RCW 70.138.040 Civil penalties.

(1) Except as provided in RCW 43.05.060 through 43.05.080 and 43.05.150, any person who violates any provision of a department regulation or regulatory order relating to the management of special incinerator ash shall incur in addition to any other penalty provided by law, a penalty in an amount up to ten thousand dollars a day for every such violation. Each and every such violation shall be a separate and distinct offense. In case of continuing violation, every day's continuance shall be a separate and distinct violation. Every person who, through an act of commission or omission, procures, aids, or abets in the violation shall be considered to have violated the provisions of this section and shall be subject to the penalty herein provided.

(2) The penalty provided for in this section shall be imposed by a notice in writing, either by certified mail with return receipt requested or by personal service, to the person incurring the same from the department, describing the violation with reasonable particularity. Within fifteen days after the notice is received, the person incurring the penalty may apply in writing to the department for the remission or mitigation of such penalty. Upon receipt of the application, the department may remit or mitigate the penalty upon whatever terms the department in its discretion deems proper, giving consideration to the degree of hazard associated with the violation, provided the department deems such remission or mitigation to be in the best interests of carrying out the purposes of this chapter. The department shall have authority to ascertain the facts regarding all such applications in such reasonable manner and under such rules as it may deem proper.

(3) Any penalty imposed by this section shall become due and payable thirty days after receipt of a notice imposing the same unless application for remission or mitigation is made or petition for review by the hearings board is filed. When such an application for remission or mitigation is made, any penalty incurred pursuant to this section shall become due and payable thirty days after receipt of notice setting forth the disposition of such application.

(4) If the amount of any penalty is not paid to the department within thirty days after it becomes due and payable, the attorney general, upon the request of the director, shall bring an action in the name of the state of Washington in the superior court of Thurston county, or any county in which such violator may do business, to recover such penalty. In all such actions, the procedure and rules of evidence shall be the same as an ordinary civil action except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

[ 1995 c 403 § 633; 1987 c 528 § 4.]

NOTES:

Findings—Short title—Intent—1995 c 403: See note following RCW 34.05.328.