[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24135-24137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08747]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
49 CFR Part 1022
[Docket No. EP 716 (Sub-No. 11)]
Civil Monetary Penalties--2026 Adjustment
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Board is revising its previously issued final rule, which
implemented the annual inflationary adjustments to the Board's civil
monetary penalties, to conform to guidance subsequently received from
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As revised, the final rule
reflects no cost-of-living adjustment for 2026.
DATES: This final rule is effective May 5, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Gorski at (202) 915-8453. If
you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act,
please call (202) 245-0245.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act), enacted as part of
the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Public Law 114-74, 701, 129 Stat.
584, 599-601, requires agencies to adjust their civil penalties for
inflation annually, beginning on July 1, 2016, and no later than
January 15 of every year thereafter. In accordance with the 2015 Act,
annual inflation adjustments are to be based on the percent change
between the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for
October of the previous year and the October CPI-U of the year before
that. Penalty level adjustments should be rounded to the nearest
dollar.
Due to the lapse in Federal government appropriations from October
1, 2025, through November 12, 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS), which is responsible for production of the CPI-U, did not
release a CPI-U for October 2025. On January 14, 2026, the Board issued
a decision that based its annual inflation adjustment for 2026 on the
percent change between the CPI-U for November 2025 and the CPI-U for
November 2024. Civ. Monetary Penalties--2026 Adjustment (Jan. 2026
Decision), EP 716 (Sub-No. 11), slip op. at 2 (STB served Jan. 14,
2026). The Board stated, however, that ``[s]hould additional guidance
or data relevant to this calculation be released following the issuance
of this decision, the Board will issue an amended decision, as
appropriate.'' Id. at 1.
On April 17, 2026, OMB issued guidance informing agencies that,
based on the lack of October 2025 CPI-U data, there will be no updated
cost-of-living adjustment multiplier for 2026. Memorandum from the Off.
of Mgmt. & Budget, M-26-11, Cancellation of Penalty Inflation
Adjustments for 2026, Regarding the Fed. Civ. Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (OMB Memo) (Apr. 17, 2016),
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/M-26-11-Cancellation-of-Penalty-Inflation-Adjustments-for-2026-Regarding-the-Federal-Civil-Penalties-Inflation-Adjustment-Act-Improvements-Act-of-2015.pdf. OMB directed agencies to ``continue using the 2025 civil
monetary penalty levels as applicable.'' Id. at 1-2.
Consistent with the guidance received from OMB, the Board will
revise its final rule and amend 49 CFR part 1022 to reinstate the
Board's 2025 civil monetary penalty levels. See Civ. Monetary
Penalties--2025 Adjustment, EP 716 (Sub-No. 10) (STB served Jan. 14,
2025). The table at the end of this decision shows the statutory
citation for each civil penalty, a description of the provision, the
adjusted statutory civil penalty level for 2025, and the adjusted
statutory civil penalty level for 2026.
The revised final rule set forth at the end of this decision is
being issued without notice and comment pursuant to the rulemaking
provision of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B). The 2015 Act provides that agencies shall annually adjust
civil monetary penalties for inflation notwithstanding section 553 of
the APA. Additionally, the Board has no discretion to set alternative
levels of adjusted civil monetary penalties and OMB has issued guidance
regarding the statutory level. For these reasons, the Board has
determined that there is good cause to promulgate this rule without
soliciting public comment and to make this regulation effective
immediately upon publication, see 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as amended by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 5 U.S.C. 601-612,
generally requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility
analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking
requirements, unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Because the Board has determined that notice and comment are not
required under the APA for this rulemaking, the requirements of the RFA
do not apply.
Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801-808, the
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has designated this rule
as a non-major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). Executive Order
12866, as modified by Executive Order 14215, provides that OIRA will
review all significant rules. OIRA has determined that this rule is not
significant.
This revised final rule does not contain a new or amended
information collection requirement subject to the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521.
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1022
Administrative practice and procedures, Brokers, Civil penalties,
Freight forwarders, Motor carriers, Pipeline carriers, Rail carriers,
Water carriers.
It is ordered:
1. Part 1022 is modified as set forth in the Appendix. Notice will
be published in the Federal Register.
2. This decision is effective on its date of publication in the
Federal Register.
Decided: May 1, 2026.
[[Page 24136]]
By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, Hedlund, and Schultz.
Zantori Dickerson,
Clearance Clerk.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 1022 of title 49,
chapter X, of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:
PART 1022--CIVIL MONETARY PENALTY INFLATION ADJUSTMENT
0
1. The authority citation for part 1022 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 551-557; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 49 U.S.C.
11901, 14901, 14903, 14904, 14905, 14906, 14907, 14908, 14910,
14915, 14916, 16101, 16103.
0
2. Amend Sec. 1022.4 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
Sec. 1022.4 Cost-of-living adjustments of civil monetary penalties.
