2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 27A. Environment and Natural Resources › §27A-2-3-502. Notice of Code violation - Administrative remedies, compliance - Penalties, corrective action.

A. If upon inspection or investigation, or whenever the Department determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that any person is in violation of this Code or any rule promulgated thereunder or of any order, permit or license issued pursuant thereto, the Department may give written notice to the alleged violator of the specific violation and of the alleged violator's duty to correct such violation immediately or within a set time period or both and that the failure to do so will result in the issuance of a compliance order.
B. In addition to any other remedies provided by law, the Department may, after service of the notice of violation, issue a proposed compliance order to such person. A proposed compliance order shall become a final order unless, no later than fifteen (15) days after the order is served, any respondent named therein requests an administrative enforcement hearing.
1. The proposed compliance order may, pursuant to subsection K of this section:
a.
assess an administrative penalty for past violations of this Code, rules promulgated thereunder, or the terms and conditions of permits or licenses issued pursuant thereto, and
b.
propose the assessment of an administrative penalty for each day the respondent fails to comply with the compliance order.
2. Such proposed order may specify compliance requirements and schedules, or mandate corrective action, or both.
C. Failure to comply with a final compliance order, in part or in whole, may result in the issuance of an assessment order assessing an administrative penalty as authorized by law, or a supplementary order imposing additional requirements, or both. Any proposed order issued pursuant to this subsection shall become final unless, no later than seven (7) days after its service, any respondent named therein requests an administrative enforcement hearing.
D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A and B of this section, the Executive Director, after notice and opportunity for an administrative hearing, may revoke, modify or suspend the holder's permit or license in part or in whole for cause, including but not limited to the holder's:
1. Flagrant or consistent violations of this Code, of rules promulgated thereunder or of final orders, permits or licenses issued pursuant thereto;
2. Reckless disregard for the protection of the public and the environment as demonstrated by noncompliance with environmental laws and rules resulting in endangerment of human health or the environment; or
3. Actions causing, continuing, or contributing to the release or threatened release of pollutants or contaminants to the environment.
E. Whenever the Department finds that an emergency exists requiring immediate action to protect the public health or welfare or the environment, the Executive Director may without notice or hearing issue an order, effective upon issuance, reciting the existence of such an emergency and requiring that such action be taken as deemed necessary to meet the emergency. Any person to whom such an order is directed shall comply therewith immediately but may request an administrative enforcement hearing thereon within fifteen (15) days after the order is served. Such hearing shall be held by the Department within ten (10) days after receipt of the request. On the basis of the hearing record, the Executive Director shall sustain or modify such order.
F. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, any notice of violation, order, or other instrument issued by or pursuant to authority of the Department may be served on any person affected thereby personally, by publication, or by mailing a copy of the notice, order, or other instrument by certified mail return-receipt requested directed to such person at his last-known post office address as shown by the files or records of the Department. Proof of service shall be made as in the case of service of a summons or by publication in a civil action. Such proof of service shall be filed in the Office of Administrative Hearings.
G. Every certificate or affidavit of service made and filed shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated. A certified copy thereof shall have like force and effect.
H. 1. The administrative hearings provided for in this section shall be conducted as individual proceedings in accordance with, and a record thereof maintained pursuant to, Article II of the Administrative Procedures Act, this Code and rules promulgated thereunder. When a hearing is timely requested by a respondent pursuant to this section, the Department shall promptly conduct such hearing.
2. Such hearing shall be conducted by an Administrative Law Judge or by the Executive Director. When an Administrative Law Judge holds the hearing, such Judge shall prepare a proposed order and shall:
a.
serve it on the parties, by regular mail, and may offer an opportunity for parties to file exceptions to the proposed order before a final order is entered in the event the Executive Director does not review the record, and
b.
present the proposed order, the exceptions, if any, and the record of the matter to the Executive Director, or
c.
present the proposed order and the record of the matter to the Executive Director for review and entry of a final order for any default, failure to appear at the hearing or if the parties by written stipulation waive compliance with subparagraph a of this paragraph.
3. For administrative proceedings conducted by an Administrative Law Judge pursuant to this section, the Executive Director may adopt, amend or reject any findings or conclusions of the Administrative Law Judge or exceptions of any party and issue a final order accordingly, or may in his discretion remand the proceeding for additional argument or the introduction of additional evidence at a hearing held for the purpose. A final order shall not be issued by the Executive Director until after:
a.
the opportunity for exceptions has lapsed without receiving exceptions, or after exceptions, briefs and oral arguments, if any, are made, or
b.
review of the record by the Executive Director.
4. Any order issued by the Department shall become final upon service.
I. Any party aggrieved by a final order may petition the Department for rehearing, reopening or reconsideration within ten (10) days from the date of the entry of the final order. Any party aggrieved by a final order, including the Attorney General on behalf of the state, may, pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, petition for a judicial review thereof.
J. If the Attorney General seeks redress on behalf of the state, as provided for in subsection I of this section, the Executive Director is empowered to appoint a special counsel for such proceedings.
K. 1. Unless specified otherwise in this Code, any penalty assessed or proposed in an order shall not exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) per day of noncompliance.
2. The determination of the amount of an administrative penalty shall include, but not be limited to, the consideration of such factors as the nature, circumstances and gravity of the violation or violations, the economic benefit, if any, resulting to the respondent from the violation, the history of such violations and respondent's degree of culpability and good faith compliance efforts. For purposes of this section, each day, or part of a day, upon which such violation occurs shall constitute a separate violation.
L. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections A and B of this section, the Department may, within three (3) years of discovery, apply for the assessment of an administrative penalty for any violation of this Code, or rules promulgated thereunder or permits or licenses issued pursuant thereto.
M. Any order issued pursuant to this section may require that corrective action be taken. If corrective action must be taken on adjoining property, the owner of such adjoining property shall not give up any right to recover damages from the responsible party by allowing corrective action to occur.
N. Inspections, investigations, administrative enforcement hearings and other administrative actions or proceedings pursuant to the Code shall not be the basis for delaying judicial proceedings between private parties involving the same subject matter.
Added by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 26, eff. July 1, 1993. Amended by Laws 1994, c. 353, § 6, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 1999, c. 381, § 5, emerg. eff. June 8, 1999.