(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, any mining operator violating any provision of this part or any of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this part, or who negligently or intentionally fails or refuses to comply with any final order of the director of the division, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000.00 for such violation and an additional civil penalty not to exceed $500.00 for each day during which such violation continues.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, whenever the director of the division has reason to believe that any mining operator has violated any provision of this part or any of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this part, or has negligently or intentionally failed or refused to comply with any final order of the director, the director may request and shall receive a hearing before a hearing officer appointed by the Board of Natural Resources. Upon a finding that such mining operator has violated any provision of this part or any of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this part, or has negligently or intentionally failed or refused to comply with a final order of the director, the hearing officer shall issue his initial decision imposing such civil penalties as are provided in this Code section. Such hearing and any judicial review thereof shall be conducted in accordance with subsection (c) of Code Section 12-2-2. All civil penalties recovered by the director shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the general fund; provided, however, that where civil penalties are recovered by the director from a mining operator for his failing or refusing to obtain a permit in accordance with Code Section 12-4-75 or for his failing or refusing to complete any of his responsibilities under a mining land use plan after having been issued a permit, the director may expend as he deems appropriate that portion of such recovered civil penalties as is necessary to provide for reclamation, reconditioning, or rehabilitation of the affected land not otherwise reclaimed, reconditioned, or rehabilitated by such mining operator.
(c) This Code section shall not apply to a mining operator who has a valid permit and who is bonded in accordance with this part.
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