49-513. Violations; civil penalties

A. A person who violates any provision of this article, any permit or permit condition issued pursuant to this article, any fee or filing requirement, any rule adopted pursuant to this article, an effective order of abatement issued pursuant to this article or any duty to allow or carry out inspection, entry or monitoring activities, is subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars per day per violation. The county attorney at the request of the control officer shall file an action in superior court to recover penalties provided for in this section.

B. For purposes of determining the number of days of violation for which a civil penalty may be assessed under this section, if the control officer has notified the source of the violation and makes a prima facie showing that the conduct or events giving rise to the violation are likely to have continued or recurred past the date of notice, the days of violations shall be presumed to include the date of such notice and each day thereafter until the violator establishes that continuous compliance has been achieved, except to the extent that the violator can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that there were intervening days during which no violation occurred or that the violation was not continuing in nature. Notice under this section is accomplished by the issuance of a notice of violation or order of abatement or by filing a complaint in superior court that alleges any violation described in subsection A of this section.

C. In determining the amount of a civil penalty under this section, the court shall consider all of the following:

1. The seriousness of the violation.

2. As an aggravating factor only, the economic benefit, if any, resulting from the violation.

3. Any history of that violation.

4. Any good faith efforts to comply with the applicable requirements.

5. The economic impact of the penalty on the violator.

6. The duration of the violation as established by any credible evidence including evidence other than the applicable test method.

7. Payment by the violator of penalties previously assessed for the same violation.

8. Other factors as the court deems relevant.

D. All penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the special public health fund authorized in section 49-480.