81 FR 42987 - Civil Monetary Penalty Adjustments for Inflation

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
Transportation Security Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 127 (July 1, 2016)

Page Range42987-43006
FR Document2016-15673

This rule amends Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) regulations to adjust DHS and component civil monetary penalties for inflation. DHS calculated the adjusted penalties according to the statutory formula in the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which was signed into law on November 2, 2015. The adjusted penalties will be effective for civil penalties assessed after August 1, 2016 whose associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 127 (Friday, July 1, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 127 (Friday, July 1, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42987-43006]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15673]



[[Page 42987]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

6 CFR Part 27

8 CFR Parts 270, 274a, and 280

 Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 27

Transportation Security Administration

49 CFR Part 1503

RIN 1601-AA80
[Docket No. DHS-2016-0034]


Civil Monetary Penalty Adjustments for Inflation

AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This rule amends Department of Homeland Security (DHS or 
Department) regulations to adjust DHS and component civil monetary 
penalties for inflation. DHS calculated the adjusted penalties 
according to the statutory formula in the Federal Civil Penalties 
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which was signed 
into law on November 2, 2015. The adjusted penalties will be effective 
for civil penalties assessed after August 1, 2016 whose associated 
violations occurred after November 2, 2015.

DATES: Effective Date. This rule is effective on August 1, 2016.
    Comment Date: Comments must be received on or before August 1, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number DHS-
2016-0034, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Megan Westmoreland, Office of the General Counsel, 
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray Lane SW., Mail Stop 
0485, Washington, DC 20528-0485.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Megan Westmoreland, Attorney-Advisor, 
Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 
Phone: 202-447-4384.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Adjustments by Component
    A. National Protection and Programs Directorate
    B. U.S. Customs and Border Protection
    C. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    D. U.S. Coast Guard
    E. Transportation Security Administration
III. Administrative Procedure Act
IV. Regulatory Analyses
    A. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
    B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    C. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    D. Paperwork Reduction Act

I. Background

    On November 2, 2015, the President signed into law the Federal 
Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Pub. 
L. 114-74 section 701 (Nov. 2, 2105)) (the 2015 Act),\1\ which further 
amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 
(28 U.S.C. 2461 note) (the Inflation Adjustment Act), to improve the 
effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and to maintain their 
deterrent effect. The 2015 Act requires agencies to: (1) adjust the 
level of civil monetary penalties with an initial ``catch-up'' 
adjustment through issuance of an interim final rule (IFR) and (2) make 
subsequent annual adjustments for inflation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The 2015 Act was enacted as part of the Bipartisan Budget 
Act of 2015, Public Law 114-74 (Nov. 2, 2015).
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    The 2015 Act applies to all agency civil penalties except for any 
penalty (including any addition to tax and additional amount) under the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) and the Tariff Act 
of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1202 et seq.). See sec. 4(a)(1) of the 2015 Act. In 
the case of DHS, several civil penalties that are collected by U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Coast Guard fall under 
the Tariff Act of 1930, and thus DHS is not adjusting those civil 
penalties in this rulemaking.
    The 2015 Act applies the new penalty amounts to all penalties that 
DHS assesses after August 1, 2016, the effective date of this rule. 
Additionally, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2461 note sec. 6, as amended by the 
2015 Act, DHS will apply the adjusted penalty amounts for any 
violations that occurred after November 2, 2015 (i.e., the date the 
2015 Act was signed into law) as long as the penalty is assessed after 
the effective date of this interim final rule.
    The 2015 Act provides a new method for calculating inflation 
adjustments. The new method differs substantially from the methods that 
agencies used in the past when conducting inflation adjustments 
pursuant to the 1990 Inflation Adjustment Act. The new method is 
intended to more accurately reflect inflation. Previously, when 
agencies conducted adjustments to civil penalties, they did so under 
rules that required significant rounding of figures. For example, an 
agency would round a penalty increase that was greater than $1,000, but 
less than or equal to $10,000, to the nearest multiple of $1,000. While 
this allowed penalties to be kept at round numbers, it meant that 
agencies would often not increase penalties at all if the inflation 
factor was not large enough. Furthermore, increases to penalties were 
capped at 10 percent, which meant that longer periods without an 
inflation adjustment could cause a penalty to rapidly lose value in 
real terms. Over time, the formula used in the 1990 Inflation 
Adjustment Act calculations frequently caused penalties to lose value 
relative to actual inflation. The 2015 Act removed these rounding 
rules, and instead instructs agencies to round penalties to the nearest 
$1. While this creates penalty values that are no longer round numbers, 
it does ensure that agencies will increase penalties each year to a 
figure commensurate with the actual calculated inflation.
    To better reflect the original impact of civil penalties, the 2015 
Act ``resets'' the inflation calculations by excluding prior 
inflationary adjustments under the Inflation Adjustment Act. To do 
this, the 2015 Act requires agencies to identify, for each penalty, the 
year that Congress originally enacted the maximum penalty level/range 
of minimum and maximum penalty levels or the year that the agency last 
adjusted the penalty amount other than to pursuant to the Inflation 
Adjustment Act, and the corresponding penalty amount(s). The 2015 Act 
then requires agencies to perform an initial ``catch-up'' adjustment, 
using the original amounts of civil penalties as a baseline, so that 
the 2016 penalty levels are equal, in real terms, to the penalty 
amounts as they were originally established.
    Pursuant to the 2015 Act, DHS undertook a review of the civil 
penalties that DHS and its components administer. This rule sets forth 
the initial ``catch-up'' adjustment for all civil penalties that DHS 
and its components administer. For each component, we have provided a 
table showing how DHS is increasing the penalties pursuant to the 2015 
Act. The table contains the following information:
     In the first column (penalty name), we provide a 
description of the penalty.
     In the second column (citation), we provide the statutory 
cite from the United States Code (U.S.C.) and the regulatory cite from 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

[[Page 42988]]

     In the third column (current penalty), we list the 
existing penalty in effect on November 2, 2015.
     In the fourth column (baseline penalty (year)), we provide 
the amount and year of the penalty as enacted by Congress or as last 
changed through a mechanism other than pursuant to the Inflation 
Adjustment Act, whichever is later.
     In the fifth column (multiplier), we list the multiplier 
used to adjust the penalty. The multiplier is determined by the year of 
enactment or last adjustment of the penalty. The multiplier is based 
upon the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) for the month of October 2015, 
not seasonally adjusted.\2\
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    \2\ OMB, Implementation of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, Table A, 24 February 2016. 
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2016/m-16-06.pdf.
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     In the sixth column (preliminary new penalty), we list the 
amount obtained by multiplying the Baseline Penalty from column 4 with 
the Multiplier from column 5. This amount will be the final penalty, 
if, in accordance with the 2015 Act, this level does not increase 
penalty levels by more than 150 percent of the corresponding levels in 
effect on November 2, 2015.\3\
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    \3\ The 150 percent limitation is on the amount of the increase; 
therefore, the adjusted penalty levels are up to 250 percent of the 
levels in effect on November 2, 2015.
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     In the seventh column, (adjusted new penalty), we provide 
the final number for the penalty. To derive this number, we compare the 
preliminary new penalty with the current penalty from column 3. The 
adjusted new penalty is the lesser of either the preliminary new 
penalty or an amount equal to 150 percent more than the current 
penalty.
    Additionally, where applicable, we have also made conforming edits 
to regulatory text.

II. Adjustments by Component

    In the following sections, we briefly describe the civil penalties 
that DHS and its components assess. We describe the nature of the 
penalties and discuss relevant authorities. We include tables at the 
end of each section, which list the individual adjustments for each 
penalty. We also include discussions where we believe further 
explanation is helpful.

A. National Protection and Programs Directorate

    The National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) administers 
only one civil penalty that the 2015 Act affects. This penalty assesses 
fines for violations of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards 
(CFATS), a program which regulates the security of chemical facilities 
that, in the discretion of the Secretary, present high levels of 
security risk. The CFATS program was originally established in 2007, 
pursuant to section 550 of the Department of Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 109-295),\4\ and is currently 
located in part 27 of Title 6 of the CFR.
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    \4\ Section 550 has since been superseded by the Protecting and 
Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014 
(Pub. L. 113-254). The new legislation codified the statutory 
authority for the CFATS program within Title XXI of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002, as amended. See 6 U.S.C. 621 et seq.
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    One question that arose is how to calculate the baseline date of 
the CFATS penalty, which is $25,000 per day. The question arose because 
the 2007 legislation, which established CFATS, did not create a new 
penalty provision, but rather referenced an older one: \5\ Section 
70119(a) of Title 46. The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) 
(Pub. L. 107-295) was enacted in 2002 and established this penalty 
provision. For that reason, arguments could be made that we should 
index the $25,000 penalty by the 2002 CPI value (the date the MTSA 
penalty was established) or the 2007 CPI value (the date the CFATS 
program was enacted). The difference between these numbers is 
material--indexing the $25,000 penalty by the 2002 CPI value would 
yield a current penalty of $32,796 per day, while indexing the penalty 
by the 2007 CPI value would yield a current penalty of only $28,458 per 
day.
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    \5\ Section 550(d) of the Department of Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act of 2007 set forth the CFATS penalty, providing 
that ``[a]ny person who violates an order issued under this section 
shall be liable for a civil penalty under section 70119(a) of title 
46, United States Code. After promulgation of the Protecting and 
Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014, the 
relevant U.S.C. citation is 6 U.S.C. 624(b)(1), which still refers 
to the civil penalty section in 46 U.S.C. 70119(a).
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    Because the CFATS legislation did not create a new civil penalty, 
but rather simply referenced the existing MTSA penalty, we believe the 
intent of Congress was that violators of either MTSA or CFATS would 
face identical penalties. For this reason, we have considered the 
``baseline'' year for the CFATS penalty to be 2002 rather than 2007, 
and have increased the penalty by the multiplier appropriate for that 
year, as shown in Table 1 below.

                                                                             Table 1--CFATS Civil Penalty Adjustment
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                                                                                                                                                                            Adjusted new penalty
                                                                                                                                                        Preliminary  new     [increase capped at
           Penalty name                        Citation                     Current penalty            Baseline penalty *  (year)     Multiplier **   penalty  [multiplier     150% more than
                                                                                                                                                      x  baseline penalty]    current penalty]
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Penalty for non-compliance with    6 U.S.C. 624(b)(1);............  $25,000 per day................  $25,000 (2002)................         1.31185   $32,796.............  $32,796
 CFATS regulations.                6 CFR 27.300(b)(3).............
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* The amount of the penalty and the year of when the penalty was established or last adjusted in statute or regulation other than pursuant to the Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990.
** OMB, Implementation of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, Table A: 2016 Civil Monetary Penalty Catch-Up Adjustment Multiplier by Calendar Year,
  February 24, 2016.

B. U.S. Customs and Border Protection

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) assesses civil monetary 
penalties for certain violations of title 8 of the CFR regarding the 
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (Pub. L. 82-414, as amended) 
(INA). The INA contains provisions that impose penalties on persons, 
including carriers and aliens, who violate specified provisions of the 
INA. For example, section 231(g) of the INA, codified at 8 U.S.C. 
1221(g), requires that a carrier shall be fined $1,000 for each person 
for whom manifest information is not provided.
    CBP's relevant penalty provisions are located in numerous sections 
of the INA (see list below), however CBP has

[[Page 42989]]

enumerated these penalties in regulation in one location--in 8 CFR 
280.53. Below is the list of penalty provisions in the INA:
     Section 231(g), Penalties for non-compliance with arrival 
and departure manifest requirements for passengers, crewmembers, or 
occupants transported on commercial vessels or aircraft arriving to or 
departing from the United States.
     Section 234, Penalties for non-compliance with landing 
requirements at designated ports of entry for aircraft transporting 
aliens.
     Section 240B(d), Penalties for failure to depart 
voluntarily.
     Section 243(c)(1)(A), Penalties for violations of removal 
orders relating to aliens transported on vessels or aircraft under 
section 241(d) or for costs associated with removal under section 
241(e).
     Section 243(c)(1)(B), Penalties for failure to remove 
alien stowaways under section 241(d)(2).
     Section 251(d), Penalties for failure to report an illegal 
landing or desertion of alien crewmen, and for each alien not reported 
on arrival or departure manifest or lists required in accordance with 
section 251 and penalties for use of alien crewmen for longshore work 
in violation of section 251(d).
     Section 254(a), Penalties for failure to control, detain, 
or remove alien crewmen.
     Section 255, Penalties for employment on passenger vessels 
of aliens afflicted with certain disabilities.
     Section 256, Penalties for discharge of alien crewmen.
     Section 257, Penalties for bringing into the United States 
alien crewmen with intent to evade immigration laws.
     Section 271(a), Penalties for failure to prevent the 
unauthorized landing of aliens.
     Section 272(a), Penalties for bringing to the United 
States aliens subject to denial of admission on a health-related 
ground.
     Section 273(b), Penalties for bringing to the United 
States aliens without required documentation.
     Section 274D, Penalties for failure to depart.
     Section 275(b), Penalties for improper entry.
    We note, for reference, that CBP also assesses certain civil 
monetary penalties for customs violations under title 19 of the CFR. 
CBP assesses those penalties under the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 
but as we discussed above, the 2015 Act specifically exempts Tariff Act 
penalties from the inflation adjustment requirements in the 2015 Act. 
For that reason, we have not listed those title 19 penalties in the 
below table of CBP penalty adjustments.
    Under this rule, the current penalties continue to be applicable 
with regard to violations that occurred on or before November 2, 2015, 
the date of enactment of the 2015 Act. In Table 2 below, we provide the 
penalties that we are adjusting in accordance with the 2015 Act, where 
the associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015.

