N.J.S.A. 58:10A-10 — Violation of act; penalty

58:10A-10. Violation of act; penalty a. Whenever the commissioner finds that any person is in violation of any provision of this act, he shall: (1) Issue an order requiring any such person to comply in accordance with subsection b. of this section; or (2) Bring a civil action in accordance with subsection c. of this section; or (3) Levy a civil administrative penalty in accordance with subsection d. of this section; or (4) Bring an action for a civil penalty in accordance with subsection e. of this section; or (5) Petition the Attorney General to bring a criminal action in accordance with subsection f. of this section. Use of any of the remedies specified under this section shall not preclude use of any other remedy specified. In the case of one or more pollutants for which interim enforcement limits have been established pursuant to an administrative order, including an administrative consent order, by the department or a local agency, the permittee shall be liable for the enforcement limits stipulated therein. b. Whenever the commissioner finds that any person is in violation of any provision of this act, he may issue an order (1) specifying the provision or provisions of this act, or the rule, regulation, water quality standard, effluent limitation, or permit of which he is in violation, (2) citing the action which caused such violation, (3) requiring compliance with such provision or provisions, and (4) giving notice to the person of his right to a hearing on the matters contained in the order. c. The commissioner is authorized to commence a civil action in Superior Court for appropriate relief for any violation of this act or of a permit issued hereunder. Such relief may include, singly or in combination: (1) A temporary or permanent injunction; (2) Assessment of the violator for the reasonable costs of any investigation, inspection, or monitoring survey which led to the establishment of the violation, and for the reasonable costs of preparing and litigating the case under this subsection; (3) Assessment of the violator for any reasonable cost incurred by the State in removing, correcting or terminating the adverse effects upon water quality resulting from any unauthorized discharge of pollutants for which the action under this subsection may have been brought; (4) Assessment against the violator of compensatory damages for any loss or destruction of wildlife, fish or aquatic life, or other natural resources, and for any other actual damages caused by an unauthorized discharge; (5) Assessment against a violator of the actual amount of any economic benefits accruing to the violator from a violation. Economic benefits may include the amount of any savings realized from avoided capital or noncapital costs resulting from the violation; the return earned or that may be earned on the amount of avoided costs; any benefits accruing to the violator as a result of a competitive market advantage enjoyed by reason of the violation; or any other benefits resulting from the violation. Assessments under paragraph (4) of this subsection shall be paid to the State Treasurer, except that compensatory damages shall be paid by specific order of the court to any persons who have been aggrieved by the unauthorized discharge. Assessments pursuant to actions brought by the commissioner under paragraphs (2), (3) and (5) of this subsection shall be paid to the "Clean Water Enforcement Fund," established pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1990, c.28 (C.58:10A-14.4). d. (1) (a) The commissioner is authorized to assess, in accordance with a uniform policy adopted therefor, a civil administrative penalty of not more than $50,000.00 for each violation and each day during which such violation continues shall constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense. Any amount assessed under this subsection shall fall within a range established by regulation by the commissioner for violations of similar type, seriousness, and duration. The commissioner shall adopt, by regulation, a uniform assessment of civil penalties policy by January 1, 1992. (b) In adopting rules for a uniform penalty policy for determining the amount of a penalty to be assessed, the commissioner shall take into account the type, seriousness, including extent, toxicity, and frequency of a violation based upon the harm to public health or the environment resulting from the violation, the economic benefits from the violation gained by the violator, the degree of cooperation or recalcitrance of the violator in remedying the violation, any measures taken by the violator to avoid a repetition of the violation, any unusual or extraordinary costs directly or indirectly imposed on the public by the violation other than costs recoverable pursuant to paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection c. of this section, and any other pertinent factors that the commissioner determines measure the seriousness or frequency of the violation, or conduct of the violator. (c) In addition to the assessment of a civil administrative penalty, the commissioner may, by administrative order and upon an appropriate finding, assess a violator for costs authorized pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection c. of this section. (2) No assessment shall be levied pursuant to this subsection until after the discharger has been notified by certified mail or personal service. The notice shall include a reference to the section of the statute, regulation, order or permit condition violated; a concise statement of the facts alleged to constitute a violation; a statement of the amount of the civil penalties to be imposed; and a statement of the party's right to a hearing. The ordered party shall have 20 days from receipt of