(a) (1) Whenever on the basis of any information the Secretary determines that any person is in violation of any requirement of this chapter, any condition or limitation in a transfer facility approval or permit or variance issued thereunder or any rule or regulation, the Secretary shall give notice to the violator of the violator’s failure to comply with such requirement. If such violation extends beyond the thirtieth day after the Secretary’s notification, the Secretary may issue an order requiring compliance within a specified time period.
(2) If such violator fails to take corrective action within the time specified in the order, the violator shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for each day of continued noncompliance and the Secretary may suspend or revoke any transfer facility approval or permit issued to the violator.
(3) Any order or any suspension or revocation of a transfer facility approval or permit shall become final unless, no later than 30 days after the order or notice of the suspension or revocation is served, the person or persons named therein request a public hearing. Upon such request, the Secretary shall conduct a public hearing in accordance with § 6312 of this title. In connection with any proceeding under this paragraph the Secretary may issue subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books and documents, and may promulgate rules for discovery procedures.
(4) Any order issued under this section shall state with reasonable specificity the nature of the violation and specify a time for compliance and assess a penalty, if any, which the Secretary determines is reasonable taking into account the seriousness of the violation and any good faith efforts to comply with the applicable requirements.
(b) In lieu of the compliance order procedures in subsection (a) of this section, any person who violates a provision of this chapter, any condition or limitation in a transfer facility approval or permit issued pursuant to this chapter, any variance condition or limitation, any rule or regulation or any order of the Secretary shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 nor more than $40,000 for each day of violation. The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of offenses under this subsection.
(c) If the violation is threatened or continuing or if there is a substantial likelihood that it will reoccur, or if the Department receives information that the generation, storage, transportation, treatment or disposal of a hazardous waste presents an imminent and substantial hazard to public health or to the environment, the Secretary may, in addition to or in lieu of any other remedy provided in this chapter, seek a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction in the Court of Chancery.
(d) In any action brought under subsection (c) of this section, in addition to any equitable relief granted by the Court of Chancery, the Court may, in the exercise of its ancillary jurisdiction, impose a civil penalty as provided for in subsection (b) of this section.
(e) In any civil action brought in the Court of Chancery pursuant to this section in which a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction or a permanent injunction is sought, upon a showing by the Secretary that a person has engaged in the acts or practices to be enjoined or restrained, a permanent or preliminary injunction, restraining order or other order may be granted.
(f) Any person who, with criminal negligence with respect to the following: violates any provision of or fails to perform any duty imposed by this chapter, or who violates any provisions of or fails to perform any duty imposed by a rule, regulation, order or any facility permit adopted or issued under this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $10,000, or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both. The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of offenses under this subsection.
(g) Any person who knowingly, with respect to the following: violates any provision of or fails to perform any duty imposed by this chapter, or who violates any provision of or fails to perform any duty imposed by a rule, regulation, order or any facility permit adopted or issued under this chapter, is guilty, if such violation causes the release of hazardous waste into the environment, of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $25,000, or imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both. The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of offenses under this subsection.
(h) Any person who knowingly commits any of the following offenses is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50,000, or imprisonment not exceeding 2 years, or both:
(1) Dumping, discharging, abandoning or disposing into the environment, a hazardous waste in any place other than an authorized hazardous waste facility for which a current facility permit is in effect;
(2) Transporting for treatment, storage or disposal a hazardous waste to any place other than an authorized hazardous waste facility for which a current facility permit is in effect; or
(3) Authorizing, directing or participating in any offense listed in this subsection.
(i) Any person who knowingly with respect to the following: transports, treats, stores, exports or otherwise disposes of a hazardous waste in a manner that would constitute a violation under subsection (h) of this section and who knows at that time that the violation places another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100,000, or imprisonment not exceeding 5 years, or both. For purposes of this subsection, in determination whether a person’s state of mind is knowing and whether a person knew that the violation or conduct placed another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, the criteria provided under § 3008(f) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. § 6928(f) as amended in P.L. 99-499) shall apply.
(j) Any person who knowingly makes any false statement, representation or certification in any application, record, report, plan, manifest, label or other document filed or required to be maintained under this chapter, or under any transfer facility approval or permit, regulation or order issued under this chapter, or who falsifies, tampers with or knowingly renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained under this chapter, shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $25,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both. If the conviction is for a violation committed after a first conviction of such person under this subsection, punishment shall be by a fine of not more than $50,000 per day of violation, or by imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or by both. The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of offenses under this subsection.
(k) The terms used in this section which pertain to criminal violations shall have the same meanings as such terms are defined in Title 11. No person shall be prosecuted for criminal violations under this section if such person is exercising a right of appeal under this chapter with respect to a requirement which serves as the basis for the violation.
(l) Each day of violation as specified in any action pursuant to the above subsections shall constitute a separate violation.
(m) Whenever on the basis of any information the Secretary determines that there is or has been a release of hazardous waste into the environment from any facility, the Secretary may issue an order requiring corrective action or such other response measure (including corrective action beyond the facility boundary) as the Secretary deems necessary to protect human health or the environment or the Secretary may commence a civil action in the Superior Court or the Court of Chancery for appropriate relief, including a temporary or permanent injunction. Any order issued under this subsection may include a suspension or revocation of authorization to operate under this chapter, shall state with reasonable specificity the nature of the required corrective action or other response measure, and shall specify a time for compliance. If any person named in an order fails to comply with the order, the Secretary may assess, and such person shall be liable to the Department for, civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $25,000 for each day of noncompliance with the order.
(n) Any expenses or civil penalties collected by the Department under this section are hereby appropriated to the Department to carry out the purposes of this chapter.