(a) Whoever violates this chapter or any rule or regulation duly promulgated thereunder, shall be punishable by a civil penalty imposed by Superior Court of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 per day per violation. In addition, the Secretary may seek injunctive or other relief in Chancery Court. (b) (1) In the Secretary's discretion, the Secretary may impose an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 per day of violation whenever the Secretary determines that any person has failed to submit a complete risk management plan as required by § 7708 of this title or does not have a substantially complete risk management program in place as required by § 7709 of this title or does not comply with any provision of this chapter or rule or regulation duly promulgated thereunder. The Secretary may order those operations that present a real and imminent hazard to cease, after notification to the responsible person(s). (2) Prior to assessment of an administrative penalty, written notice of the Secretary's proposal to impose such a penalty shall be given to the responsible person(s), and the responsible person(s) shall have 30 days from receipt of the notice to request a public hearing. Any public hearing, right of appeal and judicial appeal shall be conducted pursuant to § 7716 of this title. The amount of the administrative penalty shall be determined based on the nature, circumstances, extent and gravity of the violation or violations, and such other matters as justice may require. (3) In the event of nonpayment of the administrative penalty after all legal appeals have been exhausted, a civil action may be brought by the Secretary in a court of competent jurisdiction for the collection of the administrative penalty, including interest, attorney's fees and costs. The validity and appropriateness of such administrative penalty shall not be subject to review. (c) Any person who knowingly violates any applicable requirement of this chapter or of a risk management program or any person who knowingly makes a false statement, representation or certification in any application, record, report, plan or other document filed or required to be maintained under this chapter, or under any rule, 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 subject to a criminal fine of not more than $25,000 per day per violation, or imprisonment for 1 year, or both. The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of offenses under this subsection. The Secretary may order those operations that pose a hazard to the public to cease. (d) Any expenses or civil or administrative penalties collected by the Department under this section are hereby appropriated to the Department to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
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