                                                             Table 2--U.S. Customs and Border Protection Civil Penalties Adjustments
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                                                                                                                                                                            Adjusted new penalty
                                                                                                                                                         Preliminary new     [increase capped at
           Penalty name                        Citation                     Current penalty             Baseline penalty *  (year)     Multiplier **  penalty  [multiplier     150% more than
                                                                                                                                                       x baseline penalty]    current penalty]
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Penalties for non-compliance with  8 U.S.C. 1221(g)...............  $1,100.........................  $1,000 (2002)..................         1.31185  $1,312..............  $1,312
 arrival and departure manifest    8 CFR 280.53(c)(1) (INA section
 requirements for passengers,       231(g)).
 crewmembers, or occupants
 transported on commercial
 vessels or aircraft arriving to
 or departing from the United
 States.
Penalties for non-compliance with  8 U.S.C. 1224..................  $3,200.........................  $2,000 (1990)..................         1.78156  $3,563..............  $3,563
 landing requirements at           8 CFR 280.53(c)(2) (INA section
 designated ports of entry for      234).
 aircraft transporting aliens.
Penalties for failure to depart    8 U.S.C. 1229c(d)..............  $1,100-$5,500..................  $1,000-$5,000 (1996)...........         1.50245  $1,502-$7,512.......  $1,502-$7,512
 voluntarily.                      8 CFR 280.53(c)(3) (INA section
                                    240B(d)).
Penalties for violations of        8 U.S.C. 1253(c)(1)(A).........  $2,200.........................  $2,000 (1996)..................         1.50245  $3,005..............  $3,005
 removal orders relating to        8 CFR 280.53(c)(4) (INA section
 aliens transported on vessels or   243(c)(1)(A)).
 aircraft under section 241(d) of
 the INA, or for costs associated
 with removal under section
 241(e) of the INA.

[[Page 42990]]

 
Penalties for failure to remove    8 U.S.C. 1253(c)(1)(B).........  $5,500.........................  $5,000 (1996)..................         1.50245  $7,512..............  $7,512
 alien stowaways under section     8 CFR 280.53(c)(4) (INA section
 241(d)(2) of the INA.              243(c)(1)(B)).
Penalties for failure to report    8 U.S.C. 1281(d)...............  $320 for each alien............  $200 for each alien (1990).....         1.78156  $356 for each alien.  $356 for each alien
 an illegal landing or desertion   8 CFR 280.53(c)(5) (INA section
 of alien crewmen, and for each     251(d)).
 alien not reported on arrival or
 departure manifest or lists
 required in accordance with
 section 251 of the INA.
Penalties for use of alien         8 U.S.C. 1281(d)...............  $7,500.........................  $5,000 (1990)..................         1.78156  $8,908..............  $8,908
 crewmen for longshore work in     8 CFR 280.53(c)(5) (INA section
 violation of section 251(d) of     251(d)).
 the INA.
Penalties for failure to control,  8 U.S.C. 1284(a)...............  $750-$4,300....................  $500-$3000 (1990)..............         1.78156  $891-$5,345.........  $891-$5,345
 detain, or remove alien crewmen.  8 CFR 280.53(c)(6) (INA section
                                    254(a)).
Penalties for employment on        8 U.S.C. 1285..................  $1,100.........................  $1,000 (1990)..................         1.78156  $1,782..............  $1,782
 passenger vessels of aliens       8 CFR 280.53(c)(7) (INA section
 afflicted with certain             255).
 disabilities.
Penalties for discharge of alien   8 U.S.C. 1286..................  $1,500-$4,300..................  $1,500-$3,000 (1990)...........         1.78156  $2,672-$5,345.......  $2,672-$5,345
 crewmen.                          8 CFR 280.53(c)(8) (INA section
                                    256).
Penalties for bringing into the    8 U.S.C. 1287..................  $16,000........................  $10,000 (1990).................         1.78156  $17,816.............  $17,816
 United States alien crewmen with  8 CFR 280.53(c)(9) (INA section
 intent to evade immigration laws.  257).
Penalties for failure to prevent   8 U.S.C. Sec.   1321(a)........  $4,300.........................  $3,000 (1990)..................         1.78156  $5,345..............  $5,345
 the unauthorized landing of       8 CFR 280.53(c)(10) (INA
 aliens.                            section 271(a)).
Penalties for bringing to the      8 U.S.C. Sec.   1322(a)........  $4,300.........................  $3,000 (1990)..................         1.78156  $5,345..............  $5,345
 United States aliens subject to   8 CFR 280.53(c)(11) (INA
 denial of admission on a health-   section 272(a)).
 related ground.
Penalties for bringing to the      8 U.S.C. Sec.   1323(b)........  $4,300.........................  $3,000 (1990)..................         1.78156  $5,345..............  $5,345
 United States aliens without      8 CFR 280.53(c)(12) (INA
 required documentation.            section 273(b)).
Penalties for failure to depart..  8 U.S.C. 1324d.................  $550...........................  $500 (1996)....................         1.50245  $751................  $751
                                   8 CFR 280.53(c)(13) (INA
                                    section 274D).
Penalties for improper entry.....  8 U.S.C. Sec.   1325(b)........  $55-275........................  $50-$250 (1996)................         1.50245  $75-$376............  $75-$376
                                   8 CFR 280.53(c)(14) (INA
                                    section 275(b)).
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* The amount of the penalty and the year of when the penalty was established or last adjusted in statute or regulation other than pursuant to the Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990.
** OMB, Implementation of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, Table A: 2016 Civil Monetary Penalty Catch-Up Adjustment Multiplier by Calendar Year,
  February 24, 2016.


[[Page 42991]]

C. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assesses civil monetary 
penalties for certain employment-related violations arising from the 
INA. ICE's civil penalties are located in title 8 of the CFR.
    There are three different sections in the INA that impose civil 
monetary penalties for violations of the laws that relate to employment 
actions (sections 274A, 274B, and 274C). ICE has primary enforcement 
responsibilities for two of these civil penalty provisions (sections 
274A and 274C), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) has enforcement 
responsibilities for one of these civil penalty provisions (section 
274B). The INA, in sections 274A and 274C, provides for imposition of 
civil penalties for various specified unlawful acts pertaining to the 
employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9, Employment 
Eligibility Verification) and the employment of unauthorized aliens. 
These penalties cover, among other things, the knowing employment of 
unauthorized aliens and the failure to comply with the employment 
verification requirements relating to completion of the Form I-9. ICE 
assesses and imposes civil monetary penalties with respect to employer 
sanctions under section 274A of the INA and 8 CFR part 274a. Similarly, 
ICE imposes civil penalties for specified actions relating to 
immigration-related document fraud under section 274C of the INA and 8 
CFR part 270. We note that while ICE is updating the penalty amounts in 
8 CFR part 270, ICE has not assessed these penalties in recent years.
    Because both DHS and DOJ implement the three employment-related 
penalty sections in the INA, both Departments are codifying the civil 
penalty amounts in their implementing regulations. Pursuant to the 
authority of the Inflation Adjustment Act and before the creation of 
DHS, DOJ previously adjusted the civil monetary penalties for 
inflation, increasing the specific amounts stated in sections 274A, 
274B, and 274C of the INA. See 64 FR 7066 (Feb. 12, 1999) and 64 FR 
47099 (Aug. 30, 1999). Both agencies issued a joint rulemaking to 
update the penalties in 2008. See 73 FR 10130 (Feb. 26, 2008). Today, 
as in 2008, the division of responsibilities between the Secretary of 
Homeland Security and the Attorney General requires action by both 
Departments in order to effectuate a further adjustment of the civil 
penalties. The minimum and maximum civil penalty amounts for each 
violation will necessarily be the same whether DHS or DOJ imposes the 
penalty. See 8 CFR 274a.10 and 270.3; 28 CFR 68.52(c) and (e).
    In this rule, DHS is amending 8 CFR parts 270 and 274a of the DHS 
regulations to incorporate the revised schedule of civil penalties, as 
adjusted for inflation according to the statutory formula described 
above. We note that DOJ is similarly revising regulations in 28 CFR 
part 68 (which correspond to the penalties in 8 CFR part 270) in a 
separate civil penalty adjustment rulemaking.
    Under this rule, the current penalties continue to be applicable 
with regard to violations that occurred on or before November 2, 2015, 
the date of enactment of the 2015 Act. Table 3 below lays out the 
changes to the penalties, where the associated violations occurred 
after November 2, 2015.

                                        Table 3--Immigration and Customs Enforcement Civil Penalties Adjustments
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                                                                                                                                         Adjusted new
                                                                                                                    Preliminary new   penalty  [increase
         Penalty name                    Citation             Current  penalty    Baseline  penalty   Multiplier        penalty         capped at 150%
                                                                                      *  (year)           **         [multiplier x     more than current
                                                                                                                  baseline  penalty]       penalty]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Civil penalties for violation  8 CFR 270.3(b)(1)(ii)(A)....  $375-$3,200.......  $250-$2,000 (1990)      1.78156  $445-$3,563.......  $445-$3,563
 of Immigration and
 Naturalization Act (INA)
 sections 274C(a)(1)-(a)(4),
 penalty for first offense.
Civil penalties for violation  8 CFR 270.3(b)(1)(ii)(B)....  $275-$2,200.......  $250-$2,000 (1996)      1.50245  $376-$3,005.......  $376-$3,005
 of Immigration and
 Naturalization Act (INA)
 sections 274C(a)(5)-(a)(6),
 penalty for first offense.
Civil penalties for violation  8 CFR 270.3(b)(1)(ii)(C)....  $3,200-$6,500.....  $2,000-$5,000           1.78156  $3,563-$8,908.....  $3,563-$8,908
 of Immigration and                                                               (1990)
 Naturalization Act (INA)
 sections 274C(a)(1)-(a)(4),
 penalty for subsequent
 offenses.
Civil penalties for violation  8 CFR 270.3(b)(1)(ii)(D)....  $2,200-$5,500.....  $2,000-$5,000           1.50245  $3,005-$7,512.....  $3,005-$7,512
 of Immigration and                                                               (1996)
 Naturalization Act (INA)
 sections 274C(a)(5)-(a)(6),
 penalty for subsequent
 offenses.
Violation/prohibition of       8 CFR 274a.8(b).............  $1,100............  $1,000 (1986)           2.15628  $2,156............  $2,156
 indemnity bonds.
Civil penalties for knowingly  8 CFR 274a.10(b)(1)(ii)(A)..  $375-$3,200.......  $250-$2,000 (1986)      2.15628  $539-$4,313.......  $539-$4,313
 hiring, recruiting,
 referral, or retention of
 unauthorized aliens--Penalty
 for first offense (per
 unauthorized alien).
Penalty for second offense     8 CFR 274a.10(b)(1)(ii)(B)..  $3,200-$6,500.....  $2,000-$5,000           2.15628  $4,313-$10,781....  $4,313-$10,781
 (per unauthorized alien).                                                        (1986)
Penalty for third or           8 CFR 274a.10(b)(1)(ii)(C)..  $4,300-$16,000....  $3,000-$10,000          2.15628  $6,469-$21,563....  $6,469-$21,563
 subsequent offense (per                                                          (1986)
 unauthorized alien).
Civil penalties for I-9        8 CFR 274a.10(b)(2).........  $110-$1,100.......  $100-$1,000 (1986)      2.15628  $216-$2,156.......  $216-$2,156
 paperwork violations.
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* The amount of the penalty and the year of when the penalty was established or last adjusted in statute or regulation other than pursuant to the
  Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990.
** OMB, Implementation of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, Table A: 2016 Civil Monetary Penalty Catch-Up
  Adjustment Multiplier by Calendar Year, February 24, 2016.


[[Page 42992]]

D. U.S. Coast Guard

    The Coast Guard is adjusting for inflation the penalties in the 
table in part 27 of title 33 of the CFR. That table identifies the 
statutes that provide the Coast Guard with civil monetary penalty 
authority and sets out the inflation-adjusted maximum penalty that the 
Coast Guard may impose pursuant to each statutory provision. The new 
table in this regulation provides the current maximum penalty for 
violations that occurred after November 2, 2015. The penalties in 
effect for violations on or prior to November 2, 2015 can be found in 
prior CFR versions that pertain to the date in which the violation 
occurred. Since the Coast Guard had adjusted the table in part 27 for 
inflation on several occasions, not just one table can be used for all 
violations on or before November 2, 2015.
    The Coast Guard is authorized to assess close to 150 penalties 
involving maritime safety and security and environmental stewardship 
that are critical to the continued success of Coast Guard missions. 
Various statutes in Title 14, 16, 19, 33, 42, 46, and 49 of the U.S.C. 
authorize these penalties. Titles 33 and 46 authorize the vast majority 
of these penalties as these statutes deal with navigation, navigable 
waters, and shipping.
    Under title 33 of the U.S.C., the Coast Guard assesses penalties 
with respect to bridges, marine events, pollution prevention, oil 
discharges, sanitation, international navigation, and other 
environmental stewardship responsibilities. Most notably, the Coast 
Guard has express joint authority with the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) to assess penalties in order to enforce the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) (CWA), as amended by the Oil 
Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) (33 U.S.C. 1321 et seq.), and MARPOL 
Protocol, Annex VI (33 U.S.C. 1908). Penalties under the CWA and OPA 90 
relate to the discharge of oil or a hazardous substance from a vessel 
or facility into or upon the navigable waters of the United States, 
adjoining shoreline, or into or upon the waters of the contiguous zone. 
Both agencies may assess penalties for discharges of oil or hazardous 
substances in connection with activities under the Outer Continental 
Shelf Lands Act or the Deepwater Port Act. Further, both agencies may 
assess penalties if a person fails to take mitigation or removal 
action, or fails to comply with an order of the Federal On-Scene 
Coordinator. The Coast Guard and EPA delineate enforcement boundaries 
within each region. Under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships 
(APPS) (33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), both of these agencies may assess 
penalties for any violation of Annex VI, including but not limited to 
the carriage and use of low-sulfur fuel oil, and vessel engine and 
emission requirements. While the EPA focuses primarily on engine permit 
requirements and shoreside facility compliance, the Coast Guard may 
refer other matters to the EPA for enforcement in accordance with 
established protocol.
    Under title 46 of the U.S.C., the Coast Guard assesses penalties 
with respect to vessel inspections, vessel operations, manning and 
training on vessels, marine casualty reporting, drug testing, pilotage, 
vessel identification, and other aspects of personnel and operations 
involved in the shipping industry. The majority of civil penalties 
under this title relate to vessel compliance, which includes general 
inspection requirements, crew requirements and limitations, and 
operational requirements of the vessel to engage in a commercial 
enterprise.
    Beyond title 33 and title 46 of the U.S.C., the Coast Guard 
assesses penalties related to the organization and management of the 
Coast Guard, aquatic species conservation, obstruction of revenue, and 
hazardous substances and materials. Most notably, the Coast Guard has 
joint authority with EPA under title 42 of the U.S.C. to assess 
penalties for hazardous substances. Under the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) 
(42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), the Coast Guard may assess penalties for the 
failure to meet the notification requirements, failure to provide 
evidence of financial responsibility, or failure to follow an 
administrative order, among other violations. The Coast Guard has the 
primary responsibility to enforce the laws on navigational waterways.
    As evidenced by the table below, the current inflation adjustment 
imposes a substantial change in many of the civil penalties 
administered by the Coast Guard. Part of the reason for the changes are 
that the enactment dates for penalties assessed by the Coast Guard vary 
widely, spanning from 1935 to 2014. Furthermore, the penalty amounts 
vary widely, spanning up to $250,000. Under the 2015 Act, and as 
mentioned elsewhere in this preamble, Congress has created a 
straightforward method for calculating the amount of the inflation 
allowable for each penalty.
    While the increases due to inflation are, for some penalties, 
substantial, not all penalties will be equivalent to their original 
value in real terms. Pursuant to the 2015 Act, the Coast Guard cannot 
increase any penalty by more than 150% of the previously adjusted 
penalty. As the Coast Guard last adjusted penalties for inflation on 
June 2, 2011 (76 FR 31831), it cannot adjust any penalty by more than 
150% of the amount set by the final rule of June 2, 2011. After the 
Coast Guard used the new method and applied the 150% cap, they 
increased the penalties by an amount of 3% to 150% above the last 
adjustment. Of those penalties that the Coast Guard is increasing in 
this rulemaking, approximately 23 of the penalties are increasing more 
than 100% from their 2011 value, and the 2015 Act limits the amount 
that they can increase to 150% of the 2011 value. All of the penalties 
that Congress or the Coast Guard enacted prior to 1980 are increasing 
more than 100%. This is due to the great difference between the CPI-U 
level from the years enacted and the CPI-U from October 2015.
    There were three penalties that decreased in value from their 
previous amounts. These penalties (codified in 46 U.S.C. App. 
1505(a)(2), 46 U.S.C. App. 1805(c)(2), and 42 U.S.C. 12151(c)) showed 
significant decreases. These changes occurred because Congress 
recodified these penalties in 2006 after the Coast Guard adjusted them 
for inflation. Using the 2006 recodification as the new statutory 
baseline, the penalty amounts declined significantly in this rulemaking 
from their current values.
    Finally, we are adding several penalties to the existing table in 
33 CFR 27.3 that had been inadvertently omitted from regulatory text. 
These penalties include a penalty for intentional interference with a 
broadcast (codified at 14 U.S.C. 88(e)), a clean hulls penalty for 
recreational and commercial vessels (33 U.S.C. 3852(c)), vessel 
documentation relating to mobile offshore drilling units (46 U.S.C. 
12151(a)(2), and hazardous material training penalties (49 U.S.C. 
5123(a)(3)).

[[Page 42993]]



                                                  Table 4--U.S. Coast Guard Civil Penalties Adjustments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                         Adjusted new
                                                                                  Baseline  penalty                 Preliminary new   penalty  [increase
         Penalty name                    Citation              Current penalty        *  (year)       Multiplier        penalty         capped at 150%
                                                                                     (statutory           **         [multiplier x     more than current
                                                                                      citation)                    baseline penalty]       penalty]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saving Life and Property.....  14 U.S.C. 88(c).............  $10,000...........  $10,000...........      1.00171  $10,017...........  $10,017
                                                                                 (2014)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 113-281).
Saving Life and Property;      14 U.S.C. 88(e).............  1,000.............  $1,000............      1.02819  1,028.............  1,028
 Intentional Interference                                                        (2012)............
 with Broadcast.                                                                 (Pub. L. 112-213).
Confidentiality of Medical     14 U.S.C. 645(i); 33 CFR      4,000.............  $3,000............      1.67728  5,032.............  5,032
 Quality Assurance Records      27.3.                                            (1992)............
 (first offense).                                                                (Pub. L. 102-587).
Confidentiality of Medical     14 U.S.C. 645(i); 33 CFR      30,000............  $20,000...........      1.67728  33,546............  33,546
 Quality Assurance Records      27.3.                                            (1992)............
 (subsequent offenses).                                                          (Pub. L. 102-587).
Aquatic Nuisance Species in    16 U.S.C. 4711(g)(1); 33 CFR  35,000............  $25,000...........      1.50245  37,561............  37,561
 Waters of the United States.   27.3.                                            (1996)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 104-332).
Obstruction of Revenue         19 U.S.C. 70; 33 CFR 27.3...  3,000.............  $2,000............     17.36044  34,721............  7,500
 Officers by Masters of                                                          (1935)............
 Vessels.
Obstruction of Revenue         19 U.S.C. 70; 33 CFR 27.3...  700...............  $500..............     17.36044  8,680.............  1,750
 Officers by Masters of                                                          (1935)............
 Vessels--Minimum Penalty.
Failure to Stop Vessel When    19 U.S.C. 1581(d)...........  5,000.............  $5,000............          N/A  N/A...............  *** 5,000
 Directed; Master, Owner,                                                        (1930)............
 Operator or Person in Charge.
Failure to Stop Vessel When    19 U.S.C. 1581(d)...........  1,000.............  $1,000............          N/A  N/A...............  *** 1,000
 Directed; Master, Owner,                                                        (1930)............
 Operator or Person in
 Charge--Minimum Penalty.
Anchorage Ground/Harbor        33 U.S.C. 471; 33 CFR 27.3..  110...............  $10,000...........      1.08745  10,875............  10,875
 Regulations General.                                                            (2010)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 111-281).
Anchorage Ground/Harbor        33 U.S.C. 474; 33 CFR 27.3..  300...............  $200..............     11.43452  2,287.............  750
 Regulations St. Mary's river.                                                   (1946)............
                                                                                 (11 FR 7875)......
Bridges/Failure to Comply      33 U.S.C. 495(b); 33 CFR      25,000............  $25,000...........      1.09819  27,455............  27,455
 with Regulations.              27.3.                                            (2008)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 108-293).
Bridges/Drawbridges..........  33 U.S.C. 499(c); 33 CFR      25,000............  $25,000...........      1.09819  27,455............  27,455
                                27.3.                                            (2008)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 108-293).
Bridges/Failure to Alter       33 U.S.C. 502(c); 33 CFR      25,000............  $25,000...........      1.09819  27,455............  27,455
 Bridge Obstructing             27.3.                                            (2008)............
 Navigation.                                                                     (Pub. L. 108-293).
Bridges/Maintenance and        33 U.S.C. 533(b); 33 CFR      25,000............  $25,000...........      1.09819  27,455............  27,455
 Operation.                     27.3.                                            (2008)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 108-293).
Bridge to Bridge               33 U.S.C. 1208(a); 33 CFR     800...............  $500..............      5.81511  2,908.............  2,000
 Communication; Master,         27.3.                                            (1971)............
 Person in Charge or Pilot.                                                      (Pub. L. 92-63)...
Bridge to Bridge               33 U.S.C. 1208(b); 33 CFR     800...............  $500..............      5.81511  2,908.............  2,000
 Communication; Vessel.         27.3.                                            (1971)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 92-63)...
PWSA Regulations.............  33 U.S.C. 1232(a); 33 CFR     40,000............  $25,000...........      3.54453  88,613............  88,613
                                27.3.                                            (1978)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 95-474)..
Vessel Navigation: Regattas    33 U.S.C. 1236(b); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      1.78156  8,908.............  8,908
 or Marine Parades;             27.3.                                            (1990)............
 Unlicensed Person in Charge.                                                    (Pub. L. 101-380).
Vessel Navigation: Regattas    33 U.S.C. 1236(c); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      1.78156  8,908.............  8,908
 or Marine Parades; Owner       27.3.                                            (1990)............
 Onboard Vessel.                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-380).
Vessel Navigation: Regattas    33 U.S.C. 1236(d); 33 CFR     3,000.............  $2,500............      1.78156  4,454.............  4,454
 or Marine Parades; Other       27.3.                                            (1990)............
 Persons.                                                                        (Pub. L. 101-380).

