(a) For each willful or grossly negligent violation of any regulation under this chapter, the Secretary may assess upon any person to which the regulation applies, or any person willfully causing a violation of the regulation, and, if such person is a partnership, corporation, or other entity, upon any partner, director, officer, or employee thereof who willfully or through gross negligence participates in the violation, a civil penalty not exceeding $10,000.

(b) In the event of the failure of any person to pay any penalty assessed under this section, a civil action for the recovery thereof may, in the discretion of the Secretary, be brought in the name of the United States.

(Pub. L. 91–508, title I, §125, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1117; Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, §6185(d)(3)(B), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4357; Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, §1535(c)(1), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4067.)

**1992**—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–550 inserted “or any person willfully causing a violation of the regulation,” after “applies,”.

**1988**—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–690 inserted “or grossly negligent” after “willful” and “or through gross negligence” after “willfully” and substituted “$10,000” for “$1,000”.