(1) Whenever the board or the office has reason to believe that a violation of an order, permit, notice of intent, or regulation issued under this article has occurred, written notice of the alleged violation shall be given to the operator or person conducting the exploration. Such notice shall be served personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested, upon the alleged violator or the alleged violator's agent for service of process. The notice shall state the provision alleged to have been violated and the facts alleged to constitute such violation and may include the nature of any corrective action proposed to be required.
If the board determines that any provision of this article or any notice, permit, orregulation issued or promulgated pursuant to this article has been violated, it may issue a ceaseand-desist order. Such order shall set forth the provisions alleged to be violated, the facts alleged to constitute the violation, and the time by which the acts or practices complained of must be terminated. Such order may include the nature of any corrective action proposed to be required and shall be served personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested, upon the alleged violator or the violator's agent for service of process.
If an operator fails to comply with a cease-and-desist order issued by the board, theboard or the office may request the attorney general to bring suit for a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, or a permanent injunction to prevent any further or continued violation of such order. Suits under this section shall be brought in the district court where the alleged violation occurs. If the board or the office determines that the situation is an emergency, the emergency shall be given precedence over all other matters pending in such court.
The board or the office may require the alleged violator to appear before the board nosooner than thirty days after the issuance of such cease-and-desist order; except that an earlier date for hearing may be requested by the alleged violator.
If a hearing is held pursuant to this section, it shall be open to the public and conducted in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S. The board shall permit all parties to respond to the notice served, present evidence and arguments on all issues, and conduct the cross-examination necessary for a full disclosure of the facts.
(a) Upon a determination, after a hearing, that a violation of a permit provision has occurred, the board may suspend, modify, or revoke such permit.
(b) If the board suspends or revokes the permit of an operator, such operator may continue mining operations only for the purpose of bringing such operations into satisfactory compliance with the provisions of such operator's permit. Once such operations are completed to the satisfaction of the board, the board shall reinstate such permit.
(7) A person who violates any provision of a permit issued under this article shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars per day nor more than one thousand dollars per day for each day during which such violation occurs.
Source: L. 95: Entire article added, p. 1186, § 1, effective July 1.