The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 18 published a proposed rule (67 FR 41363) and corresponding direct final rule (67 FR 41343) that would increase the civil penalties imposed by the agency by about 14 percent to adjust for inflation.
If no opposition to the proposal is submitted to EPA by July 18, the increase will become effective Aug. 19. (All federal agencies are required by law to review their penalty structures at least once every four years and adjust them for inflation, if necessary.)
Following a required formula, EPA applied an inflation adjustment factor of 13.6 percent to each current penalty amount, then used a specified rounding formula to calculate the proposed increases. For example, a current civil judicial penalty of $27,500 under the Clean Water Act would be increased by $4,000 to $31,500 using the formula.
For details, see the direct final rule, which is posted at www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-GENERAL/2002/June/Day-18/g15190.htm. For additional information, contact David Abdalla in EPA's Multimedia Enforcement Division at 1-202-564-2413.
Source: Water Environment Federation
