(b) Determination of penalty amount, mitigation, and remission. The Federal Land Manager may assess a penalty amount less than the maximum amount of penalty and may offer to mitigate or remit the penalty.
(1) Determination of penalty amount and/or a proposal to mitigate or remit the penalty may be based upon any of the following factors.
- (i) Agreement by the person being assessed a civil penalty to return to the Federal Land Manager and ultimately to the Navajo Nation archaeological resources removed from the New Lands.
- (ii) Agreement by the person being assessed a civil penalty to assist the Federal Land Manager in activity to preserve, restore, or otherwise contribute to the protection and study of archaeological resources on the New Lands.
- (iii) Agreement by the person being assessed a civil penalty to provide information which will assist in the detection, prevention, or prosecution of violations of the Act or this part;
- (iv) Demonstration of hardship or inability to pay, provided that this factor shall only be considered when the person being assessed a civil penalty has not been found to have previously violated the regulations in this part;
- (v) Determination that the person being assessed a civil penalty did not willfully commit the violation.
- (vi) Determination that the proposed penalty would constitute excessive punishment under the circumstances.
- (vii) Determination of other mitigating circumstances appropriate to consideration in reaching a fair and expeditious assessment.
- (2) The Federal Land Manager shall consult with and consider the interests of the Navajo Nation prior to proposing to mitigate or remit the penalty.