Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustments

AGENCY:

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION:

Interim final rule.

SUMMARY:

This rule adjusts the level of civil monetary penalties contained in Indian Affairs regulations with an initial “catch-up” adjustment under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance.

DATES:

This rule is effective on August 1, 2016. Comments will be accepted until August 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket No. BIA-2016-0004 and follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail, Hand Delivery, or Courier: Elizabeth Appel, Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action—Indian Affairs, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Mail Stop 3642, Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Elizabeth Appel, Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs; telephone (202) 273-4680, elizabeth.appel@bia.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

II. Description of Changes

III. Procedural Requirements

A. Regulatory Planning and Review (E.O. 12866)

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

C. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

E. Takings (E.O. 12630)

F. Federalism (E.O. 13132)

G. Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

H. Consultation with Indian Tribes (E.O. 13175)

I. Paperwork Reduction Act

J. National Environmental Policy Act

K. Effects on the Energy Supply (E.O. 13211)

L. Clarity of this Regulation

M. Administrative Procedure Act

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). The Act requires Federal agencies to adjust the level of civil monetary penalties with an initial catch-up adjustment through rulemaking and then make subsequent annual adjustments for inflation. This rule adjusts the level of civil monetary penalties within those parts of Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations that fall under Chapter I, the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This rule does not affect criminal penalties, such as those at 25 CFR 273.15. This rule does not affect Chapter V, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Indian Health Service or Chapter VI, Office of the Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, because those chapters contain no civil monetary penalties. This rule does not affect Chapter III, National Indian Gaming Commission, or Chapter IV, Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, because those respective offices will determine whether it is necessary to issue separate rulemakings.

The purpose of these adjustments is to maintain the deterrent effect of civil penalties and to further the policy goals of the underlying statutes. This rule adjusts the following civil monetary penalties, as calculated in accordance with the procedures described in Section II, Calculation of Adjustment:

II. Calculation of Adjustment

The OMB issued guidance on calculating the catch-up adjustment. See February 24, 2016, Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, from Shaun Donovan, Director, Office of Management and Budget, re: Implementation of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. Under this guidance the Department of the Interior (Department) has identified applicable civil monetary penalties and calculated the catch-up adjustment. A civil monetary penalty is any assessment with a dollar amount that is levied for a violation of a Federal civil statute or regulation, and is assessed or enforceable through a civil action in Federal court or an administrative proceeding. A civil monetary penalty does not include a penalty levied for violation of a criminal statute, or fees for services, licenses, permits, or other regulatory review. The calculated catch-up adjustment is based on the percent change between the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI0-U) for the month of October in the year of the previous adjustment (or in the year of establishment, if no adjustment has been made) and the October 2015 CPI-U.

III. Procedural Requirements

A. Regulatory Planning and Review (E.O. 12866 and 13563)

Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 provides that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget will review all significant rules. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has determined that this rule is not significant.

Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while calling for improvements in the nation's regulatory system to promote predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. The executive order directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further that regulations must be based on the best available science and that the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open exchange of ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent with these requirements.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for rules unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The RFA applies only to rules for which an agency is required to first publish a proposed rule. See 5 U.S.C. 603(a) and 604(a). The Federal Civil Penalties Adjustment Act of 2015 requires agencies to adjust civil penalties with an initial catch-up adjustment through an interim final rule. An interim final rule does not include first publishing a proposed rule. Thus, the RFA does not apply to this final rule.

C. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This rule:

(a) Does not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more;

(b) Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions;

(c) Does not have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

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

E. Takings (E.O. 12630)

This rule does not affect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under E.O. 12630. A takings implication assessment is not required.

F. Federalism (E.O. 13132)

Under the criteria in section 1 of E.O. 13132, this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement. A federalism summary impact statement is not required.

G. Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

This rule complies with the requirements of E.O. 12988. Specifically, this rule:

(a) Meets the criteria of section 3(a) requiring that all regulations be reviewed to eliminate errors and ambiguity and be written to minimize litigation; and

(b) Meets the criteria of section 3(b)(2) requiring that all regulations be written in clear language and contain clear legal standards.

H. Consultation With Indian Tribes (E.O. 13175 and Departmental Policy)

The Department strives to strengthen its government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes through a commitment to consultation with Indian Tribes and recognition of their right to self-governance and tribal sovereignty. We have evaluated this rule under the Department's consultation policy and under the criteria in E.O. 13175 and have determined that is has no substantial direct effects on federally recognized Indian tribes and that consultation under the Department's tribal consultation policy is not required.

I. Paperwork Reduction Act

This rule does not contain information collection requirements, and a submission to the OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) is not required. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

J. National Environmental Policy Act

This rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. A detailed statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required because the rule is covered by a categorical exclusion. This rule is excluded from the requirement to prepare a detailed statement because it is a regulation of an administrative nature. (For further information, see 43 CFR 46.210(i).) We have also determined that the rule does not involve any of the extraordinary circumstances listed in 43 CFR 46.215 that would require further analysis under NEPA.

K. Effects on the Energy Supply (E.O. 13211)

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

L. Clarity of This Regulation

We are required by E.O. 12866 (section 1(b)(12)), and 12988 (section 3(b)(1)(B)), and 13563 (section 1(a)), and by the Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain language. This means that each rule we publish must:

(a) Be logically organized;

(b) Use the active voice to address readers directly;

(c) Use common, everyday words and clear language rather than jargon;

(d) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and

(e) Use lists and tables wherever possible.

If you feel that we have not met these requirements, send us comments by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. To better help us revise the rule, your comments should be as specific as possible. For example, you should tell us the numbers of the sections or paragraphs that you find unclear, which sections or sentences are too long, the sections where you think lists or tables would be useful, etc.

