§ 22-9-11 — Enforcement

(a) The director or any person having a direct interest in the subject matter of this article may complain in writing setting forth that any person is violating or is about to violate, any provisions of this article, or has done, or is about to do, any act, matter or thing therein prohibited or declared to be unlawful, or has failed, omitted, neglected or refused, or is about to fail, omit, neglect or refuse, to perform any duty enjoined upon him by this article. Upon the filing of a complaint against any person, the director shall cause a copy thereof to be served upon such person by registered mail accompanied by a notice from the director setting such complaint for hearing at a time and place specified in such notice. At least five days' notice of such hearing shall be given to the parties affected and such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of section ten of this article. Following such hearing, the director shall, if the director finds that the matter alleged in the complaint is not in violation of this article, dismiss the complaint, but if the director shall find that the complaint is justified, the director shall by appropriate order compel compliance with this article.

(b) Whenever the director shall be of the opinion that any person is violating, or is about to violate, any provisions of this article, or has done, or is about to do, any act, matter or thing therein prohibited or declared to be unlawful, or has failed, omitted, neglected or refused, or is about to fail, omit, neglect or refuse, to perform any duty enjoined upon the director by this article, or has failed, omitted, neglected or refused, or is about to fail, omit, neglect or refuse to obey any lawful requirement or order made by the director, or any final judgment, order or decree made by any court pursuant to this article, then and in every such case the director may institute in the circuit court of the county or counties wherein the operation is situated, injunction, mandamus or other appropriate legal proceedings to restrain such violations of the provisions of this article or of orders of the director to enforce obedience therewith. No injunction bond shall be required to be filed in any such proceeding. Such persons or corporations as the court may deem necessary or proper to be joined as parties in order to make its judgment, order or writ effective may be joined as parties. The final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall either dismiss the action or proceeding or direct that the writ of mandamus or injunction or other order, issue or be made permanent as prayed for in the petition or in such modified or other form as will afford appropriate relief. An appeal may be taken as in other civil actions.

(c) In addition to the other remedies herein provided, any storage operator or coal operator affected by the provisions of this article may proceed by injunction or other appropriate remedy to restrain violations or threatened violations of the provisions of this article or of orders of the director or the judgments, orders or decrees of any court or to enforce obedience therewith.

(d) Each remedy prescribed in this section shall be deemed concurrent or contemporaneous with any other remedy prescribed herein and the existence or exercise of any one such remedy shall not prevent the exercise of any other such remedy.

Legislative History

1994 Reg. Sess., HB4065