 
40 CFR 19.4, will now apply only to violations that occurred after 
November 2, 2015, where the penalties were assessed on or after January 
6, 2023, but before December 27, 2023. The statutory civil monetary 
penalty levels that apply to violations that occurred on or before 
November 2, 2015, are codified at Table 2 to 40 CFR 19.4. The fifth 
column of Table 1 and the seventh column of Table 2 display the 
statutory civil monetary penalty levels as originally enacted.
    The formula for determining the cost-of-living or inflation 
adjustment to statutory civil monetary penalties consists of the 
following steps:
    Step 1: The cost-of-living adjustment multiplier for 2024 is the 
percentage by which the CPI-U of October 2023 (307.671) exceeds the 
CPI-U for the month of October 2022 (298.012), which is 1.03241.\4\ 
Multiply 1.03241 by the current penalty amount. This is the raw 
adjusted penalty value.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Section 5(b) of the 2015 Act provides that the term ``cost-
of-living adjustment'' means the percentage (if any) for each civil 
monetary penalty by which--
    (A) the Consumer Price Index for the month of October preceding 
the date of the adjustment, exceeds
    (B) the Consumer Price Index for the month of October 1 year 
before the month of October referred to in subparagraph (A).
    Because the CPI-U for October 2023 is 307.671 and the CPI-U for 
October 2022 is 298.012, the cost-of-living multiplier is 1.03241 
(307.671 divided by 298.012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Step 2: Round the raw adjusted penalty value. Section 5 of the 2015 
Act states that any adjustment shall be rounded to the nearest multiple 
of $1. The result is the final penalty value for the year.

II. The 2015 Act Requires Federal Agencies To Publish Annual Penalty 
Inflation Adjustments Notwithstanding Section 553 of the Administrative 
Procedure Act

    Pursuant to section 4 of the 2015 Act, each Federal agency is 
required to publish adjustments no later than January 15 each year. In 
accordance with section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 
5 U.S.C. 553, most rules are subject to notice and comment and are 
effective no earlier than 30 days after publication in the Federal 
Register. However, section 4(b)(2) of the 2015 Act provides that each 
agency shall make the annual inflation adjustments ``notwithstanding 
section 553'' of the APA. Consistent with the language of the 2015 Act, 
this rule is not subject to notice and an opportunity for public 
comment and will be effective on December 27, 2023.

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Additional information about these statutes and Executive orders 
can be found at https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/laws-and-executive-orders.

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 14094: Modernizing Regulatory Review

    This action is not a significant regulatory action as defined in 
Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094, and was 
therefore not subject to a requirement for Executive Order 12866 
review.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This action does not impose an information collection burden under 
the PRA. This rule merely increases the level of statutory civil 
monetary penalties that can be imposed in the context of a Federal 
civil administrative enforcement action or civil judicial case for 
violations of EPA-administered statutes and their implementing 
regulations.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    This action is not subject to the RFA. The RFA applies only to 
rules subject to notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other statute. 
Because the 2015 Act directs Federal agencies to publish this rule 
notwithstanding section 553 of the APA, this rule is not subject to 
notice and comment requirements or the RFA.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in 
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. This action is required by the 2015 Act, without the 
exercise of any policy discretion by the EPA. This action also imposes 
no enforceable duty on any state, local or tribal governments or the 
private sector. Because the calculation of any increase is formula-
driven pursuant to the 2015 Act, the EPA has no policy discretion to 
vary the amount of the adjustment.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have 
a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between 
the National Government and the States, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action does not have Tribal implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13175. This rule merely reconciles the real value of 
current statutory civil monetary penalty levels to reflect and keep 
pace with the levels originally set by Congress when the statutes were 
enacted or amended. The calculation of the increases is formula-driven 
and prescribed by statute, and the EPA has no discretion to vary the 
amount of the adjustment to reflect any views or suggestions provided 
by commenters. Accordingly, this rule will not have a substantial 
direct effect on tribal governments, 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. 
Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action.

[[Page 89311]]

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks

    The EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 as applying only to those 
regulatory actions that concern environmental health or safety risks 
that the EPA has reason to believe may disproportionately affect 
children, per the definition of ``covered regulatory action'' in 
section 2-202 of the Executive order. This action is not subject to 
Executive Order 13045 because it does not concern an environmental 
health risk or safety risk. Since this action does not concern human 
health, EPA's Policy on Children's Health also does not apply.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution or Use

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, because it is 
not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

    The rulemaking does not involve technical standards.

