Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustments

Federal RegisterMar 12, 2018

Ask Donna

What actually matters in this document.

Text

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Parts 723, 724, 845, and 846

RIN 1029-AC75

[Docket ID: OSM-2017-0012; S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 189S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A00 18XS501520]

Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustments

AGENCY:

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act), which further amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (1990 Act), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, this rule adjusts for inflation the level of civil monetary penalties assessed under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA).

DATES:

This rule is effective on March 12, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Kuhns, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop 4550, Washington, DC 20240; Telephone (202) 208-2860. Email:

mkuhns@osmre.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Background

A. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015

B. Calculation of Adjustments

C. Effect of the Rule in Federal Program States and on Indian Lands

D. Effect of the Rule on Approved State Programs

II. Procedural Matters and Required Determinations

A. Regulatory Planning and Review (E.O. 12866, 13563 and 13771)

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

C. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

E. Takings (E.O. 12630)

F. Federalism (E.O. 13132)

G. Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

H. Consultation With Indian Tribes (E.O. 13175 and Departmental Policy)

I. Paperwork Reduction Act

J. National Environmental Policy Act

K. Effects on Energy Supply, Distribution, and Use (E.O. 13211)

L. Clarity of This Regulation

M. Data Quality Act

N. Administrative Procedure Act

I. Background

A. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015

Section 518 of SMCRA, 30 U.S.C. 1268, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to assess civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for violations of SMCRA. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement's (OSMRE) regulations implementing the CMP provisions of section 518 are located in 30 CFR parts 723, 724, 845, and 846. We are adjusting CMPs in four sections—30 CFR 723.14, 724.14, 845.14, and 846.14.

On November 2, 2015, the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Sec. 701 of Pub. L. 114-74) (2015 Act) became law. The 2015 Act, which further amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (codified as amended at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note), requires Federal agencies to promulgate rules to adjust the level of CMPs to account for inflation. The 2015 Act required an initial “catch-up” adjustment. OSMRE published the initial adjustment in the

Federal Register

on July 8, 2016 (81 FR 44535), and the adjustment took effect on August 1, 2016. The 2015 Act also requires agencies to publish annual inflation adjustments in the

Federal Register

no later than January 15 of each year. These adjustments are aimed at maintaining the deterrent effect of civil penalties and furthering the policy goals of the statutes that authorize the penalties. Further, the 2015 Act provides that agencies must adjust civil monetary penalties “notwithstanding Section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act.” Therefore, the public procedure that the APA generally requires for rulemaking—notice, an opportunity for comment, and a delay in the effective date—is not required for agencies to issue regulations implementing the annual CMP adjustments.

See

December 15, 2017, Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies (M-18-03), from Mick Mulvaney, Director, Office of Management and Budget,

Implementation of Penalty Inflation Adjustments for 2018, Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015

(OMB Memorandum).

Pursuant to SMCRA and the 2015 Act, this final rule reflects the statutorily required CMP adjustments as follows:

CFR citation

Points

(where

applicable)

