§ 8012 - Request for hearing - Vermont Statutes

§ 8012. Request for hearing

(a) A respondent or the attorney general may request a hearing on an order issued by the secretary. Notice of a request for hearing shall be filed with the environmental court and the secretary. Upon receipt of the notice, the secretary shall forward a copy of the order to the environmental court.

(b) The environmental court shall have authority to:

(1) determine whether a violation has occurred. An order shall be reversed when it is determined that a violation has not occurred;

(2) affirm, or vacate and remand to the secretary an order issued under subdivision 8008(b)(5) of this title. The environmental court shall vacate and remand an order under this subdivision when a violation is found to exist but the procedure contained in the order is not reasonably likely to achieve the intended result;

(3) to affirm, modify or reverse any provision of any order issued by the secretary except those identified by subdivision (2) of this subsection. In deciding whether to affirm or reverse a stop work order under this subdivision, the environmental court shall consider the economic effect of the order on individuals other than the respondent;

(4) to review and determine anew the amount of a penalty by applying the criteria set forth in subsections 8010(b) and (c) of this title; and

(5) to affirm, modify or dissolve an emergency order.

(c) Notice of the request for hearing shall be filed within 15 days of receipt of the order. The hearing shall be held before the environmental court within 30 days of receipt by the division of the notice, unless continued for good cause. The environmental court shall issue a written decision within 20 days of the conclusion of the hearing, and no later than 60 days from the request for hearing, unless the hearing process is extended for good cause. The decision shall be sent to the parties by certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall include:

(1) a statement of conclusion as to whether a violation exists and findings of facts in support of the conclusion;

(2) identification of the applicable statute, rule, permit, assurance or order; and

(3) the order to be imposed or penalty to be assessed, or both, if a violation is determined to exist;

(4) a statement that the respondent, the secretary and the attorney general have a right to appeal the decision, and a description of the procedures for requesting an appeal; and

(5) a warning that the decision will become final if no appeal is requested within 10 days of the date the decision is received.

(d) The environmental court may grant party status to an aggrieved person for the purpose of providing evidence and legal arguments only in relation to the sufficiency of an order issued under the authority of section 8008 of this title. As used in this subsection, an "aggrieved person" means a person who demonstrates that the interest of that person is not adequately represented by any other party and who at the time of the alleged violation had:

(1) an ownership, leasehold or contractual interest in real property directly affected by the violation described in the order; or

(2) an interest in the outcome of the proceeding which is distinct from the interest of the public-at-large because of the person's place of residence, place of employment or place of business.

(e) Notice of a request for hearing shall stay the order and payment of the penalty, if imposed, pending the hearing. The secretary may issue an emergency order with regard to the alleged violation that is the subject of the hearing, if grounds for such an order develop during the hearing process.

(f) Any claim a person may have under a private right of action which is not determined in a proceeding under this chapter shall be preserved. (Added 1989, No. 98, § 1; amended 1993, No. 232 (Adj. Sess.), § 38, eff. March 15, 1995; 2007, No. 191 (Adj. Sess.), § 6a.)