OAR 632-030-0070: Penalty Warning; Civil Penalty

(1) Applicability. This section of these rules applies to the imposition of civil penalties under ORS 517.992(2) for violations of statutes, rules, orders, and permit conditions not related to a chemical process mine. (2) Definitions. For purposes of this rule: (a) "Compliance Order" means an order issued under ORS 517.860(1)(b). The compliance order also may be used for informal disposition of proceedings through stipulation, agreed settlement, consent order, or default; (b) "Notice of Violation" means a notice issued under ORS 517.860(1)(a); (c) "Notice of Civil Penalty" means a notice that imposes a civil penalty under ORS 517.992(2); (d) "Violation" means conduct for which a penalty may be imposed under ORS 517.992(2). (3) Notice of Civil Penalty — Form and Service. A Notice of Civil Penalty shall be in a form and shall be served in the manner required by ORS 183.415. (4) Appeals — Consolidation. Any person issued a Notice of Civil Penalty shall have the right to a contested case hearing. The hearing must be requested in writing within 20 days of the date of service. (5) Civil Penalty — Classification: (a) Civil penalties imposed under ORS 517.992(2) will be coordinated with other agencies to avoid duplication of penalty for the same violation and be in accordance with the following schedule: (A) Class 1. Violation that poses no potential threat to human health, safety, or the environment: no more than $1,000 per day; (B) Class 2. Violation that poses a potential threat to human health, safety, or the environment, or repeat Class 1 Violation: no more than $3,000 per day. Potential threats to human health, safety, or the environment include, but are not limited to, actions that increase instability, erosion, or an unsafe condition at the site; (C) Class 3. Violation that poses an immediate but remediable threat to the environment or a repeat Class 2 violation: no more than $6,000 per day. For the purposes of this rule, an "immediate but remediable threat to the environment" means that without a quick response and considering such factors to include, but not limited to slope and erodibility, damage will occur and that upon remediation there will be no lasting effect of that damage. (D) Class 4. Violation that: (i) Poses an immediate threat to human health or safety; (ii) Causes actual human injury; (iii) Poses a threat to the environment that is immediate and not remediable; (iv) Causes actual damage to the environment; or (v) Is a repeat Class 3 violation: $1,000 to $10,000 per day. (b) Each day of a continuing violation may be treated as a separate violation for purposes of imposing a civil penalty.