[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6276-6277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00204]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 233


Inspection Service Authority; Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation 
Adjustment

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Interim final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule updates postal regulations to implement the annual 
inflation adjustments to civil monetary penalties that may be imposed 
under consumer protection and mailability provisions enforced by the 
Postal Service pursuant to the Deceptive Mail Prevention and 
Enforcement Act and the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. 
These adjustments are required under the Federal Civil Penalties 
Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. This 
notice also includes the statutory civil monetary penalties subject to 
the 2015 Act.

DATES: Effective date: January 19, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Sultan, (202) 268-7385.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act), Public Law 114-74, 
129 Stat. 584, amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment 
Act of 1990 (1990 Act), Public Law 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (28 U.S.C. 
2461 note), to improve the effectiveness of civil monetary penalties 
and to maintain their deterrent effect. Section 3 of the 1990 Act 
specifically includes the Postal Service in the definition of 
``agency'' subject to its provisions.
    Beginning in 2017, the 2015 Act requires the Postal Service to make 
an annual adjustment for inflation to civil penalties that meet the 
definition of ``civil monetary penalty'' under the 1990 Act. The Postal 
Service must make the annual adjustment for inflation and publish the 
adjustment in the Federal Register by January 15. Each penalty will be 
adjusted as instructed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) from the most recent October. 
OMB has furnished detailed instructions regarding the annual adjustment 
for 2017 in memorandum M-17-11, Implementation of the 2017 Annual 
Adjustment Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment 
Act Improvements Act of 2015 (December 16, 2016), https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2017/m-17-11_0.pdf. This year, OMB has advised that an adjustment multiplier of 
1.01636 will be used. The new penalty amount must be rounded to the 
nearest dollar.
    The 2015 Act allows the interim final rule and annual inflation 
adjustments to be published without prior public notice or opportunity 
for public comment.

Adjustments to Postal Service Civil Monetary Penalties

    Civil monetary penalties may be assessed for postal offenses under 
sections 106 and 108 of the Deceptive Mail Prevention and Enforcement 
Act, Public Law 106-168, 113 Stat. 1811, 1814 (see, 39 U.S.C. 3012(a), 
(c)(1), (d), and 3017(g)(2), (h)(1)(A)); and section 1008 of the Postal 
Accountability and Enhancement Act, Public Law 109-435, 120 Stat. 3259-
3261 (see, 39 U.S.C. 3018 (c)(1)(A)). The statutory civil monetary 
penalties subject to the 2015 Act and the amount of each penalty the 
annual adjustment for inflation are as follows:

39 U.S.C. 3012(a)--False Representations and Lottery Orders

    Under 39 U.S.C. 3005(a)(1)-(3), the Postal Service may issue 
administrative orders prohibiting persons from using the mail to obtain 
money through false representations or lotteries. Persons who evade, 
attempt to evade, or fail to comply with an order to stop such 
prohibited practices may be liable to the United States for a civil 
penalty under

[[Page 6277]]

39 U.S.C. 3012(a). This section currently imposes a $68,345 penalty for 
each mailing less than 50,000 pieces, $136,689 for each mailing of 
50,000 to 100,000 pieces, and $13,669 for each additional 10,000 pieces 
above 100,000 not to exceed $2,733,780. The new penalties will be as 
follows: $69,463 for each mailing less than 50,000 pieces, $138,925 for 
each mailing of 50,000 to 100,000 pieces, and $13,893 for each 
additional 10,000 pieces above 100,000 not to exceed $2,778,505.

39 U.S.C. 3012(c)(1)--False Representation and Lottery Penalties in 
Lieu of or as Part of an Order

    In lieu of or as part of an order issued under 39 U.S.C. 
3005(a)(1)-(3), the Postal Service may assess a civil penalty. 
Currently, the amount of this penalty, set in 39 U.S.C. 3012(c)(1), is 
$34,172 for each mailing that is less than 50,000 pieces, $68,345 for 
each mailing of 50,000 to 100,000 pieces, and an additional $6,834 for 
each additional 10,000 pieces above 100,000 not to exceed $1,366,890. 
The new penalties will be: $34,731 for each mailing that is less than 
50,000 pieces, $69,463 for each mailing of 50,000 to 100,000 pieces, 
and an additional $6,946 for each additional 10,000 pieces above 
100,000 not to exceed $1,389,252.

