[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 19 (Monday, February 1, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7646-7647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01413]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Indian Gaming Commission

25 CFR Part 575


Annual Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalty To Reflect Inflation

AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the Act) and Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, the National Indian Gaming 
Commission (NIGC or Commission) is amending its civil monetary penalty 
rule to reflect an annual adjustment for inflation in order to improve 
the penalty's effectiveness and maintain its deterrent effect. The Act 
provides that the new penalty level must apply to penalties assessed 
after the effective date of the increase, including when the penalties 
whose associated violation predate the increase.

DATES: This final rule is effective February 1, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Armando J. Acosta, Senior Attorney, 
Office of General Counsel, National Indian Gaming Commission, at (202) 
632-7003; fax (202) 632-7066 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On November 2, 2015, the President signed into law the Federal 
Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Sec. 
701 of Pub. L. 114-74). Beginning in 2017, the Act requires agencies to 
make annual inflationary adjustments to their civil monetary penalties 
by January 15th of each year, in accordance with annual OMB guidance.

II. Calculation of Annual Adjustment

    In December of every year, OMB issues guidance to agencies to 
calculate the annual adjustment. According to OMB, the cost-of-living 
adjustment multiplier for 2021 is 1.01182, based on the Consumer Price 
Index for the month of October 2020, not seasonally adjusted.
    Pursuant to this guidance, the Commission has calculated the annual 
adjustment level of the civil monetary penalty contained in 25 CFR 
575.4 (``The Chairman may assess a civil fine, not to exceed $53,524 
per violation, against a tribe, management contractor, or individual 
operating Indian gaming for each notice of violation . . .''). The 2021 
adjusted level of the civil monetary penalty is $54,157 ($53,524 x 
1.01182).

III. Regulatory Matters

Regulatory Planning and Review

    This final rule is not a significant rule under Executive Order 
12866.
    (1) This rule will not have an effect of $100 million or more on 
the economy or will not adversely affect, in a material way, the 
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or state, local, or tribal governments or 
communities.
    (2) This rule will not create a serious inconsistency or otherwise 
interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency.
    (3) This rule does not involve entitlements, grants, user fees, or 
loan programs or the rights or obligations of recipients.
    (4) This regulatory change does not raise novel legal or policy 
issues.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Commission certifies that this rule will not have a significant 
economic effect on a substantial number of small entities under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) because the rule 
makes annual adjustments for inflation.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This final rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. It will not result 
in the expenditure by state, local, or tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector of $100 million or more in any one 
year. The rule will not result in a major increase in costs or prices 
for consumers, individual industries, Federal, state, or local 
government agencies, or geographic regions. Nor will this rule have 
significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, 
productivity, innovation, or the ability of the U.S.-based enterprises 
to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    This final rule does not impose an unfunded mandate of more than 
$100 million per year on state, local, or tribal governments or the 
private sector. The rule also does not have a significant or unique 
effect on state, local, or tribal governments or the private sector. 
Therefore, a statement containing the information required by the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is not required.

Takings

    Under the criteria in Executive Order 12630, this final rule does 
not affect individual property rights protected by the Fifth Amendment 
nor does it involve a compensable ``taking.'' Thus, a takings 
implication assessment is not required.

[[Page 7647]]

Federalism

    Under the criteria in Executive Order 13132, this final rule has no 
substantial direct effect on the states, on the relationship between 
the National Government and the states, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

Civil Justice Reform

    This final rule complies with the requirements of Executive Order 
12988. Specifically, this rule has been reviewed to eliminate errors 
and ambiguity and written to minimize litigation. It is written in 
clear language and contains clear legal standards.

Consultation With Indian Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments, Executive Order 13175 (59 FR 22951, November 6, 2000), the 
Commission has determined that consultations with Indian gaming tribes 
is not practicable, as Congress has mandated that annual civil penalty 
adjustments in the Act be implemented no later than January 15th of 
each year.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule does not affect any information collections under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act.

National Environmental Policy Act

    This final rule does not constitute a major Federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

Information Quality Act

    In developing this final rule, the Commission did not conduct or 
use a study, experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the 
Information Quality Act (Pub. L. 106-554).

Effects on the Energy Supply

    This final rule is not a significant energy action under the 
definition in Executive Order 13211. A Statement of Energy Effects is 
not required.

Clarity of This Regulation

    The Commission is required by Executive Orders 12866 and 12988 and 
by the Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in 
plain language. This means that each rule that the Commission publishes 
must:
    (a) Be logically organized;
    (b) use the active voice to address readers directly;
    (c) use clear language rather than jargon;
    (d) be divided into short sections and sentences; and
    (e) use lists and tables wherever possible.

Required Determinations Under the Administrative Procedure Act

    In accordance with the Act, agencies are to annually adjust civil 
monetary penalties without providing an opportunity for notice and 
comment, and without a delay in its effective date. Therefore, the 
Commission is not required to complete a notice and comment process 
prior to promulgation.

List of Subjects in 25 CFR Part 575

    Administrative practice and procedure, Gaming, Indian lands, 
Penalties.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Commission amends 25 
CFR part 575 as follows:

PART 575--CIVIL FINES

0
1. The authority citation for part 575 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  25 U.S.C. 2705(a), 2706, 2713, 2715; and Sec. 701, 
Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599.


Sec.  575.4   [Amended]

0
2. Amend the introductory text of Sec.  575.4 by removing ``$53,524'' 
and adding in its place ``$54,157''.

    Dated: January 15, 2021.
E. Sequoyah Simermeyer,
Chairman.
Kathryn Isom-Clause,
Vice Chair.
[FR Doc. 2021-01413 Filed 1-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7565-01-P