15 C.F.R. Subpart J—Compliance
Title 15 - Commerce and Foreign Trade
(a) Compliance actions may be taken for any reason necessary or appropriate to the enforcement or the administration of the Defense Production Act, the Selective Service Act and related statutes, this regulation, or an official action. Such actions include audits, investigations, or other inquiries. (b) Any person who places or receives a rated order should be thoroughly familiar with, and must comply with, the provisions of this regulation. (c) Willful violation of any of the provisions of Title I or section 705 of the Defense Production Act, this regulation, or an official action of the Department of Commerce, is a criminal act, punishable as provided in the Defense Production Act and as set forth in §700.74 of this regulation. [49 FR 30414, July 30, 1984. Redesignated at 54 FR 601, Jan. 9, 1989, as amended at 63 FR 31924, June 11, 1998] (a) Audits and investigations are official examinations of books, records, documents, other writings and information to ensure that the provisions of the Defense Production Act, the Selective Service Act and related statutes, this regulation, and official actions have been properly followed. An audit or investigation may also include interviews and a systems evaluation to detect problems or failures in the implementation of this regulation. (b) When undertaking an audit, investigation, or other inquiry, the Department of Commerce shall: (1) Define the scope and purpose in the official action given to the person under investigation, and (2) Have ascertained that the information sought or other adequate and authoritative data are not available from any Federal or other responsible agency. (c) In administering this regulation, Commerce may issue the following documents which constitute official actions: (1) Administrative Subpoenas. An Administrative Subpoena requires a person to appear as a witness before an official designated by the Department of Commerce to testify under oath on matters of which that person has knowledge relating to the enforcement or the administration of the Defense Production Act, the Selective Service Act and related statutes, this regulation, or official actions. An Administrative Subpoena may also require the production of books, papers, records, documents and physical objects or property. (2) Demand for Information. A Demand for Information requires a person to furnish to a duly authorized representative of the Department of Commerce any information necessary or appropriate to the enforcement or the administration of the Defense Production Act, the Selective Service Act and related statutes, this regulation, or official actions. (3) Inspection Authorizations. An Inspection Authorization requires a person to permit a duly authorized representative of Commerce to interview the person's employees or agents, to inspect books, records, documents, other writings and information in the person's possession or control at the place where that person usually keeps them, and to inspect a person's property when such interviews and inspections are necessary or appropriate to the enforcement or the administration of the Defense Production Act, the Selective Service Act and related statutes, this regulation, or official actions. (d) The production of books, records, documents, other writings and information will not be required at any place other than where they are usually kept if, prior to the return date specified in the Administrative Subpoena or Demand for Information, a duly authorized official of Commerce is furnished with copies of such material that are certified under oath to be true copies. As an alternative, a person may enter into a stipulation with a duly authorized official of Commerce as to the content of the material. (e) An Administrative Subpoena, Demand for Information, or Inspection Authorization, shall include the name, title or official position of the person to be served, the evidence sought to be adduced, and its general relevance to the scope and purpose of the audit, investigation, or other inquiry. If employees or agents are to be interviewed; if books, records, documents, other writings, or information are to be produced; or if property is to be inspected; the Administrative Subpoena, Demand for Information, or Inspection Authorization will describe them with particularity. (f) Service of documents shall be made in the following manner: (1) Service of a Demand for Information or Inspection Authorization shall be made personally, or by Certified Mail—Return Receipt Requested at the person's last known address. Service of an Administrative Subpoena shall be made personally. Personal service may also be made by leaving a copy of the document with someone of suitable age and discretion at the person's last known dwelling or place of business. (2) Service upon other than an individual may be made by serving a partner, corporate officer, or a managing or general agent authorized by appointment or by law to accept service of process. If an agent is served, a copy of the document shall be mailed to the person named in the document. (3) Any individual 18 years of age or over may serve an Administrative Subpoena, Demand for Information, or Inspection