§7420 — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

Summary

Requires the EPA Administrator to write rules (within 6 months after August 7, 1977, and after notice and a public hearing) that make owners or operators of certain stationary pollution sources pay a penalty if they are not following required emission limits. The rule covers major sources and other stationary sources that fail to meet limits set under various Clean Air Act provisions, including cases where a source has an extension, order, suspension, or consent decree. States can make and get approval for plans to collect these penalties themselves. If a State does not have authority or fails to act, the EPA will assess and collect the penalty. The law says the State or EPA must give a specific notice of noncompliance by July 1, 1979, or within 30 days of finding the violation, whichever is later. After notice, the owner must either send a penalty calculation and a quarterly payment plan within 45 days or file a petition within 45 days to challenge the notice or claim an exemption. The EPA must hold a formal hearing and decide within 90 days (unless the State does that). Penalties equal the economic value of delaying compliance (including quarterly capital costs over up to 10 years, lost operation and maintenance savings, and other gains) minus money actually spent to comply. Penalties are paid in equal quarterly installments, with the first payment due six months after the notice or January 1, 1980, whichever is later. The “covered noncompliance” period starts either two years after August 7, 1977 (for early notices) or on the notice date if after July 1, 1979. When a source becomes compliant, the State or EPA must, within 180 days, review actual compliance spending and refund any overpayment or collect any underpayment with interest. A 20% quarterly nonpayment charge applies to unpaid penalty balances each quarter. The EPA may exempt trivial violations or specific cases shown to qualify for listed exemptions. Penalties go to the U.S. Treasury or the State, are final for judicial review, and do not replace other enforcement actions.

Title 42, §7420

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)(A)Not later than 6 months after August 7, 1977, and after notice and opportunity for a public hearing, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations requiring the assessment and collection of a noncompliance penalty against persons referred to in paragraph (2)(A).

(B)(i)Each State may develop and submit to the Administrator a plan for carrying out this section in such State. If the Administrator finds that the State plan meets the requirements of this section, he may delegate to such State any authority he has to carry out this section.

(ii)Notwithstanding a delegation to a State under clause (i), the Administrator may carry out this section in such State under the circumstances described in subsection (b)(2)(B).

(2)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C) of this paragraph, the State or the Administrator shall assess and collect a noncompliance penalty against every person who owns or operates—

(i)a major stationary source (other than a primary nonferrous smelter which has received a primary nonferrous smelter order under section 7419 of this title), which is not in compliance with any emission limitation, emission standard or compliance schedule under any applicable implementation plan (whether or not such source is subject to a Federal or State consent decree), or

(ii)a stationary source which is not in compliance with an emission limitation, emission standard, standard of performance, or other requirement established under section 7411, 7477, 7603, or 7412 of this title, or

(iii)a stationary source which is not in compliance with any requirement of subchapter IV–A, V, or VI of this chapter, or

(iv)any source referred to in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) (for which an extension, order, or suspension referred to in subparagraph (B), or Federal or State consent decree is in effect), or a primary nonferrous smelter which has received a primary nonferrous smelter order under section 7419 of this title which is not in compliance with any interim emission control requirement or schedule of compliance under such extension, order, suspension, or consent decree.

(B)Notwithstanding the requirements of subparagraph (A)(i) and (ii), the owner or operator of any source shall be exempted from the duty to pay a noncompliance penalty under such requirements with respect to that source if, in accordance with the procedures in subsection (b)(5), the owner or operator demonstrates that the failure of such source to comply with any such requirement is due solely to—

(i)a conversion by such source from the burning of petroleum products or natural gas, or both, as the permanent primary energy source to the burning of coal pursuant to an order under section 7413(d)(5) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title or section 1857c–10 1 of this title (as in effect before August 7, 1977);

(ii)in the case of a coal-burning source granted an extension under the second sentence of section 1857c–10(c)(1) 1 of this title (as in effect before August 7, 1977), a prohibition from using petroleum products or natural gas or both, by reason of an order under the provisions of section 792(a) and (b) of title 15 or under any legislation which amends or supersedes such provisions;

(iii)the use of innovative technology sanctioned by an enforcement order under section 7413(d)(4) 1 of this title;

(iv)an inability to comply with any such requirement, for which inability the source has received an order under section 7413(d) 1 of this title (or an order under section 7413 of this title issued before August 7, 1977) which has the effect of permitting a delay or violation of any requirement of this chapter (including a requirement of an applicable implementation plan) which inability results from reasons entirely beyond the control of the owner or operator of such source or of any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the owner or operator of such source; or

(v)the conditions by reason of which a temporary emergency suspension is authorized under section 7410(f) or (g) of this title.

(C)The Administrator may, after notice and opportunity for public hearing, exempt any source from the requirements of this section with respect to a particular instance of noncompliance if he finds that such instance of noncompliance is de minimis in nature and in duration.