Current

penalty

dollar

amounts

Adjusted

penalty

dollar

amounts

30 CFR 723.14

$64

$65

129

132

193

197

257

262

321

328

386

394

450

459

514

524

578

590

643

656

707

721

771

787

835

852

900

918

965

985

1,029

1,050

1,093

1,115

1,158

1,182

1,222

1,247

1,286

1,312

1,350

1,378

1,415

1,444

1,479

1,509

1,543

1,574

1,607

1,640

1,929

1,968

2,250

2,296

2,571

2,623

2,770

2,827

3,215

3,281

3,536

3,608

3,857

3,936

4,179

4,264

4,500

4,592

4,822

4,920

5,143

5,248

5,465

5,577

5,786

5,904

6,107

6,232

6,428

6,559

6,751

6,889

7,072

7,216

7,393

7,544

7,715

7,872

8,036

8,200

8,358

8,529

8,679

8,856

9,001

9,185

9,322

9,512

9,643

9,840

9,964

10,167

10,287

10,497

10,608

10,825

10,929

11,152

11,251

11,481

11,572

11,808

11,893

12,136

12,215

12,464

12,537

12,793

12,858

13,120

13,179

13,448

13,501

13,777

13,823

14,105

14,144

14,433

14,465

14,760

14,787

15,089

15,108

15,416

15,429

15,744

15,751

16,072

16,073

16,401

30 CFR 723.15(b) (Assessment of separate violations for each day)

2,411

2,460

30 CFR 724.14(b) (Individual civil penalties)

16,073

16,401

30 CFR 845.14

129

132

193

197

257

262

321

328

386

394

450

459

514

524

578

590

643

656

707

721

771

787

835

852

900

918

965

985

1,029

1,050

1,093

1,115

1,158

1,182

1,222

1,247

1,286

1,312

1,350

1,378

1,415

1,444

1,479

1,509

1,543

1,574

1,607

1,640

1,929

1,968

2,250

2,296

2,571

2,623

2,770

2,827

3,215

3,281

3,536

3,608

3,857

3,936

4,179

4,264

4,500

4,592

4,822

4,920

5,143

5,248

5,465

5,577

5,786

5,904

6,107

6,232

6,428

6,559

6,751

6,889

7,072

7,216

7,393

7,544

7,715

7,872

8,036

8,200

8,358

8,529

8,679

8,856

9,001

9,185

9,322

9,512

9,643

9,840

9,964

10,167

10,287

10,497

10,608

10,825

10,929

11,152

11,251

11,481

11,572

11,808

11,893

12,136

12,215

12,464

12,537

12,793

12,858

13,120

13,179

13,448

13,501

13,777

13,823

14,105

14,144

14,433

14,465

14,760

14,787

15,089

15,108

15,416

15,429

15,744

15,751

16,072

16,073

16,401

30 CFR 845.15(b) (Assessment of separate violations for each day)

2,411

2,460

30 CFR 846.14(b) (Individual civil penalties)

16,073

16,401

In the chart above, there are no numbers listed in the “Points” column relative to 30 CFR 723.15(b), 30 CFR 724.14(b), 30 CFR 845.15(b), and 30 CFR 846.14(b) because those regulatory provisions do not set forth numbers of points. For those provisions, the current regulations only set forth the dollar amounts shown in the chart in the “Current Penalty Dollar Amounts” column; the adjusted amounts, which we are adopting in this rule, are shown in the “Adjusted Penalty Dollar Amounts” column.

B. Calculation of Adjustments

OMB issued guidance on the 2018 annual adjustments for inflation.

See

OMB Memorandum (December 15, 2017). The OMB Memorandum notes that the 1990 Act defines “civil monetary penalty” as “any penalty, fine, or other sanction that . . . is for a specific monetary amount as provided by Federal law;

. . . has a maximum amount provided for by Federal law;

and

. . . is assessed or enforced by an agency pursuant to Federal law;

and

. . . is assessed or enforced pursuant to an administrative proceeding or a civil action in the Federal courts . . . .” It further instructs that agencies “are to adjust `the maximum civil monetary penalty or the range of minimum and maximum civil monetary penalties, as applicable, for each civil monetary penalty by the cost-of-living adjustment.' ”

See

December 15, 2017

OMB Memorandum. The 1990 Act and the OMB Memorandum specify that the annual inflation adjustments are based on the percent change between the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (the CPI-U) published by the Department of Labor for the month of October in the year of the previous adjustment, and the October CPI-U for the preceding year. The recent OMB Memorandum specified that the cost-of-living adjustment multiplier for 2018, not seasonally adjusted, is 1.02041 (the October 2017 CPI-U (246.663) divided by the October 2016 CPI-U (241.729) = 1.02041). OSMRE used this guidance to identify applicable CMPs and calculate the required inflation adjustments. The 1990 Act specifies that any resulting increases in CMPs must be rounded according to a stated rounding formula and that the increased CMPs apply only to violations that occur after the date the increase takes effect.

Generally, OSMRE assigns points to a violation as described in 30 CFR 723.13 and 845.13. The CMP owed is based on the number of points received, ranging from one point to seventy points. For example, under our existing regulations in 30 CFR 845.14, a violation totaling 70 points would amount to a $16,073 CMP. To adjust this amount, we multiply $16,073 by the 2018 inflation factor of 1.02041, resulting in a raw adjusted amount of $16,401.05. Because the 2015 Act requires us to round any increase in the CMP amount to the nearest dollar, in this case a violation of 70 points would amount to a new CMP of $16,401. Pursuant to the 2015 Act, the increases in this Final Rule apply to CMPs assessed after the date the increases take effect, even if the associated violation predates the applicable increase.

C. Effect of Rule in Federal Program States and on Indian Lands

OSMRE directly regulates surface coal mining and reclamation operations within a State or on tribal lands if the State or tribe does not obtain its own approved program pursuant to section 503 of SMCRA, 30 U.S.C. 1253. The increases in CMPs contained in this rule will apply to the following Federal program states: Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington. The Federal programs for those States appear at 30 CFR parts 903, 905, 910, 912, 921, 922, 933, 937, 939, 941, 942, and 947, respectively. Under 30 CFR 750.18, the increase in CMPs also applies to Indian lands under the Federal program for Indian lands.

