Colorado § 25-8-601 - Division to be notified of suspected violations and accidental discharges - penalty.
Full text of Colorado Colorado Revised Statutes § 25-8-601 — Division to be notified of suspected violations and accidental discharges - penalty., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 25-8-601. Division to be notified of suspected violations and accidental discharges - penalty.
(1) Any person or any agency of the state or federal government may apply to the division to investigate and take action upon any suspected or alleged violation of any provision of this article or of any order, permit, or regulation issued or promulgated under authority of this article.
(2) Any person engaged in any operation or activity which results in a spill or discharge of oil or other substance which may cause pollution of the waters of the state contrary to the provisions of this article 8, as soon as the person has knowledge thereof, shall notify the division of such discharge. Any person who fails to notify the division as soon as practicable commits a class 2 misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars. Notification received pursuant to this subsection (2) or information obtained by the exploitation of such notification shall not be used against any such person in a criminal case except prosecution for perjury, for false swearing, or for failure to comply with a clean-up order issued pursuant to section 25-8-606.
(3) Any penalty collected under this section shall be credited to the general fund.
Source: L. 81: Entire article R&RE, p. 1332, § 1, effective July 1. L. 83: (3) amended, p. 1080, § 4, effective July 1. L. 2021: (2) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3237, § 465, effective March 1, 2022.
ANNOTATION
Law reviews. For article, "Liabilities of Nonoperating Mineral Interest Owners", see 51 U. Colo. L. Rev. 153 (1980). For article, "Regulation of Spills of Hazardous Materials", see 12 Colo. Law. 277 (1983).
Applied in National Wildlife Fed'n v. Cotter Corp., 646 P.2d 393 (Colo. App. 1981).
Source: official Colorado text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado § 25-8-601
What does Colorado Revised Statutes § 25-8-601 cover?
Section 25-8-601 ("Division to be notified of suspected violations and accidental discharges - penalty.") is part of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Colorado. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Colorado § 25-8-601?
A common citation format is "Colorado Revised Statutes § 25-8-601" (Colorado). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Colorado law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Colorado official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Colorado attorney.
How does Colorado § 25-8-601 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Colorado can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.