[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63274-63277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31267]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Parts 723, 724, 845, and 846

RIN 1029-AB90


Implementation of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule implements the Federal Civil Monetary Penalty 
Inflation

[[Page 63275]]

Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement 
Act of 1996, by adjusting for inflation, certain civil money penalties 
authorized by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 28, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy DeVito, Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement, Room 117, South Interior Building, 1951 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20240; Telephone (202) 208-
2701. E-Mail/Internet: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

A. The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996
B. Civil Money Penalties Affected by this Adjustment

II. Procedural Matters

A. Effect in Federal Program States and on Indian Lands
B. Effect on State Programs
C. Administrative Procedure Act
D. Executive Order 12866
E. Regulatory Flexibility Act
F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
G. Federal Paperwork Reduction Act
H. National Environmental Policy Act
I. Executive Order 12988 on Civil Justice Reform

I. Background

A. The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996

    In an effort to maintain the deterrent effect of civil money 
penalties (CMPs) and promote compliance with the law, the Federal Civil 
Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (the Act) (Pub. L. 
101-410) was amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 
(Pub. L. 104-134) to require Federal agencies to regularly adjust 
certain CMPs for inflation. As amended, the Act requires each agency to 
make an initial inflationary adjustment for all applicable CMPs, and to 
make further adjustments at least once every four years thereafter.
    Under the amended Act, the inflation adjustment for a CMP is 
determined by increasing the CMP by the amount of the cost-of-living 
adjustment which is defined as the percentage of each CMP by which the 
Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of June of the calendar year 
preceding the adjustment, exceeds the CPI for the month of June of the 
calendar year in which the amount of the CMP was last set or adjusted. 
The amended Act further stipulates that any resulting increases in a 
CMP due to the calculated inflation adjustments (1) Should apply only 
to violations that occur after the date the increase takes effect, and 
(2) should not exceed 10 percent of the penalty indicated.

B. Civil Money Penalties Affected By This Adjustment

    Section 518 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 
1977 (SMCRA), 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to assess CMPs for violations of SMCRA. The regulations of the 
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) implementing 
the CMP provisions of section 518 of SMCRA are located in 30 CFR 
723.14, 723.15, 724.14, 845.14, 845.15, and 846.14. Sections 723.14 and 
723.15 were promulgated on September 4, 1980 (45 FR 58783), sections 
845.14 and 845.15 on August 16, 1982 (47 FR 35640), and sections 724.14 
and 846.14 on February 8, 1988 (53 FR 3664). The CMPs have not been 
adjusted since the regulations were first issued. Since the cost-of-
living adjustment described above would exceed 10 percent of the CMP, 
the adjustments being made to the CMPs by this rule are being limited 
to a 10 percent increase as directed by section 7 of the amended Act.

II. Procedural Matters

A. Effect in Federal Program States and on Indian Lands

    The rule will apply through cross-referencing to the following 
Federal program states: California, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, 
Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee 
and Washington. The Federal programs for these States appear at 30 CFR 
parts 905, 910, 912, 921, 922, 933, 937, 939, 941, 942 and 947, 
respectively. The rule also applies through cross-referencing to Indian 
lands under the Federal program for Indian lands as provided in 30 CFR 
750.

B. Effect on State Programs

    Section 518(i) of SMCRA and 30 CFR 840.13(a) require that the civil 
penalty provisions of each State program contain penalties which are 
``no less stringent than'' those set forth in SMCRA. Following 
promulgation of the final rule, OSM will evaluate State programs 
approved under section 503 of SMCRA to determine any changes in those 
programs that will be necessary. When OSM determines that a particular 
State program provision should be amended in order to be made no less 
stringent than the revised Federal regulations, the particular States 
will be notified in accordance with the provisions of 30 CFR 732.17.

