42 U.S.C. § 8433: Civil penalties

Summary

The Secretary can fine anyone who breaks the rules of this chapter. The fine can be up to $25,000 for each violation, and each day counts as a separate violation. If an electric powerplant that had an exemption runs more than allowed in any 12-calendar-month period, the operator can be fined up to $10 for each barrel of petroleum or $3 for each Mcf of natural gas used beyond the exemption. Before a penalty is final, the Secretary must send a notice of the proposed fine and tell the person they have 30 days to choose which process to use. If they do nothing, the case goes to an agency hearing with an administrative law judge and then the Secretary issues an order; the person then has 60 days to ask the U.S. court of appeals to review that order. If the person chooses the other process in 30 days, the Secretary will issue a prompt assessment and, if it is not paid within 60 days, go to a U.S. district court to get the penalty upheld; that court reviews the facts and law anew. If a final penalty is not paid, the Secretary can sue to collect and the final order cannot be reargued in that collection suit. The Department of Energy’s general counsel or designated DOE lawyers will handle the civil litigation for these cases, working with the Attorney General as needed. One other statute (section 7172(d)) does not apply to the Secretary’s duties here.

Title 42, §8433

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

(a)General civil penalty

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, or rule or order thereunder, shall be subject to a civil penalty, which shall be assessed by the Secretary, of not more than $25,000 for each violation. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate violation.

(b)Civil penalty for operation in excess of exemption

In the case of any electric powerplant granted an exemption, any person who operates such powerplant during any 12-calendar-month period in excess of that authorized in such exemption, shall be liable for a civil penalty, which shall be assessed by the Secretary. The amount of such civil penalty may not exceed $10 per barrel of petroleum or $3 per Mcf of natural gas used in operation of such powerplant in excess of that authorized in such exemption.

(c)Repealed. Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(20)(C), May 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 314

(d)Assessment

(1)Before issuing an order assessing a civil penalty against any person under this chapter, the Secretary shall provide to such person notice of the proposed penalty. Such notice shall inform such person of his opportunity to elect in writing within 30 days after the date of receipt of such notice to have the procedures of paragraph (3) (in lieu of those of paragraph (2)) apply with respect to such assessment.

(2)(A)Unless an election is made within 30 calendar days after receipt of notice under paragraph (1) to have paragraph (3) apply with respect to such penalty, the Secretary shall assess the penalty, by order, after a determination of violation has been made on the record after an opportunity for an agency hearing pursuant to section 554 of title 5 before an administrative law judge appointed under section 3105 of such title 5. Such assessment order shall include the administrative law judge’s findings and the basis for such assessment.

(B)Any person against whom a penalty is assessed under this paragraph may, within 60 calendar days after the date of the order of the Secretary assessing such penalty, institute an action in the United States court of appeals for the appropriate judicial circuit for judicial review of such order in accordance with chapter 7 of title 5. The court shall have jurisdiction to enter a judgment affirming, modifying, or setting aside in whole or in part, the order of the Secretary, or the court may remand the proceeding to the Secretary for such further action as the court may direct.

(3)(A)In the case of any civil penalty with respect to which the procedures of this paragraph have been elected, the Secretary shall promptly assess such penalty, by order, after the date of the receipt of the notice under paragraph (1) of the proposed penalty.

(B)If the civil penalty has not been paid within 60 calendar days after the assessment order has been made under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall institute an action in the appropriate district court of the United States for an order affirming the assessment of the civil penalty. The court shall have authority to review de novo the law and the facts involved, and shall have jurisdiction to enter a judgment enforcing, modifying, and enforcing as so modified, or setting aside in whole or in part, such assessment.

(C)Any election to have this paragraph apply may not be revoked except with the consent of the Secretary.

(4)If any person fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty after it has become a final and unappealable order under paragraph (2), or after the appropriate district court has entered final judgment in favor of the Secretary under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall institute an action to recover the amount of such penalty in any appropriate district court of the United States. In such action, the validity and appropriateness of such final assessment order or judgment shall not be subject to review.

(5)(A)Notwithstanding the provisions of title 28, or of section 7192(c) of this title, the Secretary shall be represented by the general counsel of the Department of Energy (or any attorney or attorneys within the Department of Energy designated by the Secretary) who shall supervise, conduct, and argue any civil litigation to which paragraph (3) of this subsection applies (including any related collection action under paragraph (4)) in a court of the United States or in any other court, except the Supreme Court. However, the Secretary or the general counsel shall consult with the Attorney General concerning such litigation, and the Attorney General shall provide, on request, such assistance in the conduct of such litigation as may be appropriate.

(B)Subject to the provisions of section 7192(c) of this title, the Secretary shall be represented by the Attorney General, or the Solicitor General, as appropriate, in actions under this subsection, except to the extent provided in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.

(C)section 7172(d) of this title shall not apply with respect to the functions of the Secretary under this subsection.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 95–620, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3289, known as the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 8301 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(20)(A), struck out “(other than section 8372 of this title)” after “this chapter”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(20)(B), (C), struck out “(1)” before “In the case of” and struck out par. (2) which read as follows: “Any person operating a major fuel-burning installation granted an exemption which, for any 12-calendar-month period, uses petroleum or natural gas, or both, in excess of that use allowed by such exemption shall be liable for a civil penalty, which shall be assessed by the Secretary. The amount of such civil penalty may not exceed $10 per barrel of petroleum or $3 per Mcf of natural gas which was used in excess of that use allowed by such exemption.” Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(20)(C), struck out subsec. (c) which set forth civil penalties for violation of section 8372 of this title.

§8433 Civil Penalties