§ 90.58.560. Oil or natural gas exploration -- Violations of RCW 90.58.550 -- Penalty -- Appeal
(1) Except as provided in RCW 43.05.060 through 43.05.080 and 43.05.150, a person who violates RCW 90.58.550, or any rule adopted thereunder, is subject to a penalty in an amount of up to five thousand dollars a day for every such violation. Each and every such violation shall be a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation, every day's continuance shall be and be deemed to be a separate and distinct violation. Every act of commission or omission which procures, aids or abets in the violation shall be considered a violation under the provisions of this section and subject to the penalty provided for in this section.
(2) The penalty shall be imposed by a notice in writing, either by certified mail with return receipt requested or by personal service, to the person incurring the penalty from the director or the director's representative describing such violation with reasonable particularity. The director or the director's representative may, upon written application therefor received within fifteen days after notice imposing any penalty is received by the person incurring the penalty, and when deemed to carry out the purposes of this chapter, remit or mitigate any penalty provided for in this section upon such terms as he or she deems proper, and shall have authority to ascertain the facts upon all such applications in such manner and under such regulations as he or she may deem proper.
(3) Any person incurring any penalty under this section may appeal the penalty to the hearings board as provided for in chapter 43.21B RCW. Such appeals shall be filed within thirty days of receipt of notice imposing any penalty unless an application for remission or mitigation is made to the department. When an application for remission or mitigation is made, such appeals shall be filed within thirty days of receipt of notice from the director or the director's representative setting forth the disposition of the application. Any penalty imposed under this section shall become due and payable thirty days after receipt of a notice imposing the same unless application for remission or mitigation is made or an appeal is filed. When an application for remission or mitigation is made, any penalty incurred hereunder shall become due and payable thirty days after receipt of notice setting forth the disposition of the application unless an appeal is filed from such disposition. Whenever an appeal of any penalty incurred under this section is filed, the penalty shall become due and payable only upon completion of all review proceedings and the issuance of a final order confirming the penalty in whole or in part.
(4) If the amount of any penalty is not paid to the department within thirty days after it becomes due and payable, the attorney general, upon the request of the director, shall bring an action in the name of the state of Washington in the superior court of Thurston county or of any county in which such violator may do business, to recover such penalty. In all such actions the procedure and rules of evidence shall be the same as an ordinary civil action except as otherwise in this chapter provided. All penalties recovered under this section shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the general fund.
[1995 c 403 § 638; 1983 c 138 § 2.]
Notes:
Findings -- Short title -- Intent -- 1995 c 403: See note following RCW 34.05.328.
Part headings not law -- Severability -- 1995 c 403: See RCW 43.05.903 and 43.05.904.
Sections: Previous 90.58.350 90.58.355 90.58.360 90.58.370 90.58.380 90.58.390 90.58.515 90.58.550 90.58.560 90.58.570 90.58.600 90.58.900 90.58.910 90.58.911 90.58.920 Next
Last modified: April 7, 2009