Authorization. When personal service is made, the individual making the service shall prepare an affidavit as to the manner in which service was made and the identity of the person served, and return the affidavit, and in the case of subpoenas, the original document, to the issuing officer. In case of failure to make service, the reasons for the failure shall be stated on the original document. [49 FR 30414, July 30, 1984. Redesignated at 54 FR 601, Jan. 9, 1989, as amended at 63 FR 31924, June 11, 1998] (a) If a person refuses to permit a duly authorized representative of Commerce to have access to any premises or source of information necessary to the administration or the enforcement of the Defense Production Act, the Selective Service Act and related statutes, this regulation, or official actions, the Commerce representative may seek compulsory process. Compulsory process means the institution of appropriate legal action, including ex parte application for an inspection warrant or its equivalent, in any forum of appropriate jurisdiction. (b) Compulsory process may be sought in advance of an audit, investigation, or other inquiry, if, in the judgment of the Director of the Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, there is reason to believe that a person will refuse to permit an audit, investigation, or other inquiry, or that other circumstances exist which make such process desirable or necessary. [49 FR 30414, July 30, 1984. Redesignated at 54 FR 601, Jan. 9, 1989, as amended at 63 FR 31924, June 11, 1998; 67 FR 45633, July 10, 2002; 71 FR 39528, July 13, 2006] (a) At the conclusion of an audit, investigation, or other inquiry, or at any other time, Commerce may inform the person in writing where compliance with the requirements of the Defense Production Act, the Selective Service Act and related statutes, this regulation, or an official action were not met. (b) In cases where Commerce determines that failure to comply with the provisions of the Defense Production Act, the Selective Service Act and related statutes, this regulation, or an official action was inadvertent, the person may be informed in writing of the particulars involved and the corrective action to be taken. Failure to take corrective action may then be construed as a willfull violation of the Defense Production Act, this regulation, or an official action. [49 FR 30414, July 30, 1984. Redesignated at 54 FR 601, Jan. 9, 1989, as amended at 63 FR 31924, June 11, 1998] (a) Willful violation of the provisions of Title I or Sections 705 or 707 of the Defense Production Act, the priorities provisions of the Selective Service Act and related statutes, this part, or an official action, is a crime and upon conviction, a person may be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both. The maximum penalty provided by the Defense Production Act is a $10,000 fine, or one year in prison, or both. The maximum penalty provided by the Selective Service Act and related statutes is a $50,000 fine, or three years in prison, or both. (b) The government may also seek an injunction from a court of appropriate jurisdiction to prohibit the continuance of any violation of, or to enforce compliance with, the Defense Production Act, this regulation, or an official action. (c) In order to secure the effective enforcement of the Defense Production Act, this regulation, and official actions, the following are prohibited (see section 704 of the Defense Production Act; see also, for example, sections 2 and 371 of Title 18, United States Code): (1) No person may solicit, influence or permit another person to perform any act prohibited by, or to omit any act required by, the Defense Production Act, this regulation, or an official action. (2) No person may conspire or act in concert with any other person to perform any act prohibited by, or to omit any act required by, the Defense Production Act, this regulation, or an official action. (3) No person shall deliver any item if the person knows or has reason to believe that the item will be accepted, redelivered, held, or used in violation of the Defense Production Act, this regulation, or an official action. In such instances, the person must immediately notify the Department of Commerce that, in accordance with this provision, delivery has not been made. [49 FR 30414, July 30, 1984. Redesignated at 54 FR 601, Jan. 9, 1989, as amended at 63 FR 31924, June 11, 1998] If compliance with any provision of the Defense Production Act, the Selective Service Act and related statutes, this regulation, or an official action would prevent a person from filling a rated order or from complying with another provision of the Defense Production Act, this regulation, or an official action, the person must immediately notify the Department of Commerce for resolution of the conflict. [49 FR 30414, July 30, 1984. Redesignated at 54 FR 601, Jan. 9, 1989, as amended at 63 FR 31924, June 11, 1998]
Title 15: Commerce and Foreign Trade
PART 700—DEFENSE PRIORITIES AND ALLOCATIONS SYSTEM
Subpart J—Compliance
§ 700.70 General provisions.
§ 700.71 Audits and investigations.
§ 700.72 Compulsory process.
§ 700.73 Notification of failure to comply.
§ 700.74 Violations, penalties, and remedies.
§ 700.75 Compliance conflicts.