39 U.S.C. 3012(d)--Misleading References to the United States 
Government; Sweepstakes and Deceptive Mailings

    Persons sending certain deceptive mail matter described in 39 
U.S.C. 3001((h)-(k), including:
     Solicitations making false claims of Federal Government 
connection or approval;
     Certain solicitations for the purchase of a product or 
service that may be obtained without cost from the Federal Government;
     Solicitations containing improperly prepared ``facsimile 
checks''; and
     Certain solicitations for ``skill contests'' and 
``sweepstakes'' sent to individuals who, in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 
3017(d), have requested that such materials not be mailed to them);

may be liable to the United States for a civil penalty under 39 U.S.C. 
3012(d). Currently, this penalty is not to exceed $13,669 for each 
mailing. The new penalty will be $13,893.

39 U.S.C. 3017(g)(2)--Commercial Use of Lists of Persons Electing Not 
To Receive Skill Contest or Sweepstakes Mailings

    Under 39 U.S.C. 3017(g)(2), the Postal Service may impose a civil 
penalty against a person who provides information for commercial use 
about individuals who, in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3017(d), have 
elected not to receive certain sweepstakes and contest information. 
Currently, this civil penalty may not exceed $2,733,780 per violation. 
The new penalty may not exceed $2,778,505 per violation.

39 U.S.C. 3017(h)(1)(A)--Reckless Mailing of Skill Contest or 
Sweepstakes Matter

    Currently, under 39 U.S.C. 3017(h)(1)(A), any promoter who 
recklessly mails nonmailable skill contest or sweepstakes matter may be 
liable to the United States in the amount of $13,669 per violation for 
each mailing to an individual. The new penalty is $13,893 per 
violation.

39 U.S.C. 3018(c)(1)(A)--Hazardous Material

    Under 39 U.S.C. 3018(c)(1)(A), the Postal Service may impose a 
civil penalty payable into the Treasury of the United States on a 
person who knowingly mails nonmailable hazardous materials or fails to 
follow postal laws on mailing hazardous materials. Currently, this 
civil penalty is at least $295, but not more than $117,858 for each 
violation. The new penalty is at least $300, but not more than $119,786 
for each violation.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 233

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Banking, Credit, 
Crime, Infants and children, Law enforcement, Penalties, Privacy, 
Seizures and forfeitures.

    For the reasons set out in this document, the Postal Service amends 
39 CFR part 233 as follows:

PART 233--INSPECTION SERVICE AUTHORITY

0
 1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 233 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  39 U.S.C. 101, 102, 202, 204, 401, 402, 403, 404, 
406, 410, 411, 1003, 3005, 3012, 3017, 3018; 12 U.S.C. 3401-3422; 18 
U.S.C. 981, 983, 1956, 1957, 2254, 3061; 21 U.S.C. 881; Pub. L. 101-
410, 104 Stat. 890; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1996, sec. 
662 (Pub.L. 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009-378); Pub. L. 106-168, 113 Stat. 
1806; Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 584.


0
2. In Sec.  233.12(a), remove ``$68,345'' and add in its place 
``$69,463''; remove ``$136,689'' and add in its place ``$138,925''; 
remove ``$13,669'' and add in its place ``$13,893''; remove ``each 
piece above 100,000'' and add in its place ``each additional 10,000 
pieces above 100,000''; remove ``$2,733,780'' and add in its place 
``$2,778,505''.

0
3. In Sec.  233.12(b), remove ``$34,172'' and add in its place 
``$34,731''; remove ``$68,345'' and add in its place ``$69,463''; 
remove ``$6,834'' and add in its place ``$6,946''; remove ``every'' and 
add in its place ``each''; remove ``$1,366,890'' and add in its place 
``$1,389,252''.

0
 4. In Sec.  233.12(c)(4), remove ``$13,669'' and add in its place 
``13,893''.

0
 5. In Sec.  233.12(d), remove ``$2,733,780'' and add in its place 
``$2,778,505''.

0
6. In Sec.  233.12(e), remove ``$13,669'' and add in its place 
``$13,893''.

0
7. In Sec.  233.12(f), remove ``$295'' and add in its place ``$300''; 
remove ``$117,858'' and add in its place ``$119,786''.

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-00204 Filed 1-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-12-P