(A) The department may obtain a disclosure statement from the applicant at the same time that an application for a permit for operation of a solid waste management facility is filed, except that this section shall not apply if the applicant is a local government or a region comprised of local governments. The disclosure statement shall contain the following information with regard to the applicant and his responsible parties:

(1) the full name, business address, and social security number of all responsible parties;

(2) a description of the experience and credentials, including any past or present permits or licenses for the collection, transportation, treatment, storage, or disposal of solid waste, issued to or held by the applicant within the past five years;

(3) a listing and explanation of all convictions by final judgment of a responsible party in a state or federal court, whether under appeal or not, of a crime of moral turpitude punishable by a fine of five thousand dollars or more or imprisonment for one year or more, or both, within five years immediately preceding the date of the submission of the permit application;

(4) a listing and explanation of all convictions by final judgment of a responsible party in a state or federal court, whether under appeal or not, of a criminal or civil offense involving a violation of an environmental law punishable by a fine of five thousand dollars or more or imprisonment for one year or more, or both, in a state or federal court within five years of the date of submission of the permit application;

(5) a listing and explanation of the instances in which a disposal facility permit held by the applicant was revoked by final judgment in a state or federal court, whether under appeal or not, within five years of the date of submission of the permit application; and

(6) a listing and explanation of all adjudications of the applicant for having been in contempt of any valid court order enforcing any federal environmental law or any state environmental law relative to the activity for which the permit is being sought, within five years of the date of submission of the permit application.

(B) The burden of proof with regard to any application shall lie with the applicant. The department shall deny a permit if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that:

(1) the applicant is not financially and technically qualified to carry out the activity for which the permit is sought;

(2) the applicant has knowingly misrepresented or concealed any material fact in the permit application or disclosure statement, or in any other report or certification required under this article or under regulations promulgated pursuant to this article;

(3) the applicant has obtained or attempted to obtain the permit by misrepresentation or fraud; or

(4) the applicant has a documented and continuing history of criminal convictions or a documented history of violation of state or federal environmental laws such that the applicant's ability to operate within the law is questionable.

(C) In making a determination of whether a preponderance of the evidence exists under subsection (B), the department shall consider:

(1) the nature and details of the acts attributed to the applicant;

(2) the degree of culpability of the applicant;

(3) the applicant's policy or history of discipline, or both, of a responsible party convicted of acts described in subsection (A);

(4) whether the applicant has substantially complied with this state's statutes, rules, regulations, permits, and orders applicable to the applicant in this State relative to the activity for which the permit is sought;

(5) whether the applicant, if the applicant has no prior history within this State, has substantially complied with other jurisdictions' statutes, rules, regulations, permits, and orders applicable to the applicant relative to the activity for which the subject permit is sought;

(6) whether the applicant has in place and observes formal management controls to minimize and prevent the occurrence of violations or other unlawful activities relative to the activity for which the subject permit is sought;

(7) mitigation based upon any demonstration of good citizenship by the applicant including, without limitation, prompt payment of damages, cooperation with investigations, termination of employment or other relationship with responsible parties or other persons responsible for the activity described in subsection (A) or other demonstration of good citizenship by the applicant that the department finds acceptable; and

(8) whether the best interests of the public will be served by denial of the permit.

(D) The department may request specific information or a background investigation of an applicant by the State Law Enforcement Division or by the Attorney General. Such investigations shall be completed and the results provided to the department within ninety days of the department's request for the investigation.

(E) In making a determination under this section, the department shall comply with the notice and public hearing requirements for administrative proceedings pursuant to the South Carolina Administrative Procedures Act and with public notice requirements for permit decisions required pursuant to this chapter.

(F) The department shall provide for an adjudicatory hearing if an aggrieved party with standing appeals the granting, denial, or granting with conditions of a permit by making a written request to the department for an adjudicatory hearing within fifteen days of receiving the notification required by this section.

(G) If a responsible party of an applicant is a chartered lending institution or a publicly held corporation reporting under the Federal Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 or a wholly-owned subsidiary of a publicly held corporation reporting under the Federal Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, such responsible party shall not be required to submit a disclosure statement in accordance with the provisions of subitems (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of subsection (A) of this section, excluding subitem (A)(6), but shall submit to the department reports covering its structure and operations required by the chartering body or the Federal Securities and Exchange Commission. The department is authorized to require a responsible party to provide such additional information to the department as is reasonably necessary to make the determinations provided for in this section.

(H) Every applicant shall file a disclosure statement with the department together with the permit application or within sixty days of the adoption of the form and content of the disclosure statement by the department, whichever is later.

(I) Every holder of a permit issued pursuant to this article who has not earlier filed a disclosure statement shall, not later than one year after this article is effective, file a disclosure statement with the department.

(J) Not later than two years after this article is effective, every holder of a permit issued pursuant to this article shall update its disclosure statement not later than the end of January of each calendar year regarding any material changes in information in the permit holder's most recent disclosure statement on file with the department.

(K) If the department denies or revokes a permit based on this section or on Section 44-96-290(F), the applicant of the denied permit or the holder of the revoked permit may petition the department at any time for reconsideration of the denial or revocation. The department shall issue the denied permit or reinstate the revoked permit if the applicant of the denied permit or the holder of the revoked permit affirmatively demonstrates rehabilitation of the individual or business concern by a preponderance of the evidence. In determining whether subsequent issuance or reinstatement of a permit would be in the public interest, the department shall give consideration to any relevant factors including, but not limited to, the factors identified in subsection (C). The department may approve a conditional permit, not to exceed two years, to allow the applicant of the denied permit or the holder of the revoked permit a reasonable opportunity to continue to affirmatively demonstrate the applicant's rehabilitation.

HISTORY: 1991 Act No. 63, Section 1.