§704. Administration and enforcement

A. Except as otherwise provided in this Part, the provisions of R.S. 30:6, 30:8, 30:13, 30:15 and 30:21 shall apply to the administration and enforcement of this Part.

B. The assistant secretary may employ such officers, agents, employees, and professional personnel, including legal counsel, as he deems necessary for the performance of his powers and duties and prescribe the powers and duties and fix the compensation of such officers, employees, and professional personnel.

C. The legal counsel employed or retained by the assistant secretary, when authorized by the assistant secretary, shall be entitled to represent the state and the assistant secretary and to appear in the courts and before agencies of this state, the United States, and other states in order to carry out the purposes of this Part.

D. Whenever it appears to the assistant secretary that any person has engaged, is engaged, or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of this Part or of any regulation, rule, or order issued hereunder, the assistant secretary may bring an action in the court having jurisdiction, to enjoin such acts or practices and to enforce compliance with this Part or any rule, regulation, or order issued thereunder. Upon a proper showing a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction shall be granted without bond. The relief sought may include a mandatory injunction commanding any person to comply with this Part or any such regulation, rule, or order issued hereunder, and to make restitution of money received in violation of any such regulation, rule, or order. The assistant secretary may transmit such evidence as may be available concerning such acts or practice or concerning apparent violations to the district attorney having jurisdiction over same who, in his discretion, may institute appropriate criminal proceedings.

E. Upon application by any person engaged in the transportation of hazardous liquids or the operation of intrastate pipeline facilities, the assistant secretary shall, by order, after notice and opportunity for hearing and under such terms and conditions and to such extent as the assistant secretary may deem reasonable and proper, waive in whole or in part compliance with any standard established under this Part, if he determines that compliance with such standard works a substantial hardship on an owner or operator of pipeline facilities or is not in the public interest and a waiver of compliance with such standard is not inconsistent with pipeline safety, provided that such waiver shall not be effective until the requirements of 49 U.S.C.A. Section 2001 et seq. relative to such a waiver have first been satisfied.

Acts 1987, No. 794, §1.