the notice within which to deliver to the commissioner a written request for a hearing. After the hearing and upon finding that a violation has occurred, the commissioner may issue a final order after assessing the amount of the fine specified in the notice. If no hearing is requested, then the notice shall become a final order after the expiration of the 20-day period. Payment of the assessment is due when a final order is issued or the notice becomes a final order. (3) If a civil administrative penalty imposed pursuant to this subsection is not paid within 30 days of the date that the penalty is due and owing, and the penalty is not contested by the person against whom the penalty has been assessed, or the person fails to make a payment pursuant to a payment schedule entered into with the department, an interest charge shall accrue on the amount of the penalty due and owing from the 30th day after the date on which the penalty was due and owing. The rate of interest shall be that established by the New Jersey Supreme Court for interest rates on judgments, as set forth in the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey. (4) The authority to levy a civil administrative penalty is in addition to all other enforcement provisions in this act, and the payment of any assessment shall not be deemed to affect the availability of any other enforcement provisions in connection with the violation for which the assessment is levied. Any civil administrative penalty assessed under this section may be compromised by the commissioner upon the posting of a performance bond by the violator, or upon such terms and conditions as the commissioner may establish by regulation, except that the amount compromised shall not be more than 50% of the assessed penalty, and in no instance shall the amount of that compromised penalty be less than the statutory minimum amount, if applicable, prescribed in section 6 of P.L.1990, c.28 (C.58:10A-10.1). In the case of a violator who is a local agency that enters into an administrative consent order, the terms of which require the local agency to take prescribed measures to comply with its permit, the commissioner shall have full discretion to compromise the amount of penalties assessed or due for violations occurring during a period up to 24 months preceding the entering into the administrative consent order; except that the amount of the compromised penalty may not be less than the statutory minimum amount, if applicable, prescribed in section 6 of P.L.1990, c.28 (C.58:10A-10.1). A civil administrative penalty assessed against a local agency for a violation of an administrative consent order may not be compromised by more than 50% of the assessed penalty. In no instance shall the amount of a compromised penalty assessed against a local agency be less than the statutory minimum amount, if applicable, prescribed in section 6 of P.L.1990, c.28 (C.58:10A-10.1). The commissioner shall not compromise the amount of any component of a civil administrative penalty which represents the economic benefit gained by the violator from the violation. (5) A person, other than a local agency, appealing a penalty assessed against that person in accordance with this subsection, whether contested as a contested case pursuant to P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) or by appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction, shall, as a condition of filing the appeal, post with the commissioner a refundable bond, or other security approved by the commissioner, in the amount of the civil administrative penalty assessed. If the department's assessed penalty is upheld in full or in part, the department shall be entitled to a daily interest charge on the amount of the judgment from the date of the posting of the security with the commissioner and until paid in full. The rate of interest shall be that established by the New Jersey Supreme Court for interest rates on judgments, as set forth in the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey. In addition, if the amount of the penalty assessed by the department is upheld in full in an appeal of the assessment at an administrative hearing or at a court of competent jurisdiction, the person appealing the penalty shall reimburse the department for all reasonable costs incurred by the department in preparing and litigating the imposition of the assessment, except that no litigation costs shall be imposed where the appeal ultimately results in a reduction or elimination of the assessed penalty. (6) A civil administrative penalty imposed pursuant to a final order: (a) may be collected or enforced by summary proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with "the penalty enforcement law," N.J.S.2A:58-1 et seq.; or (b) shall constitute a debt of the violator or discharger and the civil administrative penalty may be docketed with the clerk of the Superior Court, and shall have the same standing as any judgment docketed pursuant to N.J.S.2A:16-1; except that no lien shall attach to the real property of a violator pursuant to this subsection if the violator posts a refundable bond or other security with the commissioner pursuant to an appeal of a final order to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court. No lien shall attach to the property of a local agency. (7) The commissioner shall refer to the Attorney General and the county prosecutor of the county in which the violations occurred the record of violations of any permittee determined to be a significant noncomplier. e. Any person who violates this act or an administrative order issued pursuant to subsection b. or a court order issued pursuant to subsection c., or who fails to pay a civil administrative penalty in full pursuant to subsection d., or to make a payment pursuant to