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations and 
Executive Order 14096: Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to 
Environmental Justice for All

    The EPA believes that this type of action does not concern human 
health or environmental conditions and therefore cannot be evaluated 
with respect to potentially disproportionate and adverse effects on 
communities with environmental justice concerns. As mandated by the 
2015 Act, this rule adjusts for inflation the statutory civil monetary 
penalty amounts of the statutes administered by the EPA.
    EPA acknowledges that the annual mandatory increase in civil 
penalty amounts to account for inflation may result in further 
deterrents of environmental violations that may trigger civil 
penalties. Deterring violations has the benefit of promoting the 
overarching purpose of environmental enforcement and may have a 
positive impact on the human health or environment of all populations 
including communities with environmental justice concerns.

K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)

    This action is subject to the CRA, and the EPA will submit a rule 
report to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of 
the United States. The CRA allows the issuing agency to make a rule 
effective sooner than otherwise provided by the CRA if the agency makes 
a good cause finding that notice and comment rulemaking procedures are 
impracticable, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest (5 U.S.C. 
808(2)). The EPA finds that the APA's notice and comment rulemaking 
procedures are unnecessary because the 2015 Act directs Federal 
agencies to publish their annual penalty inflation adjustments 
``notwithstanding section 553 [of the APA].''

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 19

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Penalties.

Michael S. Regan,
Administrator.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the EPA amends title 40, 
chapter I, part 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 19--ADJUSTMENT OF CIVIL MONETARY PENALTIES FOR INFLATION

0
1. The authority citation for part 19 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  Pub. L. 101-410, Oct. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 890, as 
amended by Pub. L. 104-134, title III, sec. 31001(s)(1), Apr. 26, 
1996, 110 Stat. 1321-373; Pub. L. 105-362, title XIII, sec. 1301(a), 
Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3293; Pub. L. 114-74, title VII, sec. 
701(b), Nov. 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 599.


0
2. Revise Sec.  19.2 to read as follows:


Sec.  19.2  Effective date.

    (a) The statutory civil monetary penalty levels set forth in the 
third column of Table 1 of Sec.  19.4 apply to all violations which 
occur or occurred after November 2, 2015, where the penalties are 
assessed on or after December 27, 2023. The statutory civil monetary 
penalty levels set forth in the fourth column of Table 1 of Sec.  19.4 
apply to all violations which occurred after November 2, 2015, where 
the penalties were assessed on or after January 6, 2023, but before 
December 27, 2023.
    (b) The statutory monetary penalty levels in the third column of 
Table 2 to Sec.  19.4 apply to all violations which occurred after 
December 6, 2013, through November 2, 2015, and to violations occurring 
after November 2, 2015, where penalties were assessed before August 1, 
2016. The statutory civil monetary penalty levels set forth in the 
fourth column of Table 2 of Sec.  19.4 apply to all violations which 
occurred after January 12, 2009, through December 6, 2013. The 
statutory civil monetary penalty levels set forth in the fifth column 
of Table 2 of Sec.  19.4 apply to all violations which occurred after 
March 15, 2004, through January 12, 2009. The statutory civil monetary 
penalty levels set forth in the sixth column of Table 2 of Sec.  19.4 
apply to all violations which occurred after January 30, 1997, through 
March 15, 2004.

0
3. Revise the section heading, introductory text, and Table 1 of Sec.  
19.4 to read as follows:


Sec.  19.4  Statutory civil monetary penalties, as adjusted for 
inflation, and tables.

    Table 1 of this section sets out the statutory civil monetary 
penalty provisions of statutes administered by the EPA, with the third 
column setting out the latest operative statutory civil monetary 
penalty levels for violations that occur or occurred after November 2, 
2015, where penalties are assessed on or after December 27, 2023. The 
fourth column displays the operative statutory civil monetary penalty 
levels where penalties were assessed on or after January 6, 2023, but 
before December 27, 2023. Table 2 of this section sets out the 
statutory civil monetary penalty provision of statutes administered by 
the EPA, with the operative statutory civil monetary penalty levels, as 
adjusted for inflation, for violations that occurred on or before 
November 2, 2015, and for violations that occurred after November 2, 
2015, where penalties were assessed before August 1, 2016.

