Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/12/31/2018-28410/civil-monetary-penalties-2019-adjustment
Timestamp: 2019-10-24 00:02:49
Document Index: 218081465

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1022', '§\u20091022', '§\u20091022', '§\u200911124', '§\u200910901', '§\u200911123', '§\u200911141', '§\u200911144', '§\u200913901', '§\u20093001', '§\u200913702', '§\u200914103', '§\u200914103', '§\u200914908', '§\u200914916', '§\u200915722', '§\u200915722', '§\u200915723']

Federal Register :: Civil Monetary Penalties-2019 Adjustment
A Rule by the Surface Transportation Board on 12/31/2018
This final rule is effective on December 31, 2018.
83 FR 67698
67698-67700 (3 pages)
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1022
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-28410 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-28410
Jonathon Binet: (202) 245-0368. Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: (800) 877-8339.
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 Start Printed Page 67699previous year and the October CPI-U of the year before that. Penalty level adjustments should be rounded to the nearest dollar.
The statutory definition of civil monetary penalty covers various civil penalty provisions under the Rail (Part A); Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders (Part B); and Pipeline Carriers (Part C) provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended. The Board's civil (and criminal) penalty authority related to rail transportation appears at 49 U.S.C. 11901-11908. The Board's penalty authority related to motor carriers, water carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders appears at 49 U.S.C. 14901-14916. The Board's penalty authority related to pipeline carriers appears at 49 U.S.C. 16101-16106.[1] The Board has regulations at 49 CFR pt. 1022 that codify the method set forth in the 2015 Act for annually adjusting for inflation the civil monetary penalties within the Board's jurisdiction.
As set forth in this final rule, the Board is amending 49 CFR pt. 1022 to make an annual inflation adjustment to the civil monetary penalties in conformance with the requirements of the 2015 Act. The adjusted penalties set forth in the rule will apply only to violations that occur after the effective date of this regulation.
The 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), which does not require that process “when the agency for good cause finds” that public notice and comment are “unnecessary.” Here, Congress has mandated that the agency make an annual inflation adjustment to its civil monetary penalties. The Board has no discretion to set alternative levels of adjusted civil monetary penalties, because the amount of the inflation adjustment must be calculated in accordance with the statutory formula. Given the absence of discretion, 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.
Pipeline carriers
Decided: December 20, 2018.
2. In § 1022.4, revise paragraph (b) to read as follows:
§ 1022.4
Cost-of-living adjustments of civil monetary penalties.
49 U.S.C. 11901(a) Unless otherwise specified, maximum penalty for each knowing violation under this part, and for each day $7,791 $7,987
49 U.S.C. 11901(b) For each violation under § 11124(a)(2) or (b) 779 799
49 U.S.C. 11901(b) For each day violation continues 40 41
49 U.S.C. 11901(c) Maximum penalty for each knowing violation under §§ 10901-10906 7,791 7,987
49 U.S.C. 11901(d) For each violation under §§ 11123 or 11124(a)(1) 155-779 159-799
49 U.S.C. 11901(d) For each day violation continues 78 80
49 U.S.C. 11901(e)(1), (4) For each violation under §§ 11141-11145, for each day 779 799
49 U.S.C. 11901(e)(2), (4) For each violation under § 11144(b)(1), for each day 155 159
49 U.S.C. 11901(e)(3)-(4) For each violation of reporting requirements, for each day 155 159
49 U.S.C. 14901(a) Minimum penalty for each violation and for each day 1,066 1,093
49 U.S.C. 14901(a) For each violation under §§ 13901 or 13902(c) 10,663 10,932
49 U.S.C. 14901(a) For each violation related to transportation of passengers 26,659 27,331
49 U.S.C. 14901(b) For each violation of the hazardous waste rules under § 3001 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act 21,327-42,654 21,865-43,730
49 U.S.C. 14901(d)(1) Minimum penalty for each violation of household good regulations, and for each day 1,558 1,597
49 U.S.C. 14901(d)(2) Minimum penalty for each instance of transportation of household goods if broker provides estimate without carrier agreement 15,583 15,976
49 U.S.C. 14901(d)(3) Minimum penalty for each instance of transportation of household goods without being registered 38,954 39,936
49 U.S.C. 14901(e) Minimum penalty for each violation of a transportation rule 3,116 3,195
49 U.S.C. 14901(e) Minimum penalty for each additional violation 7,791 7,987
49 U.S.C. 14903(a) Maximum penalty for undercharge or overcharge of tariff rate, for each violation 155,820 159,750
49 U.S.C. 14904(a) For first violation, rebates at less than the rate in effect 311 319
49 U.S.C. 14904(a) For all subsequent violations 390 400
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(1) Maximum penalty for first violation for undercharges by freight forwarders 779 799
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(1) Maximum penalty for subsequent violations 3,116 3,195
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(2) Maximum penalty for other first violations under § 13702 779 799
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(2) Maximum penalty for subsequent violations 3,116 3,195
49 U.S.C. 14905(a) Maximum penalty for each knowing violation of § 14103(a), and knowingly authorizing, consenting to, or permitting a violation of § 14103(a) or (b) 15,583 15,976
49 U.S.C. 14906 Minimum penalty for first attempt to evade regulation 2,133 2,187
49 U.S.C. 14906 Minimum amount for each subsequent attempt to evade regulation 5,332 5,466
49 U.S.C. 14907 Maximum penalty for recordkeeping/reporting violations 7,791 7,987
49 U.S.C. 14908(a)(2) Maximum penalty for violation of § 14908(a)(1) 3,116 3,195
49 U.S.C. 14910 When another civil penalty is not specified under this part, for each violation, for each day 779 799
49 U.S.C. 14915(a)(1)-(2) Minimum penalty for holding a household goods shipment hostage, for each day 12,383 12,695
49 U.S.C. 14916(c)(1) Maximum penalty for each violation under § 14916(a) by knowingly authorizing, consenting to, or permitting unlawful brokerage activities 10,663 10,932
49 U.S.C. 16101(a) Maximum penalty for violation of this part, for each day 7,791 7,987
49 U.S.C. 16101(b)(1), (4) For each recordkeeping violation under § 15722, each day 779 799
49 U.S.C. 16101(b)(2), (4) For each inspection violation liable under § 15722, each day 155 159
49 U.S.C. 16101(b)(3)-(4) For each reporting violation under § 15723, each day 155 159
49 U.S.C. 16103(a) Maximum penalty for improper disclosure of information 1,558 1,597
1. The Board also has various criminal penalty authority, enforceable in a federal criminal court. Congress has not, however, authorized federal agencies to adjust statutorily prescribed criminal penalty provisions for inflation, and this rule does not address those provisions.
[FR Doc. 2018-28410 Filed 12-28-18; 8:45 am]