82-4-361. Violation -- penalties -- waiver. (1) (a) The department may assess an administrative civil penalty of not less than $100 or more than $1,000 for each of the following violations and an additional administrative civil penalty of not less than $100 or more than $1,000 for each day during which the violation continues and may bring an action for an injunction from continuing the violation against:
     (i) a person or operator who violates a provision of this part, a rule or order adopted under this part, or a term or condition of a permit; or
     (ii) any director, officer, or agent of a corporation who willfully authorizes, orders, or carries out a violation of a provision of this part, a rule or order adopted under this part, or a term or condition of a permit.
     (b) If the violation created an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public or caused significant environmental harm, the maximum penalty is $5,000 for each day of violation.
     (2) The department shall take into account the following factors in determining whether to institute a civil penalty action and in determining the penalty amount:
     (a) the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation;
     (b) the violator's prior history of violations;
     (c) the economic benefit or savings, if any, to the violator resulting from the violator's action;
     (d) the amounts voluntarily expended by the violator to address or mitigate the violation or impacts of the violation; and
     (e) other matters that justice may require.
     (3) The department may bring an action for a restraining order or a temporary or permanent injunction against an operator or other person violating or threatening to violate an order adopted under this part.
     (4) The department shall notify the person or operator of the violation. The department shall issue a statement of proposed penalty within 30 days after notice of the violation. The person or operator, by filing a written request within 20 days of receipt of the notice of proposed penalty, is entitled to a hearing on the issues of whether the alleged violation has occurred and whether the penalty proposed to be assessed is proper. After the hearing or after the time for requesting a hearing has expired, the department shall make findings of fact and issue a written decision as to the occurrence of the violation and whether the amount of penalty is warranted. The department shall order the payment of a penalty in that amount. The person or operator shall remit the amount of the penalty or petition for judicial review within 30 days of receipt of the order. A person or operator who fails to request the hearing provided for in this subsection or who fails to petition for judicial review within 30 days of receipt of the order forfeits that person's or operator's right to seek judicial review of the violation or penalty determinations. These penalties are recoverable in an action brought by the department.
     (5) Legal actions for injunctive relief under this section must be brought in the district court of the county in which the alleged violation occurred or, if mutually agreed to by the parties to the action, in any other judicial district. Legal actions for review of penalty orders or for recovery of penalties must be brought in the district court in the first judicial district, Lewis and Clark County.

     History: En. Sec. 22, Ch. 252, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 281, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 50-1222; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 284, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 386, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 93, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 283, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 204, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 271, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 273, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 535, L. 1997.