An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

United States Coast GuardU.S. Department of Homeland Security

Search
Search

Search

-  Home    -  News Room             
  -  Reserve             
  -  Forcecom             
  -  Operations             
  -  Mission Support             
  -  Atlantic Area             
  -  Pacific Area             
  -  History 
-  Units    -  Organization             
  -  Coast Guard A to Z             
  -  Atlantic Area             
  -  Pacific Area             
  -  Force Readiness Command 
-  Leadership    -  Commandant’s Initiatives             
  -  Senior Leadership             
  -  Deputy Commandant for Operations             
  -  Deputy Commandant for Mission Support             
  -  Atlantic Area Commander             
  -  Pacific Area Commander             
  -  Reserve             
  -  Auxiliary 
-  Resources    -  CG Support             
  -  Legal      -  JoinCGJAG             
    -  Legal_Assistance        -  Find-A-Legal-Assistance-Lawyer             
      -  FAQ 
  -  Civil Rights             
  -  Work-Life             
  -  Administrative Law Judges      -  Virtual Hearing 
  -  Newsroom             
  -  Family             
  -  Library             
  -  CG Web Mail             
  -  Return 2 Service      -  FAQ 
-  Community    -  Art Program             
  -  Girl Scouts / Boy Scouts      -  Eagle Scout Recognition 
  -  Coast Guard Band             
  -  Coast Guard Cities             
  -  Honor Guard             
  -  JROTC      -  NEWS 
  -  Special Programs      -  Industry Academy        -  Contacts             
      -  2018 
  -  Trademark             
  -  Resources      -  History             
    -  CGC Eagle 
-  Mariners    -  National Vessel Documentation Center             
  -  National Maritime Center             
  -  National Pollution Funds Center      -  NRD        -  NRD_FAQs             
      -  Trustee_Links             
      -  NRD_DOCS             
      -  About_NRD_Funding 
  -  Boating Safety 
-  doing business		 
-  Join		 
-  Recruiting		 
-  contact		 
-  About		 

HomeResourcesLegalCGHOYour-Civil-Penalty-Options

 

# United States Coast Guard Hearing Office

 

                        - TJAG Home Page
                        - Coast Guard Hearing Office
                        - Your Civil Penalty Options
                        - Civil Penalty Case Guide
                        - Articles on Civil Penalty Issues
                        - News Letters
                        - Appeal Decisions
                        - FAQ's
                        - Process Flow Chart
                        - 33 CFR 1.07
                        - Statutory Authorities
                        - Small Business
                        - ALCOAST

**Preliminary Assessment Letter Response Options**

**Hearing Officers do not discuss matters over the telephone.**

After reading the below response options, should you still have questions in how to respond to the preliminary assessment letter, you can contact the Administrative Support Staff by send us an email at HQS-SMB-CGHO-Response@USCG.MIL  or call (202) 795-6240.

**If you previously received a Preliminary Inquiry Letter from the Violation Case Coordination Center (VCCC), please DO NOT respond to them, as your time to do so has expired.  Please respond as described below.**

**Please respond to the preliminary assessment letter by completing one of the five below options.** When responding, please carefully follow the directions for the option you choose paying particular attention to the return address.    ***Failure to read and comply with the directions outlined below may result in a final decision being made without your response being considered*.**  

**IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND WITH ONE OF THE BELOW OPTIONS WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIMELINE, THE PRELIMINARY PENALTY WILL BECOME FINAL.**
                            -  PAY THE PENALTY NOW                                 -  If Paying by Credit Card you can pay online safe and secured with  Pay.gov or click on the below link to take you directly to the online payment form.                                  -  To Pay for a U.S. Coast Guard Non-Oil Notice of Violation/Civil Fines and Penalty  (Click Here) 
                                -  To Pay for U.S. Coast Guard Civil Fines and Penalty  OIL/ Pollution Cases  (Click Here) 
                            -  REQUEST A PAYMENT PLAN 
                            -  SUBMIT EVIDENCE IN LIEU OF A HEARING 
                            -  REQUEST A HEARING 
                            -  REQUEST AN EXTENSION 

**REPRESENTATION:  At your own expense you may be represented at all stages by counsel.**  If we are notified that you are represented, all further correspondence concerning the case will be directed to your representative.

**SMALL BUSINESS:** The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 requires Hearing Officers to consider that you may be a small entity and, under some circumstances, reduce or waive the civil penalty. “Small entity” is defined in 5 U. S. C. § 601, 15 U. S. C. § 632 and in the Small Business Administration regulations found at 13 C. F. R. Part 121. If you think your company may be a small entity, you may provide the Hearing Officer with supporting evidence (number of employees, current balance sheet, annual receipts). To qualify for a waiver or reduction, you must also show that you have spent money to correct any discrepancies. Small entities that have been the subject of multiple enforcement actions, have committed violations involving willful or criminal conduct, or have committed violations that pose serious health, safety or environmental threats are not entitled to special consideration.

 

**Toll Free: 1-866-801-6178     |      Phone: 202-795-6240     |     Fax: 202-****372-8422**

**

                      - FOIA
                      - Privacy Policy
                      - MHS Notice of Privacy Practices
                      - Accessibility
                      - No FEAR
                      - Whistleblower Protection
                      - U.S. Department of Homeland Security
                      - DHS Office of Inspector General
                      - WhiteHouse.gov
                      - USA.gov

### Stay Connected

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil