81 FR 94274 - Civil Penalties; Inflation Adjustments for Civil Monetary Penalties

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 247 (December 23, 2016)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that revised our civil procedure regulations and increased civil monetary penalties for inflation.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 94274]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31038]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 11

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-LE-2016-0045; FF09L00200-FX-LE18110900000]
RIN 1018-BB32


Civil Penalties; Inflation Adjustments for Civil Monetary 
Penalties

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Adoption of interim rule as final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is 
adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that revised 
our civil procedure regulations and increased civil monetary penalties 
for inflation.

DATES: Effective on December 23, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Beiriger, Special Agent in 
Charge, Branch of Investigations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Office of Law Enforcement, (703) 358-1949.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The regulations at 50 CFR part 11 provide uniform rules and 
procedures for the assessment of civil penalties resulting from 
violations of certain laws and regulations enforced by the Service.
    On June 28, 2016, the Service published in the Federal Register an 
interim rule (81 FR 41862) that amended 50 CFR part 11, in accordance 
with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements 
Act of 2015 (Inflation Adjustment Act; sec. 701 of Pub. L. 114-74) and 
Office of Management and Budget guidance, to adjust for inflation the 
statutory civil monetary penalties that may be assessed for violations 
of Service-administered statutes and their implementing regulations. We 
are required to adjust civil monetary penalties as necessary for 
inflation according to a formula specified in the Inflation Adjustment 
Act.
    The interim rule became effective on July 28, 2016. We accepted 
public comments for 60 days on the interim rule, ending August 29, 
2016. By that date, we did not receive any comments on the interim 
rule. Therefore, we are affirming the interim rule as a final rule, 
without change.
    The interim rule is available at http://www.regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FWS-HQ-LE-2016-0045.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 11

    Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Fish, Imports, 
Penalties, Plants, Transportation, Wildlife.

PART 11--CIVIL PROCEDURES

0
Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, the 
interim rule amending 50 CFR part 11 that was published at 81 FR 41862 
on June 28, 2016.

    Dated: December 12, 2016.
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2016-31038 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P