a payment schedule entered into with the department, shall be subject upon order of a court to a civil penalty not to exceed $50,000.00 per day of such violation, and each day's continuance of the violation shall constitute a separate violation. Any penalty incurred under this subsection may be recovered with costs, and, if applicable, interest charges, in a summary proceeding pursuant to "the penalty enforcement law" (N.J.S.2A:58-1 et seq.). In addition to any civil penalties, costs or interest charges, the court, in accordance with paragraph (5) of subsection c. of this section, may assess against a violator the amount of any actual economic benefits accruing to the violator from the violation. The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction to enforce "the penalty enforcement law" in conjunction with this act. f. (1)(a) Any person who purposely, knowingly, or recklessly violates this act, and the violation causes a significant adverse environmental effect, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a crime of the second degree, and shall, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-3, be subject to a fine of not less than $25,000 nor more than $250,000 per day of violation, or by imprisonment, or by both. (b) As used in this paragraph, a significant adverse environmental effect exists when an action or omission of the defendant causes: serious harm or damage to wildlife, freshwater or saltwater fish, any other aquatic or marine life, water fowl, or to their habitats, or to livestock, or agricultural crops; serious harm, or degradation of, any ground or surface waters used for drinking, agricultural, navigational, recreational, or industrial purposes; or any other serious articulable harm or damage to, or degradation of, the lands or waters of the State, including ocean waters subject to its jurisdiction pursuant to P.L.1988, c.61 (C.58:10A-47 et seq.). (2) Any person who purposely, knowingly, or recklessly violates this act, including making a false statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, or other document filed or required to be maintained under this act, or by falsifying, tampering with, or rendering inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained pursuant to this act, or by failing to submit a monitoring report, or any portion thereof, required pursuant to this act, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a crime of the third degree, and shall, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:43-3, be subject to a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $75,000 per day of violation, or by imprisonment, or by both. (3) Any person who negligently violates this act, including making a false statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, or other document filed or required to be maintained under this act, or by falsifying, tampering with, or rendering inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained pursuant to this act, or by failing to submit a discharge monitoring report, or any portion thereof, required pursuant to this act, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, and shall, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:43-3, be subject to a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $50,000 per day of violation, or by imprisonment, or by both. (4) Any person who purposely or knowingly violates an effluent limitation or other condition of a permit, or who discharges without a permit, and who knows at that time that he thereby places another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, as defined in subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:11-1, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a crime of the first degree, and shall, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-3, be subject of a fine of not less than $50,000 nor more than $250,000, or, in the case of a corporation, a fine of not less than $200,000 nor more than $1,000,000, or by imprisonment or by both. (5) As used in this subsection, "purposely," "knowingly," "recklessly," and "negligently" shall have the same meaning as defined in N.J.S.2C:2-2. g. All conveyances used or intended for use in the purposeful or knowing discharge, in violation of the provisions of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.), of any pollutant or toxic pollutant are subject to forfeiture to the State pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1981, c.387 (C.13:1K-1 et seq.). h. The amendatory portions of this section, as set forth in P.L.1990, c.28 (C.58:10A-10.1 et al.), except for subsection f. of this section, shall not apply to violations occurring prior to July 1, 1991. L.1977,c.74,s.10; amended 1984,c.240,s.3; 1986,c.170,s.3; 1990,c.28,s.5. 58:10A-10.1. Mandatory civil administrative penalties a. The provisions of section 10 of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-10), or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto to the contrary notwithstanding, the department shall assess, with no discretion, a mandatory minimum civil administrative penalty for the violations enumerated in subsections b., c., and d. of this section. b. The department shall assess a minimum mandatory civil administrative penalty of $1,000 against a violator for each serious violation, which assessment shall be made within six months of the serious violation. c. The department shall assess a minimum mandatory civil administrative penalty of $5,000 against a violator for the violation that causes the violator to be, or to continue to be, a significant noncomplier. d. The department shall assess a minimum mandatory civil administrative penalty of $100 for each effluent parameter omitted on a discharge monitoring report required to be submitted to the department, and each day during