7 U.S.C. § 2279e — Civil penalty

(a) After notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the record, the Secretary of Agriculture or Homeland Security may assess up to a $10,000 civil penalty against a person who harms or interferes with an animal used for official inspections by that Department. (b) The responsible Secretary must consider the offense’s nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity. (c) The Secretary may compromise, modify, or forgive the penalty, with or without conditions. (d)(1) The penalty order is a final order reviewable under title 28, chapter 158; its validity may not be reviewed in an action to collect it. (2) An unpaid penalty accrues interest until paid at the rate for United States court civil judgments. (e) “Secretary concerned” means the Agriculture Secretary for an animal used in Agriculture Department inspections and the Homeland Security Secretary for an animal used in Homeland Security inspections. The section does not otherwise define the quoted term.