A. In addition to any other remedy provided for by law, the Department may issue a written order to any person whom the Department has reason to believe has violated, or is presently in violation of, the Oklahoma Clean Air Act or any rule promulgated by the Board, any order of the Department or Council, or any condition of any permit issued by the Department pursuant to the Oklahoma Clean Air Act, and to whom the Department has served, no less than fifteen (15) days previously, a written notice of violation. The Department shall by conference, conciliation and persuasion provide the person a reasonable opportunity to eliminate such violations, but may, however, reduce the fifteen-day notice period as in the opinion of the Department may be necessary to render the order reasonably effectual.
B. Such order may require compliance immediately or within a specified time period or both. The order, notwithstanding any restriction contained in subsection A of this section, may also assess an administrative penalty for past violations occurring no more than five (5) years prior to the date the order is filed with the Department, and for each day or part of a day that such person fails to comply with the order.
C. Any order issued pursuant to this section shall state with specificity the nature of the violation or violations, and may impose such requirements, procedures or conditions as may be necessary to correct the violations. The Department may also order any environmental contamination having the potential to adversely affect the public health, when caused by the violations, to be corrected by the person or persons responsible.
D. Any penalty assessed in the order shall not exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) per day for each violation. In assessing such penalties, the Department shall consider the seriousness of the violation or violations, any good faith efforts to comply, and other factors determined by rule to be relevant. A final order following an enforcement hearing may assess an administrative penalty of an amount based upon consideration of the evidence but not exceeding the amount stated in the written order.
E. Any order issued pursuant to this section shall become a final order, unless no later than fifteen (15) days after the order is served the person or persons named therein request in writing an enforcement hearing. Said order shall contain language to that effect. Upon such request, the Department shall promptly schedule the enforcement hearing before an Administrative Law Judge for the Department and notify the respondent.
F. At all proceedings with respect to any alleged violation of the Oklahoma Clean Air Act, or any rule promulgated thereunder, the burden of proof shall be upon the Department.
G. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Department to enter into an agreed settlement or consent order with any respondent.
Added by Laws 1992, c. 215, § 10, emerg. eff. May 15, 1992. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 47, eff. July 1, 1993. Renumbered from § 1-1811 of Title 63 by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 324, § 13, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 1999, c. 131, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2001, c. 109, § 1, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.