Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment Rule: Correcting Amendment
Federal Register: January 7, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 4)
Rules and Regulations
Page 626-629
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr07ja09-3
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 19
FRL-8760-4
RIN 2020-AA46
Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment Rule
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule; correction.
SUMMARY: This action contains a minor correction to the final Civil
Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment Rule, which was published on
December 11, 2008 (73 FR 75340) and will be effective on January 12, 2009. As mandated by the Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA), the rule adjusts for inflation the statutory civil penalties that may be assessed for violations of EPA-administered statutes and their implementing regulations. A corrected version of Table 1 of the regulation appears at the end of this action.
DATES: This correction is effective January 12, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Abdalla, Special Litigation and
Projects Division (2248A), Office of Civil Enforcement, Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 564- 2413.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
-
Background
On December 11, 2008, EPA issued the final Civil Monetary Penalty
Page 627
Inflation Adjustment Rule (``2008 penalty inflation rule'' or
``rule''), as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act of 1990, 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, as amended by the DCIA, 31
U.S.C. 3701 note, to adjust for inflation the statutory civil penalties that may be assessed for violations of EPA-administered statutes and their implementing regulations (73 FR 75340). Effective January 12, 2009, the rule at 40 CFR 19.4 adjusts, in accordance with the formula mandated by the DCIA, the maximum and the minimum amounts of each statutory civil penalty that can be imposed under EPA-administered statutes. Although the current version of 40 CFR 19.4 lists all of the penalty assessment authorities and the applicable statutory maximum amounts that can be imposed under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), 42 U.S.C. 300f-300j, EPA inadvertently deleted four SDWA statutory citations and their corresponding penalty amounts in Table 1 of the rule published on December 11, 2008.
-
Need for Correction
As published, the regulatory text in the final rule contains an error that, if not corrected, would result in an error in Table 1 of 40
CFR 19.4 in the next publication of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Specifically, the rule as published deleted: four citations to penalty authorities under the SDWA; the statutory maximum penalties that can be assessed under the SDWA, as enacted; and the statutory maximum penalties that can be assessed pursuant to the penalty inflation adjustment rules published by EPA in 1996, 2004 and 2008 (see 61 FR 69360 (December 31, 1996); 69 FR 7121 (February 13, 2004); and 73 FR 75340 (December 11, 2008)).
The penalty inflation adjustment rules, including the 2008 rule, are mandated by the DCIA, which requires each federal agency to apply statutorily prescribed formula to calculate inflation-adjusted penalties. Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedures Act
(APA), 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), provides that, when an Agency for good cause finds that notice and public comment are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, the Agency may issue a rule without providing notice and an opportunity for public comment. In the December 11, 2008 notice, EPA found good cause, pursuant to APA
Section 553(b)(3)(B), that soliciting public comment prior to the publication of the final rule was not necessary because EPA is carrying out a ministerial, non-discretionary duty pursuant to a mandate from
Congress under the DCIA. Because the Agency has no discretion under the
DCIA to vary the amount of any penalty adjustment to reflect any views or suggestions provided by public commenters, EPA decided that there would be no purpose in providing an opportunity for public comment on the 2008 penalty inflation rule.
This action merely amends Table 1 of 40 CFR 19.4 to reinsert the four missing SDWA penalty authorities, together with their corresponding statutory maximum penalty amounts since the SDWA was originally enacted, and reflect that the penalties in effect after
January 12, 2009 under these authorities have been adjusted in accordance with the DCIA's non-discretionary formula. Accordingly, like the 2008 penalty inflation rule, EPA has determined that there is good cause for making this action final without prior proposal and opportunity for comment because the change to the rule is a minor technical correction, is non-controversial, and merely applies the formula mandated under the DCIA. Similarly, because this change is technical in nature and is consistent with the statutorily mandated formula applied in the 2008 penalty inflation rule, EPA has also determined that this technical correction rule meets the ``good cause'' exception to the effective date requirements of section 553(d) of the
APA. Consequently, this technical correction will be effective on
January 12, 2009, the same date the 2008 penalty inflation rule will take effect.
-
Corrections to Publication
In FR Doc. E8-29380 appearing on page 75345 in the Federal Register of December 11, 2008, the following correction is made:
Table 1 of Section 19.4 [Corrected]
Beginning on page 75345, Table 1 of Section 19.4--Civil Monetary
Penalty Inflation Adjustments, is corrected to read as follows:
Sec. 19.4 Penalty adjustment and table.
