Sec. 22a-6e. Imposition of civil penalties by the commissioner for water pollution violations. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 22a-6e. Imposition of civil penalties by the commissioner for water pollution violations. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of section 22a-6b, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, not later than August 1, 1992, shall publish notice of intent to adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish administrative civil penalties for violation of specified effluent limitations imposed pursuant to chapter 446k and for failure to submit a timely and sufficient discharge monitoring report pursuant to said chapter. In establishing such regulations, the commissioner shall consider the character and degree of injury or impairment to, or interference with, (1) the public health, safety or welfare, (2) the public trust in the water and other natural resources, and (3) the reasonable use of property which is caused or threatened to be caused by the violation. Such regulations shall provide that if the alleged violator is a municipality, the commissioner shall consider whether the municipality has adopted a facilities plan, has entered into contracts for projects which would bring the municipality into compliance with the provisions of chapter 446k or is otherwise in compliance with any order of the commissioner. Such regulations shall provide for administrative civil penalties which are of an amount sufficient to insure immediate and continued compliance, but shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars per day for each violation.

      (b) The commissioner, or his designee, shall render a final decision to assess the administrative civil penalties established pursuant to this section, and shall collect such penalties, in accordance with the procedures specified in subsections (c) to (g), inclusive, of section 22a-6b. The commissioner may amend a notice of assessment at any time before such notice becomes final, provided the person to whom the notice is addressed shall have thirty days from the date of receipt of such amendment in which to deliver to the commissioner a written application for a hearing on such amendment, and provided further the commissioner may amend a notice of assessment after a hearing has begun only with the permission of the hearing officer. No challenge to any notice of civil penalty assessment shall be allowed as to any issue which could have been raised by an appeal of an earlier order, notice permit, denial or other final decision by the commissioner.

      (c) The provisions of this section are in addition to and in no way derogate any other enforcement provisions contained in any statute administered by the commissioner. The powers, duties and remedies provided in such other statutes, and the existence of or exercise of any powers, duties or remedies hereunder or thereunder shall not prevent the commissioner from exercising any other powers, duties or remedies provided herein, therein, at law or in equity.

      (P.A. 91-270, S. 1; P.A. 93-428, S. 35, 39.)

      History: P.A. 93-428 amended Subsec. (b) to modify provisions re amended notices of assessment, effective July 1, 1993.