Collapse to view only § 333.64 - Violations, penalties, and remedies.
- § 333.60 - General provisions.
- § 333.61 - Audits and investigations.
- § 333.62 - Compulsory process.
- § 333.63 - Notification of failure to comply.
- § 333.64 - Violations, penalties, and remedies.
- § 333.65 - Compliance conflicts.
§ 333.60 - General provisions.
(a) Compliance actions may be taken for any reason necessary or appropriate to the enforcement or the administration of the Defense Production Act and related statutes, this part, or an official action. Compliance actions include audits, investigations, or other inquiries and FEMA may utilize other official actions, such as administrative subpoenas, demands for information, and inspection authorizations as part of the compliance actions under this part.
(b) Any person who places or receives a rated order or an allocation order must comply with the provisions of this part.
(c) Willful violation of any of the provisions of Title I or section 705 of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or an official action of FEMA, is a criminal act, punishable as provided in the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, and as set forth in § 333.64 of this part.
§ 333.61 - Audits and investigations.
(a) Audits and investigations are official actions involving the examination of books, records, documents, other writings and information to ensure that the provisions of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, and official actions have been properly followed. An audit or investigation may also include interviews and a systems evaluation to detect problems or failures in the implementation of this part.
(b) When undertaking an audit, investigation, or other inquiry, FEMA must:
(1) Define the scope and purpose in the official action given to the person under investigation, and
(2) Have ascertained that the information sought, or other adequate and authoritative data are not available from any Federal or other responsible agency.
(c) In administering this part, FEMA may issue the following documents, which constitute official actions:
(1) Administrative subpoenas. An administrative subpoena requires a person to appear as a witness before an official designated by FEMA to testify under oath on matters of which that person has knowledge relating to the enforcement or the administration of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or official actions. An administrative subpoena may also require the production of books, papers, records, documents and physical objects or property.
(2) Demand for information. A demand for information requires a person to furnish to a duly authorized representative of FEMA any information necessary or appropriate to the enforcement or the administration of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or official actions.
(3) Inspection authorizations. An inspection authorization requires a person to permit a duly authorized representative of FEMA to interview the person's employees or agents; to inspect books, records, documents, other writings and information, including electronically-stored information, in the person's possession or control at the place where that person usually keeps them or otherwise; and to inspect a person's property when such interviews and inspections are necessary or appropriate to the enforcement or the administration of the Defense Production Act and related statutes, this part, or official actions.
(d) The production of books, records, documents, other writings and information will not be required at any place other than where they are usually kept if, prior to the return date specified in the administrative subpoena or demand for information, a duly authorized official of FEMA is furnished with copies of such material that are certified under oath to be true copies. As an alternative, a person may enter into a stipulation with a duly authorized official of FEMA as to the content of the material.
(e) An administrative subpoena, demand for information, or inspection authorization must include the name, title, or official position of the person to be served, the evidence sought to be adduced, and its general relevance to the scope and purpose of the audit, investigation, or other inquiry. If employees or agents are to be interviewed; if books, records, documents, other writings, or information are to be produced; or if property is to be inspected; the administrative subpoena, demand for information, or inspection authorization will describe them with particularity.
(f) Service of documents must be made in the following manner:
(1) Service of a demand for information or inspection authorization must be made personally, or by certified mail—return receipt requested at the person's last known address. Service of an administrative subpoena must be made personally. Personal service may also be made by leaving a copy of the document with someone at least 18 years of age at the person's last known dwelling or place of business. When a hazard has occurred or is imminent, service of a demand for information or inspection authorization may additionally be made by written electronic communication.
(2) Service upon other than an individual may be made by serving a partner, corporate officer, or a managing or general agent authorized by appointment or by law to accept service of process. If an agent is served, a copy of the document must be mailed to the person named in the document.
(3) Any individual 18 years of age or older may serve an administrative subpoena, demand for information, or inspection authorization. When personal service is made, the individual making the service shall prepare an affidavit as to the manner in which service was made and the identity of the person served, and return the affidavit, and in the case of subpoenas, the original document, to the issuing officer. In case of failure to make service, the reasons for the failure must be stated on the original document.
§ 333.62 - Compulsory process.
(a) If a person refuses to permit a duly authorized representative of FEMA to have access to any premises or source of information necessary to the administration or enforcement of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or official actions, FEMA may seek compulsory process. Compulsory process means the institution of appropriate legal action, including ex parte application for an inspection warrant or its equivalent, in any forum of appropriate jurisdiction.
(b) Compulsory process may be sought in advance of an audit, investigation, or other inquiry, if, in the judgment of the Administrator, in consultation with the FEMA Chief Counsel, there is reason to believe that a person will refuse to permit an audit, investigation, or other inquiry, or that other circumstances exist which make such process desirable or necessary.
§ 333.63 - Notification of failure to comply.
(a) At the conclusion of an audit, investigation, or other inquiry, or at any other time, FEMA may inform the person in writing where compliance with the requirements of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or an official action were not met.
(b) In cases where FEMA determines that a person, either willingly or inadvertently, has failed to comply with the provisions of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or an official action, the person may be informed in writing of the particulars involved and the corrective action to be taken. Failure to take corrective action may then be construed as a willful violation of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or an official action.
§ 333.64 - Violations, penalties, and remedies.
(a) Willful violation of the provisions of Title I or Sections 705 or 707 of the Defense Production Act, this part, or an official action, is a crime and upon conviction, a person may be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both. The maximum penalty provided by the Defense Production Act is a $10,000 fine, or one year in prison, or both.
(b) The government may also seek an injunction from a court of appropriate jurisdiction to prohibit the continuance of any violation of, or to enforce compliance with, the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or an official action.
(c) In order to secure the effective enforcement of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, and official actions, the following are prohibited (see section 705 of the Defense Production Act; see also, for example, sections 2 and 371 of Title 18 United States Code):
(1) No person may solicit, influence, or permit another person to perform any act prohibited by, or to omit any act required by, the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or an official action.
(2) No person may conspire or act in concert with any other person to perform any act prohibited by, or to omit any act required by, the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or an official action.
(3) No person shall deliver any item if the person knows or has reason to believe that the item will be accepted, redelivered, held, or used in violation of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or an official action. In such instances, the person must immediately notify FEMA that, in accordance with this section, delivery has not been made.
§ 333.65 - Compliance conflicts.
If compliance with any provision of the Defense Production Act and other applicable statutes, this part, or an official action would prevent a person from filling a rated order or from complying with another provision of the Defense Production Act, this part, or an official action, the person must immediately notify FEMA for resolution of the conflict.