[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 15, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2319-2320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00532]


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NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

49 CFR Part 831

[Docket No.: NTSB-GC-2020-0001]
RIN 3147-AA22


Civil Monetary Penalty Annual Inflation Adjustment

AGENCY: National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment 
Act Improvements Act of 2015, this final rule provides the 2020 
adjustment to the civil penalties that the agency may assess against a 
person for violating certain NTSB statutes and regulations.

DATES: This final rule is effective on January 15, 2020.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this final rule, published in the Federal Register 
(FR), is available for inspection and copying in the NTSB's public 
reading room, located at 490 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20594-
2003. Alternatively, a copy is available on the government-wide website 
on regulations at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID Number NTSB-GC-
2020-0001).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Silbaugh, General Counsel, 
(202) 314-6080 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements 
Act of 2015 (the 2015 Act) requires, in pertinent part, agencies to 
make an annual adjustment for inflation by January 15th every year. 
OMB, M-16-06, Implementation of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Feb. 24, 2016). The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) annually publishes guidance on the 
adjustment multiplier to assist agencies in calculating the mandatory 
annual adjustments for inflation.
    The NTSB's most recent adjustment was for fiscal year (FY) 2019, 
allowing the agency to impose a civil penalty up to $1,692, effective 
August 30, 2019, on a person who violates 49 U.S.C. 1132 (Civil 
aircraft accident investigations), 1134(b) (Inspection, testing, 
preservation, and moving of aircraft and parts), 1134(f)(1) 
(Autopsies), or 1136(g) (Prohibited actions when providing assistance 
to families of passengers involved in aircraft accidents). Civil 
Monetary Penalty Annual Inflation Adjustment, 94 FR 45686 (Aug. 30, 
2019).
    OMB has since published updated guidance for FY 2020. OMB, M-20-05, 
Implementation of Penalty Inflation Adjustments for 2020, Pursuant to 
the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation

[[Page 2320]]

Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Dec. 16, 2019). Accordingly, 
this final rule reflects the NTSB's 2020 annual inflation adjustment 
and updates the maximum civil penalty from $1,692 to $1,722.

II. The 2020 Annual Adjustment

    The 2020 annual adjustment is calculated by multiplying the 
applicable maximum civil penalty amount by the cost-of-living 
adjustment multiplier, which is based on the Consumer Price Index and 
rounding to the nearest dollar. OMB, M-20-05, Implementation of Penalty 
Inflation Adjustments for 2020, Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties 
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Dec. 16, 2019). For 
FY 2020, OMB's guidance states that the cost-of-living adjustment 
multiplier is 1.01764.
    Accordingly, multiplying the current penalty of $1,692 by 1.01764 
equals $1,721.84688, which rounded to the nearest dollar equals $1,722. 
This updated maximum penalty for the upcoming fiscal year applies only 
to civil penalties assessed after the effective date of this final 
rule. The next civil penalty adjustment for inflation will be 
calculated by January 15, 2021.

III. Regulatory Analysis

    The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Acting 
Administrator has determined agency regulations that exclusively 
implement the annual adjustment are consistent with OMB's annual 
guidance, and have an annual impact of less than $100 million are 
generally not significant regulatory actions under Executive Order 
(E.O.) 12866. OMB, M-20-05, Implementation of Penalty Inflation 
Adjustments for 2020, Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Dec. 16, 2019). An assessment 
of its potential costs and benefits under E.O. 12866, Regulatory 
Planning and Review and E.O. 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory 
Review is not required because this final rule is not a ``significant 
regulatory action.'' Likewise, this rule does not require analyses 
under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 and E.O. 13771, Reducing 
Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs because this final rule is 
nonsignificant.
    The NTSB does not anticipate this rule will have a substantial 
direct effect on state government or will preempt state law. 
Accordingly, this rule does not have implications for federalism under 
E.O. 13132, Federalism.
    The NTSB also evaluated this rule under E.O. 13175, Consultation 
and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments. The agency has 
concluded that this final rule will not have a substantial direct 
effect on one or more Indian tribes, 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.
    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 is inapplicable because the 
final rule imposes no new information reporting or recordkeeping 
necessitating clearance by OMB.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 does not apply because, as a 
final rule, this action is not subject to prior notice and comment. See 
5 U.S.C. 604(a).
    The NTSB has concluded that this final rule neither violates nor 
requires further consideration under the aforementioned Executive 
orders and acts.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 831

    Aircraft accidents, Aircraft incidents, Aviation safety, Hazardous 
materials transportation, Highway safety, Investigations, Marine 
safety, Pipeline safety, Railroad safety.

    Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the Preamble, the NTSB 
amends 49 CFR part 831 as follows:

PART 831--INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES

0
1. The authority citation for part 831 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 1113(f).
    Section 831.15 also issued under Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, 
amended by Pub. L. 114-74, sec. 701, 129 Stat. 584 (28 U.S.C. 2461 
note).


Sec.  831.15  [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  831.15 by removing the dollar amount ``$1,692'' and add 
in its place ``$1,722''.

Robert L. Sumwalt, III,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 2020-00532 Filed 1-14-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7533-01-P