[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 27, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 89300-89303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28484]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary

15 CFR Part 6

[Docket No. 231129-0280]
RIN 0605-AA66


Civil Monetary Penalty Adjustments for Inflation

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary 
for Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule is being issued to adjust for inflation each 
civil monetary penalty (CMP) provided by law within the jurisdiction of 
the United States Department of Commerce (Department of Commerce). The 
Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by 
the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, required 
the head of each agency to adjust for inflation its CMP levels in 
effect as of November 2, 2015, under a revised methodology that was 
effective for 2016 which provided for initial catch up adjustments for 
inflation in 2016, and requires adjustments for inflation to CMPs under 
a revised methodology for each year thereafter. The Department of 
Commerce's 2024 adjustments for inflation to CMPs apply only to CMPs 
with a dollar amount, and will not apply to CMPs written as functions 
of violations. The Department of Commerce's 2024 adjustments for 
inflation to CMPs apply only to those CMPs, including those whose 
associated violation predated such adjustment, which are assessed by 
the Department of Commerce after the effective date of the new CMP 
level.

DATES: This rule is effective January 15, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen M. Kunze, Deputy Chief 
Financial Officer and Director for Financial Management, Office of 
Financial Management, at (202) 482-1207, Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue NW, Room D200, Washington, DC 20230. The Department 
of Commerce's Civil Monetary Penalty Adjustments for Inflation are 
available for downloading from the Department of Commerce, Office of 
Financial Management's website at the following address: http://www.osec.doc.gov/ofm/OFM_Publications.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Pub. 
L. 101-410; 28 U.S.C. 2461), as amended by the Debt Collection 
Improvement Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-134), provided for agencies' 
adjustments for inflation to CMPs to ensure that CMPs continue to 
maintain their deterrent value and that CMPs due to the Federal 
Government were properly accounted for and collected.
    A CMP is defined as any penalty, fine, or other sanction that:
    1. Is for a specific monetary amount as provided by Federal law, or 
has a maximum amount provided for by Federal law; and,
    2. Is assessed or enforced by an agency pursuant to Federal law; 
and,

[[Page 89301]]

    3. Is assessed or enforced pursuant to an administrative proceeding 
or a civil action in the Federal courts.
    On November 2, 2015, the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Section 701 of Pub. L. 114-74) 
further amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 
1990 to improve the effectiveness of CMPs and to maintain their 
deterrent effect. This amendment (1) required agencies to adjust the 
CMP levels in effect as of November 2, 2015, with initial catch up 
adjustments for inflation through a final rulemaking to take effect no 
later than August 1, 2016; and (2) requires agencies to make subsequent 
annual adjustments for inflation to CMPs that shall take effect not 
later than January 15. The Department of Commerce's 2023 adjustments 
for inflation to CMPs were published in the Federal Register on January 
3, 2023, and the new CMP levels became effective January 15, 2023.
    The Department of Commerce's 2024 adjustments for inflation to CMPs 
apply only to CMPs with a dollar amount, and will not apply to CMPs 
written as functions of violations. These 2024 adjustments for 
inflation apply only to those CMPs, including those whose associated 
violation predated such adjustment, which are assessed by the 
Department of Commerce after the effective date of the new CMP level.
    This regulation adjusts for inflation CMPs that are provided by law 
within the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce. The actual CMP 
assessed for a particular violation is dependent upon a variety of 
factors. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) Policy for the Assessment of Civil 
Administrative Penalties and Permit Sanctions (Penalty Policy), a 
compilation of NOAA internal guidelines that are used when assessing 
CMPs for violations for most of the statutes NOAA enforces, will be 
interpreted in a manner consistent with this regulation to maintain the 
deterrent effect of the CMPs. The CMP ranges in the Penalty Policy are 
intended to aid enforcement attorneys in determining the appropriate 
CMP to assess for a particular violation. NOAA's Penalty Policy is 
maintained and made available to the public on NOAA's Office of the 
General Counsel, Enforcement Section website at: https://www.noaa.gov/general-counsel/gc-enforcement-section.
    The Department of Commerce's 2024 adjustments for inflation to CMPs 
set forth in this regulation were determined pursuant to the 
methodology prescribed by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which requires the maximum 
CMP, or the minimum and maximum CMP, as applicable, to be increased by 
the cost-of-living adjustment. The term ``cost-of-living adjustment'' 
is defined by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act 
Improvements Act of 2015. For the 2024 adjustments for inflation to 
CMPs, the cost-of-living adjustment is the percentage for each CMP by 
which the Consumer Price Index for the month of October 2023 exceeds 
the Consumer Price Index for the month of October 2022.

