Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 7 : Section 136l


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/03/05
Section 136l. Penalties

    (a) Civil penalties
      (1) In general
        Any registrant, commercial applicator, wholesaler, dealer,
      retailer, or other distributor who violates any provision of this
      subchapter may be assessed a civil penalty by the Administrator
      of not more than $5,000 for each offense.
      (2) Private applicator
        Any private applicator or other person not included in
      paragraph (1) who violates any provision of this subchapter
      subsequent to receiving a written warning from the Administrator
      or following a citation for a prior violation, may be assessed a
      civil penalty by the Administrator of not more than $1,000 for
      each offense, except that any applicator not included under
      paragraph (1) of this subsection who holds or applies registered
      pesticides, or uses dilutions of registered pesticides, only to
      provide a service of controlling pests without delivering any
      unapplied pesticide to any person so served, and who violates any
      provision of this subchapter may be assessed a civil penalty by
      the Administrator of not more than $500 for the first offense nor
      more than $1,000 for each subsequent offense.
      (3) Hearing
        No civil penalty shall be assessed unless the person charged
      shall have been given notice and opportunity for a hearing on
      such charge in the county, parish, or incorporated city of the
      residence of the person charged.
      (4) Determination of penalty
        In determining the amount of the penalty, the Administrator
      shall consider the appropriateness of such penalty to the size of
      the business of the person charged, the effect on the person's
      ability to continue in business, and the gravity of the
      violation. Whenever the Administrator finds that the violation
      occurred despite the exercise of due care or did not cause
      significant harm to health or the environment, the Administrator
      may issue a warning in lieu of assessing a penalty.
      (5) References to Attorney General
        In case of inability to collect such civil penalty or failure
      of any person to pay all, or such portion of such civil penalty
      as the Administrator may determine, the Administrator shall refer
      the matter to the Attorney General, who shall recover such amount
      by action in the appropriate United States district court.
    (b) Criminal penalties
      (1) In general
        (A) Any registrant, applicant for a registration, or producer
      who knowingly violates any provision of this subchapter shall be
      fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1
      year, or both.
        (B) Any commercial applicator of a restricted use pesticide, or
      any other person not described in subparagraph (A) who
      distributes or sells pesticides or devices, who knowingly
      violates any provision of this subchapter shall be fined not more
      than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.
      (2) Private applicator
        Any private applicator or other person not included in
      paragraph (1) who knowingly violates any provision of this
      subchapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall on
      conviction be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned for not
      more than 30 days, or both.
      (3) Disclosure of information
        Any person, who, with intent to defraud, uses or reveals
      information relative to formulas of products acquired under the
      authority of section 136a of this title, shall be fined not more
      than $10,000, or imprisoned for not more than three years, or
      both.
      (4) Acts of officers, agents, etc.
        When construing and enforcing the provisions of this
      subchapter, the act, omission, or failure of any officer, agent,
      or other person acting for or employed by any person shall in
      every case be also deemed to be the act, omission, or failure of
      such person as well as that of the person employed.



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