C. Administrative Procedure Act

    This final rule has been issued without prior public notice or 
opportunity for public comment. The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) 
(5 U.S.C. 553) provides an exception to the notice and comment 
procedures when an agency finds there is good cause for dispensing with 
such procedures on the basis that they are impracticable, unnecessary 
or contrary to the public interest. OSM has determined that under 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) good cause exists for dispensing with the notice of 
proposed rulemaking and public comment procedures for this rule. 
Specifically, this rulemaking is consistent with the statutory 
authority set forth in the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. In 
that Act, Congress required that the agency issue the inflation 
adjustment amendments contained in this rule and provided no discretion 
to the agency regarding either their substance or their issuance. These 
same reasons also provide OSM with good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) 
of the APA to have the regulation become effective on a date that is 
less than 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal 
Register.

D. Executive Order 12866

    This rule is not considered a significant regulatory action under 
the provisions of Executive Order 12866. The rule adjusts OSM's CMPs 
according to the formula contained in the law. OSM has no discretion in 
making the adjustments. Further, most coal mining operations subject to 
these regulations do not engage in prohibited activities and practices, 
and, as a result, OSM believes that the aggregate economic impact of 
these revised regulations will be minimal, affecting only those who may 
engage in prohibited behavior in violation of SMCRA. Consequently, the 
amount of the CMPs assessed under the revised schedule are not expected 
to exceed the threshold contained in Executive Order 12866 for an 
economically significant rule.

E. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department of the Interior certifies that this proposed 
revision would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 
601 et seq.). While some penalties may have an impact on small 
entities, it is the nature of the violation and not the size of the 
entity that will result in issuance of a violation notice and the 
assessment of a CMP. The aggregate economic impact of this rulemaking 
on small business entities

[[Page 63276]]

should be minimal, affecting only those who violate the provisions of 
SMCRA.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    For purposes of compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995, this rule does not impose any obligations that individually or 
cumulatively would require an aggregate expenditure of $100 million or 
more by State, local, and Tribal governments and the private sector in 
any given year.

G. Federal Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not contain collections of information which require 
approval by the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.

H. National Environmental Policy Act

    This rule has been reviewed by OSM and it has been determined to be 
categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental 
document under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. This 
determination was made in accordance with the Departmental Manual (516 
DM 2, Appendix 1.10).

I. Executive Order 12988 on Civil Justice Reform

    The Department of the Interior has determined that this rule meets 
the requirements of sections (3)(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 
12988, Civil Justice Reform (61 FR 4729).

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.

30 CFR Part 846

    Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties, Surface mining, 
Underground mining.

    Dated: October 28, 1997.
Sylvia V. Baca,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 30 CFR parts 723, 724, 
845, and 846 are amended as follows.

PART 723--CIVIL PENALTIES

    1. The authority citation for Part 723 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., Pub. L. 100-34, Pub. L. 101-
410, and Pub. L. 104-134.

    2. Section 723.14 is amended by revising the table to read as 
follows:


Sec. 723.14  Determination of amount of penalty.

* * * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Points                              Dollars  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.........................................................           22
 2.........................................................           44
 3.........................................................           66
 4.........................................................           88
 5.........................................................          110
 6.........................................................          132
 7.........................................................          154
 8.........................................................          176
 9.........................................................          198
10.........................................................          220
11.........................................................          242
12.........................................................          264
13.........................................................          286
14.........................................................          308
15.........................................................          330
16.........................................................          352
17.........................................................          374
18.........................................................          396
19.........................................................          418
20.........................................................          440
21.........................................................          462
22.........................................................          484
23.........................................................          506
24.........................................................          528
25.........................................................          550
26.........................................................          660
27.........................................................          770
28.........................................................          880
29.........................................................          990
30.........................................................        1,100
31.........................................................        1,210
32.........................................................        1,320
33.........................................................        1,430
34.........................................................        1,540
35.........................................................        1,650
36.........................................................        1,760
37.........................................................        1,870
38.........................................................        1,980
39.........................................................        2,090
40.........................................................        2,200
41.........................................................        2,310
42.........................................................        2,420
43.........................................................        2,530
44.........................................................        2,640
45.........................................................        2,750
46.........................................................        2,860
47.........................................................        2,970
48.........................................................        3,080
49.........................................................        3,190
50.........................................................        3,300
51.........................................................        3,410
52.........................................................        3,520
53.........................................................        3,630
54.........................................................        3,740
55.........................................................        3,850
56.........................................................        3,960
57.........................................................        4,070
58.........................................................        4,180
59.........................................................        4,290
60.........................................................        4,400
61.........................................................        4,510
62.........................................................        4,620
63.........................................................        4,730
64.........................................................        4,840
65.........................................................        4,950
66.........................................................        5,060
67.........................................................        5,170
68.........................................................        5,280
69.........................................................        5,390
70.........................................................        5,500
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. In Section 723.15, paragraph (b) is revised by changing the 
dollar amount ``$750'' to ``$825.''