* * * * *
Table 1--of Section 19.4 Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustments
Penalties
Penalties
effective
Statutory
effective
after March
Penalties
U.S. code citation
Environmental penalties, as after January
15, 2004
effective statute
enacted
30, 1997
through
after January through March
January 12,
12, 2009 15, 2004
2009
7 U.S.C. 136l.(a)(1).......... FEDERAL
$5,000
$5,500
$6,500
$7,500
INSECTICIDE,
FUNGICIDE, AND
RODENTICIDE ACT
(FIFRA). 7 U.S.C. 136l.(a)(2).......... FIFRA...........
500/1,000
550/1,000
650/1,100
750/1,100 15 U.S.C. 2615(a)(1).......... TOXIC SUBSTANCES
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500
CONTROL ACT
(TSCA). 15 U.S.C. 2647(a)............. TSCA............
5,000
5,500
6,500
7,500 15 U.S.C. 2647(g)............. TSCA............
5,000
5,000
5,500
7,500 31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(1).......... PROGRAM FRAUD
5,000
5,500
6,500
7,500
CIVIL REMEDIES
ACT (PFCRA). 31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(2).......... PFCRA...........
5,000
5,500
6,500
7,500 33 U.S.C. 1319(d)............. CLEAN WATER ACT
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500
(CWA). 33 U.S.C. 1319(g)(2)(A)....... CWA............. 10,000/25,000
11,000/ 11,000/32,500 16,000/37,500 27,500 33 U.S.C. 1319(g)(2)(B)....... CWA............. 10,000/125,000 11,000/137,500 11,000/157,500 16,000/177,500 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(i).... CWA............. 10,000/25,000 11,000 /27,500 11,000/32,500 16,000/37,500 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii)... CWA............. 10,000/125,000 11,000/137,500 11,000/157,500 16,000/177,500 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(A)....... CWA............. 25,000/1,000 27,500/1,100 32,500/1,100 37,500/1,100 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(B)....... CWA.............
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(C)....... CWA.............
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500
Page 628
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(D)....... CWA............. 100,000/3,000 110,000/3,300 130,000/4,300 140,000/4,300 33 U.S.C. 1415(a)............. MARINE
50,000/125,000 55,000/137,500 65,000/157,500 70,000/177,500
PROTECTION,
RESEARCH, AND
SANCTUARIES ACT
(MPRSA). 33 U.S.C. 1414b(d)(1) \1\..... MPRSA...........
600
660
760
860 33 U.S.C. 1901 note (see
CERTAIN ALASKAN 10,000/25,000
\2\ 10,000/ 10,000/25,000 11,000/27,500 1409(a)(2)(A)).
CRUISE SHIP
25,000
OPERATIONS
(CACSO). 33 U.S.C. 1901 note (see
CACSO........... 10,000/125,000 10,000/125,000 10,000/125,000 11,000/137,500 1409(a)(2)(B)). 33 U.S.C. 1901 note (see
CACSO...........
25,000
25,000
25,000
27,500 1409(b)(1)). 42 U.S.C. 300g-3(b)........... SAFE DRINKING
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500
WATER ACT
(SDWA). 42 U.S.C. 300g-3(g)(3)(A)..... SDWA............
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 300g-3(g)(3)(B)..... SDWA............ 5,000/25,000 5,000/25,000 6,000/27,500 7,000/32,500 42 U.S.C. 300g-3(g)(3)(C)..... SDWA............
25,000
25,000
27,500
32,500 42 U.S.C. 300h-2(b)(1)........ SDWA............
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 300h-2(c)(1)........ SDWA............ 10,000/125,000 11,000/137,500 11,000/157,500 16,000/177,500 42 U.S.C. 300h-2(c)(2)........ SDWA............ 5,000/125,000 5,500/137,500 6,500/157,500 7,500/177,500 42 U.S.C. 300h-3(c)........... SDWA............ 5,000/10,000 5,500/11,000 6,500/11,000 7,500/16,000 42 U.S.C. 300i(b)............. SDWA............
15,000
15,000
16,500
16,500 42 U.S.C. 300i-1(c)........... SDWA............ 20,000/50,000
\3\ 22,000/
100,000/
110,000/ 55,000
1,000,000
1,100,000 42 U.S.C. 300j(e)(2).......... SDWA............
2,500
2,750
2,750
3,750 42 U.S.C. 300j-4(c)........... SDWA............
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 300j-6(b)(2)........ SDWA............
