Adjustment of Civil Penalties for Inflation; Miscellaneous Administrative Changes

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to adjust the maximum Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs) it can assess under statutes within the jurisdiction of the NRC. These changes are mandated by Congress in the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. The NRC's Rules of Practice are amended by adding a provision that adjusts the maximum CMP for a violation of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) or any regulations or order issued thereunder from $110,000 to $120,000 per violation per day. The provisions concerning program fraud civil penalties are amended by adjusting the maximum civil penalties under the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act from $5,500 to $6,000 for each false claim or statement. This final rule also amends the designation of the term "Reviewing official" for the purposes of the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act to reflect a reorganization in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) as well as making a minor modification to NRC regulations to reflect OGC's role in providing legal advice to NRC staff upon request on agency procurement matters.