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Civil penalties and remedies - 3 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 514Legal Research Home > Pennsylvania Statutes Sponsored Links
§ 514. Civil penalties and remedies.
(a) Civil penalty.--In addition to proceeding under any
other remedy available at law or in equity for a violation of a
provision of this chapter or a rule or regulation adopted, order
issued or odor management plan or nutrient management plan
approved under this chapter, the commission may assess a civil
penalty of not more than $500 for the first day of each offense
and $100 for each additional day of continuing violation. The
factors for consideration in determining the amount of the
penalty are:
(1) The gravity of the violation.
(2) The potential harm to the public.
(3) The potential effect on the environment.
(4) The willfulness of the violation.
(5) Previous violations.
(6) The economic benefit to the violator for failing to
comply with this chapter.
Whenever the commission finds that a violation did not cause
harm to human health or an adverse effect on the environment,
the commission may issue a warning in lieu of assessing a
penalty where the owner or operator, upon notice, takes
immediate action to resolve the violation and come into
compliance. If the commission finds the nutrient pollution or
the danger of nutrient pollution or the negative impacts from
odor associated with new or expanded facilities results from
conditions, activities or practices which are being or have been
implemented in accordance with a nutrient management plan or
odor management plan developed and approved pursuant to and
consistent with this chapter and the regulations developed under
this chapter and which is being or has been fully implemented
and maintained, the owner or operator of the agricultural
operation shall be exempt from the imposition of penalties under
this chapter.
(b) Collection.--In cases of inability to collect the civil
penalty or failure of any person to pay all or a portion of the
penalty, the commission may refer the matter to the Office of
General Counsel or the Office of Attorney General which shall
institute an action in the appropriate court to recover the
penalty. Any penalty assessed shall act as a lien on the
property of the person against whom the penalty has been
assessed.
(c) Civil remedies.--In addition to any other remedies
provided for in this chapter, any violation of this chapter, the
rules and regulations promulgated under this chapter or any
order or nutrient management plan or odor management plan
approved under this chapter shall be abatable in the manner
provided by law or equity for the abatement of public nuisances.
In addition, in order to restrain or prevent any violation of
this chapter or the rules and regulations promulgated under this
chapter or any order or nutrient management plan or odor
management plan approved under this chapter, suits may be
instituted in equity or at law in the name of the Commonwealth
upon relation of the Attorney General, the General Counsel, the
district attorney of any county, the solicitor of any
municipality affected or the solicitor of any conservation
district, provided that the General Counsel, district attorney
or solicitor shall first serve notice upon the Attorney General
of the intention to so proceed. These proceedings may be
prosecuted in the Commonwealth Court or in the court of common
pleas of the county where the activity has taken place, the
condition exists or the public is affected, and, to that end,
jurisdiction is hereby conferred in law and equity upon these
courts. Except in cases of emergency where, in the opinion of
the court, the exigencies of the case require immediate
abatement of the nuisance, the court may in its decree fix a
reasonable time during which the person responsible for the
nuisance may make provision for the abatement of same.
(d) Equitable relief.--In cases where the circumstances
require it or the public health is endangered, a mandatory
preliminary injunction, special injunction or temporary
restraining order may be issued upon the terms prescribed by the
court, provided that notice of the application has been given to
the defendant in accordance with the rules of equity practice.
In any such proceeding the Attorney General, the General
Counsel, the district attorney or the solicitor of any
municipality or conservation district shall not be required to
give bond. In any such proceeding, the court shall issue a
prohibitory or mandatory preliminary injunction if it finds that
the defendant is engaging in unlawful conduct as defined by this
chapter or is engaged in conduct which is causing immediate and
irreparable harm to the public. In addition to an injunction,
the court in such equity proceeding may assess civil penalties
in accordance with this section.
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Last modified: November 27, 2007 |