Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

Title 40 - Protection of Environment last revised: Nov 20, 2024
§ 66.11 - Issuance of notices of noncompliance.

(a) The Administrator shall issue a notice of noncompliance to the owner or operator of any source which he determines is in violation of applicable legal requirements and which is located in a State without an approved section 120 program.

(b) The Administrator shall send a notice of noncompliance to the owner or operator of any source located in a State with an approved section 120 program when he determines as provided in part 67 that the source is in violation of applicable legal requirements and the State has failed to send a notice of noncompliance to it, or has failed to pursue diligently any subsequent steps for the assessment or collection of the penalty.

(c) Failure of EPA or a State to issue a notice of noncompliance within 30 days after discovery of a violation shall not affect the obligation of a source owner or operator to pay a noncompliance penalty but shall affect the date from which the penalty is calculated. The penalty shall be calculated from the earliest date that the owner or operator of the source received a notice of noncompliance under this section, whether issued by EPA or the State.

§ 66.12 - Content of notices of noncompliance.

(a) Each notice of noncompliance shall be in writing and shall include:

(1) A specific reference to each applicable legal requirement of which the source is in violation;

(2) A brief statement of the factual basis for the finding of violation, together with a reference to any supporting materials and a statement of when and where they may be inspected;

(3) Instructions on calculating the amount of the penalty owed and the schedule for payments. Such instructions shall include (i) a statement of the date from which penalties should be calculated and (ii) a copy of the Technical Support Document and the Manual;

(4) Notice of the right to petition for a hearing to challenge the finding of noncompliance or to claim an exemption; and

(5) Notice that the penalty continues to accrue during the pendency of any hearings granted under this part or part 67.

(b) Each notice of noncompliance shall be transmitted to the source owner or operator either by personal service or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.

§ 66.13 - Duties of source owner or operator upon receipt of a notice of noncompliance.

(a) Within forty-five days after receiving a notice of noncompliance a source owner or operator shall either:

(1) Calculate the amount of the penalty owed and the appropriate quarterly payment schedule, as provided in the Technical Support Document and Instruction Manual, and transmit that calculation, together with supporting data sufficient to allow verification of the penalty calculation, to the Administrator; or

(2) Submit a petition for reconsideration, alleging that the source is not in violation of applicable legal requirements or that the source owner or operator is entitled to an exemption pursuant to §§ 66.31 through 66.33, or both. A source owner or operator must present both grounds in the petition if he wishes to preserve a claim to an exemption in the event that the source is found to be in violation. Issues relating to the existence of a violation or entitlement to an exemption not raised in the petition shall be deemed waived.

(b) Any submittal pursuant to this subsection shall specify the identity of the person responsible for the payment of any noncompliance penalty, and to whom any reimbursement, if necessary, shall be sent.

(c) A source owner or operator may amend any petition for reconsideration pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section within 45 days from receipt of a notice of noncompliance. Amendment of such petition after 45 days will be permitted only if based on unforeseeable conditions occurring after termination of the 45 day period, or upon consent of the Administrator.

authority: Sec. 120, Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 7420.
source: 45 FR 50110, July 28, 1980, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 40 CFR 66.11