[[Page 42994]]

 
Oil/Hazardous Substances:      33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(i);   15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
 Discharges (Class I per        33 CFR 27.3.                                     (1990)............
 violation).                                                                     (Pub. L. 101-380).
Oil/Hazardous Substances:      33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(i);   40,000............  $25,000...........      1.78156  44,539............  44,539
 Discharges (Class I total      33 CFR 27.3.                                     (1990)............
 under paragraph).                                                               (Pub. L. 101-380).
Oil/Hazardous Substances:      33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii);  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
 Discharges (Class II per day   33 CFR 27.3.                                     (1990)............
 of violation).                                                                  (Pub. L. 101-380).
Oil/Hazardous Substances:      33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii);  190,000...........  $125,000..........      1.78156  222,695...........  222,695
 Discharges (Class II total     33 CFR 27.3.                                     (1990)............
 under paragraph).                                                               (Pub. L. 101-380).
Oil/Hazardous Substances:      33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(A); 33   40,000............  $25,000...........      1.78156  44,539............  44,539
 Discharges (per day of         CFR 27.3.                                        (1990)............
 violation) Judicial                                                             (Pub. L. 101-380).
 Assessment.
Oil/Hazardous Substances:      33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(A); 33   1,100.............  $1,000............      1.78156  1,782.............  1,782
 Discharges (per barrel of      CFR 27.3.                                        (1990)............
 oil or unit discharged)                                                         (Pub. L. 101-380).
 Judicial Assessment.
Oil/Hazardous Substances:      33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(B); 33   40,000............  $25,000...........      1.78156  44,539............  44,539
 Failure to Carry Out Removal/  CFR 27.3.                                        (1990)............
 Comply With Order (Judicial                                                     (Pub. L. 101-380).
 Assessment).
Oil/Hazardous Substances:      33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(C); 33   40,000............  $25,000...........      1.78156  44,539............  44,539
 Failure to Comply with         CFR 27.3.                                        (1990)............
 Regulation Issued Under                                                         (Pub. L. 101-380).
 1321(j) (Judicial
 Assessment).
Oil/Hazardous Substances:      33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(D); 33   4,000.............  $3,000............      1.78156  5,345.............  5,345
 Discharges, Gross Negligence   CFR 27.3.                                        (1990)............
 (per barrel of oil or unit                                                      (Pub. L. 101-380).
 discharged) Judicial
 Assessment.
Oil/Hazardous Substances:      33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(D); 33   130,000...........  $100,000..........      1.78156  178,156...........  178,156
 Discharges, Gross              CFR 27.3.                                        (1990)............
 Negligence--Minimum Penalty                                                     (Pub. L. 101-380).
 (Judicial Assessment).
Marine Sanitation Devices;     33 U.S.C. 1322(j); 33 CFR     3,000.............  $2,000............      5.62265  11,245............  7,500
 Operating.                     27.3.                                            (1972)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 92-500)..
Marine Sanitation Devices;     33 U.S.C. 1322(j); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      5.62265  28,113............  20,000
 Sale or Manufacture.           27.3.                                            (1972)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 92-500)..
International Navigation       33 U.S.C. 1608(a); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      2.80469  14,023............  14,023
 Rules; Operator.               27.3.                                            (1980)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 96-591)..
International Navigation       33 U.S.C. 1608(b); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      2.80469  14,023............  14,023
 Rules; Vessel.                 27.3.                                            (1980)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 96-591)..
Pollution from Ships; General  33 U.S.C. 1908(b)(1); 33 CFR  40,000............  $25,000...........      2.80469  70,117............  70,117
                                27.3.                                            (1980)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 96-478)..
Pollution from Ships; False    33 U.S.C. 1908(b)(1); 33 CFR  8,000.............  $5,000............      2.80469  14,023............  14,023
 Statement.                     27.3.                                            (1980)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 96-478)..
Inland Navigation Rules;       33 U.S.C. 2072(a); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      2.80469  14,023............  14,023
 Operator.                      27.3.                                            (1980)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 96-591)..
Inland Navigation Rules;       33 U.S.C. 2072(b); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      2.80469  14,023............  14,023
 Vessel.                        27.3.                                            (1980)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 96-591)..
Shore Protection; General....  33 U.S.C. 2609(a); 33 CFR     40,000............  $25,000...........      1.97869  49,467............  49,467
                                27.3.                                            (1988)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 100-688).
Shore Protection; Operating    33 U.S.C. 2609(b); 33 CFR     15,000............  $10,000...........      1.97869  19,787............  19,787
 Without Permit.                27.3.                                            (1988)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 100-688).
Oil Pollution Liability and    33 U.S.C. 2716a(a); 33 CFR    40,000............  $25,000...........      1.78156  44,539............  44,539
 Compensation.                  27.3.                                            (1990)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-380).

[[Page 42995]]

 
Clean Hulls..................  33 U.S.C. 3852(a)(1)(A); 33   37,500............  $37,500...........      1.08745  40,779............  40,779
                                CFR 27.3.                                        (2010)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 111-281).
Clean Hulls--related to false  33 U.S.C. 3852(a)(1)(A); 33   50,000............  $50,000...........      1.08745  54,373............  54,373
 statements.                    CFR 27.3.                                        (2010)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 111-281).
Clean Hulls--Recreational      33 U.S.C. 3852(c); 33 CFR     5,000.............  $5,000............      1.08745  5,437.............  5,437
 Vessel.                        27.3.                                            (2010)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 111-281).
Hazardous Substances,          42 U.S.C. 9609(a); 33 CFR     35,000............  $25,000...........      2.15628  53,907............  53,907
 Releases, Liability,           27.3.                                            (1986)............
 Compensation (Class I).                                                         (Pub. L. 99-499)..
Hazardous Substances,          42 U.S.C. 9609(b); 33 CFR     35,000............  $25,000...........      2.15628  53,907............  53,907
 Releases, Liability,           27.3.                                            (1986)............
 Compensation (Class II).                                                        (Pub. L. 99-499)..
Hazardous Substances,          42 U.S.C. 9609(b); 33 CFR     100,000...........  $75,000...........      2.15628  161,721...........  161,721
 Releases, Liability,           27.3.                                            (1986)............
 Compensation (Class II                                                          (Pub. L. 99-499)..
 subsequent offense).
Hazardous Substances,          42 U.S.C. 9609(c); 33 CFR     35,000............  $25,000...........      2.15628  53,907............  53,907
 Releases, Liability,           27.3.                                            (1986)............
 Compensation (Judicial                                                          (Pub. L. 99-499)..
 Assessment).
Hazardous Substances,          42 U.S.C. 9609(c); 33 CFR     100,000...........  $75,000...........      2.15628  161,721...........  161,721
 Releases, Liability,           27.3.                                            (1986)............
 Compensation (Judicial                                                          (Pub. L. 99-499)..
 Assessment subsequent
 offense).
Safe Containers for            46 U.S.C. App 1505(a)(2)      8,000.............  $5,000............      1.17858  5,893.............  5,893
 International Cargo.           (codified as 46 USC 80509);                      (2006)............
                                33 CFR 27.3.                                     (Pub. L. 109-304).
Suspension of Passenger        46 U.S.C. App 1805(c)(2)      70,000............  $50,000...........      1.17858  58,929............  58,929
 Service.                       (codified 46 USC 70305); 33                      (2006)............
                                CFR 27.3.                                        (Pub. L. 109-304;
                                                                                  46 USC 70305).
Vessel Inspection or           46 U.S.C. 2110(e); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      1.78156  8,908.............  8,908
 Examination Fees.              27.3.                                            (1990)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-508).
Alcohol and Dangerous Drug     46 U.S.C. 2115; 33 CFR 27.3.  7,000.............  $5,000............      1.45023  7,251.............  7,251
 Testing.                                                                        (1998)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 105-383).
Negligent Operations:          46 U.S.C. 2302(a); 33 CFR     6,000.............  $5,000............      1.31185  6,559.............  6,559
 Recreational Vessels.          27.3.                                            (2002)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 107-295).
Negligent Operations: Other    46 U.S.C. 2302(a); 33 CFR     30,000............  $25,000...........      1.31185  32,796............  32,796
 Vessels.                       27.3.                                            (2002)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 107-295).
Operating a Vessel While       46 U.S.C. 2302(c)(1); 33 CFR  7,000.............  $5,000............      1.45023  7,251.............  7,251
 Under the Influence of         27.3.                                            (1998)............
 Alcohol or a Dangerous Drug.                                                    (Pub. L. 105-383).
Vessel Reporting               46 U.S.C. 2306(a)(4); 33 CFR  8,000.............  $5,000............      2.25867  11,293............  11,293
 Requirements: Owner,           27.3.                                            (1984)............
 Charterer, Managing                                                             (Pub. L. 98-498)..
 Operator, or Agent.
Vessel Reporting               46 U.S.C. 2306(b)(2); 33 CFR  1,100.............  $1,000............      2.25867  2,259.............  2,259
 Requirements: Master.          27.3.                                            (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-498)..
Immersion Suits..............  46 U.S.C. 3102(c)(1); 33 CFR  8,000.............  $5,000............      2.25867  11,293............  11,293
                                27.3.                                            (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-623)..
Inspection Permit............  46 U.S.C. 3302(i)(5); 33 CFR  1,100.............  $1,000............      2.35483  2,355.............  2,355
                                27.3.                                            (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Vessel Inspection; General...  46 U.S.C. 3318(a); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      2.25867  11,293............  11,293
                                27.3.                                            (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-498)..
Vessel Inspection; Nautical    46 U.S.C. 3318(g); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      2.25867  11,293............  11,293
 School Vessel.                 27.3.                                            (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-498)..
Vessel Inspection; Failure to  46 U.S.C. 3318(h); 33 CFR     1,100.............  $1,000............      2.25867  2,259.............  2,259
 Give Notice IAW 3304(b).       27.3.                                            (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-498)..

[[Page 42996]]

 
Vessel Inspection; Failure to  46 U.S.C. 3318(i); 33 CFR     1,100.............  $1,000............      2.25867  2,259.............  2,259
 Give Notice IAW 3309(c).       27.3.                                            (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-498)..
Vessel Inspection; Vessel      46 U.S.C. 3318(j)(1); 33 CFR  15,000............  $10,000...........      2.25867  22,587............  22,587
 >=1600 Gross Tons.             27.3.                                            (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-498)..
Vessel Inspection; Vessel      46 U.S.C. 3318(j)(1); 33 CFR  3,000.............  $2,000............      2.25867  4,517.............  4,517
 <1600 Gross Tons.              27.3.                                            (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-498)..
Vessel Inspection; Failure to  46 U.S.C. 3318(k); 33 CFR     15,000............  $10,000...........      2.25867  22,587............  22,587
 Comply with 3311(b).           27.3.                                            (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-498)..
Vessel Inspection; Violation   46 U.S.C. 3318(l); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      2.25867  11,293............  11,293
 of 3318(b)-3318(f).            27.3.                                            (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-498)..
List/count of Passengers.....  46 U.S.C. 3502(e); 33 CFR     110...............  $100..............      2.35483  235...............  235
                                27.3.                                            (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Notification to Passengers...  46 U.S.C. 3504(c); 33 CFR     15,000............  $10,000...........      2.35483  23,548............  23,548
                                27.3.                                            (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Notification to Passengers;    46 U.S.C. 3504(c); 33 CFR     800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
 Sale of Tickets.               27.3.                                            (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Copies of Laws on Passenger    46 U.S.C. 3506; 33 CFR 27.3.  300...............  $200..............      2.35483  471...............  471
 Vessels; Master.                                                                (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Liquid Bulk/Dangerous Cargo..  46 U.S.C. 3718(a)(1); 33 CFR  40,000............  $25,000...........      2.35483  58,871............  58,871
                                27.3.                                            (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Uninspected Vessels..........  46 U.S.C. 4106; 33 CFR 27.3.  8,000.............  $5,000............      1.97869  9,893.............  9,893
                                                                                 (1988)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 100-540).
Recreational Vessels (maximum  46 U.S.C. 4311(b)(1); 33 CFR  300,000...........  $250,000..........      1.24588  311,470...........  311,470
 for related series of          27.3.                                            (2004)............
 violations).                                                                    (Pub. L. 108-293).
Recreational Vessels;          46 U.S.C. 4311(b)(1); 33 CFR  6,000.............  $5,000............      1.24588  6,229.............  6,229
 Violation of 4307(a).          27.3.                                            (2004)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 108-293).
Recreational vessels.........  46 U.S.C. 4311(c); 33 CFR     1,100.............  $1,000............      2.35483  2,355.............  2,355
                                27.3.                                            (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Uninspected Commercial         46 U.S.C. 4507; 33 CFR 27.3.  8,000.............  $5,000............      1.97869  9,893.............  9,893
 Fishing Industry Vessels.                                                       (1988)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 100-424).
Abandonment of Barges........  46 U.S.C. 4703; 33 CFR 27.3.  1,100.............  $1,000............      1.67728  1,677.............  1,677
                                                                                 (1992)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 102-587).
Load Lines...................  46 U.S.C. 5116(a); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      2.15628  10,781............  10,781
                                27.3.                                            (1986)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 99-509)..
Load Lines; Violation of       46 U.S.C. 5116(b); 33 CFR     15,000............  $10,000...........      2.15628  21,563............  21,563
 5112(a).                       27.3.                                            (1986)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 99-509)..
Load Lines; Violation of       46 U.S.C. 5116(c); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      2.15628  10,781............  10,781
 5112(b).                       27.3.                                            (1986)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 99-509)..
Reporting Marine Casualties..  46 U.S.C. 6103(a); 33 CFR     35,000............  $25,000...........      1.50245  37,561............  37,561
                                27.3.                                            (1996)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 104-324).
Reporting Marine Casualties;   46 U.S.C. 6103(b); 33 CFR     8,000.............  $5,000............      1.97869  9,893.............  9,893
 Violation of 6104.             27.3.                                            (1988)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 100-424).
Manning of Inspected Vessels;  46 U.S.C. 8101(e); 33 CFR     1,100.............  $1,000............      1.78156  1,782.............  1,782
 Failure to Report Deficiency   27.3.                                            (1990)............
 in Vessel Complement.                                                           (Pub. L. 101-380).

