Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 15 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (§§ 15-1-101 — 15-76-324) › Subtitle 5 - MINERAL RESOURCES GENERALLY (§§ 15-55-201 — 15-60-115) › Chapter 58 - THE ARKANSAS SURFACE COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION ACT (§§ 15-58-101 — 15-58-510) › Subchapter 3 - VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES (§§ 15-58-301 — 15-58-309) › Section 15-58-301 - Violations not causing imminent danger or harm - Cessation order

(a)
If the Director of the Division of Environmental Quality or his or her authorized representative determines on the basis of an inspection or other available information that a permittee is in violation of a requirement of this chapter or of the rules issued pursuant to this chapter or a permit condition required by this chapter or the rules issued pursuant to this chapter but the violation does not create an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public or is not causing or reasonably expected to cause significant imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources, the director or his or her authorized representative shall issue a notice of violation to the permittee or his or her agent fixing a reasonable time, but not more than ninety (90) days, for the abatement of the violation in accordance with the procedures set out in rules issued by the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission pursuant to this chapter.
(b)
If, on expiration of the period of time as originally set in the notice of violation for abatement of the violation, or as subsequently extended, for good cause shown, and on written findings of the director or his or her authorized representative, the director or his or her authorized agent finds that the violation has not been abated, he or she shall immediately issue a cessation order for surface mining operations in accordance with the procedures set out in rules issued by the commission pursuant to this chapter on that portion of the area relevant to the violation.
(c)
The cessation order shall remain in effect until the director or his or her authorized agent determines that the violation has been abated or until modified, vacated, or terminated by the director or his or her authorized agent. The cessation order shall expire within thirty (30) days of actual notice to the operator unless an informal hearing is held in accordance with rules issued by the commission at the site or within such reasonable proximity to the site that any viewings of the site can be conducted during the course of the public hearing.
(d)
The operator or any person adversely affected by the issuance of a cessation order or a modification, vacation, or termination of the order may, within thirty (30) days after the director or his or her authorized agent issues his or her decision pursuant to the informal hearing at the mine site, request an adjudicatory public hearing pursuant to §§
15-58-209
-
15-58-211
.
(e)
The cessation order issued by the director or his or her authorized agent under this section shall designate the steps necessary to abate the violation in the most expeditious manner possible and shall include the necessary abatement measures.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 1195, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 3148, eff. 7/1/2019.
Acts 1979, No. 134, § 22; 1979, No. 647, § 6; A.S.A. 1947, § 52-956; Acts 1999, No. 1164, § 147.