Current through September 30, 2024
Section 138.170 - Enforcement(a)Applicability. Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of this subpart, including the reporting requirements in § 138.150 , may be subject to enforcement as provided in this section, including if-(1) The COFR Operator fails to maintain acceptable evidence of financial responsibility as required;(2) The name of a covered vessel is changed without reporting the change to the Director as required in § 138.150 ;(3) The COFR Operator ceases, for any reason, to be an operator of a covered vessel, including when a vessel is scrapped or transferred to a new owner or operator, and a new Application and report have not been submitted to the Director as required by §§ 138.80 and 138.150 ; or(4) The COFR Operator fails to maintain a U.S. agent for service of process.(b)Non-compliance. During a period of non-compliance with this subpart, all use by the vessel of the navigable waters of the United States, of any port or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, or of the Exclusive Economic Zone to transship or lighter oil destined for a place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, is forbidden.(c)Withholding and revoking vessel clearance. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security will withhold or revoke the clearance required by 46 U.S.C. 60105 of any vessel subject to this subpart that does not have a COFR or for which the evidence of financial responsibility required has not been established and maintained.(d)Denying vessel entry, and detention. The U.S. Coast Guard may deny entry to any port or other place in the United States or the navigable waters, and may detain at any port or other place in the United States in which it is located, any vessel subject to this subpart, which does not have a COFR or for which the evidence of financial responsibility required by this subpart has not been established and maintained.(e)Seizure and forfeiture. In accordance with OPA 90, any vessel subject to this subpart which is found in the navigable waters without a COFR, or for which the necessary evidence of financial responsibility has not been established and maintained as required, is subject to seizure by, and forfeiture to, the United States.(f)Administrative and judicial penalties and other relief.(1) Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of this subpart or the evidence of financial responsibility requirements of OPA 90, CERCLA, or both, including a failure to comply with the reporting requirements in § 138.150 , is subject to civil administrative and judicial penalties under OPA 90 and CERCLA, as applicable. In addition, under OPA 90, the Attorney General may secure such relief as may be necessary to compel compliance with OPA 90 and this subpart, including termination of operations.(2) Under 18 U.S.C. 1001 , any person making a false statement in, or in connection with, a submission under OPA 90 or CERCLA or this subpart is subject to prosecution.(3) Any person who fails to timely pay the fees required by § 138.120 or any other amounts due under OPA 90 or CERCLA or this subpart may also be subject to Federal debt collection under 6 CFR part 11 , 44 CFR part 11 and 31 CFR parts 285, and 900 through 904.