The Surface Transportation Board has issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation, as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. This rule is effective from January 14, 2021, and the adjustments are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The decision to implement this without a public comment period is due to the lack of discretion allowed by Congress in setting penalty levels, which are determined by a statutory formula. The rule does not impose any new information collection requirements.
Simple Explanation
The Surface Transportation Board is making sure the money fines they charge when people break rules are still fair even as money changes over time, like checking if a dollar still buys the same things. They didn't ask everyone what they think because the rules already said they had to do it this way.