Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 109 Part 1.djvu/390

 109 STAT. 374 PUBLIC LAW 104-43—NOV. 3, 1995 (A) a vessel of the United States has been used in the commission of an act prohibited under section 106; (B) the owner or operator of a vessel or any other person who has been issued or has applied for a permit under section 104 has acted in violation of section 106; or (C) any amount in settlement of a civil forfeiture imposed on a high seas fishing vessel or other property, or any civil penalty or criminal fine imposed on a high seas fishing vessel or on an owner or operator of such a vessel or on any other person who has been issued or has applied for a permit under any fishery resource statute enforced by the Secretary, has not been paid and is overdue, the Secretary may— (i) revoke any permit issued to or applied for by such vessel or person under this title, with or without prejudice to the issuance of subsequent permits; (ii) suspend such permit for a period of time considered by the Secretary to be appropriate; (iii) deny such permit; or (iv) impose additional conditions and restrictions on such permit. (2) In imposing a sanction under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into account— (A) the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the prohibited acts for which the sanction is imposed; and (B) with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, and such other matters as justice may require. (3) Transfer of ownership of a high seas fishing vessel, by sale or otherwise, shall not extinguish any permit sanction that is in effect or is pending at the time of transfer of ownership. Before executing the transfer of ownership of a vessel, by sale or otherwise, the owner shall disclose in writing to the prospective transferee the existence of any permit sanction that will be in effect or pending with respect to the vessel at the time of the transfer. The Secretary may waive or compromise a sanction in the case of a transfer pursuant to court order. (4) In the case of any permit that is suspended under this subsection for nonpayment of a civil penalty or criminal fine, the Secretary shall reinstate the permit upon payment of the penalty or fine and interest thereon at the prevailing rate. (5) No sanctions shall be imposed under this subsection unless there has been prior opportunity for a hearing on the facts underlying the violation for which the sanction is imposed, either in conjunction with a civil penalty proceeding under this section or otherwise. (c) HEARING. —For the purposes of conducting any hearing under this section, the Secretary may issue subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books, and documents, and may administer oaths. Witnesses summoned shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid to witnesses in the courts of the United States. In case of contempt or refusal to obey a subpoena served upon any person pursuant to this subsection, the district court of the

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