D. Effect of the Rule on Approved State Programs

As a result of litigation,

see In re Permanent Surface Mining Regulation Litigation,

No. 79-1144, Mem. Op. (D.D.C. May 16, 1980), 19 Env't. Rep. Cas. (BNA) 1477, state regulatory programs are not required to mirror all of the penalty provisions of our regulations. Thus, this rule has no effect on CMPs in states with SMCRA primacy.

II. Procedural Matters and Required Determinations

A. Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 13771)

Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 provides that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget will review all significant rules. OIRA has determined that agency regulations exclusively implementing the annual inflation adjustments are not significant, provided they are consistent with the OMB Memorandum.

Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while calling for improvements in the Nation's regulatory system to promote predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. The executive order directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further that regulations must be based on the best available science and that the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open exchange of ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent with these requirements, to the extent permitted by statute.

E.O. 13771 of January 30, 2017, directs Federal agencies to reduce the regulatory burden on regulated entities and control regulatory costs. E.O. 13771, however, applies only to significant regulatory actions, as defined in Section 3(f) of E.O. 12866. As mentioned above, OIRA has determined that agency regulations exclusively implementing the annual adjustment are not significant regulatory actions under E.O. 12866, provided they are consistent with the OMB Memorandum (

see

OMB Memorandum, M-18-03, at 3). Thus, E.O. 13771 does not apply to this rulemaking.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for all rules unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The RFA applies only to rules for which an agency is required to first publish a proposed rule.

See

5 U.S.C. 603(a) and 604(a). The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 requires agencies to adjust civil penalties annually for inflation “. . . notwithstanding Section 553 [of the Administrative Procedure Act].” Thus, no proposed rule will be published, and the RFA does not apply to this rulemaking.

C. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This rule:

(a) Will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more.

(b) Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions.

(c) Will not have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

This rule does not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or tribal governments, or the private sector, of more than $100 million per year. The rule does not have a significant or unique effect on State, local, or tribal governments or the private sector. A statement containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531

et seq.

) is not required.

E. Takings (E.O. 12630)

This rule does not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have takings implications under Executive Order 12630. A takings implication assessment is not required.

F. Federalism (E.O. 13132)

Under the criteria in section 1 of Executive Order 13132, this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement. A federalism summary impact statement is not required.

G. Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

This rule complies with the requirements of Executive Order 12988. Specifically, this rule:

(a) Meets the criteria of section 3(a) requiring that all regulations be reviewed to eliminate errors and ambiguity and be written to minimize litigation; and

(b) Meets the criteria of section 3(b)(2) requiring that all regulations be written in clear language and contain clear legal standards.

H. Consultation With Indian Tribes (E.O. 13175 and Departmental Policy)

The Department of the Interior strives to strengthen its government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes through a commitment to consultation with Indian tribes and recognition of their right to self-governance and tribal sovereignty. We have evaluated this rule under the Department's consultation policy, under Departmental Manual Part 512, Chapters 4 and 5, and under the criteria in Executive Order 13175 and have determined that it has no substantial direct effects on Federally-recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporations, and that consultation under the Department's tribal consultation policy is not required.

I. Paperwork Reduction Act

This rule does not contain information collection requirements, and a submission to the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501

et seq.

) is not required. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

J. National Environmental Policy Act

This rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. A detailed statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required because the rule is covered by a categorical exclusion. This rule is excluded from the requirement to prepare a detailed statement because it is a regulation of an administrative nature. (For further information

see

43 CFR 46.210(i).) We have also determined that the rule does not involve any of the extraordinary circumstances listed in 43 CFR 46.215 that would require further analysis under NEPA.

K. Effects on Energy Supply, Distribution, and Use (E.O. 13211)

This rule is not a significant energy action under the definition in Executive Order 13211. A Statement of Energy Effects is not required.

L. Clarity of This Regulation

We are required by Executive Orders 12866 (section 1(b)(12)), 12988 (section 3(b)(1)(B)), and 13563 (section 1(a)), and by the Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain language. This means that each rule we publish must:

(a) Be logically organized;

(b) Use the active voice to address readers directly;

(d) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and

(e) Use lists and tables wherever possible.

If you believe that we have not met these requirements in issuing this final rule, please contact the individual listed in the

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section. Your comments should be as specific as possible in order to help us determine whether any future revisions to the rule are necessary. For example, you should tell us the numbers of the sections or paragraphs that you find unclear, which sections or sentences are too long, the sections where you feel lists or tables would be useful, etc.