M. Administrative Procedure Act

The Act requires agencies to publish interim final rules by July 1, 2016, with an effective date for the adjusted penalties no later than August 1, 2016. To comply with the Act, we are issuing these regulations as an interim final rule and are requesting comments post-promulgation. Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) provides that, when an agency for good cause finds that “notice and public procedure . . . are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest,” the agency may issue a rule without providing notice and an opportunity for prior public comment. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) finds that there is good cause to promulgate this rule without first providing for public comment. It would not be possible to meet the deadlines imposed by the Act if we were to first publish a proposed rule, allow the public sufficient time to submit comments, analyze the comments, and publish a final rule. Also, BIA is promulgating this final rule to implement the statutory directive in the Act, which requires agencies to publish an interim final rule and to update the civil penalty amounts by applying the specified formula. BIA has no discretion to vary the amount of the adjustment to reflect any views or suggestions provided by commenters. Accordingly, it would serve no purpose to provide an opportunity for pre-promulgation public comment on this rule. Thus, pre-promulgation notice and public comment is impracticable and unnecessary.

List of Subjects

25 CFR Part 140

• Business and industry
• Indians
• Penalties

25 CFR Part 141

• Business and industry
• Credit
• Indians—business and finance
• Penalties

25 CFR Part 211

• Geothermal energy
• Indians—lands
• Mineral resources
• Mines
• Oil and gas exploration
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

25 CFR Part 213

• Indians—lands
• Mineral resources
• Mines
• Oil and gas exploration
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

25 CFR Part 225

• Geothermal energy
• Indians—lands
• Mineral resources
• Mines
• Oil and gas exploration
• Penalties
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Surety bonds

25 CFR Part 226

• Indians—lands

25 CFR Part 227

• Indians—lands
• Mineral resources
• Mines
• Oil and gas exploration
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

25 CFR Part 243

• Indians
• Livestock

25 CFR Part 249

• Fishing
• Indians

For the reasons given in the preamble, the Department of the Interior amends Chapter I of title 25 Code of Federal Regulations as follows.

PART 140—LICENSED INDIAN TRADERS

1. The authority citation for part 140 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: Sec. 5, 19 Stat. 200, sec. 1, 31 Stat. 1066 as amended; 25 U.S.C. 261, 262; 94 Stat. 544, 18 U.S.C. 437; 25 U.S.C. 2 and 9; 5 U.S.C. 301; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599, unless otherwise noted.

2. In § 140.3, remove “$500” and add in its place “$1,250”.

PART 141—BUSINESS PRACTICES ON THE NAVAJO, HOPI AND ZUNI RESERVATIONS

3. The authority citation for part 141 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 25 U.S.C. 2 and 9; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599, unless otherwise noted.

4. In § 141.50, remove “five hundred dollars ($500)” and add in its place “$1,250”.

PART 211—LEASING OF TRIBAL LANDS FOR MINERAL DEVELOPMENT

5. The authority citation for part 211 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: Sec. 4, Act of May 11, 1938 (52 Stat. 347); Act of August 1, 1956 (70 Stat. 744); 25 U.S.C. 396a-g; 25 U.S.C. 2 and 9; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599, unless otherwise noted.

6. In § 211.55(a), remove “$1,000” and add in its place “$1,502”.

PART 213—LEASING OF RESTRICTED LANDS FOR MEMBERS OF FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES, OKLAHOMA, FOR MINING

7. The authority citation for part 213 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: Sec. 2, 35 Stat. 312; sec. 18, 41 Stat. 426; sec. 1, 45 Stat. 495; sec. 1, 47 Stat. 777; 25 U.S.C. 356; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599. Interpret or apply secs. 3, 11, 35 Stat. 313, 316; sec. 8, 47 Stat. 779, unless otherwise noted.

8. In § 213.37, remove “$500” and add in its place “$1,250”.

PART 225—OIL AND GAS, GEOTHERMAL AND SOLID MINERALS AGREEMENTS

9. The authority citation for part 225 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 25 U.S.C. 2, 9, and 2101-2108; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599.

10. In § 225.37(a), remove “$1,000” and add in its place “$1,591”.

PART 226—LEASING OF OSAGE RESERVATION LANDS FOR OIL AND GAS MINING

9. The authority citation for part 226 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: Sec. 3, 34 Stat. 543; secs. 1, 2, 45 Stat. 1478; sec. 3, 52 Stat. 1034, 1035; sec. 2(a), 92 Stat. 1660; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599.

10. In § 226.42, remove “$500” and add in its place “$891”.

11. In § 226.43:

a. Remove “$50” each time it appears and add in each place “$89” wherever it appears in this section.

b. In paragraph (e), remove “$100” and add in its place “$178”.

c. In paragraph (f), remove “$200” and add in its place “$356”.

d. In paragraph (g), remove “$500” and add in its place “$891”.

PART 227—LEASING OF CERTAIN LANDS IN WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION, WYOMING, FOR OIL AND GAS MINING

12. The authority citation for part 227 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: Sec. 1, 39 Stat. 519; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599, unless otherwise noted.

13. In § 227.24, remove “$500” and add in its place “$1,250”.

PART 243—REINDEER IN ALASKA

14. The authority citation for part 243 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: Sec. 12, 50 Stat. 902; 25 U.S.C. 500K; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599.

15. In § 243.8(a), remove “$5000.00” and add in its place “$5,893”.

PART 249—OFF-RESERVATION TREATY FISHING

16. The authority citation for part 249 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 25 U.S.C. 2, and 9; 5 U.S.C. 301; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599, unless otherwise noted.

17. In § 249.6(b), remove “$500” and add in its place “$1,250”.