(a) At any time prior to the issuance of a complaint seeking a civil penalty under the Act, the Administrator, in his or her discretion, may enter into a stipulation with any person in which:
- (1) The Administrator gives notice of an apparent violation of the Act, or the regulations or standards issued thereunder, by such person and affords such person an opportunity for a hearing regarding the matter as provided by the Act;
- (2) Such person expressly waives hearing and agrees to pay a specified penalty within a designated time; and
- (3) The Administrator agrees to accept the specified penalty in settlement of the particular matter involved if it is paid within the designated time.
- (b) If the specified penalty is not paid within the time designated in such a stipulation, the amount of the stipulated penalty shall not be relevant in any respect to the penalty which may be assessed after issuance of a complaint.
[42 FR 10959, Feb. 25, 1977, as amended at 86 FR 66926, Nov. 24, 2021]