1. In addition to any other remedy or penalty, the Administrator may impose an administrative fine against any person who knowingly:

(a) Engages or offers to engage in any activity for which a permit or any type of authorization is required pursuant to this chapter, or any regulation adopted pursuant thereto, if the person does not hold the required permit or has not been given the required authorization; or

(b) Assists or offers to assist another person to commit a violation described in paragraph (a).

2. If the Administrator imposes an administrative fine against a person pursuant to this section, the amount of the administrative fine may not exceed the amount of any gain or economic benefit that the person derived from the violation or $5,000, whichever amount is greater.

3. In determining the appropriate amount of the administrative fine, the Administrator shall consider:

(a) The severity of the violation and the degree of any harm that the violation caused to other persons;

(b) The nature and amount of any gain or economic benefit that the person derived from the violation;

(c) The person’s history or record of other violations; and

(d) Any other facts or circumstances that the Administrator deems to be relevant.

4. Before the Administrator may impose the administrative fine, the Administrator must provide the person with notice and an opportunity to be heard.

5. The person is entitled to judicial review of the decision of the Administrator in the manner provided by chapter 233B of NRS.

6. The provisions of this section do not apply to a person who engages or offers to engage in activities within the purview of this chapter if:

(a) A specific statute exempts the person from complying with the provisions of this chapter with regard to those activities; and

(b) The person is acting in accordance with the exemption while engaging or offering to engage in those activities.

(Added to NRS by 2003, 1311)