Action
Final rule.
Summary
The Coast Guard amends the procedure for a Notice of Violation when the recipient fails to either accept or decline it within 45 days. Instead of automatically converting the "fail to respond" Notice of Violation to a marine violation case with its lengthier processing and potentially higher penalties, it is treated as a default and we proceed with the civil penalty. The party retains its option to choose marine violation processing at any time during the 45-day response period.