[[Page 42997]]

 
Manning of Inspected Vessels.  46 U.S.C. 8101(f); 33 CFR     15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
                                27.3.                                            (1990)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-380).
Manning of Inspected Vessels;  46 U.S.C. 8101(g); 33 CFR     15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
 Employing or Serving in        27.3.                                            (1990)............
 Capacity not Licensed by                                                        (Pub. L. 101-380).
 USCG.
Manning of Inspected Vessels;  46 U.S.C. 8101(h); 33 CFR     1,100.............  $1,000............      2.35483  2,355.............  2,355
 Freight Vessel <100 GT,        27.3.                                            (1983)............
 Small Passenger Vessel, or                                                      (Pub. L. 98-89)...
 Sailing School Vessel.
Watchmen on Passenger Vessels  46 U.S.C. 8102(a)...........  1,100.............  $1,000............      2.35483  2,355.............  2,355
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Citizenship Requirements.....  46 U.S.C. 8103(f)...........  800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Watches on Vessels; Violation  46 U.S.C. 8104(i)...........  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
 of 8104(a) or (b).                                                              (1990)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-380).
Watches on Vessels; Violation  46 U.S.C. 8104(j)...........  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
 of 8104(c), (d), (e), or (h).                                                   (1990)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-380).
Staff Department on Vessels..  46 U.S.C. 8302(e)...........  110...............  $100..............      2.35483  235...............  235
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Officer's Competency           46 U.S.C. 8304(d)...........  110...............  $100..............      2.35483  235...............  235
 Certificates.                                                                   (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Coastwise Pilotage; Owner,     46 U.S.C. 8502(e)...........  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
 Charterer, Managing                                                             (1990)............
 Operator, Agent, Master or                                                      (Pub. L. 101-380).
 Individual in Charge.
Coastwise Pilotage;            46 U.S.C. 8502(f)...........  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
 Individual.                                                                     (1990)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-380).
Federal Pilots...............  46 U.S.C. 8503..............  40,000............  $25,000...........      2.25867  56,467............  56,467
                                                                                 (1984)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-557)..
Merchant Mariners Documents..  46 U.S.C. 8701(d)...........  800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Crew Requirements............  46 U.S.C. 8702(e)...........  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
                                                                                 (1990)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-380).
Small Vessel Manning.........  46 U.S.C. 8906..............  35,000............  $25,000...........      1.50245  37,561............  37,561
                                                                                 (1996)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 104-324).
Pilotage: Great Lakes; Owner,  46 U.S.C. 9308(a)...........  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
 Charterer, Managing                                                             (1990)............
 Operator, Agent, Master or                                                      (Pub. L. 101-380).
 Individual in Charge.
Pilotage: Great Lakes;         46 U.S.C. 9308(b)...........  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
 Individual.                                                                     (1990)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-380).
Pilotage: Great Lakes;         46 U.S.C. 9308(c)...........  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.78156  17,816............  17,816
 Violation of 9303.                                                              (1990)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-380).
Failure to Report Sexual       46 U.S.C. 10104(b)..........  8,000.............  $5,000............      1.89361  9,468.............  9,468
 Offense.                                                                        (1989)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 101-225).
Pay Advances to Seamen.......  46 U.S.C. 10314(a)(2).......  800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Pay Advances to Seamen;        46 U.S.C. 10314(b)..........  800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
 Remuneration for Employment.                                                    (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...

[[Page 42998]]

 
Allotment to Seamen..........  46 U.S.C. 10315(c)..........  800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Seamen Protection; General...  46 U.S.C. 10321.............  7,000.............  $5,000............      1.63238  8,162.............  8,162
                                                                                 (1993)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 103-206).
Coastwise Voyages: Advances..  46 U.S.C. 10505(a)(2).......  7,000.............  $5,000............      1.63238  8,162.............  8,162
                                                                                 (1993)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 103-206).
Coastwise Voyages: Advances;   46 U.S.C. 10505(b)..........  7,000.............  $5,000............      1.63238  8,162.............  8,162
 Remuneration for Employment.                                                    (1993)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 103-206).
Coastwise Voyages: Seamen      46 U.S.C. 10508(b)..........  7,000.............  $5,000............      1.63238  8,162.............  8,162
 Protection; General.                                                            (1993)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 103-206).
Effects of Deceased Seamen...  46 U.S.C. 10711.............  300...............  $200..............      2.35483  471...............  471
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Complaints of Unfitness......  46 U.S.C. 10902(a)(2).......  800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Proceedings on Examination of  46 U.S.C. 10903(d)..........  110...............  $100..............      2.35483  235...............  235
 Vessel.                                                                         (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Permission to Make Complaint.  46 U.S.C. 10907(b)..........  800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Accommodations for Seamen....  46 U.S.C. 11101(f)..........  800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Medicine Chests on Vessels...  46 U.S.C. 11102(b)..........  800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Destitute Seamen.............  46 U.S.C. 11104(b)..........  110...............  $100..............      2.35483  235...............  235
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Wages on Discharge...........  46 U.S.C. 11105(c)..........  800...............  $500..............      2.35483  1,177.............  1,177
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Log Books; Master Failing to   46 U.S.C. 11303(a)..........  300...............  $200..............      2.35483  471...............  471
 Maintain.                                                                       (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Log Books; Master Failing to   46 U.S.C. 11303(b)..........  300...............  $200..............      2.35483  471...............  471
 Make Entry.                                                                     (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Log Books; Late Entry........  46 U.S.C. 11303(c)..........  200...............  $150..............      2.35483  353...............  353
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Carrying of Sheath Knives....  46 U.S.C. 11506.............  80................  $50...............      2.35483  118...............  118
                                                                                 (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Vessel Documentation.........  46 U.S.C. 12151(a)(1).......  15,000............  $15,000...........      1.02819  15,423............  15,423
                                                                                 (2012)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 112-213).
Documentation of Vessels--     46 U.S.C. 12151(a)(2).......  25,000............  $25,000...........      1.02819  25,705............  25,705
 Related to Activities                                                           (2012)............
 involving mobile offshore                                                       (Pub. L. 112-213).
 drilling units.
Vessel Documentation; Fishery  46 U.S.C. 12151(c)..........  130,000...........  $100,000..........      1.17858  117,858...........  117,858
 Endorsement.                                                                    (2006)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 109-304).
Numbering of Undocumented      46 U.S.C. 12309(a)..........  6,000.............  $5,000............      2.35483  11,774............  11,774
 Vessels--Willful violation.                                                     (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Numbering of Undocumented      46 U.S.C. 12309(b)..........  1,100.............  $1,000............      2.35483  2,355.............  2,355
 Vessels.                                                                        (1983)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 98-89)...
Vessel Identification System.  46 U.S.C. 12507(b)..........  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.97869  19,787............  19,787
                                                                                 (1988)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 100-710).

[[Page 42999]]

 
Measurement of Vessels.......  46 U.S.C. 14701.............  30,000............  $20,000...........      2.15628  43,126............  43,126
                                                                                 (1986)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 99-509)..
Measurement; False Statements  46 U.S.C. 14702.............  30,000............  $20,000...........      2.15628  43,126............  43,126
                                                                                 (1986)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 99-509)..
Commercial Instruments and     46 U.S.C. 31309.............  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.97869  19,787............  19,787
 Maritime Liens.                                                                 (1988)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 100-710).
Commercial Instruments and     46 U.S.C. 31330(a)(2).......  15,000............  $10,000...........      1.97869  19,787............  19,787
 Maritime Liens; Mortgagor.                                                      (1988)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 100-710).
Commercial Instruments and     46 U.S.C. 31330(b)(2).......  35,000............  $25,000...........      1.97869  49,467............  49,467
 Maritime Liens; Violation of                                                    (1988)............
 31329.                                                                          (Pub. L. 100-710).
Port Security................  46 U.S.C. 70119(a)..........  30,000............  $25,000...........      1.31185  32,796............  32,796
                                                                                 (2002)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 107-295).
Port Security--Continuing      46 U.S.C. 70119(b)..........  50,000............  $50,000...........      1.17858  58,929............  58,929
 Violations.                                                                     (2006)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 109-241).
Maritime Drug Law Enforcement  46 U.S.C. 70506(c)..........  5,000.............  $5,000............      1.08745  5,437.............  5,437
                                                                                 (2010)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 111-281).
Hazardous Materials: Related   49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(1)........  75,000............  $75,000...........      1.02819  77,114............  77,114
 to Vessels.                                                                     (2012)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 112-141).
Hazardous Materials: Related   49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(2)........  175,000...........  $175,000..........      1.02819  179,933...........  179,933
 to Vessels--Penalty from                                                        (2012)............
 Fatalities, Serious Injuries/                                                   (Pub. L. 112-141).
 Illness or substantial
 Damage to Property.
Hazardous Materials: Related   49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(3)........  450...............  $450..............      1.02819  463...............  463
 to Vessels; Training.                                                           (2012)............
                                                                                 (Pub. L. 112-141).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The amount of the penalty and the year of when the penalty was established or last adjusted in statute or regulation other than pursuant to the
  Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990.
** OMB, Implementation of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, Table A: 2016 Civil Monetary Penalty Catch-Up
  Adjustment Multiplier by Calendar Year, February 24, 2016.
*** Exempt as under the Tariff Act.

E. Transportation Security Administration

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is updating its 
civil penalties regulation in accordance with the 2015 Act. Pursuant to 
its statutory authority in 49 U.S.C. 114(v), TSA may impose penalties 
for violations of any statute that TSA administers, whether an 
implementing regulation or order imposes the penalty.\6\ TSA assesses 
these penalties for a wide variety of aviation and surface security 
requirements, including violations of TSA's requirements applicable to 
Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC),\7\ as well as 
violations of requirements described in chapter 449 of Title 49 of the 
U.S. Code. These penalties can apply to a wide variety of situations, 
as described in the statutory and regulatory provisions, as well as in 
guidance that TSA publishes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See 49 U.S.C. 114(v), as amended by sec. 1302 of the 
Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 
(Pub. L. 110-53, 121 Stat. 266 (Aug. 3, 2007)).
    \7\ See, e.g., 46 U.S.C. 70105, 49 U.S.C. 46302 and 46303, and 
U.S.C. ch. 449.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TSA's maximum civil penalty amounts are located in 49 CFR 1503.401. 
Over the years, Congress has increased the amount of those penalties to 
reflect the importance of maintaining aviation security. In section 
1602 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-296 (Nov. 25, 
2002)), Congress raised the maximum civil penalty amounts per violation 
for certain aviation security statutes. Additionally, in section 503(b) 
of the Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Vision 100) 
(Pub. L. 108-176 (Dec. 12, 2003)), Congress raised the total civil 
penalty amount per case that TSA may assess.
    In this rulemaking, we are also making several minor adjustments to 
the regulatory text in section 1503.401 beyond simply updating the 
penalty numbers. First, we are eliminating the text in paragraph (d), 
``Inflation adjustment,'' because it is no longer needed. Pursuant to 
the 2015 Act, TSA will carry out inflation adjustments annually in the 
future, so there is no need for this text. Each year, TSA will update 
the amounts with current figures per the latest adjustment.
    Additionally, TSA is correcting a minor error that appeared in 
section 1503.401(c). Previously, subsection

[[Page 43000]]

(c)(1), which prescribed penalties for certain aviation-related 
violations, stated that the penalty against an entity that is operating 
a non-aircraft operator business was limited to $50,000. However, that 
statement incorrectly applied the limiting provision in 49 U.S.C. 
46301(d)(8)(C), which applies the $50,000 limitation (unadjusted for 
inflation) only to individuals and small businesses. TSA can assess the 
full amount of $400,000 (adjusted for inflation) against an entity that 
is not an individual or small business, and operating a non-aircraft 
operator business who is subject to this fine. We have made this 
correction by removing the inaccurate clause from paragraph (c)(1) and 
adding a new paragraph (c)(2) explicitly stating that an entity 
operating an on-aircraft operator business is subject to the full fine. 
We are redesignating existing paragraph (c)(2) as (c)(3).
    Under this rule, the current penalties continue to be applicable 
with regard to violations that occurred on or before November 2, 2015, 
the date of enactment of the 2015 Act. Table 5 below contains a full 
list of the penalties assessed by the Transportation Security 
Administration, where the associated violation occurred after November 
2, 2015.