which the effluent parameter information is overdue shall constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense, except that in no instance shall the total civil administrative penalty assessed pursuant to this subsection exceed $50,000 per month for any one discharge monitoring report. The civil administrative penalty assessed pursuant to this subsection shall accrue as of the fifth day following the date on which the discharge monitoring report was due and shall continue to accrue for 30 days. The commissioner may continue to assess civil administrative penalties beyond the 30-day period until submission of the overdue discharge monitoring report or overdue information. A permittee may contest the assessment of the civil administrative penalty required to be assessed pursuant to this subsection by notifying the commissioner in writing, within 30 days of the date on which the effluent parameter information was required to be submitted to the department, of the existence of extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the permittee, including circumstances that prevented timely submission of the discharge monitoring report, or portion thereof, or, if the civil administrative penalty is imposed because of an inadvertent omission of one or more effluent parameters, the permittee may submit, without liability for a civil administrative penalty assessed pursuant to this subsection or subsection c. of this section, the omitted information within 10 days of receipt by the permittee of notice of omission of the parameter or parameters. e. If a violator establishes, to the satisfaction of the department, that a single operational occurrence has resulted in the simultaneous violation of more than one pollutant parameter, the department may consider, for purposes of calculating the mandatory civil administrative penalties to be assessed pursuant to subsections b. and c. of this section, the violation of the interrelated permit parameters to be a single violation. f. The requirement that the department assess a minimum civil administrative penalty pursuant to this section shall in no way be construed to limit the authority of the department to assess a civil administrative penalty or bring an action for a civil penalty for a violation at any time after a violation occurred or to assess a more stringent civil administrative penalty or civil penalty against a person pursuant to section 10 of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-10). g. The provisions of this section shall not apply to violations occurring prior to the effective date of this section. L.1990,c.28,s.6. 58:10A-10.2. Affirmative defenses to liability a. A person may be entitled to an affirmative defense to liability for a mandatory assessment of a civil administrative penalty pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1990, c.28 (C.58:10A-10.1) for a violation of an effluent limitation occurring as a result of an upset, an anticipated or unanticipated bypass, or a testing or laboratory error. A person shall be entitled to an affirmative defense only if, in the determination of the department or delegated local agency, the person satisfies the provisions of subsection b., c., e. or f., as applicable, of this section. b. A person asserting an upset as an affirmative defense pursuant to this section, except in the case of an approved maintenance operation, shall notify the department or the local agency of an upset within 24 hours of the occurrence, or of becoming aware of the occurrence, and, within five days thereof, shall submit written documentation, including properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs, or other relevant evidence, on the circumstances of the violation, and demonstrating, as applicable, that: (1) the upset occurred, including the cause of the upset and, as necessary, the identity of the person causing the upset, except that, in the case of a treatment works, the local agency may certify that despite a good faith effort it is unable to identify the cause of the upset, or the person causing the upset; (2) the permitted facility was at the time being properly operated; (3) the person submitted notice of the upset as required pursuant to this section, or, in the case of an upset resulting from the performance by the permittee of maintenance operations, the permittee provided prior notice and received an approval therefor from the department or the delegated local agency; and (4) the person complied with any remedial measures required by the department or delegated local agency. c. A person asserting an unanticipated bypass as an affirmative defense pursuant to this section shall notify the department or the local agency of the unanticipated bypass within 24 hours of its occurrence, and, within five days thereof, shall submit written documentation, including properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs, or other relevant evidence, on the circumstances of the violation, and demonstrating that: (1) the unanticipated bypass occurred, including the circumstances leading to the bypass; (2) the permitted facility was at the time being properly operated; (3) the person submitted notice of the upset as required pursuant to this section; and (4) the person complied with any remedial measures required by the department or delegated local agency; (5) the bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage; and (6) there was no feasible alternative to the bypass such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of downtime, except that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to a bypass occurring during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance if, on the basis of the reasonable engineering judgment of the department or delegated local agency, back-up equipment