83 FR 2059 - Annual Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalty To Reflect Inflation

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Indian Gaming Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 10 (January 16, 2018)

Page Range		2059-2060
FR Document		2018-00505

In compliance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the Act) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC or Commission) is amending its civil monetary penalty rule to reflect an annual adjustment for inflation in order to improve the penalty's effectiveness and maintain its deterrent effect. The Act provides that the new penalty level must apply to penalties assessed after the effective date of the increase, including when the penalties whose associated violation predate the increase.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2059-2060]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00505]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Indian Gaming Commission

25 CFR Part 575


Annual Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalty To Reflect Inflation

AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the Act) and Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, the National Indian Gaming 
Commission (NIGC or Commission) is amending its civil monetary penalty 
rule to reflect an annual adjustment for inflation in order to improve 
the penalty's effectiveness and maintain its deterrent effect. The Act 
provides that the new penalty level must apply to penalties assessed 
after the effective date of the increase, including when the penalties 
whose associated violation predate the increase.

DATES: This final rule will have an effective date of January 15, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Contact Armando J. Acosta, Senior 
Attorney, Office of General Counsel, National Indian Gaming Commission, 
at (202) 632-7003; fax (202) 632-7066 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On November 2, 2015, the President signed into law the Federal 
Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Sec. 
701 of Pub. L. 114-74). Beginning in 2017, the Act requires agencies to 
make annual inflationary adjustments to their civil monetary penalties 
by January 15th of each year, in accordance with annual OMB guidance.

II. Calculation of Annual Adjustment

    On December 15, 2017, OMB issued guidance to agencies to calculate 
the annual adjustment. See M-18-03 Memorandum for the Heads of 
Executive Departments and Agencies, from Mick Mulvaney, Director, 
Subject: Implementation of Penalty Inflation Adjustments for 2018, 
Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act 
Improvements Act of 2015 (December 15, 2017). According to OMB, the 
cost-of-living adjustment multiplier for 2018, based on the Consumer 
Price Index (CPI-U) for the month of October 2017, not seasonally 
adjusted, is 1.02041.
    Pursuant to this guidance, the Commission has calculated the annual 
adjustment level of the civil monetary penalty contained in 25 CFR 
575.4 (``The Chairman may assess a civil fine, not to exceed $50,276 
per violation, against a tribe, management contractor, or individual 
operating Indian gaming for each notice of violation . . .''). The 2018 
adjusted level of the civil monetary penalty is $51,302 ($50,276 x 
1.02041).

III. Regulatory Matters

Regulatory Planning and Review

    This final rule is not a significant rule under Executive Order 
12866.
    (1) This rule will not have an effect of $100 million or more on 
the economy or will not adversely affect, in a material way, the 
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or state, local, or tribal governments or 
communities.
    (2) This rule will not create a serious inconsistency or otherwise 
interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency.
    (3) This rule does not involve entitlements, grants, user fees, or 
loan programs or the rights or obligations of recipients.
    (4) This regulatory change does not raise novel legal or policy 
issues.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Commission certifies that this rule will not have a significant 
economic effect on a substantial number of small entities under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) because the rule 
makes annual adjustments for inflation.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This final rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. It will not result 
in the expenditure by state, local, or tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector of $100 million or more in any one 
year. The rule will not result in a major increase in costs or prices 
for consumers, individual industries, federal, state, or local 
government agencies, or geographic regions. Nor will this rule have 
significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, 
productivity, innovation, or the ability of the U.S.-based enterprises 
to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

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

Takings

    Under the criteria in Executive Order 12630, this final rule does 
not affect individual property rights protected by the Fifth Amendment 
nor does it involve a compensable ``taking.'' Thus, a takings 
implication assessment is not required.

