Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 17 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT; PROVISIONS COMMON TO COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES (§§ 17-1-1 — 17-29-9) › Chapter 17 - SOLID WASTES DISPOSAL (§§ 17-17-1 — 17-17-507) › DISPOSAL OF WASTE TIRES AND LEAD ACID BATTERIES; RIGHT-WAY-TO-THROW-AWAY PROGRAM (§§ 17-17-401 — 17-17-445) › Section 17-17-419 - Abatement of unauthorized waste tire dump or stockpile

(1)
If the commission is notified of and upon investigation confirms the presence of an unauthorized waste tire dump or stockpile it shall notify the person responsible for the unauthorized waste tire dump and request that the waste tires be processed or removed. If the person fails to take the requested action, the commission shall order the person to abate the unauthorized waste tire dump. If the person responsible for the unauthorized waste tire dump is not the owner of the property on which the unauthorized waste tire dump is located, the commission may order the property owner to permit abatement of the unauthorized waste tire dump. If the person responsible for the unauthorized waste tire dump fails to comply with the order, the commission shall take any action necessary to abate the unauthorized waste tire dump, including entering the property where the unauthorized waste tire dump is located and confiscating the waste tires or arranging to have the waste tires processed or removed.
(2)
When the commission abates any unauthorized waste tire dump pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the person responsible for the unauthorized waste tire dump shall be liable for the actual costs incurred by the commission including all administrative and legal expenses related to the abatement of the unauthorized waste tire dump. The commission may initiate a civil action to recover these costs from any persons responsible for the unauthorized waste tire dump. Nonpayment of the actual costs incurred by the commission may result in the imposition of a lien on the owner's real property on which the unauthorized waste tire dump is located if the owner has been identified by the commission as a responsible party.
(3)
The commission may elect to suspend any or all of the actions against the person responsible contingent upon such factors as the date of formation of the unauthorized waste tire dump, the size of the tire dump, and any other factors which may warrant suspension of actions. The commission may in such cases enter into an agreed consent order with the person responsible whereby the commission agrees to arrange for a contractor to process or remove the waste tires.
(4)
When the commission cannot determine a responsible person, the commission may enter into an agreed consent order with the landowner whereby the commission agrees to arrange for a contractor to process or remove the waste tires. If the landowner refuses to enter into an agreed consent order, the commission may hold the landowner responsible for continuing the existence of the unauthorized dump and the commission may exercise the authority granted in subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
(5)
It is the intent of the Legislature that in its enforcement of this section the commission shall consider the availability of facilities for the processing or disposal of waste tires within the geographic area of any unauthorized waste tire dump prior to the issuance of any order imposing a fine against the owner or person responsible for an unauthorized waste tire dump.
Laws, 1991, ch. 531, § 10; Laws, 1993, ch. 500, § 5, eff. 3/30/1993.