[[Page 89312]]



                                          Table 1 of Sec.   19.4--Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            Statutory civil
                                                                                   Statutory civil      monetary  penalties for
                                                                                monetary penalties for      violations  that
                                                                                violations that occur   occurred after November
                                                                                  or occurred  after        2, 2015,  where          Statutory civil
             U.S. Code citation                    Environmental statute          November 2, 2015,          penalties were      monetary  penalties, as
                                                                                 where penalties are      assessed on or after           enacted
                                                                                 assessed on or after     January 6, 2023, but
                                                                                  December 27, 2023       before December 27,
                                                                                                                  2023
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 U.S.C. 136l(a)(1).........................  FEDERAL INSECTICIDE, FUNGICIDE,                  $24,255                  $23,494                   $5,000
                                               AND RODENTICIDE ACT (FIFRA).
7 U.S.C. 136l(a)(2) \1\.....................  FIFRA..........................        3,558/2,293/3,558        3,446/2,221/3,446          1,000/500/1,000
15 U.S.C. 2615(a)(1)........................  TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT                      48,512                   46,989                   25,000
                                               (TSCA).
15 U.S.C. 2647(a)...........................  TSCA...........................                   13,946                   13,508                    5,000
15 U.S.C. 2647(g)...........................  TSCA...........................                   11,524                   11,162                    5,000
31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(1)........................  PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL REMEDIES                      13,946                   13,508                    5,000
                                               ACT (PFCRA).
31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(2)........................  PFCRA..........................                   13,946                   13,508                    5,000
33 U.S.C. 1319(d)...........................  CLEAN WATER ACT (CWA)..........                   66,712                   64,618                   25,000
33 U.S.C. 1319(g)(2)(A).....................  CWA............................            26,685/66,712            25,847/64,618            10,000/25,000
33 U.S.C. 1319(g)(2)(B).....................  CWA............................           26,685/333,552           25,847/323,081           10,000/125,000
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(i)..................  CWA............................            23,048/57,617            22,324/55,808            10,000/25,000
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii).................  CWA............................           23,048/288,080           22,324/279,036           10,000/125,000
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(A).....................  CWA............................             57,617/2,304             55,808/2,232             25,000/1,000
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(B).....................  CWA............................                   57,617                   55,808                   25,000
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(C).....................  CWA............................                   57,617                   55,808                   25,000
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(D).....................  CWA............................            230,464/6,913            223,229/6,696            100,000/3,000
33 U.S.C. 1414b(d)(1)(A)....................  MARINE PROTECTION, RESEARCH,                       1,535                    1,487                      600
                                               AND SANCTUARIES ACT (MPRSA).
33 U.S.C. 1415(a)...........................  MPRSA..........................          242,550/319,953          234,936/309,909           50,000/125,000
33 U.S.C. 1901 note (see 1409(a)(2)(A)).....  CERTAIN ALASKAN CRUISE SHIP                17,683/44,206            17,128/42,818            10,000/25,000
                                               OPERATIONS (CACSO).
33 U.S.C. 1901 note (see 1409(a)(2)(B)).....  CACSO..........................           17,683/221,026           17,128/214,087           10,000/125,000
33 U.S.C. 1901 note (see 1409(b)(1))........  CACSO..........................                   44,206                   42,818                   25,000
33 U.S.C. 1908(b)(1)........................  ACT TO PREVENT POLLUTION FROM                     90,702                   87,855                   25,000
                                               SHIPS (APPS).
33 U.S.C. 1908(b)(2)........................  APPS...........................                   18,139                   17,570                    5,000
42 U.S.C. 300g-3(b).........................  SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT (SDWA).                   69,733                   67,544                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 300g-3(g)(3)(A)...................  SDWA...........................                   69,733                   67,544                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 300g-3(g)(3)(B)...................  SDWA...........................            13,946/48,586            13,508/47,061             5,000/25,000
42 U.S.C. 300g-3(g)(3)(C)...................  SDWA...........................                   48,586                   47,061                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 300h-2(b)(1)......................  SDWA...........................                   69,733                   67,544                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 300h-2(c)(1)......................  SDWA...........................           27,894/348,671           27,018/337,725           10,000/125,000
42 U.S.C. 300h-2(c)(2)......................  SDWA...........................           13,946/348,671           13,508/337,725            5,000/125,000
42 U.S.C. 300h-3(c).........................  SDWA...........................            24,255/51,744            23,494/50,120             5,000/10,000
42 U.S.C. 300i(b)...........................  SDWA...........................                   29,154                   28,239                   15,000
42 U.S.C. 300i-1(c).........................  SDWA...........................        169,700/1,697,012        164,373/1,643,738        100,000/1,000,000
42 U.S.C. 300j(e)(2)........................  SDWA...........................                   12,127                   11,746                    2,500
42 U.S.C. 300j-4(c).........................  SDWA...........................                   69,733                   67,544                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 300j-6(b)(2)......................  SDWA...........................                   48,586                   47,061                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 300j-23(d)........................  SDWA...........................           12,799/127,983           12,397/123,965             5,000/50,000
42 U.S.C. 4852d(b)(5).......................  RESIDENTIAL LEAD-BASED PAINT                      21,699                   21,018                   10,000
                                               HAZARD REDUCTION ACT OF 1992.
42 U.S.C. 4910(a)(2)........................  NOISE CONTROL ACT OF 1972......                   45,850                   44,411                   10,000
42 U.S.C. 6928(a)(3)........................  RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND                        121,275                  117,468                   25,000
                                               RECOVERY ACT (RCRA).
42 U.S.C. 6928(c)...........................  RCRA...........................                   73,045                   70,752                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 6928(g)...........................  RCRA...........................                   90,702                   87,855                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 6928(h)(2)........................  RCRA...........................                   73,045                   70,752                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 6934(e)...........................  RCRA...........................                   18,139                   17,570                    5,000
42 U.S.C. 6973(b)...........................  RCRA...........................                   18,139                   17,570                    5,000
42 U.S.C. 6991e(a)(3).......................  RCRA...........................                   73,045                   70,752                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 6991e(d)(1).......................  RCRA...........................                   29,221                   28,304                   10,000
42 U.S.C. 6991e(d)(2).......................  RCRA...........................                   29,221                   28,304                   10,000
42 U.S.C. 7413(b)...........................  CLEAN AIR ACT (CAA)............                  121,275                  117,468                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 7413(d)(1)........................  CAA............................           57,617/460,926           55,808/446,456           25,000/200,000
42 U.S.C. 7413(d)(3)........................  CAA............................                   11,524                   11,162                    5,000
42 U.S.C. 7524(a)...........................  CAA............................             57,617/5,761             55,808/5,580             25,000/2,500
42 U.S.C. 7524(c)(1)........................  CAA............................                  460,926                  446,456                  200,000
42 U.S.C. 7545(d)(1)........................  CAA............................                   57,617                   55,808                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 9604(e)(5)(B).....................  COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL                       69,733                   67,544                   25,000
                                               RESPONSE, COMPENSATION, AND
                                               LIABILITY ACT (CERCLA).
42 U.S.C. 9606(b)(1)........................  CERCLA.........................                   69,733                   67,544                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 9609(a)(1)........................  CERCLA.........................                   69,733                   67,544                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 9609(b)...........................  CERCLA.........................           69,733/209,202           67,544/202,635            25,000/75,000
42 U.S.C. 9609(c)...........................  CERCLA.........................           69,733/209,202           67,544/202,635            25,000/75,000
42 U.S.C. 11045(a)..........................  EMERGENCY PLANNING AND                            69,733                   67,544                   25,000
                                               COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT
                                               (EPCRA).
42 U.S.C. 11045(b)(1)(A)....................  EPCRA..........................                   69,733                   67,544                   25,000