PART 724--INDIVIDUAL CIVIL PENALTIES

    4. The authority citation for Part 724 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., Pub. L. 100-34, Pub. L. 101-
410, and Pub. L. 104-134.

    5. Section 724.14 is amended by revising the first sentence of 
paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec. 724.14  Amount of individual civil penalty.

* * * * *
    (b) The penalty shall not exceed $5,500 for each violation. * * *

PART 845--CIVIL PENALTIES

    6. The authority citation for Part 845 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., Pub. L. 100-34, Pub. L. 100-
202, Pub. L. 100-446, Pub. L. 101-410, and Pub. L. 104-134.

    7. Section 845.14 is amended by revising the table to read as 
follows:


Sec. 845.14  Determination of amount of penalty.

* * * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Points                              Dollars  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................................           22
2..........................................................           44
3..........................................................           66
4..........................................................           88
5..........................................................          110
6..........................................................          132
7..........................................................          154
8..........................................................          176
9..........................................................          198
10.........................................................          220
11.........................................................          242
12.........................................................          264
13.........................................................          286
14.........................................................          308
15.........................................................          330
16.........................................................          352
17.........................................................          374
18.........................................................          396
19.........................................................          418
20.........................................................          440
21.........................................................          462
22.........................................................          484

[[Page 63277]]

                                                                        
23.........................................................          506
24.........................................................          528
25.........................................................          550
26.........................................................          660
27.........................................................          770
28.........................................................          880
29.........................................................          990
30.........................................................        1,100
31.........................................................        1,210
32.........................................................        1,320
33.........................................................        1,430
34.........................................................        1,540
35.........................................................        1,650
36.........................................................        1,760
37.........................................................        1,870
38.........................................................        1,980
39.........................................................        2,090
40.........................................................        2,200
41.........................................................        2,310
42.........................................................        2,420
43.........................................................        2,530
44.........................................................        2,640
45.........................................................        2,750
46.........................................................        2,860
47.........................................................        2,970
48.........................................................        3,080
49.........................................................        3,190
50.........................................................        3,300
51.........................................................        3,410
52.........................................................        3,520
53.........................................................        3,630
54.........................................................        3,740
55.........................................................        3,850
56.........................................................        3,960
57.........................................................        4,070
58.........................................................        4,180
59.........................................................        4,290
60.........................................................        4,400
61.........................................................        4,510
62.........................................................        4,620
63.........................................................        4,730
64.........................................................        4,840
65.........................................................        4,950
66.........................................................        5,060
67.........................................................        5,170
68.........................................................        5,280
69.........................................................        5,390
70.........................................................        5,500
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    8. In Section 845.15, paragraph (b) is revised by changing the 
dollar amount ``$750'' to ``$825.''

PART 846--INDIVIDUAL CIVIL PENALTIES

    9. The authority citation for Part 846 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., Pub. L. 100-34, Pub. L. 101-
410, and Pub. L. 104-134.

    10. Section 846.14 is amended by revising the first sentence of 
paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec. 846.14  Amount of individual civil penalty.

* * * * *
    (b) The penalty shall not exceed $5,500 for each violation. * * *

[FR Doc. 97-31267 Filed 11-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M