Criteria and Procedures for Proposed Assessment of Civil Penalties

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is revising its civil penalty assessment amounts to adjust for inflation. The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA) requires MSHA to adjust all civil penalties for inflation at least once every four years according to the formula specified in the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Inflation Adjustment Act). MSHA intends that this action will maintain the deterrent effect of its civil penalties and encourage compliance with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) and its regulations. The revised penalties apply to citations and orders issued on or after the effective date, and not to citations or orders pending assessment on the effective date.