Civil Monetary Penalties; Adjustment for Inflation

This final rule is being issued to adjust each civil monetary penalty provided by law within the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce (the Department). The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, required the head of each agency to adjust its civil monetary penalties (CMP) for inflation no later than October 23, 1996, and requires them to make adjustments at least once every four years thereafter. These inflation adjustments will apply only to violations that occur after the effective date of this rule.