[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR13.11]

[Page 199-200]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
               CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
 
PART 13_CLAIMS COLLECTION STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
                          Subpart B_Collection
 
Sec. 13.11  Interest, penalty and administrative costs.

    (a) Interest. EPA will assess interest on all delinquent debts 
unless prohibited by statute, regulation or contract.
    (1) Interest begins to accrue on all debts from the date of the 
initial notice to the debtor. EPA will not recover interest where the 
debt is paid within 30 days of the date of the notice. EPA will assess 
an annual rate of interest that is equal to the rate of the current 
value of funds to the United States Treasury (i.e., the Treasury tax and 
loan account rate) as prescribed and published by the Sec. etary of the 
Treasury in the Federal Register and the Treasury Fiscal Requirements 
Manual Bulletins, unless a different rate is necessary to protect the 
interest of the Government. EPA will notify the debtor of the basis for 
its finding that a different rate is necessary to protect the interest 
of the Government.
    (2) The Administrator may extend the 30-day period for payment where 
he determines that such action is in the best interest of the 
Government. A decision to extend or not to extend the payment period is 
final and is not subject to further review.
    (3) The rate of interest, as initially assessed, remains fixed for 
the duration of the indebtedness. If a debtor defaults on a repayment 
agreement, interest may be set at the Treasury rate in effect on the 
date a new agreement is executed.
    (4) Interest will not be assessed on interest charges, 
administrative costs or later payment penalties. However, where a debtor 
defaults on a previous repayment agreement and interest, administrative 
costs and penalties charges have been waived under the defaulted 
agreement, these charges can be reinstated and added to the debt 
principal under any new agreement and interest charged on the entire 
amount of the debt.
    (b) Administrative costs of collecting overdue debts. The costs of 
the Agency's administrative handling of overdue debts, based on either 
actual or average cost incurred, will be charged on all debts except 
those owed by State and local governments and Indian tribes. These costs 
include both direct and indirect costs. Administrative costs will be 
assessed monthly throughout the period the debt is overdue except as 
provided by Sec. 13.12.
    (c) Penalties. As provided by 31 U.S.C. 3717(e)(2), a penalty charge 
will be assessed on all debts, except those owned by State and local 
governments and Indian tribes, more than 90 days delinquent. The penalty 
charge will be at a rate not to exceed 6% per annum and will be assessed 
monthly.
    (d) Allocation of payments. A partial payment by a debtor will be 
applied first to outstanding administrative costs, second to penalty 
assessments, third to accrued interest and then to the outstanding debt 
principal.
    (e) Waiver. (1) The Administrator may (without regard to the amount 
of the debt) waive collection of all or part

[[Page 200]]

of accrued interest, penalty or administrative costs, where he 
determines that--
    (i) Waiver is justified under the criteria of Sec. 13.25;
    (ii) The debt or the charges resulted from the Agency's error, 
action or inaction, and without fault by the debtor; or
    (iii) Collection of these charges would be against equity and good 
conscience or not in the best interest of the United States.
    (2) A decision to waive interest, penalty charges or administrative 
costs may be made at any time prior to payment of a debt. However, where 
these charges have been collected prior to the waiver decision, they 
will not be refunded. The Administrator's decision to waive or not waive 
collection of these charges is a final agency action.