Coordination of monitoring of lakes - Identification of eutrophic lakes - Discharge of wastewater into eutrophic lake - Penalties - Order of suspension and forfeiture.

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A. The Office of the Secretary of the Environment shall coordinate monitoring lakes in the State of Oklahoma and identify those lakes which it determines to be eutrophic as defined by Oklahoma's Water Quality Standards.

B. No person may discharge wastewaters from a point source within or outside of this state which will foreseeably enter a lake in this state which has been identified as eutrophic by the Oklahoma's Water Quality Standards without subjecting such wastewaters to the best available technology as identified in the federal Clean Water Act for nitrogen and phosphorous. The Office of the Secretary of the Environment shall coordinate the monitoring of all lakes it identifies as eutrophic and notify by certified mail any person who discharges wastewater which enters such lakes in violation of this section of the provisions of this section and shall order such person to immediately cease and desist from any further violation of this section.

C. Any person who violates the provisions of subsection B of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a penalty of not more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per day for each day on which a violation occurs. The Attorney General is authorized to prosecute violations of this section. Venue and jurisdiction shall be proper in a county which contains all or part of a eutrophic lake which is the subject of a discharge in violation of this section.

D. 1. In addition to the penalty provided in subsection C of this section if a person continues to violate subsection B of this section after having received notification from the Secretary of the Environment to cease and desist, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) per day.

2. If the owner of a facility which discharges wastewater in violation of this subsection is a corporation authorized to do business in this state, the court may enter an order directing the suspension of any authorization to do business in this state and of the charter or other instrument of organization, under which the corporation may be organized and the forfeiture of all corporate or other rights inuring thereunder. The order of suspension and forfeiture shall have the same effect on the rights, privileges and liabilities of the corporation and its officers and directors as a suspension and forfeiture ordered pursuant to Section 1212 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes for failure to pay franchise tax. Additionally, all officers and directors of a corporation found to be in violation of this subsection shall be personally liable for any fine imposed pursuant to this subsection.

Added by Laws 1998, c. 232, § 25, eff. July 1, 1998.


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