(b)Regulations under subsection (a) shall—

(1)permit the assessment and collection of such penalty by the State if the State has a delegation of authority in effect under subsection (a)(1)(B)(i) of this section;

(2)provide for the assessment and collection of such penalty by the Administrator, if—

(A)the State does not have a delegation of authority in effect under subsection (a)(1)(B)(i), or

(B)the State has such a delegation in effect but fails with respect to any particular person or source to assess or collect the penalty in accordance with the requirements of this section;

(3)require the States, or in the event the States fail to do so, the Administrator, to give a brief but reasonably specific notice of noncompliance under this section to each person referred to in subsection (a)(2)(A) with respect to each source owned or operated by such person which is not in compliance as provided in such subsection, not later than July 1, 1979, or thirty days after the discovery of such noncompliance, whichever is later;

(4)require each person to whom notice is given under paragraph (3) to—

(A)calculate the amount of the penalty owed (determined in accordance with subsection (d)(2)) and the schedule of payments (determined in accordance with subsection (d)(3)) for each such source and, within forty-five days after the issuance of such notice or after the denial of a petition under subparagraph (B), to submit that calculation and proposed schedule, together with the information necessary for an independent verification thereof, to the State and to the Administrator, or

(B)submit a petition, within forty–five days after the issuance of such notice, challenging such notice of noncompliance or alleging entitlement to an exemption under subsection (a)(2)(B) with respect to a particular source;

(5)require the Administrator to provide a hearing on the record (within the meaning of subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5) and to make a decision on such petition (including findings of fact and conclusions of law) not later than ninety days after the receipt of any petition under paragraph (4)(B), unless the State agrees to provide a hearing which is substantially similar to such a hearing on the record and to make a decision on such petition (including such findings and conclusions) within such ninety-day period;

(6)(A)authorize the Administrator on his own initiative to review the decision of the State under paragraph (5) and disapprove it if it is not in accordance with the requirements of this section, and (B) require the Administrator to do so not later than sixty days after receipt of a petition under this subparagraph, notice, and public hearing and a showing by such petitioner that the State decision under paragraph (5) is not in accordance with the requirements of this section;

(7)require payment, in accordance with subsection (d), of the penalty by each person to whom notice of noncompliance is given under paragraph (3) with respect to each noncomplying source for which such notice is given unless there has been a final determination granting a petition under paragraph (4)(B) with respect to such source;

(8)authorize the State or the Administrator to adjust (and from time to time to readjust) the amount of the penalty assessment calculated or the payment schedule proposed by such owner or operator under paragraph (4), if the Administrator finds after notice and opportunity for a hearing on the record that the penalty or schedule does not meet the requirements of this section; and

(9)require a final adjustment of the penalty within 180 days after such source comes into compliance in accordance with subsection (d)(4).

(c)If the owner or operator of any stationary source to whom a notice is issued under subsection (b)(3)—

(1)does not submit a timely petition under subsection (b)(4)(B), or

(2)submits a petition under subsection (b)(4)(B) which is denied, and

(d)(1)All penalties assessed by the Administrator under this section shall be paid to the United States Treasury. All penalties assessed by the State under this section shall be paid to such State.

(2)The amount of the penalty which shall be assessed and collected with respect to any source under this section shall be equal to—

(A)the amount determined in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Administrator under subsection (a), which is no less than the economic value which a delay in compliance beyond July 1, 1979, may have for the owner of such source, including the quarterly equivalent of the capital costs of compliance and debt service over a normal amortization period, not to exceed ten years, operation and maintenance costs foregone as a result of noncompliance, and any additional economic value which such a delay may have for the owner or operator of such source, minus

(B)the amount of any expenditure made by the owner or operator of that source during any such quarter for the purpose of bringing that source into, and maintaining compliance with, such requirement, to the extent that such expenditures have not been taken into account in the calculation of the penalty under subparagraph (A).

(3)(A)The assessed penalty required under this section shall be paid in quarterly installments for the period of covered noncompliance. All quarterly payments (determined without regard to any adjustment or any subtraction under paragraph (2)(B)) after the first payment shall be equal.

(B)The first payment shall be due on the date six months after the date of issuance of the notice of noncompliance under subsection (b)(3) with respect to any source or on January 1, 1980, whichever is later. Such first payment shall be in the amount of the quarterly installment for the upcoming quarter, plus the amount owed for any preceding period within the period of covered noncompliance for such source.

(C)For the purpose of this section, the term “period of covered noncompliance” means the period which begins—

(i)two years after August 7, 1977, in the case of a source for which notice of noncompliance under subsection (b)(3) is issued on or before the date two years after August 7, 1977, or

(ii)on the date of issuance of the notice of noncompliance under subsection (b)(3), in the case of a source for which such notice is issued after July 1, 1979,

(4)Upon making a determination that a source with respect to which a penalty has been paid under this section is in compliance and is maintaining compliance with the applicable requirement, the State (or the Administrator as the case may be) shall review the actual expenditures made by the owner or operator of such source for the purpose of attaining and maintaining compliance, and shall within 180 days after such source comes into compliance—

(A)provide reimbursement with interest (to be paid by the State or Secretary of the Treasury, as the case may be) at appropriate prevailing rates (as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury) for any overpayment by such person, or

(B)assess and collect an additional payment with interest at appropriate prevailing rates (as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury) for any underpayment by such person.