M. Data Quality Act

In developing this rule, we did not conduct or use a study, experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the Data Quality Act (Pub. L. 106-554).

N. Administrative Procedure Act

We are issuing this final rule without prior public notice or opportunity for public comment. As discussed above, the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 requires agencies to publish adjusted penalties annually. Under the 2015 Act, the public procedure that the Administrative Procedure Act generally requires—notice, an opportunity for comment, and a delay in the effective date—is not required for agencies to issue regulations implementing the annual adjustments required by the 2015 Act.

See

OMB Memorandum, M-18-03, at 4.

List of Subjects

30 CFR Part 723

Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties, Surface mining, Underground mining.

30 CFR Part 724

Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties, Surface mining, Underground mining.

30 CFR Part 845

Administrative practice and procedure, Law enforcement, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Surface mining, Underground mining.

30 CFR Part 846

Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties, Surface mining, Underground mining.

Dated: February 21, 2018.

Joseph R. Balash,

Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.

For the reasons given in the preamble, the Department of the Interior amends 30 CFR parts 723, 724, 845, and 846 as set forth below.

PART 723—CIVIL PENALTIES

1. The authority citation for part 723 continues to read as follows:

Authority:

28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201

et seq.,

and 31 U.S.C. 3701.

2. In § 723.14, revise the table to read as follows:

§ 723.14

Determination of amount of penalty.

Points

Dollars

132

197

262

328

394

459

524

590

656

721

787

852

918

985

1,050

1,115

1,182

1,247

1,312

1,378

1,444

1,509

1,574

1,640

1,968

2,296

2,623

2,827

3,281

3,608

3,936

4,264

4,592

4,920

5,248

5,577

5,904

6,232

6,559

6,889

7,216

7,544

7,872

8,200

8,529

8,856

9,185

9,512

9,840

10,167

10,497

10,825

11,152

11,481

11,808

12,136

12,464

12,793

13,120

13,448

13,777

14,105

14,433

14,760

15,089

15,416

15,744

16,072

16,401

3. In § 723.15, revise paragraph (b) introductory text to read as follows:

§ 723.15

Assessment of separate violations for each day.

(b) In addition to the civil penalty provided for in paragraph (a) of this section, whenever a violation contained in a notice of violation or cessation order has not been abated within the abatement period set in the notice or order or as subsequently extended pursuant to section 521(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 1271(a), a civil penalty of not less than $2,460 will be assessed for each day during which such failure to abate continues, except that:

PART 724—INDIVIDUAL CIVIL PENALTIES

4. The authority citation for part 724 continues to read as follows:

Authority:

28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201

et seq.,

and 31 U.S.C. 3701.

5. In § 724.14, revise the first sentence of paragraph (b) to read as follows:

§ 724.14

Amount of individual civil penalty.

(b) The penalty will not exceed $16,401 for each violation. * * *

PART 845—CIVIL PENALTIES

6. The authority citation for part 845 continues to read as follows:

Authority:

28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201

et seq.,

31 U.S.C. 3701, Pub. L. 100-202, and Pub. L. 100-446.

7. In § 845.14, revise the table to read as follows:

§ 845.14

Determination of amount of penalty.

Points

Dollars

132

197

262

328

394

459

524

590

656

721

787

852

918

985

1,050

1,115

1,182

1,247

1,312

1,378

1,444

1,509

1,574

1,640

1,968

2,296

2,623

2,827

3,281

3,608

3,936

4,264

4,592

4,920

5,248

5,577

5,904

6,232

6,559

6,889

7,216

7,544

7,872

8,200

8,529

8,856

9,185

9,512

9,840

10,167

10,497

10,825

11,152

11,481

11,808

12,136

12,464

12,793

13,120

13,448

13,777

14,105

14,433

14,760

15,089

15,416

15,744

16,072

16,401

8. In § 845.15, revise paragraph (b) introductory text to read as follows:

§ 845.15

Assessment of separate violations for each day.

PART 846—INDIVIDUAL CIVIL PENALTIES

9. The authority citation for part 846 continues to read as follows:

Authority:

28 U.S.C. 2461, 30 U.S.C. 1201

et seq.,

and 31 U.S.C. 3701.

10. In § 846.14, revise the first sentence of paragraph (b) to read as follows:

§ 846.14

Amount of individual civil penalty.

(b) The penalty will not exceed $16,401 for each violation. * * *

[FR Doc. 2018-04909 Filed 3-9-18; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-05-P

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.