should have been installed to avoid the need for a bypass. d. Nothing contained in subsection b. or c. of this section shall be construed to limit the requirement to comply with the provisions of paragraph (8) of subsection f. of section 6 of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-6). e. A person may assert an anticipated bypass as an affirmative defense pursuant to this section only if the person provided prior notice to the department or delegated local agency, if possible, at least 10 days prior to the date of the bypass, and the department or delegated local agency approved the bypass, and if the person is able to demonstrate that: (1) the bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage; and (2) there was no feasible alternative to the bypass such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of downtime, except that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to a bypass occurring during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance if, on the basis of the reasonable engineering judgment of the department or delegated local agency, back-up equipment should have been installed to avoid the need for a bypass. f. A person asserting a testing or laboratory error as an affirmative defense pursuant to this section shall have the burden to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the department, that a serious violation involving the exceedance of an effluent limitation was the result of unanticipated test interferences, sample contamination, analytical defects, or procedural deficiencies in sampling or other similar circumstances beyond the control of the permittee. g. A determination by the department on a claim that a violation of an effluent limitation was caused by an upset, a bypass or a testing or laboratory error shall be considered final agency action on the matter for the purposes of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), and shall be subject only to review by a court of competent jurisdiction. h. An assertion of an upset, a bypass or a testing or laboratory error as an affirmative defense pursuant to this section may not include noncompliance to the extent caused by operational error, improperly designed treatment facilities, inadequate treatment facilities, lack of preventive maintenance, or careless or improper operation. i. If the department determines, pursuant to the provisions of this section, that a violation of an effluent limitation was caused by an upset, a bypass or a testing or laboratory error, the commissioner shall waive any mandatory civil administrative penalty required to be assessed pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1990, c.28 (C.58:10A-10.1), and the violation shall not be considered a serious violation or violation causing a person to be designated a significant noncomplier. j. The affirmative defense for an upset, a bypass or a testing or laboratory error provided in this section shall only apply to the imposition of mandatory penalties pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1990, c.28 (C.58:10A-10.1) for serious violations and for determining a significant noncomplier. Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the authority of the department, or a delegated local agency, to adopt regulations or permit conditions that include or do not include an upset, a bypass or a testing or laboratory error, using different standards, as a defense for any other exceedance of an effluent limitation. L.1990,c.28,s.7. 58:10A-10.3. Request by department for information; testimony of witnesses a. The department may request that any person whom the department has reason to believe has, or may have, information relevant to a discharge or potential discharge of a pollutant, including, but not limited to, any person having generated, treated, transported, stored, or disposed of the pollutant, or any person having arranged for the transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of the pollutant, shall provide, upon receipt of written notice therefor, the following information to the department: (1) The nature, extent, source, and location of the discharge, or potential discharge; (2) Identification of the nature, type, quantity, source, and location of the pollutant or pollutants; (3) The identity of, and other relevant information concerning, the generator or transporter of the pollutant, or any other person subject to liability for the discharge or potential discharge; (4) The ability of any person liable, or potentially liable, for the discharge, or potential discharge, to pay for, or perform, the cleanup and removal, including the availability of appropriate insurance coverage. Information requested by the department shall be provided in the form and manner prescribed by the department, which may include documents or information in whatever form stored or recorded. b. The commissioner may issue subpoenas requiring attendance and testimony under oath of witnesses before, or the production of documents or information, in whatever form stored or recorded, to him or to a representative designated by the commissioner. Service of a subpoena shall be by certified mail or personal service. Any person who fails to appear, give testimony, or produce documents in response to a subpoena issued pursuant to this subsection, shall be subject to the penalty provisions of section 10 of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-10). Any person who, having been sworn, knowingly gives false testimony or knowingly gives false documents or information to the department is guilty of perjury and is subject to the penalty provisions of section 10 of P.L.1977, c.74. c. A person receiving a request for information made pursuant to subsection a. of this section, or to a subpoena issued pursuant to subsection