§ 23-19.1-14 - Permit fees – Expenses of investigation and hearing. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 23-19.1-14

   § 23-19.1-14  Permit fees – Expensesof investigation and hearing. – (a) The director may establish reasonable application and renewal fees forpermits issued under this chapter to be not less than one hundred dollars($100) for any vehicle, or to be not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000)for any hazardous waste management facility.

   (b) Any person who applies for a permit under this chapter,or who seeks renewal of a permit issued under this chapter, or whose permit issuspended or revoked under § 23-19.1-10(e), shall be charged with andshall pay the expenses reasonably incurred by the department for the purchaseof materials, and for the employment of official stenographers, engineers,chemists, accountants, legal counsel, or experts, and for travel and othernecessary outlays, in connection with its investigation, processing, hearing,and deciding the application for a permit or permit renewal, or the suspensionor revocation of a permit. The director shall ascertain the amount of theexpenses incurred and to be paid by the person applying for the permit orrenewal, and shall render a bill for it to the person at the conclusion of theinvestigation and hearing, or during its progress. The amount of the billrendered shall be paid by the person to the department within thirty (30) daysof its rendition unless within this time period, the person billed shallrequest an opportunity to be heard by the director as to its amount. Anapplication for a permit or a permit renewal shall not be granted until allcharges are paid in full. The director shall comply with the request and issuea written determination on it. The burden of proving the unreasonableness ofthe amount billed shall be on the person billed. Any amount of the bill notpaid within thirty (30) days from the date of rendition of the bill, shall drawinterest at the rate of seven percent (7%) per annum; provided, that if, aftera hearing, a portion of the amount of the bill shall be found to beunreasonable, no interest shall be computed on that portion of the bill. Thetotal amount which may be assessed under this subsection against any personwith respect to the renewal of a permit under this chapter in any calendar yearshall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000); the total amount which may beassessed against any person with respect to an application for a new permitunder this chapter in any calendar year shall not exceed one hundred thousanddollars ($100,000).