Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
Interim final rule.
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.
This rule is effective on August 1, 2016. Comments will be accepted until August 29, 2016.
You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
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Elizabeth Appel, Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs; telephone (202) 273–4680,
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:
The OMB issued guidance on calculating the catch-up adjustment.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
This rule does not contain information collection requirements, and a submission to the OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
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.
This rule is not a significant energy action under the definition in E.O. 13211. A Statement of Energy Effects is not required.
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
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
Business and industry, Indians, Penalties.
Business and industry, Credit, Indians—business and finance, Penalties.
Geothermal energy, Indians—lands, Mineral resources, Mines, Oil and gas exploration, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Indians—lands, Mineral resources, Mines, Oil and gas exploration, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Geothermal energy, Indians—lands, Mineral resources, Mines, Oil and gas exploration, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Surety bonds.
Indians—lands.
Indians—lands, Mineral resources, Mines, Oil and gas exploration, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Indians, Livestock.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
25 U.S.C. 2, 9, and 2101–2108; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114–74, 129 Stat. 599.
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.
Sec. 1, 39 Stat. 519; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114–74, 129 Stat. 599, unless otherwise noted.
Sec. 12, 50 Stat. 902; 25 U.S.C. 500K; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114–74, 129 Stat. 599.
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.