* * * * *
(b) The cost-of-living adjustment required by the statute results
in the following adjustments to the civil monetary penalties within the
jurisdiction of the Board:
Table 1 to Paragraph (b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025--Penalty 2026--Penalty
amount amount
U.S. code citation Civil monetary penalty -------------------------------
description EP 716_10 EP 716_11
(2025) (2026)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rail Carrier
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49 U.S.C. 11901(a).............................. Unless otherwise specified, $9,970 $9,970
maximum penalty for each
knowing violation under this
part, and for each day.
49 U.S.C. 11901(b).............................. For each violation under Sec. 998 998
11124(a)(2) or (b).
49 U.S.C. 11901(b).............................. For each day violation 51 51
continues.
49 U.S.C. 11901(c).............................. Maximum penalty for each 9,970 9,970
knowing violation under Sec.
Sec. 10901-10906.
49 U.S.C. 11901(d).............................. For each violation under Sec. 198-998 198-998
Sec. 11123 or 11124(a)(1).
49 U.S.C. 11901(d).............................. For each day violation 100 100
continues.
49 U.S.C. 11901(e)(1), (4)...................... For each violation under Sec. 998 998
Sec. 11141-11145, for each
day.
49 U.S.C. 11901(e)(2), (4)...................... For each violation under Sec. 198 198
11144(b)(1), for each day.
49 U.S.C. 11901(e)(3)-(4)....................... For each violation of 198 198
reporting requirements, for
each day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motor and Water Carrier
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49 U.S.C. 14901(a).............................. Minimum penalty for each 1,365 1,365
violation and for each day.
49 U.S.C. 14901(a).............................. For each violation under Sec. 13,647 13,647
Sec. 13901 or 13902(c).
49 U.S.C. 14901(a).............................. For each violation related to 34,116 34,116
transportation of passengers.
49 U.S.C. 14901(b).............................. For each violation of the 27,293-54,586 27,293-54,586
hazardous waste rules under
Sec. 3001 of the Solid
Waste Disposal Act.
49 U.S.C. 14901(d)(1)........................... Minimum penalty for each 1,992 1,992
violation of household good
regulations, and for each day.
49 U.S.C. 14901(d)(2)........................... Minimum penalty for each 19,941 19,941
instance of transportation of
household goods if broker
provides estimate without
carrier agreement.
49 U.S.C. 14901(d)(3)........................... Minimum penalty for each 49,848 49,848
instance of transportation of
household goods without being
registered.
49 U.S.C. 14901(e).............................. Minimum penalty for each 3,988 3,988
violation of a transportation
rule.
49 U.S.C. 14901(e).............................. Minimum penalty for each 9,970 9,970
additional violation.
49 U.S.C. 14903(a).............................. Maximum penalty for 199,408 199,408
undercharge or overcharge of
tariff rate, for each
violation.
49 U.S.C. 14904(a).............................. For first violation, rebates 398 398
at less than the rate in
effect.
49 U.S.C. 14904(a).............................. For all subsequent violations. 500 500
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(1)........................... Maximum penalty for first 998 998
violation for undercharges by
freight forwarders.
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(1)........................... Maximum penalty for subsequent 3,988 3,988
violations.
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(2)........................... Maximum penalty for other 998 998
first violations under Sec.
13702.
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(2)........................... Maximum penalty for subsequent 3,988 3,988
violations.
49 U.S.C. 14905(a).............................. Maximum penalty for each 19,941 19,941
knowing violation of Sec.
14103(a), and knowingly
authorizing, consenting to,
or permitting a violation of
Sec. 14103(a) or (b).
49 U.S.C. 14906................................. Minimum penalty for first 2,730 2,730
attempt to evade regulation.
49 U.S.C. 14906................................. Minimum amount for each 6,823 6,823
subsequent attempt to evade
regulation.
49 U.S.C. 14907................................. Maximum penalty for 9,970 9,970
recordkeeping/reporting
violations.
49 U.S.C. 14908(a)(2)........................... Maximum penalty for violation 3,988 3,988
of Sec. 14908(a)(1).
49 U.S.C. 14910................................. When another civil penalty is 998 998
not specified under this
part, for each violation, for
each day.
49 U.S.C. 14915(a)(1)-(2)....................... Minimum penalty for holding a 15,846 15,846
household goods shipment
hostage, for each day.
49 U.S.C. 14916(c)(1)........................... Maximum penalty for each 13,647 13,647
knowing violation under Sec.
14916(a) for unlawful
brokerage activities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 24137]]
Pipeline Carrier
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49 U.S.C. 16101(a).............................. Maximum penalty for violation 9,970 9,970
of this part, for each day.
49 U.S.C. 16101(b)(1), (4)...................... For each recordkeeping 998 998
violation under Sec. 15722,
each day.
49 U.S.C. 16101(b)(2), (4)...................... For each inspection violation 198 198
liable under Sec. 15722,
each day.
49 U.S.C. 16101(b)(3)-(4)....................... For each reporting violation 198 198
under Sec. 15723, each day.
49 U.S.C. 16103(a).............................. Maximum penalty for improper 1,992 1,992
disclosure of information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[FR Doc. 2026-08747 Filed 5-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P