Federalism

    Under the criteria in Executive Order 13132, this final rule has no 
substantial direct effect on the states, on the relationship between 
the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

Civil Justice Reform

    This final rule complies with the requirements of Executive Order 
12988. Specifically, this rule has been reviewed to eliminate errors 
and ambiguity and written to minimize litigation. It is written in 
clear language and contains clear legal standards.

Consultation With Indian Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments, Executive Order 13175 (59 FR 22951, November 6, 2000), the

[[Page 2060]]

Commission has determined that consultations with Indian gaming tribes 
is not practicable, as Congress has mandated that annual civil penalty 
adjustments in the Act be implemented no later than January 15th of 
each year.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule does not affect any information collections under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act.

National Environmental Policy Act

    This final rule does not constitute a major federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

Information Quality Act

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

Effects on the Energy Supply

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

Clarity of This Regulation

    The Commission is required by Executive Orders 12866 and 12988 and 
by the Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in 
plain language. This means that each rule that the Commission publishes 
must:
    (a) Be logically organized;
    (b) use the active voice to address readers directly;
    (c) use clear language rather than jargon;
    (d) be divided into short sections and sentences; and
    (e) use lists and tables wherever possible.

Required Determinations Under the Administrative Procedure Act

    In accordance with the Act, agencies are to annually adjust civil 
monetary penalties without providing an opportunity for notice and 
comment, and without a delay in its effective date. Therefore, the 
Commission is not required to complete a notice and comment process 
prior to promulgation.

List of Subjects in 25 CFR Part 575

    Administrative practice and procedure, Gaming, Indian lands, 
Penalties.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Commission amends 25 
CFR part 575 as follows:

PART 575--CIVIL FINES

0
1. The authority citation for part 575 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  25 U.S.C. 2705(a), 2706, 2713, 2715; and Sec. 701, 
Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599.


Sec.  575.4   [Amended]

0
2. Amend the introductory text of Sec.  575.4 by removing ``$50,276'' 
and adding in its place ``$51,302''.

    Dated: January 9, 2018.
Jonodev O. Chaudhuri,
Chairman,

Kathryn Isom-Clause,
Vice Chair,

E. Sequoyah Simermeyer,
Associate Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2018-00505 Filed 1-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7565-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 2059

