(a) A notice of violation (hereinafter “notice”), shall be issued by the Director and served personally or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, upon the person believed to be subject to a civil penalty (the respondent). The notice shall contain: (1) A concise statement of the facts believed to show a violation, (2) a specific reference to the provisions of the statute or regulation allegedly violated, and (3) the amount of penalty proposed to be assessed. The notice may also contain an initial proposal for compromise or settlement of the case. The notice shall also advise the respondent of his right to file a petition for relief pursuant to § 11.12, or to await the Director's notice of assessment.

(b) The respondent shall have 45 days from the date of the notice of violation in which to respond. During this time he may:

(1) Undertake informal discussions with the Director;

(2) Accept the proposed penalty, or the compromise, if any, offered in the notice;

(3) File a petition for relief; or

(4) Take no action, and await the Director's decision, pursuant to § 11.13.

(c) Acceptance of the proposed penalty or the compromise shall be deemed to be a waiver of the notice ef assessment required by § 11.14, and of the opportunity for a hearing. Any counter offer of settlement shall be deemed a rejection of the proposed offer of compromise.

If the respondent so chooses he may ask that no penalty be assessed or that the amount be reduced, and he may admit or contest the legal sufficiency of the charge and the Director's allegations of facts, by filing a petition for relief (hereinafter “petition”) with the Director at the address specified in the notice within 45 days of the date thereof. The petition shall be in writing and signed by the respondent. If the respondent is a corporation, the petition must be signed by an officer authorized to sign such documents. It must set forth in full the legal or other reasons for the relief.

Upon expiration of the period required or granted for filing of a petition for relief, the Director shall proceed to make an assessment of a civil penalty, taking into consideration information available to him and such showing as may have been made by the respondent, either pursuant to § 11.11 or § 11.12, or upon further request of the Director.

The Director shall notify the respondent by a written notice of assessment, by personal service or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, of his decision pursuant to § 11.13. He shall set forth therein the facts and conclusions upon which he decided that the violation did occur and appropriateness of the penalty assessed.

Except where a right to request a hearing is deemed to have been waived as provided in § 11.11, the respondent may, within 45 calendar days from the date of the notice of assessment referred to in § 11.14, file a dated, written request for a hearing with the Departmental Cases Hearings Division, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 351 South West Temple, Suite 6.300, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101.

(a) Where no request for a hearing is filed as provided in § 11.15 the Director's assessment shall become effective and shall constitute the final administrative decision of the Secretary on the 45th calendar day from the date of the notice of assessment.

(b) If a request for a hearing is timely filed in accordance with § 11.15, the date of the final administrative decision in the matter shall be as provided in subpart C of this part.

When a final administrative decision becomes effective in accordance with this part 11, the respondent shall have 20 calendar days from the date of the final administrative decision within which to make full payment of the penalty assessed. Payment will be timely only if received in Office of the Director during normal business hours, on or before the 20th day. Upon a failure to pay the penalty, the Solicitor of the Department may request the Attorney General to institute a civil action in the U.S. District Court to collect the penalty.