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55-1,119. Same; penalties for violations of rules and regulations. (a) The secretary or the director of the division of environment, if designated by the secretary, upon a finding that a person has violated any provision of K.S.A. 55-1,117, and amendments thereto, or rules and regulations adopted thereunder, may impose a penalty not to exceed $10,000 per violation which shall constitute an economic deterrent to the violation for which it is assessed and, in the case of a continuing violation, every day such violation continues shall be deemed a separate violation.

(b) No penalty shall be imposed pursuant to this section except after an opportunity for hearing upon the written order of the secretary or the director of the division of environment, if designated by the secretary, to the person who committed the violation. The order shall state the violation, the penalty to be imposed and, in the case of an order of the director of the division of environment, the right to appeal to the secretary for a hearing thereon. Any person may appeal an order of the director of the division of environment by making a written request to the secretary for a hearing within 15 days of service of such order. Hearings under this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas administrative procedure act.

(c) Whenever the secretary or the secretary's duly authorized agents find that the soil or waters of the state are not being protected from pollution resulting from underground storage of liquid petroleum gas and hydrocarbons, other than natural gas in underground porosity storage, the secretary or the secretary's duly authorized agents shall issue an order prohibiting such underground storage. Any person aggrieved by such order may request in writing, within 15 days after service of the order, a hearing on the order. Upon receipt of a timely request, a hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas administrative procedure act.

(d) Any action of the secretary pursuant to this section is subject to review in accordance with the Kansas judicial review act.

History: L. 2001, ch. 191, § 11; L. 2010, ch. 17, § 98; July 1.