b. of this section, shall: (1) be required to conduct a diligent search of all documents in his possession, custody or control, and to make reasonable inquiries of present and past employees who may have knowledge or documents relevant thereto; (2) have a continuing obligation to supplement the information if additional relevant information is discovered, or if it is determined that the information previously provided was false, inaccurate or misleading; and (3) grant the department access, at reasonable times, to any vessel, facility, property or location to inspect and copy all relevant documents or, at the department's request, copy and furnish to the department all such documents. d. No person may destroy any records relating to a discharge or potential discharge to surface water within five years of the discharge, or to a discharge or potential discharge to ground water at any time without the prior written permission of the commissioner. L.1990,c.28,s.15. 58:10A-10.4. Department of Environmental Protection authorized to issue summons The Department of Environmental Protection or a delegated local agency may issue a summons for a violation of any provision of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.), including, in the case of a delegated local agency, a violation of any rule, regulation or pretreatment standard adopted by a delegated local agency if the amount of the civil penalty assessed is $5,000 or less. The summons shall be enforceable, in accordance with the "penalty enforcement law," N.J.S.2A:58-1 et seq., in the municipal court of the territorial jurisdiction in which the violation occurred. The summons shall be signed and issued by any person authorized to enforce the provisions of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.). Proceedings before, and appeals from a decision of, a municipal court shall be in accordance with the Rules Governing the Court of the State of New Jersey. Of the penalty amount collected pursuant to an action brought in a municipal court pursuant to this section, 10% shall be paid to the municipality or municipalities in which the court retains jurisdiction for use for court purposes, with the remainder to be retained by the department or the delegated local agency. L.1991,c.8,s.1. 58:10A-10.5. Delegated local agency authorized to issue civil administrative penalty; hearing A delegated local agency may, after consultation with a compliance officer designated by the department, issue a civil administrative penalty for any violation of the provisions of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.), including a violation of any rule, regulation or pretreatment standard adopted by a delegated local agency, or assess, by civil administrative order, any costs recoverable pursuant to subsection c. of section 10 of that act, including the reasonable costs of investigation and inspection, and preparing and litigating the case before an administrative law judge pursuant to this section, except assessments for compensatory damages and economic benefits. Notice of the penalty or assessment shall be given to the violator in writing by the delegated local agency, and payment of the penalty or assessment shall be due and payable, unless a hearing is requested in writing by the violator, within 20 days of receipt of notice. If a hearing is requested, the penalty or assessment shall be deemed a contested case and shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for an administrative hearing in accordance with sections 9 and 10 of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-9 and 52:14B-10). L.1991,c.8,s.2. 58:10A-10.6. Report on decision upon conclusion of administrative hearing; exceptions, objections, replies Upon conclusion of an administrative hearing held pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.8 (C.58:10A-10.5), the administrative law judge shall prepare and transmit a recommended report and decision on the case to the head of the delegated local agency and to each party of record, as prescribed in subsection c. of section 10 of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-10). The head of the delegated local agency shall afford each party of record an opportunity to file exceptions, objections and replies thereto, and to present arguments, either orally or in writing, as required by the delegated local agency. After reviewing the record of the administrative law judge, and any filings received thereon, but not later than 45 days after receipt of the record and decision, the head of the delegated local agency shall adopt, reject, or modify the recommended report and decision. If the head of the delegated local agency fails to modify or reject the report within the 45-day period, the decision of the administrative law judge shall be deemed adopted as the final decision of the head of the delegated local agency, and the recommended report and decision shall be made a part of the record in the case. For good cause shown, and upon certification by the Director of the Office of Administrative Law and the head of the delegated local agency, the time limits established herein may be extended. L.1991,c.8,s.3. 