22-110. AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF DIRECTOR CONCERNING AGRICULTURAL WASTE. (1) In addition to other powers and duties, the director of the state department of agriculture shall have authority to regulate agricultural solid waste, agricultural composting and other similar agricultural activities to safeguard and protect animals, man and the environment. The director may promulgate rules in compliance with chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code, that may be necessary for the efficient enforcement of the provisions of this section. The director may collaborate with any state agency, federal agency or other governmental entity in the development of rules promulgated pursuant to this section.

(2) The director may, by rule, establish a schedule of fees for services performed by the department in the administration of this section and rules promulgated pursuant thereto. Receipts of these fees shall be deposited in the agricultural inspection fund pursuant to section 22-104, Idaho Code, and shall be used, subject to annual appropriation of the legislature, to pay the cost of administering the provisions of this section and rules promulgated pursuant thereto.

(3) Any person violating the provisions of this section or rules promulgated pursuant thereto may be assessed a civil penalty by the department or its duly authorized agent of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) for each offense and shall be liable for reasonable attorney’s fees. Assessment of a civil penalty may be made in conjunction with any other department administrative action. No civil penalty may be assessed unless the person charged has been given notice and opportunity for a hearing pursuant to the Idaho administrative procedure act, chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code. If the department is unable to collect such civil penalty or if any person fails to pay all or a set portion of the civil penalty as determined by the department, it may recover such amount by action in the appropriate district court. Any person against whom the department has assessed a civil penalty under this section may, within twenty-eight (28) days of the final agency action making the assessment, seek judicial review of the assessment in accordance with the provisions of chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code. Moneys collected for violations of this section or rules promulgated thereunder shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the agricultural inspection fund. When the director identifies items of noncompliance with the rules promulgated pursuant to this section, appropriate corrective actions will be identified. The director may develop a formal compliance schedule as appropriate to correct deficiencies. The director may, through the formal compliance schedule, allow all or part of the value of assessed civil penalties to be applied toward correction of deficiencies.

History:

[22-110, added 1998, ch. 417, sec. 1, p. 1315.]