Pennsylvania § 3134 - Civil remedies.

§ 3134. Civil remedies.

(a) Abatement of nuisances.--An activity or condition declared to be a public nuisance under section 3132 (relating to public nuisance) shall be restrained or prevented in the manner provided by law or equity for abatement of public nuisances, and the reasonable expense thereof may be recovered from the violator.

(b) Civil remedies.--The department may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain and abate the violation of this chapter or any regulation issued under this chapter. Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the courts of common pleas and Commonwealth Court shall have jurisdiction of such actions, and venue in such actions shall be set forth in the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure concerning actions in assumpsit.

(c) Civil penalties.--In addition to proceeding under any other remedy available under this chapter for the violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulation or order issued under this chapter, the department may assess a civil penalty upon a person for such violation. The maximum civil penalty that may be assessed is $1,000 per day for each violation. Each violation of any provision of this chapter and each violation for each separate day shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. The civil penalty may be assessed whether or not the violation was willful or negligent. In determining the amount of a civil penalty, the department shall consider the degree of willfulness and duration of the violation, savings resulting to the person as the result of the violation, the damage to water resources of this Commonwealth resulting from the violation and other relevant factors. When the department proposes to assess a civil penalty, it shall inform the person of the proposed amount of such penalty. The person charged with the civil penalty shall then have 30 days to pay the proposed penalty in full or, if the person wishes to contest either the amount of the penalty or the fact of the violation, the person shall within the 30-day period file an appeal of the action with the Environmental Hearing Board. Failure to appeal within the 30-day period shall result in a waiver of all legal rights to contest the violation and the amount of the civil penalty.

(d) Remedies to be concurrent.--The remedies prescribed in this chapter shall be deemed concurrent, and the existence or exercise of any remedy shall not prevent the department from exercising any other remedy under this chapter, at law or in equity.