58:10A-10.7. Final decision by delegated local agency A final decision or order of the head of the delegated local agency shall be in writing or stated in the record. A final decision shall include separately stated findings of fact and conclusions of law, based upon the evidence of record at the hearing of the administrative law judge. Findings of fact shall be accompanied by a concise and explicit statement of the underlying facts supporting the findings. A final decision or order may incorporate by reference any or all of the recommendations of the administrative law judge. Parties of record shall be notified either by personal service or by mail of any final decision or order. Upon request, a copy of the decision or order shall be delivered or mailed forthwith by registered or certified mail to each party of record and to a party's attorney of record. A final decision or order shall be effective on the date of delivery or mailing, whichever is sooner, to the party or parties of record, or shall be effective on any date thereafter, as the delegated local agency may provide in the decision or order. The date of delivery or mailing shall be stamped on the face of the final decision or order. A final decision or order shall be considered a final agency action, and shall be appealable in the same manner as a final agency action of a State department or agency. L.1991,c.8,s.4. 58:10A-10.8. Appeal of civil administrative penalty, collection, interest charged a. A person appealing a civil administrative penalty or assessment levied in accordance with section 2 of P.L.1991, c.8 (C.58:10A-10.5), whether contested as a contested case pursuant to P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) or by appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction, shall, as a condition of filing the appeal, post with the delegated local agency a refundable bond, or other security approved by the delegated local agency, in the amount of the civil administrative penalty or assessment levied pursuant to a civil administrative hearing. If the civil administrative penalty or assessment is upheld in whole or in part, the delegated local agency shall be entitled to a daily interest charge on the amount of the judgment from the date of the posting of the security with the commissioner until that amount is paid in full. The rate of interest shall be that established by the New Jersey Supreme Court for interest rates on judgments, as set forth in the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey. b. A person who is assessed a civil administrative penalty, or is subject to an assessment levied pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.8 (C.58:10A-10.5), and fails to contest or to pay the penalty or assessment, or fails to enter into a payment schedule with the delegated local agency within 30 days of the date that the penalty or assessment is due and owing, shall be subject to an interest charge on the amount of the penalty or assessment from the date that the amount was due and owing. The rate of interest shall be that authorized pursuant to subsection a. of this section. c. Any person who fails to pay a civil administrative penalty or assessment, in whole or in part, when due and owing, or who fails to agree to a payment schedule therefor, shall be subject to the civil penalty provisions of subsection e. of section 10 of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-10). d. A civil administrative penalty or assessment imposed pursuant to a final order: (1) may be collected or enforced by summary proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the "penalty enforcement law," (N.J.S.2A:58-1 et seq.); or (2) shall constitute a debt of the violator, and the civil administrative penalty may be docketed with the clerk of the Superior Court, and shall have the same standing as any judgment docketed pursuant to N.J.S.2A:16-1. L.1991,c.8,s.5. 58:10A-10.9. Adoption of schedule of reimbursement The Director of the Office of Administrative Law shall establish by regulation adopted pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), a schedule of reimbursement for the costs to that office of an administrative hearing provided pursuant to P.L.1991, c.8 (C.58:10A-10.4 et seq.). Reimbursements shall be paid by the delegated local agency, but shall be recoverable from the violator by that agency, if the prevailing party, along with such other costs as may be recoverable for preparing and litigating the case. An assessment for hearing costs shall be included in the final decision or order issued by the head of the delegated local agency. L.1991,c.8,s.6. 58:10A-10.10. Commissioner to take action against owner of municipal treatment works exceeding effluent limitations Whenever the commissioner finds that effluent limitations under a discharge permit, issued pursuant to P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.), are being exceeded by a county or municipal utilities authority organized pursuant to P.L.1957, c.183 (C.40:14B-1 et seq.), which provides disposal or discharge but not treatment of the effluent of one or more municipal treatment works, and the commissioner further finds that the violation of the effluent limitation is caused by effluents discharged by one or more municipal treatment works into the disposal facilities of the county or municipal utilities authority, the commissioner shall, in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of section 10 of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-10), issue an order for compliance to, or take such other action authorized thereunder against, the owner or operator of the municipal treatment works determined to be discharging pollutants into the utilities authority's facilities in violation of the discharge permit limitations of the municipal treatment works. The commissioner shall prescribe uniform sampling and reporting requirements for the county or municipal utilities authority and each of the municipal treatment works discharging effluents into the disposal facilities of the authority for the purpose of determining the source and extent of violation of permit requirements. L.1991,c.109,s.1.

This is the verbatim text of N.J.S.A. 58:10A-10, retrieved from the New Jersey Legislature's public statute corpus. Statutes are amended periodically — for the most current version, check the external source link above. Kyzer is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.