[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR209.105]

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                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 209--RAILROAD SAFETY ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart B--Hazardous Materials Penalties
 
Sec. 209.105  Notice of probable violation.

    (a) FRA, through the Chief Counsel, begins a civil penalty 
proceeding by serving a notice of probable violation on a person 
charging him or her with having violated one or more provisions of 
subchapter A or C of chapter I, subtitle B of this title. Appendix B to 
this part contains guidelines used by the chief counsel in making 
initial penalty assessments.
    (b) A notice of probable violation issued under this section 
includes:
    (1) A statement of the provision(s) which the respondent is believed 
to have violated;
    (2) A statement of the factual allegations upon which the proposed 
civil penalty is being sought;

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    (3) Notice of the maximum amount of civil penalty for which the 
respondent may be liable;
    (4) Notice of the amount of the civil penalty proposed to be 
assessed;
    (5) A description of the manner in which the respondent should make 
payment of any money to the United States;
    (6) A statement of the respondent's right to present written 
explanations, information or any materials in answer to the charges or 
in mitigation of the penalty; and
    (7) A statement of the respondent's right to request a hearing and 
the procedures for requesting a hearing.
    (c) The FRA may amend the notice of probable violation at any time 
prior to the entry of an order assessing a civil penalty. If the 
amendment contains any new material allegation of fact, the respondent 
is given an opportunity to respond. In an amended notice, FRA may change 
the penalty amount proposed to be assessed up to and including the 
maximum penalty amount of $25,000 for each violation.

[42 FR 56742, Oct. 28, 1977, as amended at 61 FR 38646, July 25, 1996]