§ 25-15-309 — Administrative and civil penalties

(1) A person who violates
section 25-15-308, violates any compliance order of the department that is not
subject to a stay pending judicial review and that has been issued pursuant to this
part 3, or violates part 10 of article 17 of this title 25 shall, for each such violation,
be subject to a penalty for each day during which such violation occurs or
continues. The department may impose an administrative penalty of no more than
fifteen thousand dollars per day per violation. In lieu of imposing an administrative
penalty pursuant to this section, the department may seek a civil penalty for
violation of state environmental law in the district court of the judicial district in
which the violation occurs. The district court may impose a civil penalty of no more
than twenty-five thousand dollars per day per violation.

(2) The department shall not be precluded from referring a matter for
criminal prosecution regardless of whether an order is issued pursuant to section
25-15-301 (4)(a) or 25-15-308. The department shall not impose both a civil penalty
and an administrative penalty for any particular instance of a violation of this part 3
or part 10 of article 17 of this title 25.

(3) The department, the administrative law judge, the commission, or the
court shall consider the factors contained in subsections (3)(a) to (3)(i) of this
section in determining the amount of any administrative or civil penalty for a
violation of this part 3 or part 10 of article 17 of this title 25. The factors contained
in subsections (3)(f), (3)(g), and (3)(h) of this section shall be mitigating factors and
may be applied, together with other factors, to reduce penalties. Such factors are:

(a) The seriousness of the violation;

(b) Whether the violation was intentional, reckless, or negligent;

(c) The impact upon or the threat to the public health or the environment as a
result of the violation;

(d) The degree, if any, of recalcitrance or recidivism upon the part of the
violator;

(e) The economic benefit realized by the violator as a result of the violation;

(f) The voluntary and complete disclosure by the violator of such violation in
a timely fashion after discovery and prior to the department's knowledge of the
violation, provided that all reports required pursuant to state environmental law
have been submitted as and when otherwise required;

(g) Full and prompt cooperation by the violator following disclosure of a
violation, including, when appropriate, entering into in good faith and implementing
a legally enforceable agreement to undertake compliance and remedial efforts;

(h) The existence of a regularized and comprehensive environmental
compliance program or an environmental audit program that was adopted in a
timely and good-faith manner and that includes sufficient measures to identify and
prevent future noncompliance; and

(i) Any other aggravating or mitigating circumstances.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, the department may enter
into settlement agreements regarding any penalty or claim resolved pursuant to
this part 3 or part 10 of article 17 of this title 25. Any settlement agreement may
include but is not necessarily limited to the payment or contribution of money to
state or local agencies or for other environmentally beneficial purposes.

Legislative History

Source: L. 81: Entire article R&RE, p. 1358, � 1, effective July 1. L. 92: Entire section R&RE, p. 1250, � 11, effective August 1. L. 2025: (1), (2), IP(3), and (4) amended, (SB 25-163), ch. 421, p. 2402, � 3, effective August 6.