EPA is required to adjust its maximum civil penalties every four years to account for inflation to assure that the deterrent effect of penalties remains viable. Effective March 15, 2004, EPA’s maximum penalties will all be adjusted upwards by 17.23%. For example, the maximum penalty now in place of $27,500 per violation per day will increase to $32,500. This ruling can be found in the February 13, 2004 issue of the Federal Register.