Search Results for keywords:"civil monetary penalties"

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a final rule to update the maximum civil monetary penalties for violating laws and regulations under its authority. This adjustment is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act, which mandates annual updates to account for inflation. The rule comes into effect on January 14, 2025, and is being implemented without the usual notice and comment process due to legal requirements. The updated penalties apply to acts governed by the Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Policy Act, Natural Gas Act, and Interstate Commerce Act, among others.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. This rule, effective January 15, 2025, ensures that penalties keep up with inflation, applying a cost-of-living adjustment multiplier based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The adjustments apply to penalties assessed after the effective date, maintaining the penalties' deterrent effect. This regulation does not consider public comments due to the non-discretionary nature of the inflation adjustments mandated by the Act.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published a notice to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. These adjustments apply to penalties under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act, and part of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The new amounts were calculated using a percentage change between the Consumer Price Index for October 2023 and October 2024 and will be effective from January 15, 2025. This update ensures penalties keep pace with inflation and remain effective deterrents.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued a final rule to adjust maximum civil monetary penalties for inflation for the year 2021 as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. These adjustments apply to penalties for false loan guaranty certifications and fraudulent claims related to VA programs. The rule, which became effective on February 2, 2021, specifies increased penalty amounts based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The VA has complied with requirements and regulations, finding no need for public comment or impact on small entities.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for onshore oil and gas operations and coal trespass due to inflation. This update, effective January 17, 2025, follows the requirements of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. The rule does not allow for public comment due to its non-discretionary nature, and it outlines increases in specific monetary penalties to maintain their deterrent effect. The adjustments are calculated using a multiplier based on the change in the Consumer Price Index from October 2023 to October 2024.

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.

The Department of Commerce has issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation as mandated by federal law. This rule applies to CMPs with specific dollar amounts and is set to become effective on January 15, 2025. The adjustments are based on the Consumer Price Index changes from October 2023 to October 2024, ensuring that penalties keep their deterrence value. These changes apply only to penalties assessed after the rule's effective date and do not involve prior public notice or comment since the adjustments follow a prescribed methodology.

The U.S. Department of Labor is updating the civil monetary penalties it can impose, based on inflation, as part of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. This requires an annual review and adjustment of penalty amounts to ensure they keep pace with inflation. These updates are set to take effect on January 15, 2021, and apply to penalties assessed after this date. Different divisions within the Department, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration, are involved in overseeing these changes, which aim to maintain their deterrent effect.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is updating its regulations to increase the maximum fines it can impose for violations. These changes are required by a federal law that adjusts penalties for inflation. For violations of the Atomic Energy Act, the penalty will increase from $362,814 to $372,240 per violation, per day. Additionally, for false claims under the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act, the penalty will increase from $13,946 to $14,308. These new penalties take effect on January 15, 2025.

The Postal Service has issued an interim final rule to adjust the penalties for certain offenses under postal regulations, as required by federal law. These adjustments account for inflation and apply to civil monetary penalties related to consumer protection, deceptive mail practices, false representations, and hazardous materials. The changes impact various penalties, including those for using mail to make false claims, conducting lotteries, and mailing hazardous materials, with new penalty amounts specified for each type of violation. These updates ensure that penalties remain effective as deterrents.