A. If a person violates the provisions of the Geothermal Resources Development Act or the rules promulgated pursuant to that act or an order or permit issued pursuant to that act, the division may assess the person a civil penalty of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation. In the case of a continuing violation, each day of violation shall constitute a separate violation.

B. In determining the amount of the penalty, the division shall consider the person's history of previous violations of the Geothermal Resources Development Act or the Geothermal Resources Act [19-13-1 to 19-13-28 NMSA 1978] or the rules or permits issued pursuant to those acts, the seriousness of the violation, any hazard to the health or safety of the public or the environment and the demonstrated good faith of the person.

C. The division may assess a civil penalty only after the person charged with a violation has been given an opportunity for a public hearing.

D. After the public hearing is held, or the person has failed to participate in the public hearing, the division shall issue an order requiring that any penalty imposed be paid.

E. If the person fails to pay the civil penalty as ordered by the division, the division may file a civil suit to collect the penalty in the district court of the county in which the defendant resides or in which any defendant resides if there is more than one defendant or in the district court of any county in which the violation occurred.

History: Laws 2016, ch. 71, § 8 and Laws 2016, ch. 78, § 8.

Effective dates. — Laws 2016, ch. 71, § 15 and Laws 2016, ch. 78, § 15 made the Geothermal Resources Development Act, §§ 71-9-1 to 71-9-11 NMSA 1978, effective July 1, 2016.

Compiler's notes. — Laws 2016, ch. 71, § 8 and Laws 2016, ch. 78, § 8, both effective July 1, 2016, enacted identical new sections. The section was set out as enacted by Laws 2016, ch. 78, § 8. See 12-1-8 NMSA 1978.