[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40 Volume 25]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR374.2]

[Page 489-490]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 374--PRIOR NOTICE OF CITIZEN SUITS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 374.2  Service of notice.

    (a) Violation of standard, regulation, condition, requirement, or 
order. Notice of intent to file suit under subsection 310(a)(1) of the 
Act shall be served by personal service upon, or by certified mail, 
return receipt requested, addressed to the alleged violator of any 
standard, regulation, condition, requirement, or order which has become 
effective pursuant to this Act in the following manner:
    (1) If the alleged violator is a private individual or corporation, 
notice shall be served by personal service upon, or by certified mail, 
return receipt requested, addressed to the person alleged to be in 
violation. If the alleged violator is a corporation, a copy of the 
notice shall also be served by personal service upon or by certified 
mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the registered agent, if 
any, of that corporation in the State in which the violation is alleged 
to have occurred. A copy of the notice shall be served by personal 
service upon or by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed 
to the United States Attorney General; to the Attorney General of the 
State in which the violation is alleged to have occurred; and to the 
head of the Federal agency with delegated responsibility for the CERCLA 
provision allegedly violated, pursuant to Executive Order 12580, 3 CFR, 
1987 Comp., p. 193, as amended by Executive Order 12777, 3 CFR, 1991 
Comp., p. 351. If the Environmental Protection Agency has responsibility 
for the CERCLA provision allegedly violated, then a copy of the notice 
shall be served by personal service upon or by certified mail, return 
receipt requested, addressed to the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, and to the Regional Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency for the Region in which the violation is 
alleged to have occurred. A list of addresses that may be useful in 
providing notice of citizen suits is provided at Sec. 374.6. Note that 
these addresses are subject to change and must be verified prior to use.
    (2) If the alleged violator is a State or local agency, notice shall 
be served by personal service upon or by certified mail, return receipt 
requested, addressed to the head of that agency. A copy of the notice 
shall be served by personal service upon or by certified mail, return 
receipt requested, addressed to the United States Attorney General; to 
the Attorney General of the State in which the violation is alleged to 
have occurred; and to the head of the Federal agency with delegated 
responsibility, pursuant to Executive Order 12580, for the CERCLA 
provision allegedly violated. If the Environmental Protection Agency has 
the delegated responsibility for the CERCLA provision allegedly 
violated, then a copy of the notice shall be served by personal service 
upon or by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and to

[[Page 490]]

the Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for 
the Region in which the violation is alleged to have occurred. A list of 
addresses that may be useful in providing notice of citizen suits is 
provided at Sec. 374.6. Note that these addresses are subject to change 
and must be verified prior to use.
    (3) If the alleged violator is a Federal agency, notice shall be 
served by personal service upon or by certified mail, return receipt 
requested, addressed to the head of the agency. A copy of the notice 
shall be served by personal service upon or by certified mail, return 
receipt requested, addressed to the United States Attorney General; to 
the Attorney General of the State in which the violation is alleged to 
have occurred; and to the head of the Federal agency with delegated 
responsibility, pursuant to Executive Order 12580, for the CERCLA 
provision allegedly violated. If the Environmental Protection Agency has 
the delegated responsibility for the CERCLA provision allegedly 
violated, then a copy of the notice shall be served by personal service 
upon or by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and to the 
Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for the 
Region in which the violation is alleged to have occurred. A list of 
addresses that may be useful in providing notice of citizen suits is 
provided at Sec. 374.6. These addresses are subject to change and must 
be verified prior to use.
    (b) Failure to act. Service of notice of intent to file suit under 
subsection 310(a)(2) of the Act shall be accomplished by personal 
service upon or by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed 
to the United States Attorney General and to the head of the agency of 
the United States (including the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency or the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry), who is alleged to have failed to 
perform an act or duty which is not discretionary.
    (c) Date of service. Notice given in accordance with the provisions 
of this part shall be considered to have been served on the date of 
receipt. If notice or copy of notice is required to be served on more 
than one entity, notice shall be considered to have been served on the 
date of receipt by the last entity served. If service was accomplished 
by mail, the date of receipt will be considered to be the date noted on 
the return receipt card.