PUBLIC LAW 105-277—OCT. 21, 1998 112 STAT. 2681-884 (A) IN GENERAL.— Before imposing an order described in paragraph (1) against a person under this subsection for a violation of section 306 or 405, the Secretary of State shall provide the person or entity with notice and, upon request made within 15 days of the date of the notice, a hearing respecting the violation. (B) CONDUCT OF HEARING.— Any hearing so requested shall be conducted before an administrative law judge. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of section 554 of title 5, United States Code. If no hearing is so requested, the Secretary of State's imposition of the order shall constitute a final and unappealable order. (C) ISSUANCE OF ORDERS.—I f the administrative law judge determines, upon the preponderance of the evidence received, that a person or entity named in the complaint has violated section 306 or 405, the administrative law judge shall state his findings of fact and issue and cause to be served on such person or entity an order described in paragraph (1). (D) FACTORS FOR DETERMINAT-JON OF PENALTY AMOUNTS.—In determining the amount of any civil penalty, the administrative law judge shall take into account the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation or violations and, with respect to the violator, the ability to pay, effect on ability to continue to do business, any history of prior such violations, the degree of culpability, the existence of an internal compliance program, and such other matters as justice may require. (3) ADMINISTRATIVE APPELLATE REVIEW.— The decision and order of an administrative law judge shall become the final agency decision and order of the head of the United States National Authority unless, within 30 days, the head of the United States National Authority modifies or vacates the decision and order, with or without conditions, in which case the decision and order of the head of the United States National Authority shall become a final order under this subsection. (4) OFFSETS.— The amount of the civil penalty under a final order of the United States National Authority may be deducted from any sums owed by the United States to the person. (5) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—^A person adversely affected by a final order respecting an assessment may, within 30 days after the date the final order is issued, file a petition in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit or for any other circuit in which the person resides or transacts business. (6) ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS.—I f a person fails to comply with a final order issued under this subsection against the person or entity— (A) after the order making the assessment has become a final order and if such person does not file a petition for judicial review of the order in accordance with paragraph (5), or (B) after a court in an action brought under paragraph (5) has entered a final judgment in favor of the United States National Authority,
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