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 inflationary adjustments to their civil Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
This guidance refers to previously monetary penalties by January 15th of Fairness Act
approved collections of information each year, in accordance with annual This final rule is not a major rule
found in FDA regulations. These OMB guidance. under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small
collections of information are subject to II. Calculation of Annual Adjustment Business Regulatory Enforcement
review by the Office of Management and Fairness Act. It will not result in the
Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork On December 15, 2017, OMB issued expenditure by state, local, or tribal
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501– guidance to agencies to calculate the governments, in the aggregate, or by the
3520). The collections of information in annual adjustment. See M–18–03 private sector of $100 million or more
21 CFR part 801 have been approved Memorandum for the Heads of in any one year. The rule will not result
under OMB control number 0910–0485 Executive Departments and Agencies, in a major increase in costs or prices for
and the collections of information in 21 from Mick Mulvaney, Director, Subject: consumers, individual industries,
CFR part 830 have been approved under Implementation of Penalty Inflation federal, state, or local government
OMB control number 0910–0720. Adjustments for 2018, Pursuant to the agencies, or geographic regions. Nor will
Dated: January 9, 2018. Federal Civil Penalties Inflation this rule have significant adverse effects
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of on competition, employment,
Leslie Kux,
2015 (December 15, 2017). According to investment, productivity, innovation, or
Associate Commissioner for Policy. the ability of the U.S.-based enterprises
OMB, the cost-of-living adjustment
[FR Doc. 2018–00550 Filed 1–12–18; 8:45 am] to compete with foreign-based
multiplier for 2018, based on the
BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
Consumer Price Index (CPI–U) for the enterprises.
month of October 2017, not seasonally Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
adjusted, is 1.02041.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR This final rule does not impose an
Pursuant to this guidance, the unfunded mandate of more than $100
National Indian Gaming Commission Commission has calculated the annual million per year on state, local, or tribal
adjustment level of the civil monetary governments or the private sector. The
25 CFR Part 575 penalty contained in 25 CFR 575.4 rule also does not have a significant or
(‘‘The Chairman may assess a civil fine, unique effect on state, local, or tribal
Annual Adjustment of Civil Monetary not to exceed $50,276 per violation, governments or the private sector.
Penalty To Reflect Inflation against a tribe, management contractor, Therefore, a statement containing the
or individual operating Indian gaming information required by the Unfunded
AGENCY: National Indian Gaming
for each notice of violation . . .’’). The Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et
Commission.
2018 adjusted level of the civil seq.) is not required.
ACTION: Final rule.
monetary penalty is $51,302 ($50,276 ×
1.02041). Takings
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Under the criteria in Executive Order
III. Regulatory Matters
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 12630, this final rule does not affect
2015 (the Act) and Office of Regulatory Planning and Review individual property rights protected by
Management and Budget (OMB) the Fifth Amendment nor does it
guidance, the National Indian Gaming This final rule is not a significant rule involve a compensable ‘‘taking.’’ Thus,
Commission (NIGC or Commission) is under Executive Order 12866. a takings implication assessment is not
amending its civil monetary penalty (1) This rule will not have an effect of required.
rule to reflect an annual adjustment for $100 million or more on the economy or Federalism
inflation in order to improve the will not adversely affect, in a material
penalty’s effectiveness and maintain its way, the economy, productivity, Under the criteria in Executive Order
deterrent effect. The Act provides that competition, jobs, the environment, 13132, this final rule has no substantial
the new penalty level must apply to public health or safety, or state, local, or direct effect on the states, on the
penalties assessed after the effective tribal governments or communities. relationship between the national
date of the increase, including when the government and the states, or on the
(2) This rule will not create a serious distribution of power and
penalties whose associated violation inconsistency or otherwise interfere
predate the increase. responsibilities among the various
with an action taken or planned by levels of government.
DATES: This final rule will have an another agency.
effective date of January 15, 2018. Civil Justice Reform
(3) This rule does not involve
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan This final rule complies with the
Contact Armando J. Acosta, Senior programs or the rights or obligations of requirements of Executive Order 12988.
Attorney, Office of General Counsel, recipients. Specifically, this rule has been reviewed
National Indian Gaming Commission, at to eliminate errors and ambiguity and
(202) 632–7003; fax (202) 632–7066 (not (4) This regulatory change does not
written to minimize litigation. It is
toll-free numbers). raise novel legal or policy issues.
written in clear language and contains
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulatory Flexibility Act clear legal standards.
I. Background The Commission certifies that this Consultation With Indian Tribes
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES

On November 2, 2015, the President rule will not have a significant In accordance with the President’s
signed into law the Federal Civil economic effect on a substantial number memorandum of April 29, 1994,
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of small entities under the Regulatory Government-to-Government Relations
Improvements Act of 2015 (Sec. 701 of Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) with Native American Tribal
Pub. L. 114–74). Beginning in 2017, the because the rule makes annual Governments, Executive Order 13175
Act requires agencies to make annual adjustments for inflation. (59 FR 22951, November 6, 2000), the

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Document Created: 2018-01-13 02:02:42
Document Modified: 2018-01-13 02:02:42

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Final rule.
Dates		This final rule will have an effective date of January 15, 2018.
Contact		Contact Armando J. Acosta, Senior Attorney, Office of General Counsel, National Indian Gaming Commission, at (202) 632-7003; fax (202) 632-7066 (not toll-free numbers).
FR Citation		83 FR 2059
CFR Associated		Administrative Practice and Procedure; Gaming; Indian Lands and Penalties

83 FR 2059 - Annual Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalty To Reflect Inflation

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNational Indian Gaming Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 10 (January 16, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Indian Gaming Commission