§ 5010. — Penalties.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC5010]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 70--NORTH PACIFIC ANADROMOUS STOCKS CONVENTION
Sec. 5010. Penalties
(a) Civil penalties
(1) Any person who is found by the Secretary of Commerce, after
notice and opportunity for a hearing in accordance with section 554 of
title 5, to have committed an act prohibited by section 5009 of this
title shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty. The
amount of the civil penalty shall not exceed $100,000 for each
violation. Each day of a continuing violation shall constitute a
separate offense. The amount of such civil penalty shall be assessed by
the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary's designee, by written
notice. In determining the amount of such penalty, the Secretary of
Commerce shall take into account the nature, circumstances, extent, and
gravity of the prohibited acts committed and, with respect to the
violation, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses,
ability to pay, and such other matters as justice may require.
(2) Any person against whom a civil penalty is assessed under
paragraph (1) may obtain review thereof in the appropriate court of the
United States by filing a complaint in such court within 30 days from
the date of such order and by simultaneously serving a copy of such
complaint by certified mail on the Secretary of Commerce, the Attorney
General, and the appropriate United States Attorney. The Secretary of
Commerce shall promptly file in such court a certified copy of the
record upon which such violation was found or such penalty imposed, as
provided in section 2112 of title 28. The findings and order of the
Secretary of Commerce shall be set aside by such court if they are not
found to be supported by substantial evidence, as provided in section
706(2) of title 5.
(3) If any person fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty
after it has become a final and unappealable order, or after the
appropriate court has entered final judgment in favor of the Secretary
of Commerce, the matter shall be referred to the Attorney General, who
shall recover the amount assessed in any appropriate district court of
the United States. In such action, the validity and appropriateness of
the final order imposing the civil penalty shall not be subject to
review.
(4) A fishing vessel (including its fishing gear, furniture,
appurtenances, stores, and cargo) used in the commission of an act
prohibited by section 5009 of this title shall be liable in rem for any
civil penalty assessed for such violation under paragraph (1) and may be
proceeded against in any district court of the United States having
jurisdiction thereof. Such penalty shall constitute a maritime lien on
such vessel that may be recovered in an action in rem in the district
court of the United States having jurisdiction over the vessel.
(5) The Secretary of Commerce may compromise, modify, or remit, with
or without conditions, any civil penalty that is subject to imposition
or that has been imposed under this section.
(6) For the purposes of conducting any hearing under this section,
the Secretary of Commerce may issue subpoenas for the attendance and
testimony of witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books, and
documents, and may administer oaths. Witnesses summoned shall be paid
the same fees and mileage that are paid to witnesses in the courts of
the United States. In case of contempt or refusal to obey a subpoena
served upon any person pursuant to this paragraph, the district court of
the United States for any district in which such person is found,
resides, or transacts business, upon application by the United States
and after notice to such person, shall have jurisdiction to issue an
order requiring such person to appear and give testimony before the
Secretary of Commerce or to appear and produce documents before the
Secretary of Commerce, or both, and any failure to obey such order of
the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.
(b) Offenses
(1) A person is guilty of an offense if the person commits any act
prohibited by section 5009(5), (6), (7), or (8) of this title.
(2) Any offense described in paragraph (1) is a class A misdemeanor
punishable by a fine under title 18 or imprisonment for not more than 6
months, or both; except that if in the commission of any offense the
person uses a dangerous weapon, engages in conduct that causes bodily
injury to any enforcement officer, or places any such officer in fear of
imminent bodily injury, the offense is a felony punishable by a fine
under title 18 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both.
(c) Forfeiture
(1) Any fishing vessel (including its fishing gear, furniture,
appurtenances, stores, and cargo) used, and any fish (or a fair market
value thereof) taken or retained, in any manner, in connection with or
as a result of the commission of any act prohibited by section 5009 of
this title shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States. All or
part of such vessel may, and all such fish shall, be forfeited to the
United States pursuant to a civil proceeding under this section.
(2) Any district court of the United States shall have jurisdiction,
upon application of the Attorney General on behalf of the United States,
to order any forfeiture authorized under paragraph (1) and any action
provided for under paragraph (4).
(3) If a judgment is entered for the United States in a civil
forfeiture proceeding under this section, the Attorney General may seize
any property or other interest declared forfeited to the United States,
which has not previously been seized pursuant to this chapter or for
which security has not previously been obtained. The provisions of the
customs laws relating to--
(A) the seizure, forfeiture, and condemnation of property for
violation of the customs law;
(B) the disposition of such property or the proceeds from the
sale thereof; and
(C) the remission or mitigation of any such forfeiture;
shall apply to seizures and forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have
been incurred, under the provisions of this chapter, unless such
provisions are inconsistent with the purposes, policy, and provisions of
this chapter.
(4)(A) Any officer authorized to serve any process in rem that is
issued by a court having jurisdiction under section 5008(b) of this
title shall--
(i) stay the execution of such process; or
(ii) discharge any fish seized pursuant to such process;
upon receipt of a satisfactory bond or other security from any person
claiming such property. Such bond or other security shall be conditioned
upon such person delivering such property to the appropriate court upon
order thereof, without any impairment of its value, or paying the
monetary value of such property pursuant to an order of such court.
Judgment shall be recoverable on such bond or other security against
both the principal and any sureties in the event that any condition
thereof is breached, as determined by such court.
(B) Any fish seized pursuant to this chapter may be sold, subject to
the approval and direction of the appropriate court, for not less than
the fair market value thereof. The proceeds of any such sale shall be
deposited with such court pending the disposition of the matter
involved.
(5) For purposes of this section, it shall be a rebuttable
presumption that all fish found on board a fishing vessel and which is
seized in connection with an act prohibited by section 5009 of this
title were taken or retained in violation of the Convention and this
chapter.
(Pub. L. 102-567, title VIII, Sec. 811, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4314;
Pub. L. 102-587, title VIII, Sec. 8011, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5103;
Pub. L. 106-562, title III, Sec. 304(a), Dec. 23, 2000, 114 Stat. 2806.)
References in Text
The customs laws, referred to in subsec. (c)(3), are classified
generally to Title 19, Customs Duties.
Codification
Title VIII of Pub. L. 102-567 and Pub. L. 102-587 enacted
substantially identical sections. Title VIII of Pub. L. 102-587 was
repealed by Pub. L. 106-562.
