A. Whenever the department finds that any person is in violation of any permit, regulation, standard, or requirement under this Chapter, the department may issue an order requiring such person to comply with such permit, regulation, standard, or requirement, or the department may request that the Attorney General bring civil action for injunctive relief in the appropriate court; or, the department may request that the Attorney General bring civil enforcement action under subsection B of this section. Violation of any court order issued pursuant to this section shall be deemed contempt of the issuing court and punishable therefor as provided by law. The department may also invoke civil penalties as provided in this section for violations of the provisions of this chapter, including any order, permit, regulation or standard. Any person against whom a civil penalty is invoked by the department may appeal the decision of the department to the Court of Common Pleas in Richland County.

B. Any person who violates any provision of Section 44-56-130 shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars per day of violation.

C. Any person who willfully violates any provision of Section 44-56-130 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than twenty-five thousand dollars per day of violation or imprisoned for not more than one year or both, if the conviction is for a second or subsequent offense; the punishment shall be by a fine not to exceed fifty thousand dollars per day of violation, or imprisonment not to exceed two years, or both.

D. Each day of noncompliance with any order issued pursuant to this chapter, or noncompliance with any permit, regulation, standard or requirement pursuant to Section 44-56-130 shall constitute a separate offense.

E. The violations referred to in this section shall be reported by the department to the governing body of the county or municipality concerned within twenty-four hours.

HISTORY: 1978 Act No. 436 Section 12; 1981 Act No. 96, Section 2.