Classification

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), there is good cause to issue 
this rule without prior public notice or opportunity for public comment 
because it would be unnecessary. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Section 701(b)) requires 
agencies to make annual adjustments for inflation to CMPs 
notwithstanding section 553 of title 5, United States Code. 
Additionally, the methodology used for adjusting CMPs for inflation is 
given by statute, with no discretion provided to agencies regarding the 
substance of the adjustments for inflation to CMPs. The Department of 
Commerce is charged only with performing ministerial computations to 
determine the dollar amounts of adjustments for inflation to CMPs. 
Accordingly, prior public notice and an opportunity for public comment 
are not required for this rule. For the same reasons, there is good 
cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in effective 
date.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 
104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR 
part 1320, do not apply to this rule because there are no new or 
revised recordkeeping or reporting requirements.

Regulatory Analysis

E.O. 12866, Regulatory Review

    This rule is not a significant regulatory action as that term is 
defined in Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Because notice of proposed rulemaking and opportunity for comment 
are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the 
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 
601, et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility 
analysis is not required and has not been prepared.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 6

    Civil monetary penalties, Law enforcement.

     Dated: December 20, 2023.
Stephen M. Kunze,
Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director for Financial Management, 
Department of Commerce.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of Commerce 
revises 15 CFR part 6 to read as follows:

PART 6--CIVIL MONETARY PENALTY ADJUSTMENTS FOR INFLATION

Sec.
6.1 Definitions.
6.2 Purpose and scope.
6.3 Adjustments for inflation to civil monetary penalties.
6.4 Effective date of adjustments for inflation to civil monetary 
penalties.
6.5 Subsequent annual adjustments for inflation to civil monetary 
penalties.

    Authority:  Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (28 U.S.C. 2461 
note); Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (31 U.S.C. 3701 note); Sec. 
701 of Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599 (28 U.S.C. 1 note; 28 U.S.C. 
2461 note).


Sec.  6.1  Definitions.

    (a) The Department of Commerce means the United States Department 
of Commerce.
    (b) Civil Monetary Penalty means any penalty, fine, or other 
sanction that:
    (1) Is for a specific monetary amount as provided by Federal law, 
or has a maximum amount provided for by Federal law; and
    (2) Is assessed or enforced by an agency pursuant to Federal law; 
and
    (3) Is assessed or enforced pursuant to an administrative 
proceeding or a civil action in the Federal courts.


Sec.  6.2  Purpose and scope.

    The purpose of this part is to make adjustments for inflation to 
civil monetary penalties, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties 
Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-410; 28 U.S.C. 2461), as 
amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-
134) and the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act 
Improvements Act of 2015 (Section 701 of Pub. L. 114-74), of each civil 
monetary penalty provided by law within the jurisdiction of the United 
States Department of Commerce (Department of Commerce).


Sec.  6.3  Adjustments for inflation to civil monetary penalties.

    The civil monetary penalties provided by law within the 
jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, as set forth in paragraphs 
(a) through (f) of this section, are hereby adjusted for inflation in

[[Page 89302]]

accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 
1990, as amended, from the amounts of such civil monetary penalties 
that were in effect as of January 15, 2023, to the amounts of such 
civil monetary penalties, as thus adjusted. The year stated in 
parenthesis represents the year that the civil monetary penalty was 
last set by law or adjusted by law (excluding adjustments for 
inflation).
    (a) United States Department of Commerce. (1) 31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(1), 
Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986 (1986), violation, maximum 
from $13,508 to $13,946.
    (2) 31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(2), Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986 
(1986), violation, maximum from $13,508 to $13,946.
    (3) 31 U.S.C. 3729(a)(1)(G), False Claims Act (1986); violation, 
minimum from $13,508 to $13,946; maximum from $27,018 to $27,894.
    (b) Bureau of Economic Analysis. 22 U.S.C. 3105(a), International 
Investment and Trade in Services Act (1990); failure to furnish 
information, minimum from $5,580 to $5,761; maximum from $55,808 to 
$57,617.
    (c) Bureau of Industry and Security. (1) 15 U.S.C. 5408(b)(1), 
Fastener Quality Act (1990), violation, maximum from $55,808 to 
$57,617.
    (2) 22 U.S.C. 6761(a)(1)(A), Chemical Weapons Convention 
Implementation Act (1998), violation, maximum from $45,429 to $46,901.
    (3) 22 U.S.C. 6761(a)(l)(B), Chemical Weapons Convention 
Implementation Act (1998), violation, maximum from $9,086 to $9,380.
    (4) 50 U.S.C. 1705(b), International Emergency Economic Powers Act 
(2007), violation, maximum from $356,579 to $368,136.
    (5) 22 U.S.C. 8142(a), United States Additional Protocol 
Implementation Act (2006), violation, maximum from $36,919 to $38,116.
    (6) 50 U.S.C. 4819, Export Controls Act of 2018 (2018), violation, 
maximum from $353,534 to $364,992
    (d) Census Bureau. (1) 13 U.S.C. 304, Collection of Foreign Trade 
Statistics (2002), each day's delinquency of a violation; total of not 
to exceed maximum per violation, from $1,643 to $1,696; maximum per 
violation, from $16,438 to $16,971.
    (2) 13 U.S.C. 305(b), Collection of Foreign Trade Statistics 
(2002), violation, maximum from $16,438 to $16,971.
    (e) International Trade Administration. (1) 19 U.S.C. 81s, Foreign 
Trade Zone (1934), violation, maximum from $3,446 to $3,558.
    (2) 19 U.S.C. 1677f(f)(4), U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement 
Protective Order (1988), violation, maximum from $247,929 to $255,964.
    (f) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (1) 51 U.S.C. 
60123(a), Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 2010 (2010), violation, 
maximum from $13,625 to $14,067.
    (2) 51 U.S.C. 60148(c), Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 2010 
(2010), violation, maximum from $13,625 to $14,067.
    (3) 16 U.S.C. 773f(a), Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (2007), 
violation, maximum from $285,265 to $294,510.
    (4) 16 U.S.C. 783, Sponge Act (1914), violation, maximum from 
$2,037 to $2,103.
    (5) 16 U.S.C. 957(d), (e), and (f), Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 
(1962):
    (i) Violation of 16 U.S.C. 957(a), maximum from $101,805 to 
$105,105.
    (ii) Subsequent violation of 16 U.S.C. 957(a), maximum from 
$219,273 to $226,380.
    (iii) Violation of 16 U.S.C. 957(b), maximum from $3,446 to $3,558.
    (iv) Subsequent violation of 16 U.S.C. 957(b), maximum from $20,362 
to $21,022.
    (v) Violation of 16 U.S.C. 957(c), maximum from $438,548 to 
$452,761.
    (6) 16 U.S.C. 957(i), Tuna Conventions Act of 1950,\1\ violation, 
maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \1\ This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maximum 
civil monetary penalty, as prescribed by law, is the maximum civil 
monetary penalty per 16 U.S.C. 1858(a), Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act civil monetary penalty (paragraph 
(f)(15) of this section).
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    (7) 16 U.S.C. 959, Tuna Conventions Act of 1950,\2\ violation, 
maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \2\ See footnote 1.
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    (8) 16 U.S.C. 971f(a), Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975,\3\ 
violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \3\ See footnote 1.
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    (9) 16 U.S.C. 973f(a), South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 (1988), 
violation, maximum from $619,820 to $639,908.
    (10) 16 U.S.C. 1174(b), Fur Seal Act Amendments of 1983 (1983), 
violation, maximum from $29,505 to $30,461.
    (11) 16 U.S.C. 1375(a)(1), Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 
(1972), violation, maximum from $34,457 to $35,574.
    (12) 16 U.S.C. 1385(e), Dolphin Protection Consumer Information 
Act,\4\ violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \4\ See footnote 1.
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    (13) 16 U.S.C. 1437(d)(1), National Marine Sanctuaries Act (1992), 
violation, maximum from $210,161 to $216,972.
    (14) 16 U.S.C. 1540(a)(1), Endangered Species Act of 1973:
    (i) Violation as specified (1988), maximum from $61,982 to $63,991.
    (ii) Violation as specified (1988), maximum from $29,751 to 
$30,715.
    (iii) Otherwise violation (1978), maximum from $2,037 to $2,103.
    (15) 16 U.S.C. 1858(a), Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (1990), violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
    (16) 16 U.S.C. 2437(a), Antarctic Marine Living Resources 
Convention Act of 1984,\5\ violation, maximum from $223,229 to 
$230,464.
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    \5\ See footnote 1.
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    (17) 16 U.S.C. 2465(a), Antarctic Protection Act of 1990,\6\ 
violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \6\ See footnote 1.
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    (18) 16 U.S.C. 3373(a), Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (1981):
    (i) 16 U.S.C. 3373(a)(1), violation, maximum from $31,908 to 
$32,942.
    (ii) 16 U.S.C. 3373(a)(2), violation, maximum from $797 to $823.
    (19) 16 U.S.C. 3606(b)(1), Atlantic Salmon Convention Act of 
1982,\7\ violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \7\ This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maximum 
civil monetary penalty, as prescribed by law, is the maximum civil 
monetary penalty per 16 U.S.C. 1858(a), Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act civil monetary penalty (paragraph 
(f)(15) of this section).
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    (20) 16 U.S.C. 3637(b), Pacific Salmon Treaty Act of 1985,\8\ 
violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \8\ See footnote 7.
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    (21) 16 U.S.C. 4016(b)(1)(B), Fish and Seafood Promotion Act of 
1986 (1986); violation, minimum from $1,350 to $1,394; maximum from 
$13,508 to $13,946.
    (22) 16 U.S.C. 5010, North Pacific Anadromous Stocks Act of 
1992,\9\ violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \9\ See footnote 7.
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    (23) 16 U.S.C. 5103(b)(2), Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative 
Management Act,\10\ violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \10\ See footnote 7.
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    (24) 16 U.S.C. 5154(c)(1), Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation 
Act,\11\ violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \11\ See footnote 7.
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    (25) 16 U.S.C. 5507(a), High Seas Fishing Compliance Act of 1995 
(1995), violation, maximum from $193,890 to $200,174.
    (26) 16 U.S.C. 5606(b), Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention Act 
of 1995,\12\ violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \12\ See footnote 7.