[[Page 89313]]

 
42 U.S.C. 11045(b)(2).......................  EPCRA..........................           69,733/209,202           67,544/202,635            25,000/75,000
42 U.S.C. 11045(b)(3).......................  EPCRA..........................           69,733/209,202           67,544/202,635            25,000/75,000
42 U.S.C. 11045(c)(1).......................  EPCRA..........................                   69,733                   67,544                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 11045(c)(2).......................  EPCRA..........................                   27,894                   27,018                   10,000
42 U.S.C. 11045(d)(1).......................  EPCRA..........................                   69,733                   67,544                   25,000
42 U.S.C. 14304(a)(1).......................  MERCURY-CONTAINING AND                            19,437                   18,827                   10,000
                                               RECHARGEABLE BATTERY
                                               MANAGEMENT ACT (BATTERY ACT).
42 U.S.C. 14304(g)..........................  BATTERY ACT....................                   19,437                   18,827                   10,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Note that 7 U.S.C. 136l(a)(2) contains three separate statutory maximum civil penalty provisions. The first mention of $1,000 and the $500 statutory
  maximum civil penalty amount were originally enacted in 1978 (Pub. L. 95-396), and the second mention of $1,000 was enacted in 1972 (Pub. L. 92-516).

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2023-28555 Filed 12-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.