§ 1543 — Enforcement and penalties

(a) Criminal penalties.--Unless otherwise specified, a person who violates a permit, a provision of this chapter or a rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter or any order issued under this chapter:

(1) For the first offense, commits a summary offense and may, upon conviction, be sentenced for each offense to pay a fine of not less than $100 and costs of prosecution or to undergo imprisonment for a term which shall be fixed at not more than 90 days, or both.

(2) For a subsequent offense committed within three years of a prior conviction for a violation of this chapter or a rule, regulation or order made pursuant to this chapter, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $500 and costs of prosecution or to imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.

(b) Civil penalties.--

(1) In addition to any other remedy available at law or in equity for a violation of this chapter, the department may assess a civil penalty of not more than $10,000, plus cost of remediation, containment or eradication, upon a person for each violation of this chapter, a permit or a regulation promulgated or order issued under the authority of this chapter. The civil penalty assessed shall be payable to the department for deposit into the account. The penalty amount shall be collectible in any manner provided by law for the collection of debt, including referring any collection matter to the Office of Attorney General, which shall recover the amount by action in the appropriate court.

(2) No civil penalty shall be assessed unless the person who assessed the penalty has been given notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the assessment in accordance with the provisions of 2 Pa.C.S. Chs. 5 Subch. A (relating to practice and procedure of Commonwealth agencies) and 7 Subch. A (relating to judicial review of Commonwealth agency action).