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[[Page 89303]]

    (27) 16 U.S.C. 6905(c), Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 
Convention Implementation Act,\13\ violation, maximum from $223,229 to 
$230,464.
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    \13\ See footnote 7.
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    (28) 16 U.S.C. 7009(c) and (d), Pacific Whiting Act of 2006,\14\ 
violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \14\ See footnote 7.
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    (29) 22 U.S.C. 1978(e), Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967 (1971):
    (i) Violation, maximum from $34,457 to $35,574.
    (ii) Subsequent violation, maximum from $101,805 to $105,105.
    (30) 30 U.S.C. 1462(a), Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act 
(1980), violation, maximum, from $87,855 to $90,702.
    (31) 42 U.S.C. 9152(c), Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980 
(1980), violation, maximum from $87,855 to $90,702.
    (32) 16 U.S.C. 1827a, Billfish Conservation Act of 2012,\15\ 
violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \15\ See footnote 7.
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    (33) 16 U.S.C. 7407(b), Port State Measures Agreement Act of 
2015,\16\ violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \16\ See footnote 7.
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    (34) 16 U.S.C. 1826g(f), High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium 
Protection Act,\17\ violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \17\ See footnote 7.
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    (35) 16 U.S.C. 7705, Ensuring Access to Pacific Fisheries Act,\18\ 
violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \18\ See footnote 7.
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    (36) 16 U.S.C. 7805, Ensuring Access to Pacific Fisheries Act,\19\ 
violation, maximum from $223,229 to $230,464.
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    \19\ See footnote 7.
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    (37) 16 U.S.C. 1857 note, James M. Inhofe National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023,\20\ (newly reported penalty), 
violation, maximum $230,464.
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    \20\ See footnote 7.
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    (g) National Technical Information Service. 42 U.S.C. 1306c(c), 
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (2013), violation, minimum from $1,158 to 
$1,196; maximum total penalty on any person for any calendar year, 
excluding willful or intentional violations, from $289,504 to $298,887.
    (h) Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs. 15 U.S.C. 
113, Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act 
of 2018, violation, maximum from $5,000 to $5,162.


Sec.  6.4  Effective date of adjustments for inflation to civil 
monetary penalties.

    The Department of Commerce's 2024 adjustments for inflation made by 
Sec.  6.3, of the civil monetary penalties there specified, are 
effective on January 15, 2024, and said civil monetary penalties, as 
thus adjusted by the adjustments for inflation made by Sec.  6.3, apply 
only to those civil monetary penalties, including those whose 
associated violation predated such adjustment, which are assessed by 
the Department of Commerce after the effective date of the new civil 
monetary penalty level, and before the effective date of any future 
adjustments for inflation to civil monetary penalties thereto made 
subsequent to January 15, 2024 as provided in Sec.  6.5.


Sec.  6.5  Subsequent annual adjustments for inflation to civil 
monetary penalties.

    The Secretary of Commerce or his or her designee by regulation 
shall make subsequent adjustments for inflation to the Department of 
Commerce's civil monetary penalties annually, which shall take effect 
not later than January 15, notwithstanding section 553 of title 5, 
United States Code.

[FR Doc. 2023-28484 Filed 12-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DP-P