(5)Any person who fails to pay the amount of any penalty with respect to any source under this section on a timely basis shall be required to pay in addition a quarterly nonpayment penalty for each quarter during which such failure to pay persists. Such nonpayment penalty shall be in an amount equal to 20 percent of the aggregate amount of such person’s penalties and nonpayment penalties with respect to such source which are unpaid as of the beginning of such quarter.

(e)Any action pursuant to this section, including any objection of the Administrator under the last sentence of subsection (b), shall be considered a final action for purposes of judicial review of any penalty under section 7607 of this title.

(f)Any orders, payments, sanctions, or other requirements under this section shall be in addition to any other permits, orders, payments, sanctions, or other requirements established under this chapter, and shall in no way affect any civil or criminal enforcement proceedings brought under any provision of this chapter or State or local law.

(g)In the case of any emission limitation or other requirement approved or promulgated by the Administrator under this chapter after August 7, 1977, which is more stringent than the emission limitation or requirement for the source in effect prior to such approval or promulgation, if any, or where there was no emission limitation or requirement approved or promulgated before August 7, 1977, the date for imposition of the non-compliance penalty under this section, shall be either July 1, 1979, or the date on which the source is required to be in full compliance with such emission limitation or requirement, whichever is later, but in no event later than three years after the approval or promulgation of such emission limitation or requirement.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 7413(d) of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B), was amended generally by Pub. L. 101–549, title VII, § 701, Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2672, and, as so amended, no longer relates to final compliance orders. section 1857c–10 of this title (as in effect before August 7, 1977), referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B)(i), was in the original “section 119 (as in effect before the date of the enactment of the Clean Air Act

Amendments

of 1977)”, meaning section 119 of act

July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title I, as added

June 22, 1974, Pub. L. 93–319, § 3, 88 Stat. 248, (which was classified to section 1857c–10 of this title) as in effect prior to the enactment of Pub. L. 95–95, Aug. 7, 1977, 91 Stat. 691, effective Aug. 7, 1977. section 112(b)(1) of Pub. L. 95–95 repealed section 119 of act

July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title I, as added by Pub. L. 93–319, and provided that all references to such section 119 in any subsequent enactment which supersedes Pub. L. 93–319 shall be construed to refer to section 113(d) of the Clean Air Act and to paragraph (5) thereof in particular which is classified to subsec. (d)(5) of section 7413 of this title. section 7413(d) of this title was subsequently amended generally by Pub. L. 101–549, title VII, § 701, Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2672, and, as so amended, no longer relates to final compliance orders. section 117(b) of Pub. L. 95–95 added a new section 119 of act

July 14, 1955, which is classified to section 7419 of this title. section 1857c–10(c)(1) of this title (as in effect before

August 7, 1977), referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B)(ii), was in the original “section 119(c)(1) (as in effect before the date of the enactment of the Clean Air Act

Amendments

of 1977).” See paragraph set out above for explanation of codification.

Amendments

1990—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 101–549 inserted reference to section 7477 and 7603 of this title in cl. (ii), added cl. (iii), and redesignated former cl. (iii) as (iv) and inserted reference to cl. (iii). 1977—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 95–190, § 14(a)(28), (29), in cls. (i) and (iii) inserted provisions relating to consent decrees wherever appearing. Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 95–190, § 14(a)(30), (31), in cl. (i) inserted reference to section 7413(d)(5) of this title, and in cls. (i) and (ii) inserted provision relating to orders in effect under section 1857c–10 of this title before Aug. 7, 1977, wherever appearing. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–190, § 14(a)(34)–(36), in closing provisions inserted provisions relating to notice to the Administrator when a noncompliance penalty is established by a State, and substituted references to noncompliance for references to delayed compliance in two places, “source” for “facility”, and “receipt of notice of the State penalty assessment” for “publication of the proposed penalty”. Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 95–190, § 14(a)(33), substituted “(a)(1)(B)(i)” for “(e)”. Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 95–190, § 14(a)(32), substituted “(4)” for “(6)”. Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 95–190, § 14(a)(37), inserted provisions relating to inclusion of the economic value of a delay in compliance, and substituted “such a delay” for “a delay in compliance beyond July 1, 1979,”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95–190, § 14(a)(38), substituted “subsection, shall” for “subsection shall”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Aug. 7, 1977, except as otherwise expressly provided, see section 406(d) of Pub. L. 95–95, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1977 Amendment note under section 7401 of this title.

§7420 Noncompliance penalty

Summary

Title 42, §7420

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Amendments

Amendments

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

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