If the Department determines that any permittee is in violation of any requirement of this act or any permit condition required by this act, but such violation does not create an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public, or cannot be reasonably expected to cause significant, imminent environmental harm to land, air or water resources, the Department shall issue a notice to the permittee or his agent fixing a reasonable time not to exceed ninety (90) days for the abatement of the violation and providing opportunity for public hearing.
If, upon expiration of the period of time as originally fixed or subsequently extended, for good cause shown and upon the written finding of the Department, the Department finds that the violation has not been abated, it shall immediately order a cessation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations or the portion thereof relevant to the violation. Such cessation order shall remain in effect until the Department determines that the violation has been abated, or until modified, vacated or terminated by the Department. In the order of cessation issued by the Department under this section, the Department shall determine the steps necessary to abate the violation in the most expeditious manner possible, and shall include the necessary measures to abate in the order.
Laws 1979, c. 249, § 44, emerg. eff. June 1, 1979.