25,000
25,000
27,500
32,500 42 U.S.C. 300j-23(d).......... SDWA............ 5,000/50,000 5,500/55,000 6,500/65,000 7,500/70,000 42 U.S.C. 4852d(b)(5)......... RESIDENTIAL LEAD-
10,000
11,000
11,000
16,000
BASED PAINT
HAZARD
REDUCTION ACT
OF 1992. 42 U.S.C. 4910(a)(2).......... NOISE CONTROL
10,000
11,000
11,000
16,000
ACT OF 1972. 42 U.S.C. 6928(a)(3).......... RESOURCE
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500
CONSERVATION
AND RECOVERY
ACT (RCRA). 42 U.S.C. 6928(c)............. RCRA............
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 6928(g)............. RCRA............
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 6928(h)(2).......... RCRA............
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 6934(e)............. RCRA............
5,000
5,500
6,500
7,500 42 U.S.C. 6973(b)............. RCRA............
5,000
5,500
6,500
7,500 42 U.S.C. 6991e(a)(3)......... RCRA............
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 6991e(d)(1)......... RCRA............
10,000
11,000
11,000
16,000 42 U.S.C. 6991e(d)(2)......... RCRA............
10,000
11,000
11,000
16,000 42 U.S.C. 7413(b)............. CLEAN AIR ACT
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500
(CAA). 42 U.S.C. 7413(d)(1).......... CAA............. 25,000/200,000 27,500/220,000 32,500/270,000 37,500/295,000 42 U.S.C. 7413(d)(3).......... CAA.............
5,000
5,500
6,500
7,500 42 U.S.C. 7524(a)............. CAA............. 2,500/25,000 2,750/27,500 2,750/32,500 3,750/37,500 42 U.S.C. 7524(c)(1).......... CAA.............
200,000
220,000
270,000
295,000 42 U.S.C. 7545(d)(1).......... CAA.............
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 9604(e)(5)(B)....... COMPREHENSIVE
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500
ENVIRONMENTAL
RESPONSE,
COMPENSATION,
AND LIABILITY
ACT (CERCLA). 42 U.S.C. 9606(b)(1).......... CERCLA..........
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 9609(a)(1).......... CERCLA..........
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 9609(b)............. CERCLA.......... 25,000/75,000 27,500/82,500 32,500/97,500 37,500/107,500 42 U.S.C. 9609(c)............. CERCLA.......... 25,000/75,000 27,500/82,500 32,500/97,500 37,500/107,500 42 U.S.C. 11045(a)............ EMERGENCY
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500
PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY RIGHT-
TO-KNOW ACT
(EPCRA). 42 U.S.C. 11045(b)............ EPCRA........... 25,000/75,000 27,500/82,500 32,500/97,500 37,500/107,500 42 U.S.C. 11045(c)(1)......... EPCRA...........
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 11045(c)(2)......... EPCRA...........
10,000
11,000
11,000
16,000 42 U.S.C. 11045(d)(1)......... EPCRA...........
25,000
27,500
32,500
37,500 42 U.S.C. 14304(a)(1)......... MERCURY-
10,000
10,000
11,000
16,000
CONTAINING AND
RECHARGEABLE
BATTERY
MANAGEMENT ACT
(BATTERY ACT).
Page 629
42 U.S.C. 14304(g)............ BATTERY ACT.....
10,000
10,000
11,000
16,000
\1\ Note that 33 U.S.C. 1414b(d)(1)(B) contains additional penalty escalation provisions that must be applied to the penalty amounts set forth in this Table 1. The amounts set forth in this Table reflect an inflation adjustment to the calendar year 1992 penalty amount expressed in section 104B(d)(1)(A), which is used to calculate the applicable penalty amount under MPRSA section 104B(d)(1)(B) for violations that occur in any subsequent calendar year.
\2\ CACSO was passed on December 21, 2000 as part of Title XIV of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001,
Public Law 106-554, 33 U.S.C. 1901 note.
\3\ The original statutory penalty amounts of 20,000 and 50,000 under section 1432(c) of the Safe Drinking Water
Act, 42 U.S.C. 300i-1(c), were subsequently increased by Congress pursuant to section 403 of the Public Health
Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, Public Law No. 107-188 (June 12, 2002), to 100,000 and 1,000,000, respectively. EPA did not adjust these new penalty amounts in its 2004 Civil Monetary
Penalty Inflation Adjustment Rule (``2004 Rule''), 69 FR 7121 (February 13, 2004), because they had gone into effect less than two years prior to the 2004 Rule.
Dated: December 30, 2008.
Catherine R. McCabe,
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance.
FR Doc. E8-31452 Filed 1-6-09; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
