143B-289.53. Marine Fisheries Commission - quasi-judicial powers; procedures.

(a) With respect to those matters within its jurisdiction, the Marine Fisheries Commission shall exercise quasi-judicial powers in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. This section and any rules adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission shall govern the following proceedings:

(1) Exceptions to recommended decisions in contested cases shall be filed with the Secretary within 30 days of the receipt by the Secretary of the official record from the Office of Administrative Hearings, unless additional time is allowed by the Chair of the Commission.

(2) Oral arguments by the parties may be allowed by the Chair of the Commission upon request of the parties.

(3) Deliberations of the Commission shall be conducted in its public meeting unless the Commission determines that consultation with its counsel should be held in a closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11.

(b) The final agency decision in contested cases that arise from civil penalty assessments shall be made by the Commission. In the evaluation of each violation, the Commission shall recognize that harm to the marine and estuarine resources within its jurisdiction, as described in G.S. 113-132, arising from the violation of a statute or rule enacted or adopted to protect those resources may be immediately observed through damaged resources or may be incremental or cumulative with no damage that can be immediately observed or documented. Penalties up to the maximum authorized may be based on any one or combination of the following factors:

(1) The degree and extent of harm to the marine and estuarine resources within the jurisdiction of the Commission, as described in G.S. 113-132; to the public health; or to private property resulting from the violation.

(2) The frequency and gravity of the violation.

(3) The cost of rectifying the damage.

(4) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally.

(5) The prior record of the violator in complying or failing to comply with programs over which the Marine Fisheries Commission has regulatory authority.

(6) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures.

(c) The Chair shall appoint a Committee on Civil Penalty Remissions from the members of the Commission. No member of the Committee on Civil Penalty Remissions may hear or vote on any matter in which the member has an economic interest. The Committee on Civil Penalty Remissions shall make the final agency decision on remission requests. In determining whether a remission request will be approved, the Committee shall consider the recommendation of the Secretary and the following factors:

(1) Whether one or more of the civil penalty assessment factors in subsection (b) of this section were wrongly applied to the detriment of the petitioner.

(2) Whether the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the violation.

(3) Whether the violation was inadvertent.

(4) Whether the violator had been assessed civil penalties for any previous violations.

(5) Whether payment of the civil penalty will prevent payment for the remaining necessary remedial actions.

(d) The Committee on Civil Penalty Remissions may remit the entire amount of the penalty only when the violator has not been assessed civil penalties for previous violations and when payment of the civil penalty will prevent payment for the remaining necessary remedial actions.

(e) If any civil penalty has not been paid within 30 days after the final agency decision or court order has been served on the violator, the Secretary of Environmental Quality shall request the Attorney General to institute a civil action in the superior court of any county in which the violator resides or has his or its principal place of business to recover the amount of the assessment.

(f) The Secretary may delegate his powers and duties under this section to the Fisheries Director.