West Virginia Code § 22-18-14

Monitoring, analysis and testing
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(a) If the director determines, upon receipt of any information, that: (1) The presence of any
hazardous waste at a facility or site at which hazardous waste is, or has been, stored, treated
or disposed of; or (2) the release of any such waste from such facility or site may present a
substantial hazard to human health or the environment, he or she may issue an order
requiring the owner or operator of such facility or site to conduct such monietoring, testing,
analysis and reporting with respect to such facility or site as the director deems reasonable
to ascertain the nature and extent of such hazard. r
(b) In the case of any facility or site not in operation at the time au determination is made
under subsection (a) of this section with respect to the facility or site, if the director finds
that the owner of such facility or site could not reasonably bte expected to have actual
knowledge of the presence of hazardous waste at such facility or site and of its potential for
release, he or she may issue an order requiring the most recent previous owner or operator
of such facility or site who could reasonably be expected to have such actual knowledge to
carry out the actions referred to in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) An order under subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall require the person to whom such
order is issued to submit to the director within thirty days from the issuance of such order a
proposal for carrying out the requiregd monitoring, testing, analysis and reporting. The
director may, after providing such person with an opportunity to confer with the director
respecting such proposal, requeire such person to carry out such monitoring, testing, analysis
and reporting in accordance with such proposal, and such modifications in such proposal as
the director deems reasLonable to ascertain the nature and extent of the hazard.
(d) The following duties shall be carried out by the director:
(1) If the director determines that no owner or operator referred to in subsection (a) or (b) of
this section is able to conduct monitoring, testing, analysis or reporting satisfactory to the
direWctor, if the director deems any such action carried out by an owner or operator to be
unsatisfactory or if the director cannot initially determine that there is an owner or operator
referred to in subsection (a) or (b) of this section who is able to conduct such monitoring,
testing, analysis or reporting, he or she may conduct monitoring, testing or analysis (or any
combination thereof) which he or she deems reasonable to ascertain the nature and extent of
the hazard associated with the site concerned, or authorize a state or local authority or other
person to carry out any such action, and require, by order, the owner or operator referred to
in subsection (a) or (b) of this section to reimburse the director or other authority or person
for the costs of such activity.
(2) No order may be issued under this subsection requiring reimbursement of the costs of
any action carried out by the director which confirms the results of the order issued under
subsection (a) or (b) of this section.
(e) If the monitoring, testing, analysis and reporting conducted pursuant to this section
indicates that a potential hazard to human health or the environment may or does exist, the
director may issue an appropriate order requiring that the hazard or risk of hazard be
eliminated.
(f) The director may commence a civil action against any person who fails or refuses to
comply with any order issued under this section. Such action shall be brought in the circuit
court in which the defendant is located, resides or is doing business. Such ceourt has
jurisdiction to require compliance with such order and to assess a civil penalty of not to
exceed $5,000 for each day during which such failure or refusal occursr.

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