(a) Violations

It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision of section 792 of this title (relating to coal conversion and allocation) or section 796 of this title (relating to energy information) or to violate any rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant to any such provision.

(b) Penalties; injunctions; declaratory judgments

Terms Used In 15 USC 797

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • individual: shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. See 1 USC 8
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
  • whoever: include corporations, companies, associations, firms, partnerships, societies, and joint stock companies, as well as individuals. See 1 USC 1
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.

(1) Whoever violates any provision of subsection (a) shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $2,500 for each violation.

(2) Whoever willfully violates any provision of subsection (a) shall be fined not more than $5,000 for each violation.

(3) It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale or distribute in commerce any coal in violation of an order or regulation issued pursuant to section 792(d) of this title. Any person who knowingly and willfully violates this paragraph after having been subjected to a civil penalty for a prior violation of the same provision of any order or regulation issued pursuant to section 792(d) of this title shall be fined not more than $50,000, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(4) Whenever it appears to the Federal Energy Administrator or any person authorized by the Federal Energy Administrator to exercise authority under section 792 of this title or section 796 of this title that any individual or organization has engaged, is engaged, or is about to engage in acts or practices constituting a violation of subsection (a) the Federal Energy Administrator or such person may request the Attorney General to bring a civil action to enjoin such acts or practices, and upon a proper showing, a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction shall be granted without bond. In such action, the court may also issue mandatory injunctions commanding any person to comply with any provision, the violation of which is prohibited by subsection (a).

(5) Any person suffering legal wrong because of any act or practice arising out of any violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action for appropriate relief, including an action for a declaratory judgment or writ of injunction. United States district courts shall have jurisdiction of actions under this paragraph without regard to the amount in controversy. Nothing in this paragraph shall authorize any person to recover damages.