§342P-5 Enforcement; education. (a) If the director determines that any person has violated or is in violation of this chapter, any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter, any accepted schedule, any order issued under this section, or any condition of a permit or variance issued pursuant to this chapter, the director:

(1) Shall cause written notice to be served upon the alleged violator or violators. The notice shall specify the alleged violation, may contain educational information necessary in performing abatement activities, and may contain an order specifying a reasonable time during which the person shall be required to take any measures that may be necessary to correct the violation, and to give periodic progress reports;

(2) May require the alleged violator or violators to appear before the director for a hearing at a time and place specified in the notice to answer the charges complained of; and

(3) May impose penalties as provided in section 342P-21 by sending a notice in writing, either by certified mail or by personal service, to the alleged violator or violators describing the violation.

(b) If the director determines that any person is continuing to violate this chapter, any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter, any accepted schedule, any order issued under this section, or any condition of a permit or variance issued pursuant to this chapter, after having been served notice of the violation, the director:

(1) Shall cause written notice to be served upon the alleged violator or violators. The notice shall specify the alleged violation and shall contain an order requiring the person to submit a written schedule within thirty days specifying the measures to be taken and the time within which the measures will be taken to bring the person into compliance with this chapter, any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter, or the conditions of any permit issued pursuant to this chapter;

(2) Shall accept or modify the submitted schedule within sixty days of receipt of the schedule. Any schedule not acted upon after thirty days of receipt by the director shall be deemed accepted by the director;

(3) Shall issue to the alleged violator or violators a cease and desist order against the activities that violate this chapter, any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter, or any condition of a permit or variance issued pursuant to this chapter, if that person does not submit a written schedule to the director within thirty days. This order shall remain in effect until the director accepts the written schedule; or

(4) May impose penalties as provided in section 342P-21 by sending a notice in writing, either by certified mail or by personal service, to the alleged violator or violators describing the violation.

(c) If the director determines that the person has violated an accepted schedule, an order issued under this section, any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter, any condition of a permit or variance issued pursuant to this chapter, or has continued to violate this chapter, the director shall impose penalties by sending a notice in writing, either by certified mail or by personal service, to that person, describing the nonadherence or violation with reasonable particularity.

(d) Any order issued under this chapter shall become final, unless, not later than twenty days after the notice of order is served, the person or persons named therein request in writing a hearing before the director. Any penalty imposed under this chapter shall become due and payable twenty days after the notice of penalty is served, unless the person or persons named therein request in writing a hearing before the director. Whenever a hearing is requested on any penalty imposed under this chapter, the penalty shall become due and payable only upon completion of all review proceedings and the issuance of a final order confirming the penalty in whole or in part. Upon request for a hearing, the director shall require the alleged violator or violators to appear before the director for a hearing at a time and place specified in the notice to answer the charges complained of.

(e) Any hearing conducted under this section shall be conducted as a contested case in accordance with chapter 91. If, after a hearing held pursuant to this section, the director finds that a violation or violations have occurred, the director shall affirm or modify any penalties imposed, modify or affirm the order previously issued, or issue an appropriate order or orders for the prevention, abatement, or control of the violation or discharges involved or the taking of such other corrective action as may be appropriate. If, after a hearing on an order or penalty contained in a notice, the director finds that no violation has occurred or is occurring, the director shall rescind the order or penalty. Any order issued after a hearing may prescribe the date or dates by which the violation or violations shall cease and may prescribe timetables for necessary action in preventing, abating, or controlling the violation or discharges.

(f) If the amount of any administrative penalty is not paid to the department within thirty days after it becomes due and payable, the director may institute a civil action in the name of the State to collect the administrative penalty, which shall be a government realization.

(g) In connection with any hearing held pursuant to this section, the director shall have the power to subpoena the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence on behalf of all parties. [L 1991, c 219, pt of §1; am L 1995, c 180, §38; am L 1998, c 242, §7]