                                       Table 5--Transportation Security Administration Civil Penalties Adjustments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                         Adjusted new
                                                                                                                  Preliminary new     penalty [increase
           Penalty name                  Citation          Current penalty     Baseline penalty *   Multiplier  penalty [multiplier  capped at 150% more
                                                                                     (year)             **          x  baseline          than current
                                                                                                                      penalty]             penalty]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Violation of 49 U.S.C. ch. 449     49 U.S.C.             $27,500 (up to a     $25,000 (2003) (up       1.28561  $32,140 (up to a     $32,140 (up to a
 (except secs. 44902, 44903(d),     46301(a)(1), (4);     total of $400,000    to a total of                     total of $514,244    total of $514,244
 44907(a)-(d)(1)(A),                49 CFR                per civil penalty    $400,000 per civil                per civil penalty    per civil penalty
 44907(d)(1)(C)-(f), 44908, and     1503.401(c)(2).       action).             penalty action).                  action).             action).
 44909), or 49 U.S.C. 46302 or
 46303, a regulation prescribed,
 or order issued thereunder by a
 person operating an aircraft for
 the transportation of passengers
 or property for compensation.
Violation of 49 U.S.C. ch. 449     49 U.S.C.             $11,000 (up to a     $10,000 (2003) (up       1.28561  $12,856 (up to a     $12,856 (up to a
 (except secs. 44902, 44903(d),     46301(a)(1), (4);     total of $50,000     to a total of                     total of $64,281     total of $64,281
 44907(a)-(d)(1)(A),                49 CFR                total for small      $50,000 total for                 total for small      total for small
 44907(d)(1)(C)-(f), 44908, and     1503.401(c)(1).       businesses,          small businesses,                 businesses,          businesses,
 44909), or 49 U.S.C. 46302 or                            $400,000 for         $400,000 for                      $514,244 for         $514,244 for
 46303, a regulation prescribed,                          others).             others).                          others).             others).
 or order issued thereunder by an
 individual (except an airman
 serving as an airman), any
 person not operating an aircraft
 for the transportation of
 passengers or property for
 compensation, or a small
 business concern.
Violation of any other provision   49 U.S.C. 114(v); 49  $10,000 (up to a     $10,000 (2009) (up       1.10020  $11,002 (up to a     $11,002 (up to a
 of title 49 U.S.C. or of 46        CFR 1503.401(b).      total of $50,000     to a total of                     total of $55,010     total of $55,010
 U.S.C. ch. 701, a regulation                             total for small      $50,000 total for                 total for small      total for small
 prescribed, or order issued                              businesses,          small businesses,                 businesses,          businesses,
 thereunder.                                              $400,000 for         $400,000 for                      $440,080 for         $440,080 for
                                                          others).             others).                          others).             others).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The amount of the penalty and the year of when the penalty was established or last adjusted in statute or regulation other than pursuant to the
  Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990.
** OMB, Implementation of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, Table A: 2016 Civil Monetary Penalty Catch-Up
  Adjustment Multiplier by Calendar Year, February 24, 2016.

III. Administrative Procedure Act

    The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) generally requires agencies 
to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (5 
U.S.C. 553(b)) and to provide interested persons with the opportunity 
to submit comments (5 U.S.C. 553(c)). The APA, however, provides an 
exception to the notice and public comment requirements where the 
``agency for good cause finds . . . that notice and public procedure 
thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to public 
interest.'' 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B).
    DHS is promulgating this rule to ensure that the amount of civil 
penalties that DHS assesses or enforces reflects the statutorily 
mandated ranges as adjusted for inflation. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B), there is good cause to issue this rule without prior 
public notice or opportunity for public comment, because it would be 
impracticable and unnecessary. The 2015 Act directed agencies to 
``adjust civil monetary penalties through an interim final rulemaking'' 
and to make subsequent annual adjustments for inflation to civil 
monetary penalties notwithstanding section 553 of title 5 of the U.S. 
Code. In addition, the 2015 Act provides a clear formula for adjustment 
of the civil penalties, leaving DHS and its components with little room 
for discretion. DHS and its components have been charged only with 
performing ministerial computations to determine the amounts of 
adjustments for inflation to civil monetary penalties. Accordingly, 
prior public notice and comment are not required for this rule.

IV. Regulatory Analyses

A. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. This final rule has not been designated a ``significant 
regulatory action,'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. 
Accordingly, the Office of Management

[[Page 43001]]

and Budget (OMB) has not reviewed this rule.
    This final rule makes nondiscretionary adjustments to existing 
civil monetary penalties in accordance with the 2015 Act and OMB 
guidance.\8\ DHS therefore did not consider alternatives and does not 
have the flexibility to alter the adjustments of the civil monetary 
penalty amounts as provided in this rule. To the extent this rule 
increases civil monetary penalties, it would result in an increase in 
transfers from persons or entities assessed a civil monetary penalty to 
the government.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ OMB, Implementation of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, 24 February 2016. https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2016/m-16-06.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act applies only to rules for which an 
agency publishes a notice of proposed rulemaking pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(b). See 5 U.S.C. 601-612. The Regulatory Flexibility Act does not 
apply to this interim final rule, because a notice of proposed 
rulemaking is not required for the reasons stated above.

C. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, 
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary 
regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may 
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or Tribal government, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 (adjusted for 
inflation) or more in any one year. This interim final rule will not 
result in such an expenditure.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, do not 
apply to this final rule, because this interim final rule does not 
trigger any new or revised recordkeeping or reporting.

List of Subjects

6 CFR Part 27

    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Security measures.

8 CFR Part 270

    Administrative practice and procedure, Aliens, Employment, Fraud, 
Penalties.

8 CFR Part 274a

    Administrative practice and procedure, Aliens, Employment, 
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

8 CFR Part 280

    Administrative practice and procedure, Immigration, Penalties.

33 CFR Part 27

    Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties.

49 CFR Part 1503

    Administrative practice and procedure, Investigations, Law 
enforcement, Penalties.

Amendments to the Regulations

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of Homeland 
Security amends 6 CFR part 27, 8 CFR parts 270, 274a, and 280, 33 CFR 
part 27, and 49 CFR part 1503 as follows:

Title 6--Domestic Security

PART 27--CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS

0
1. The authority citation for part 27 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority:  6 U.S.C. 624; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, as 
amended by Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599.


0
2. In Sec.  27.300, revise paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  27.300  Orders.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Where the Assistant Secretary determines that a facility is in 
violation of an Order issued pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section 
and issues an Order Assessing Civil Penalty pursuant to paragraph 
(b)(1) of this section, a chemical facility is liable to the United 
States for a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for each day during 
which the violation continues, if the violation of the Order occurred 
on or before November 2, 2015, or $32,796 for each day during which the 
violation of the Order continues, if the violation occurred after 
November 2, 2015.
* * * * *

Title 8--Aliens and Nationality

PART 270--PENALTIES FOR DOCUMENT FRAUD

0
3. The authority citation for part 270 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101, 1103, and 1324c; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 
Stat. 890, as amended by Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 and Pub. L. 
114-74, 129 Stat. 599.


0
4. In Sec.  270.3, revise paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(A), (B), (C), and (D) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  270.3  Penalties.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) First offense under section 274C(a)(1) through (a)(4). Not less 
than $275 and not exceeding $2,200 for each fraudulent document or each 
proscribed activity described in section 274C(a)(1) through (a)(4) of 
the Act before March 27, 2008; not less than $375 and not exceeding 
$3,200 for each fraudulent document or each proscribed activity 
described in section 274C(a)(1) through (a)(4) of the Act on or after 
March 27, 2008 and on or before November 2, 2015; and not less than 
$445 and not exceeding $3,563 for each fraudulent document or each 
proscribed activity described in section 274C(a)(1) through (a)(4) of 
the Act after November 2, 2015.
    (B) First offense under section 274C(a)(5) or (a)(6). Not less than 
$250 and not exceeding $2,000 for each fraudulent document or each 
proscribed activity described in section 274C(a)(5) or (a)(6) of the 
Act before March 27, 2008; not less than $275 and not exceeding $2,200 
for each fraudulent document or each proscribed activity described in 
section 274C(a)(5) or (a)(6) of the Act on or after March 27, 2008 and 
on or before November 2, 2015; and not less than $376 and not exceeding 
$3,005 for each fraudulent document or each proscribed activity 
described in section 274C(a)(5) or (a)(6) of the Act after November 2, 
2015.
    (C) Subsequent offenses under section 274C(a)(1) through (a)(4). 
Not less than $2,200 and not more than $5,500 for each fraudulent 
document or each proscribed activity described in section 274C(a)(1) 
through (a)(4) of the Act before March 27, 2008; not less than $3,200 
and not exceeding $6,500 for each fraudulent document or each 
proscribed activity described in section 274C(a)(1) through (a)(4) of 
the Act occurring on or after March 27, 2008 and on or before November 
2, 2015; and not less than $3,563 and not more than $8,908 for each 
fraudulent document or each proscribed activity described in section 
274C(a)(1) through (a)(4) of the Act after November 2, 2015.
    (D) Subsequent offenses under section 274C(a)(5) or (a)(6). Not 
less than $2,000 and not more than $5,000 for each fraudulent document 
or each proscribed activity described in section 274C(a)(5) or (a)(6) 
of the Act before March 27, 2008; not less than $2,200 and not 
exceeding $5,500 for each fraudulent

[[Page 43002]]

document or each proscribed activity described in section 274C(a)(5) or 
(a)(6) of the Act occurring on or after March 27, 2008 and on or before 
November 2, 2015; and not less than $3,005 and not more than $7,512 for 
each fraudulent document or each proscribed activity described in 
section 274C(a)(5) or (a)(6) of the Act after November 2, 2015.
* * * * *

PART 274a--CONTROL OF EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS

0
5. The authority citation for part 274a is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101, 1103, 1324a; 48 U.S.C. 1806; 8 CFR 
part 2; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, as amended by Pub. L. 114-
74, 129 Stat. 599.


0
6. In Sec.  4a.8, revise (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  274a.8  Prohibition of indemnity bonds.

* * * * *
    (b) Penalty. Any person or other entity who requires any individual 
to post a bond or security as stated in this section shall, after 
notice and opportunity for an administrative hearing in accordance with 
section 274A(e)(3)(B) of the Act, be subject to a civil monetary 
penalty of $1,000 for each violation before September 29, 1999, of 
$1,100 for each violation occurring on or after September 29, 1999 but 
on or before November 2, 2015, and of $2,156 for each violation 
occurring after November 2, 2015, and to an administrative order 
requiring the return to the individual of any amounts received in 
violation of this section or, if the individual cannot be located, to 
the general fund of the Treasury.

0
7. In Sec.  274a.10, revise paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(A),(B),(C), and 
(b)(1)(iii)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  274a.10  Penalties.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) First offense--not less than $275 and not more than $2,200 for 
each unauthorized alien with respect to whom the offense occurred 
before March 27, 2008; not less than $375 and not exceeding $3,200, for 
each unauthorized alien with respect to whom the offense occurred 
occurring on or after March 27, 2008 and on or before November 2, 2015; 
and not less than $539 and not more than $4,313 for each unauthorized 
alien with respect to whom the offense occurred occurring after 
November 2, 2015.
    (B) Second offense--not less than $2,200 and not more than $5,500 
for each unauthorized alien with respect to whom the second offense 
occurred before March 27, 2008; not less than $3,200 and not more than 
$6,500, for each unauthorized alien with respect to whom the second 
offense occurred on or after March 27, 2008 and on or before November 
2, 2015; and not less than $4,313 and not more than $10,781 for each 
unauthorized alien with respect to whom the second offense occurred 
after November 2, 2015; or
    (C) More than two offenses--not less than $3,300 and not more than 
$11,000 for each unauthorized alien with respect to whom the third or 
subsequent offense occurred before March 27, 2008; not less than $4,300 
and not exceeding $16,000, for each unauthorized alien with respect to 
whom the third or subsequent offense occurred on or after March 27, 
2008 and on or before November 2, 2015; and not less than $6,469 and 
not more than $21,563 for each unauthorized alien with respect to whom 
the third or subsequent offense occurred after November 2, 2015; and
    (iii) * * *
    (2) A respondent determined by the Service (if a respondent fails 
to request a hearing) or by an administrative law judge, to have failed 
to comply with the employment verification requirements as set forth in 
Sec.  274a.2(b), shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount of 
not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 for each individual with 
respect to whom such violation occurred before September 29, 1999; not 
less than $110 and not more than $1,100 for each individual with 
respect to whom such violation occurred on or after September 29, 1999 
and on or before November 2, 2015; and not less than $216 and not more 
than $2,156 for each individual with respect to whom such violation 
occurred after November 2, 2015. In determining the amount of the 
penalty, consideration shall be given to:
    (i) The size of the business of the employer being charged;
    (ii) The good faith of the employer;
    (iii) The seriousness of the violation;
    (iv) Whether or not the individual was an unauthorized alien; and
    (v) The history of previous violations of the employer.
* * * * *

PART 280--IMPOSITION AND COLLECTION OF FINES

0
8. The authority citation for part 280 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1103, 1221, 1223, 1227, 1229, 1253, 1281, 
1283, 1284, 1285, 1286, 1322, 1323, 1330; 66 Stat. 173, 195, 197, 
201, 203, 212, 219, 221-223, 226, 227, 230; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 
Stat. 890, as amended by Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599.


