§ 4187.6. Investigations.
(a) General rule.--The department may conduct investigations to determine compliance with this subchapter. Investigations shall be conducted in accordance with sections 4116 (relating to investigations) and 4120 (relating to police powers; right of entry and stoppage). Inspections may be performed during normal business hours and may include the collection and removal of samples for laboratory testing if the quality or reliability of the automotive fuel is questioned.
(b) Entry upon premises.--
(1) The department may enter the premises and access records of any establishment where automotive fuel is stored, held, produced, distributed, offered or exposed for sale or sold in this Commonwealth to:
(i) Inspect the automotive fuel in storage tanks and take samples from the tanks and the dispensing system connected to the storage tanks. The retailer or distributor may request a second sample to be taken by the inspector at the same time the initial sample is drawn. All costs of the second sample shall be paid by the retailer or distributor, as the case may be, making the request. If the request for a second sample is made by the retailer in accordance with procedures established through an agreement with the distributor, producer or refiner, all costs of drawing, handling and shipping the sample shall be borne by the distributor, producer or refiner who supplied the automotive fuel to the retailer. If the request for a second sample is made by the distributor in accordance with procedures established through an agreement with the producer or refiner, all costs of drawing, handling and shipping the sample shall be borne by the producer or refiner who supplied the automotive fuel to the distributor.
(ii) Inspect automotive fuel dispensing systems and related equipment, oxygenate labels, reformulated labels and octane labels.
(iii) Make copies of automotive fuel shipping, receiving and invoice documents and records to determine compliance with sections 4187.4 (relating to standards for automotive fuel) and 4187.5 (relating to automotive fuel rating, disclosure and labeling requirements).
(2) The department shall limit inspections, compliance reviews and copying under this subsection to information and data relating to product quantity, quality, oxygen content, octane, source and other information as may be reasonably requested.
(c) Remedies.--If the department determines that an automotive fuel sample does not conform with the standards set forth in section 4187.4 or that a label displayed on a dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device does not conform with the requirements of section 4187.5, the department may initiate any or all of the following actions to prohibit sale of the nonconforming automotive fuel or to prohibit the use of the nonconforming dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device:
(1) Reject and mark as rejected the dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device from which the sample was obtained or on which the nonconforming label is attached.
(2) Seal and mark as sealed the storage tanks from which the sample was drawn or the nonconforming label attached.
(3) Initiate criminal proceedings under section 4187.7(d) (relating to violations and penalties).
(4) Issue a citation.
(5) Issue a stop-sale notice under subsection (d).
(6) Advise the retailer or distributor that the automotive fuel must be blended with another automotive fuel to bring it into compliance, provided that the product does not endanger public health or safety or adversely affect the emissions characteristics of the motor vehicles in which it is used.
(7) Issue a written warning directing the retailer or distributor to correct the nonconforming label.
(d) Stop-sale notice.--
(1) The department may immediately seize and seal, in order to prevent further sales, any dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device from which automotive fuel is sold or offered or exposed for sale in violation of the provisions of this subchapter and to issue a stop-sale notice to the retailer or distributor if the department has reason to believe the retailer or distributor willfully or intentionally violated this subchapter or the regulations promulgated in accordance with this subchapter.
(2) No automotive fuel subject to a stop-sale notice may be sold, exposed, offered for sale or transported unless the retailer or distributor has received approval from the department.
(3) No automotive fuel which has been seized and sealed by the department for violation of section 4187.4 or 4187.5 may be offered or exposed for sale until the department has been fully satisfied that the automotive fuel has been blended, refined or properly labeled to meet the requirements of this subchapter and the retailer or distributor has been notified of the department's decision to permit the sale or relabeling of the fuel.
(e) Posting of stop-sale notice.--The department shall post, in a conspicuous place on the premises where a dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device has been sealed, a notice stating that sealing has taken place and warning that it shall be unlawful to break, mutilate or destroy the seal or to remove the contents of the dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device without the approval of the department.
(f) Notice required to remove seal.--
(1) A retailer, distributor or producer who owns an automotive fuel dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device which has been sealed by the department shall obtain the approval of the department before the fuel is removed or a proper label attached.
(2) A written notice of any corrective action taken shall be submitted to the department within three working days.
(3) The department may reinspect the automotive fuel dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device to determine compliance. The retailer, distributor, producer or refiner that owns the system or device which has been sealed shall provide documentation of the corrective action taken, including any applicable shipping papers or bills of lading showing the disposal or final disposition of the automotive fuel and any other information necessary to permit the department to audit and confirm that the corrective action was as previously approved by the department.
(4) No retailer, distributor, producer or refiner may remove a seal, except when given specific approval by the department.
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