(a) Any person who violates or fails to comply with any provision of this part, any order issued in accordance with this part, or any rule, regulation, or standard adopted pursuant to this part, or who fails to pay a lawfully levied fee, is subject to a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) per day for each violation. Each day the violation continues constitutes a separate violation, and the person is also liable for any damages to the state resulting therefrom.

(b) Any civil penalty or damages shall be assessed in the following manner:

(1) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee may issue an assessment against any person responsible for the violation or damages. This person shall receive notice of the assessment by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any other method authorized by law;

(2) Any person against whom an assessment has been issued may request a hearing before the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, for a review of the assessment;

(3) If a petition for review of assessment is not filed within thirty (30) days after the date the assessment is served, the violator is deemed to have consented to the assessment, and it becomes final;

(4) Whenever an assessment has become final because of a person's failure to appeal the assessment, the commissioner may apply to the appropriate court for a judgment and seek execution on the judgment. The court, in the proceeding, shall treat the failure to appeal the assessment as a confession of judgment in the amount of the assessment; and

(5) The commissioner may institute a proceeding for assessment in the chancery court of Davidson County or in the chancery court of the county in which all or part of the violation or failure to comply occurred.

(c) In assessing a civil penalty, the following factors may be considered:

(1) The harm or potential harm done to the public or the environment;

(2) The economic benefit gained by the violators;

(3) The amount of effort put forth by the violator to attain compliance;

(4) Any unusual or extraordinary enforcement cost incurred by the state; and

(5) The need for an economic deterrent from future violations.

(d) Damages to the state may include any reasonable expenses incurred in investigating and enforcing violations of this part, and in restoring the air, water, land and other property, including animal, plant and aquatic life, of the state to their former condition.