Jurisdiction
A district court of the United States shall have jurisdiction to enforce, and to prevent and restrain any person from violating, this chapter or an order or regulation issued by the Secretary under this chapter.
Referral to Attorney General
A civil action brought under subsection (a) shall be referred to the Attorney General for appropriate action, except that the Secretary is not required to refer to the Attorney General a violation of this chapter, or an order or regulation issued under this chapter, if the Secretary believes that the administration and enforcement of this chapter would be adequately served by administrative action under subsection (c) or suitable written notice or warning to the person who committed or is committing the violation.
Civil penalties and orders
Civil penalties
In general
Separate offenses
Each violation shall be a separate offense.
Cease and desist orders
In addition to or in lieu of a civil penalty under paragraph (1), the Secretary may issue an order requiring a person to cease and desist from continuing a violation of this chapter, or an order or regulation issued under this chapter.
Notice and hearing
section 7808(b)(2) of this titleNo penalty shall be assessed, or cease and desist order issued, by the Secretary under this subsection unless the Secretary gives the person against whom the penalty is assessed or the order is issued notice and opportunity for a hearing before the Secretary with respect to the violation. Any such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with and shall be held within the United States judicial district in which the residence or principal place of business of the person is located.
Finality
The penalty assessed or cease and desist order issued under this subsection shall be final and conclusive unless the person against whom the penalty is assessed or the order is issued files an appeal with the appropriate district court of the United States in accordance with subsection (d).
Review by district court
Commencement of action
In general
Copy of record
The Secretary shall promptly file in the court a certified copy of the record on which the Secretary found that the person had committed a violation.
Standard of review
A finding of the Secretary shall be set aside under this subsection only if the finding is found to be unsupported by substantial evidence.
Failure to obey an order
In general
A person who fails to obey a cease and desist order issued under subsection (c) after the order has become final and unappealable, or after the appropriate United States district court had entered a final judgment in favor of the Secretary of not more than $10,000 for each offense, after opportunity for a hearing and for judicial review under the procedures specified in subsections (c) and (d).
Separate violations
Each day during which the person fails to obey an order described in paragraph (1) shall be considered as a separate violation of the order.
Failure to pay a penalty
In general
If a person fails to pay a civil penalty assessed under subsection (c) or (e) after the penalty has become final and unappealable, or after the appropriate United States district court has entered final judgment in favor of the Secretary, the Secretary shall refer the matter to the Attorney General for recovery of the amount assessed in any United States district court in which the person resides or conducts business.
Scope of review
In an action by the Attorney General under paragraph (1), the validity and appropriateness of a civil penalty shall not be subject to review.
Additional remedies
The remedies provided in this chapter shall be in addition to, and not exclusive of, other remedies that may be available.
Pub. L. 106–387, § 1(a) [title XII, § 1208]114 Stat. 1549(, , , 1549A–93.)