[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 626-629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-31452]
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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.
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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:
I. 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.
II. 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.
III. 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
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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
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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
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\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]
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