0
9. Revise Sec.  280.53 to read as follows:


Sec.  280.53  Civil Monetary Penalties Inflation Adjustment.

    (a) Statutory authority. In accordance with the requirements of the 
Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, Public Law 
101-410, 104 Stat. 890, as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties 
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, Public Law 114-74, 
Sec. 701, 129 Stat. 599, the civil monetary penalties listed in 
paragraph (b) of this section are adjusted as provided in this 
paragraph (b).
    (b) Adjustment of penalties. For violations occurring on or before 
November 2, 2015, the penalty amount prior to adjustment applies. For 
violations occurring after November 2, 2015, the listed penalties are 
adjusted as follows:
    (1) Section 231(g) of the Act, Penalties for non-compliance with 
arrival and departure manifest requirements for passengers, 
crewmembers, or occupants transported on commercial vessels or aircraft 
arriving to or departing from the United States: From $1,100 to $1,312.
    (2) Section 234 of the Act, Penalties for non-compliance with 
landing requirements at designated ports of entry for aircraft 
transporting aliens: From $3,200 to $3,563.
    (3) Section 240B(d) of the Act, Penalties for failure to depart 
voluntarily: From $1,100 minimum/$5,500 maximum to $1,502 minimum/
$7,512 maximum.
    (4) Section 243(c)(1)(A) of the Act, Penalties for violations of 
removal orders relating to aliens transported on vessels or aircraft, 
under section 241(d) of the Act, or for costs associated with removal 
under section 241(e) of the Act: From $2,200 to $3,005;
    (5) Penalties for failure to remove alien stowaways under section 
241(d)(2): From $5,500 to $7,512.
    (6) Section 251(d) of the Act, Penalties for failure to report an 
illegal landing or desertion of alien crewmen, and for each alien not 
reported on arrival or departure manifest or lists required in 
accordance with section 251 of the Act: From $320 to $356; and 
penalties for use of alien crewmen for longshore work in violation of 
section 251(d) of the Act: From $7,500 to $8,908.
    (7) Section 254(a) of the Act, Penalties for failure to control, 
detain, or remove alien crewmen: From $750 minimum/$4,300 maximum to 
$891 minimum/$5,345 maximum.
    (8) Section 255 of the Act, Penalties for employment on passenger 
vessels of

[[Page 43003]]

aliens afflicted with certain disabilities: From $1,100 to $1,782.
    (9) Section 256 of the Act, Penalties for discharge of alien 
crewmen: From $1,500 minimum/$4,300 maximum to $2,672 minimum/$5,345 
maximum.
    (10) Section 257 of the Act, Penalties for bringing into the United 
States alien crewmen with intent to evade immigration laws: From 
$16,000 maximum to $17,816 maximum.
    (11) Section 271(a) of the Act, Penalties for failure to prevent 
the unauthorized landing of aliens: From $4,300 to $5,345.
    (12) Section 272(a) of the Act, Penalties for bringing to the 
United States aliens subject to denial of admission on a health-related 
ground: From $4,300 to $5,345.
    (13) Section 273(b) of the Act, Penalties for bringing to the 
United States aliens without required documentation: From $4,300 to 
$5,345.
    (14) Section 274D of the Act, Penalties for failure to depart: From 
$550 to $751, for each day the alien is in violation.
    (15) Section 275(b) of the Act, Penalties for improper entry: From 
$55 minimum/$275 maximum to $75 minimum/$376 maximum, for each entry or 
attempted entry.

Title 33--Navigation and Navigable Waters

PART 27--ADJUSTMENT OF CIVIL MONETARY PENALTIES FOR INFLATION

0
10. The authority citation for part 27 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 1-6, Public Law 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, as 
amended by Sec. 31001(s)(1), Public Law 104-134, as amended by 
Public Law 114-74; 110 Stat. 1321 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note); Department 
of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1, sec. 2 (106).

0
11. Revise Sec.  27.3 to read as follows:


Sec.  27.3  Penalty adjustment table.

    Table 1 identifies the statutes administered by the Coast Guard 
that authorize a civil monetary penalty. The ``adjusted maximum 
penalty'' is the maximum penalty authorized by the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Federal 
Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, as 
determined by the Coast Guard. The adjusted civil penalty amounts 
listed in Table 1 are applicable for penalty assessments issued after 
August 1, 2016, with respect to violations occurring after November 2, 
2015. The applicable civil penalty amounts for violations occurring on 
or before November 2, 2015, are set forth in previously published 
regulations amending 33 CFR part 27.

                              Table 1--Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   2016 adjusted
                                                                                                      maximum
                U.S. Code citation                       Civil monetary penalty description       penalty amount
                                                                                                        ($)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 U.S.C. 88(c)...................................  Saving Life and Property....................          10,017
14 U.S.C. 88(e)...................................  Saving Life and Property; Intentional                  1,028
                                                     Interference with Broadcast.
14 U.S.C. 645(i)..................................  Confidentiality of Medical Quality Assurance           5,032
                                                     Records (first offense).
14 U.S.C. 645(i)..................................  Confidentiality of Medical Quality Assurance          33,546
                                                     Records (subsequent offenses).
16 U.S.C. 4711(g)(1)..............................  Aquatic Nuisance Species in Waters of the             37,561
                                                     United States.
19 U.S.C. 70......................................  Obstruction of Revenue Officers by Masters             7,500
                                                     of Vessels.
19 U.S.C. 70......................................  Obstruction of Revenue Officers by Masters             1,750
                                                     of Vessels--Minimum Penalty.
19 U.S.C. 1581(d).................................  Failure to Stop Vessel When Directed;                  5,000
                                                     Master, Owner, Operator or Person in Charge
                                                     \1\.
19 U.S.C. 1581(d).................................  Failure to Stop Vessel When Directed;                  1,000
                                                     Master, Owner, Operator or Person in
                                                     Charge--Minimum Penalty \1\.
33 U.S.C. 471.....................................  Anchorage Ground/Harbor Regulations General.          10,875
33 U.S.C. 474.....................................  Anchorage Ground/Harbor Regulations St.                  750
                                                     Mary's River.
33 U.S.C. 495(b)..................................  Bridges/Failure to Comply with Regulations..          27,455
33 U.S.C. 499(c)..................................  Bridges/Drawbridges.........................          27,455
33 U.S.C. 502(c)..................................  Bridges/Failure to Alter Bridge Obstructing           27,455
                                                     Navigation.
33 U.S.C. 533(b)..................................  Bridges/Maintenance and Operation...........          27,455
33 U.S.C. 1208(a).................................  Bridge to Bridge Communication; Master,                2,000
                                                     Person in Charge or Pilot.
33 U.S.C. 1208(b).................................  Bridge to Bridge Communication; Vessel......           2,000
33 U.S.C. 1232(a).................................  PWSA Regulations............................          88,613
33 U.S.C. 1236(b).................................  Vessel Navigation: Regattas or Marine                  8,908
                                                     Parades; Unlicensed Person in Charge.
33 U.S.C. 1236(c).................................  Vessel Navigation: Regattas or Marine                  8,908
                                                     Parades; Owner Onboard Vessel.
33 U.S.C. 1236(d).................................  Vessel Navigation: Regattas or Marine                  4,454
                                                     Parades; Other Persons.
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(i)........................  Oil/Hazardous Substances: Discharges (Class           17,816
                                                     I per violation).
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(i)........................  Oil/Hazardous Substances: Discharges (Class           44,539
                                                     I total under paragraph).
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii).......................  Oil/Hazardous Substances: Discharges (Class           17,816
                                                     II per day of violation).
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii).......................  Oil/Hazardous Substances: Discharges (Class          222,695
                                                     II total under paragraph).
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(A)...........................  Oil/Hazardous Substances: Discharges (per             44,539
                                                     day of violation) Judicial Assessment.
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(A)...........................  Oil/Hazardous Substances: Discharges (per              1,782
                                                     barrel of oil or unit discharged) Judicial
                                                     Assessment.
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(B)...........................  Oil/Hazardous Substances: Failure to Carry            44,539
                                                     Out Removal/Comply With Order (Judicial
                                                     Assessment).
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(C)...........................  Oil/Hazardous Substances: Failure to Comply           44,539
                                                     with Regulation Issued Under 1321(j)
                                                     (Judicial Assessment).
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(D)...........................  Oil/Hazardous Substances: Discharges, Gross            5,345
                                                     Negligence (per barrel of oil or unit
                                                     discharged) Judicial Assessment.
33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)(D)...........................  Oil/Hazardous Substances: Discharges, Gross          178,156
                                                     Negligence--Minimum Penalty (Judicial
                                                     Assessment).
33 U.S.C. 1322(j).................................  Marine Sanitation Devices; Operating........           7,500
33 U.S.C. 1322(j).................................  Marine Sanitation Devices; Sale or                    20,000
                                                     Manufacture.
33 U.S.C. 1608(a).................................  International Navigation Rules; Operator....          14,023
33 U.S.C. 1608(b).................................  International Navigation Rules; Vessel......          14,023

[[Page 43004]]

 
33 U.S.C. 1908(b)(1)..............................  Pollution from Ships; General...............          70,117
33 U.S.C. 1908(b)(2)..............................  Pollution from Ships; False Statement.......          14,023
33 U.S.C. 2072(a).................................  Inland Navigation Rules; Operator...........          14,023
33 U.S.C. 2072(b).................................  Inland Navigation Rules; Vessel.............          14,023
33 U.S.C. 2609(a).................................  Shore Protection; General...................          49,467
33 U.S.C. 2609(b).................................  Shore Protection; Operating Without Permit..          19,787
33 U.S.C. 2716a(a)................................  Oil Pollution Liability and Compensation....          44,539
33 U.S.C. 3852(a)(1)(A)...........................  Clean Hulls; Civil Enforcement..............          40,779
33 U.S.C. 3852(a)(1)(A)...........................  Clean Hulls; related to false statements....          54,373
33 U.S.C. 3852(c).................................  Clean Hulls; Recreational Vessels...........           5,437
42 U.S.C. 9609(a).................................  Hazardous Substances, Releases, Liability,            53,907
                                                     Compensation (Class I).
42 U.S.C. 9609(b).................................  Hazardous Substances, Releases, Liability,            53,907
                                                     Compensation (Class II).
42 U.S.C. 9609(b).................................  Hazardous Substances, Releases, Liability,           161,721
                                                     Compensation (Class II subsequent offense).
42 U.S.C. 9609(c).................................  Hazardous Substances, Releases, Liability,            53,907
                                                     Compensation (Judicial Assessment).
42 U.S.C. 9609(c).................................  Hazardous Substances, Releases, Liability,           161,721
                                                     Compensation (Judicial Assessment
                                                     subsequent offense).
46 U.S.C. 80509(a)................................  Safe Containers for International Cargo.....           5,893
46 U.S.C. 70305(c)................................  Suspension of Passenger Service.............          58,929
46 U.S.C. 2110(e).................................  Vessel Inspection or Examination Fees.......           8,908
46 U.S.C. 2115....................................  Alcohol and Dangerous Drug Testing..........           7,251
46 U.S.C. 2302(a).................................  Negligent Operations: Recreational Vessels..           6,559
46 U.S.C. 2302(a).................................  Negligent Operations: Other Vessels.........          32,796
46 U.S.C. 2302(c)(1)..............................  Operating a Vessel While Under the Influence           7,251
                                                     of Alcohol or a Dangerous Drug.
46 U.S.C. 2306(a)(4)..............................  Vessel Reporting Requirements: Owner,                 11,293
                                                     Charterer, Managing Operator, or Agent.
46 U.S.C. 2306(b)(2)..............................  Vessel Reporting Requirements: Master.......           2,259
46 U.S.C. 3102(c)(1)..............................  Immersion Suits.............................          11,293
46 U.S.C. 3302(i)(5)..............................  Inspection Permit...........................           2,355
46 U.S.C. 3318(a).................................  Vessel Inspection; General..................          11,293
46 U.S.C. 3318(g).................................  Vessel Inspection; Nautical School Vessel...          11,293
46 U.S.C. 3318(h).................................  Vessel Inspection; Failure to Give Notice              2,259
                                                     IAW 3304(b).
46 U.S.C. 3318(i).................................  Vessel Inspection; Failure to Give Notice              2,259
                                                     IAW 3309(c).
46 U.S.C. 3318(j)(1)..............................  Vessel Inspection; Vessel >=1600 Gross Tons.          22,587
46 U.S.C. 3318(j)(1)..............................  Vessel Inspection; Vessel <1600 Gross Tons..           4,517
46 U.S.C. 3318(k).................................  Vessel Inspection; Failure to Comply with             22,587
                                                     3311(b).
46 U.S.C. 3318(l).................................  Vessel Inspection; Violation of 3318(b)-              11,293
                                                     3318(f).
46 U.S.C. 3502(e).................................  List/Count of Passengers....................             235
46 U.S.C. 3504(c).................................  Notification to Passengers..................          23,548
46 U.S.C. 3504(c).................................  Notification to Passengers; Sale of Tickets.           1,177
46 U.S.C. 3506....................................  Copies of Laws on Passenger Vessels; Master.             471
46 U.S.C. 3718(a)(1)..............................  Liquid Bulk/Dangerous Cargo.................          58,871
46 U.S.C. 4106....................................  Uninspected Vessels.........................           9,893
46 U.S.C. 4311(b)(1)..............................  Recreational Vessels (maximum for related            311,470
                                                     series of violations).
46 U.S.C. 4311(b)(1)..............................  Recreational Vessels; Violation of 4307(a)..           6,229
46 U.S.C. 4311(c).................................  Recreational Vessels........................           2,355
46 U.S.C. 4507....................................  Uninspected Commercial Fishing Industry                9,893
                                                     Vessels.
46 U.S.C. 4703....................................  Abandonment of Barges.......................           1,677
46 U.S.C. 5116(a).................................  Load Lines..................................          10,781
46 U.S.C. 5116(b).................................  Load Lines; Violation of 5112(a)............          21,563
46 U.S.C. 5116(c).................................  Load Lines; Violation of 5112(b)............          10,781
46 U.S.C. 6103(a).................................  Reporting Marine Casualties.................          37,561
46 U.S.C. 6103(b).................................  Reporting Marine Casualties; Violation of              9,893
                                                     6104.
46 U.S.C. 8101(e).................................  Manning of Inspected Vessels; Failure to               1,782
                                                     Report Deficiency in Vessel Complement.
46 U.S.C. 8101(f).................................  Manning of Inspected Vessels................          17,816
46 U.S.C. 8101(g).................................  Manning of Inspected Vessels; Employing or            17,816
                                                     Serving in Capacity not Licensed by USCG.
46 U.S.C. 8101(h).................................  Manning of Inspected Vessels; Freight Vessel           2,355
                                                     <100 GT, Small Passenger Vessel, or Sailing
                                                     School Vessel.
46 U.S.C. 8102(a).................................  Watchmen on Passenger Vessels...............           2,355
46 U.S.C. 8103(f).................................  Citizenship Requirements....................           1,177
46 U.S.C. 8104(i).................................  Watches on Vessels; Violation of 8104(a) or           17,816
                                                     (b).
46 U.S.C. 8104(j).................................  Watches on Vessels; Violation of 8104(c),             17,816
                                                     (d), (e), or (h).
46 U.S.C. 8302(e).................................  Staff Department on Vessels.................             235
46 U.S.C. 8304(d).................................  Officer's Competency Certificates...........             235
46 U.S.C. 8502(e).................................  Coastwise Pilotage; Owner, Charterer,                 17,816
                                                     Managing Operator, Agent, Master or
                                                     Individual in Charge.
46 U.S.C. 8502(f).................................  Coastwise Pilotage; Individual..............          17,816
46 U.S.C. 8503....................................  Federal Pilots..............................          56,467
46 U.S.C. 8701(d).................................  Merchant Mariners Documents.................           1,177
46 U.S.C. 8702(e).................................  Crew Requirements...........................          17,816

[[Page 43005]]

 
46 U.S.C. 8906....................................  Small Vessel Manning........................          37,561
46 U.S.C. 9308(a).................................  Pilotage: Great Lakes; Owner, Charterer,              17,816
                                                     Managing Operator, Agent, Master or
                                                     Individual in Charge.
46 U.S.C. 9308(b).................................  Pilotage: Great Lakes; Individual...........          17,816
46 U.S.C. 9308(c).................................  Pilotage: Great Lakes; Violation of 9303....          17,816
46 U.S.C. 10104(b)................................  Failure to Report Sexual Offense............           9,468
46 U.S.C. 10314(a)(2).............................  Pay Advances to Seamen......................           1,177
46 U.S.C. 10314(b)................................  Pay Advances to Seamen; Remuneration for               1,177
                                                     Employment.
46 U.S.C. 10315(c)................................  Allotment to Seamen.........................           1,177
46 U.S.C. 10321...................................  Seamen Protection; General..................           8,162
46 U.S.C. 10505(a)(2).............................  Coastwise Voyages: Advances.................           8,162
46 U.S.C. 10505(b)................................  Coastwise Voyages: Advances; Remuneration              8,162
                                                     for Employment.
46 U.S.C. 10508(b)................................  Coastwise Voyages: Seamen Protection;                  8,162
                                                     General.
46 U.S.C. 10711...................................  Effects of Deceased Seamen..................             471
46 U.S.C. 10902(a)(2).............................  Complaints of Unfitness.....................           1,177
46 U.S.C. 10903(d)................................  Proceedings on Examination of Vessel........             235
46 U.S.C. 10907(b)................................  Permission to Make Complaint................           1,177
46 U.S.C. 11101(f)................................  Accommodations for Seamen...................           1,177
46 U.S.C. 11102(b)................................  Medicine Chests on Vessels..................           1,177
46 U.S.C. 11104(b)................................  Destitute Seamen............................             235
46 U.S.C. 11105(c)................................  Wages on Discharge..........................           1,177
46 U.S.C. 11303(a)................................  Log Books; Master Failing to Maintain.......             471
46 U.S.C. 11303(b)................................  Log Books; Master Failing to Make Entry.....             471
46 U.S.C. 11303(c)................................  Log Books; Late Entry.......................             353
46 U.S.C. 11506...................................  Carrying of Sheath Knives...................             118
46 U.S.C. 12151(a)(1).............................  Vessel Documentation........................          15,423
46 U.S.C. 12151(a)(2).............................  Documentation of Vessels--Related to                  25,705
                                                     activities involving mobile offshore
                                                     drilling units.
46 U.S.C. 12151(c)................................  Vessel Documentation; Fishery Endorsement...         117,858
46 U.S.C. 12309(a)................................  Numbering of Undocumented Vessels--Willful            11,774
                                                     violation.
46 U.S.C. 12309(b)................................  Numbering of Undocumented Vessels...........           2,355
46 U.S.C. 12507(b)................................  Vessel Identification System................          19,787
46 U.S.C. 14701...................................  Measurement of Vessels......................          43,126
46 U.S.C. 14702...................................  Measurement; False Statements...............          43,126
46 U.S.C. 31309...................................  Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens...          19,787
46 U.S.C. 31330(a)(2).............................  Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens;            19,787
                                                     Mortgagor.
46 U.S.C. 31330(b)(2).............................  Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens;            49,467
                                                     Violation of 31329.
46 U.S.C. 70119(a)................................  Port Security...............................          32,796
46 U.S.C. 70119(b)................................  Port Security--Continuing Violations........          58,929
46 U.S.C. 70506...................................  Maritime Drug Law Enforcement; Penalties....           5,437
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(1)..............................  Hazardous Materials: Related to Vessels--             77,114
                                                     Maximum Penalty.
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(2)..............................  Hazardous Materials: Related to Vessels--            179,933
                                                     Penalty from Fatalities, Serious Injuries/
                                                     Illness or Substantial Damage to Property.
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(3)..............................  Hazardous Materials: Related to Vessels--                463
                                                     Training..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Enacted under the Tariff Act of 1930, exempt from inflation adjustments.

Title 49--Transportation

PART 1503--INVESTIGATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES

0
12. The authority citation for part 1503 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 6 U.S.C. 1142; 18 U.S.C. 6002; 28 U.S.C. 2461 (note); 
49 U.S.C. 114, 20109, 31105, 40113-40114, 40119, 44901-44907, 46101-
46107, 46109-46110, 46301, 46305, 46311, 46313-46314; Pub. L. 104-
134, as amended by Pub. L. 114-74.


0
13. Revise Sec.  1503.401 to read as follows:


Sec.  1503.401  Maximum penalty amounts.

    (a) General. TSA may assess civil penalties not exceeding the 
following amounts against a person for the violation of a TSA 
requirement.
    (b) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this 
section, in the case of violation of title 49 U.S.C. or 46 U.S.C. 
chapter 701, or a regulation prescribed or order issued under any of 
those provisions, TSA may impose a civil penalty in the following 
amounts:
    (1) For violations that occurred on or before November 2, 2015, 
$10,000 per violation, up to a total of $50,000 per civil penalty 
action, in the case of an individual or small business concern, as 
defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). For 
violations that occurred after November 2, 2015, $11,002 per violation, 
up to a total of $55,010 per civil penalty action, in the case of an 
individual or small business concern; and
    (2) For violations that occurred on or before November 2, 2015, 
$10,000 per violation, up to a total of $400,000 per civil penalty 
action, in the case of any other person. For violations that occurred 
after November 2, 2015, $11,002 per violation, up to a total of 
$440,080 per civil penalty action, in the case of any other person.
    (c) Certain aviation related violations. In the case of a violation 
of 49 U.S.C. chapter 449 (except sections 44902, 44903(d), 44907(a)-
(d)(1)(A), 44907(d)(1)(C)-(f), 44908, and 44909), or 49 U.S.C. 46302 or 
46303, or a regulation prescribed or order issued under any of those 
provisions, TSA may

[[Page 43006]]

impose a civil penalty in the following amounts:
    (1) For violations that occurred on or before November 2, 2015, 
$10,000 per violation, up to a total of $50,000 per civil penalty 
action, in the case of an individual or small business concern, as 
defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). For 
violations that occurred after November 2, 2015, $12,856 per violation, 
up to a total of 64,281 per civil penalty action, in the case of an 
individual (except an airman serving as an airman), or a small business 
concern.
    (2) For violations that occurred on or before November 2, 2015, 
$10,000 per violation, up to a total of $400,000 per civil penalty 
action, in the case of any other person (except an airman serving as an 
airman) not operating an aircraft for the transportation of passengers 
or property for compensation. For violations that occurred after 
November 2, 2015, $12,856 per violation, up to a total of $514,244 per 
civil penalty action, in the case of any other person (except an airman 
serving as an airman) not operating an aircraft for the transportation 
of passengers or property for compensation.
    (3) For violations that occurred on or before November 2, 2015, 
$25,000 per violation, up to a total of $400,000 per civil penalty 
action, in the case of a person operating an aircraft for the 
transportation of passengers or property for compensation (except an 
individual serving as an airman). For violations that occurred after 
November 2, 2015, $32,140 per violation, up to a total of $514,244 per 
civil penalty action, in the case of a person (except an individual 
serving as an airman) operating an aircraft for the transportation of 
passengers or property for compensation.

Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-15673 Filed 6-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-09-P; 9111-14-P; 9111-28-P; 9110-04-P; 9110-05-P


Current View
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionInterim final rule with request for comments.
DatesEffective Date. This rule is effective on August 1, 2016.
ContactMegan Westmoreland, Attorney-Advisor, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Phone: 202-447-4384.
FR Citation81 FR 42987 
RIN Number1601-AA80
CFR Citation33 CFR 27
49 CFR 1503
6 CFR 27
8 CFR 270
8 CFR 274
CFR AssociatedInvestigations; Law Enforcement; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Security Measures; Administrative Practice and Procedure; Aliens; Employment; Fraud and Penalties

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