54725. As used in this chapter, local agency means any city,
county, municipal utility district, public utility district, sanitary
district, county sanitation district, or any municipal or public
corporation or district authorized to acquire, construct, own, or
operate a sanitation system, a sewer system, or both.
54726. As used in this chapter, "law" includes the charter of any
local agency.
54727. As used in this chapter, "enterprise" means systems, plants,
works, or undertakings used or useful in the collection, treatment,
and disposal of waste, refuse, and garbage, or of sewage, waste, and
storm water. It includes all parts of any such enterprise and all
appurtenances to it, and lands, easements, rights in land, contract
rights, franchises, approaches, dams, garbage trucks, equipment,
dumps, garbage disposal plants and incinerators or other disposal
facilities, sewage treatment plants, sewage disposal plants,
intercepting and collecting sewers, outfall sewers, trunk connecting,
and other sewer, waste, and storm water mains.
54728. As used in this chapter, "improve" means reconstruct,
replace, extend, repair, better, equip, develop, embellish, or
otherwise improve.
54729. As used in this chapter, "bonds" means bonds issued by a
local agency payable exclusively from the revenues of the enterprise
for which the bonds are issued.
54730. If in the opinion of the legislative body it will benefit
the local agency to enter the contract, any local agency issuing
bonds for the acquisition, construction, extension, or improvement of
any sanitation or sewer enterprise may contract with persons to
design, construct, extend, improve, maintain, or operate the
enterprise.
54731. All consideration paid under the contract is payable solely
from the revenues of the enterprise and the contracts shall expressly
provide.
54732. The duration and terms of the contracts shall be those which
the legislative body determines to be for the best interests of the
local agency in each case.
54733. The contracts may be made for any period not exceeding the
time when the principal and interest of all bonds of the enterprise
have been paid in full.
54734. When the legislative body determines that an enterprise is
necessary and convenient for the preservation of public health, it
may adopt a general specification for the enterprise setting forth:
(a) Definite criteria of capacity and general location of the
enterprise.
(b) General structural requirements.
(c) Degree of purification and manner of disposal of effluent and
sludge.
(d) The duration of operation under the control, supervision, and
responsibility of the contractor after the required performance has
been demonstrated.
54735. The contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible
bidder and shall conform to all other statutes and ordinances
applicable to public contracts.
54736. A local agency shall not by any such contract transfer or
attempt to transfer to any person or in any way restrict the exercise
of the local agency's legal powers and duties concerning:
(a) The issuance and sale of the bonds of the enterprise.
(b) The payment of the principal and interest of the bonds.
(c) The receipt, handling, and disbursement of and accounting for
the proceeds of the bonds.
(d) The fixing and collection of fees, tolls, rates, rentals, and
other charges for the services of the enterprise.
(e) The handling and disbursement of and accounting for the
receipts and other funds of the enterprise.
(f) The making and enforcing of ordinances and regulations to
protect and promote public health and safety in connection with the
enterprise and its operation.
54737. The affirmative vote of four-fifths of the legislative body
is required to approve the contracts.
54738. When determined by its legislative body to be in the public
interest or necessary for the protection of the public health, the
local agency may enter into and perform contracts, not to exceed a
term of 40 years, with any industrial establishment for the provision
and operation by the local agency of sewerage facilities to abate or
reduce the pollution of water caused by discharges of industrial
waste by the industrial establishment and the payment periodically or
otherwise by the industrial establishment to the local agency of
amounts at least sufficient, in the determination of such legislative
body, to compensate the local agency for the cost of providing,
including any payment of principal and interest charges, and of
operating and maintaining the sewerage facilities serving such
industrial establishment, or such portion of such cost as the
legislative body determines is fair and equitable. Such contracts may
be made irrespective of whether bonds are issued in connection
therewith.
54739. (a) Any local agency listed in Section 54725 may require any
of the following:
(1) Pretreatment of any industrial waste which the local agency
determines is necessary in order to meet standards established by the
federal or California state government or other regulatory agencies
or which the local agency determines is necessary in order to protect
its treatment works or the proper and efficient operation thereof or
the health or safety of its employees or the environment.
(2) The prevention of the entry of such industrial waste into the
collection system and treatment works.
(3) The payment of excess costs to the system for supplementary
treatment plants, facilities, or operations needed as a result of
allowing the entry into the collection system and treatment works of
such industrial waste.
(b) The provisions of this section shall be in addition to other
requirements provided for in the respective enabling acts of those
local agencies incorporated by reference in subdivision (a).
54740. (a) Any person who violates any requirement adopted or
ordered by a local agency pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of
subdivision (a) of Section 54739 may be civilly liable in a sum of
not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) a day for each
violation.
(b) The local agency may petition the superior court to impose,
assess, and recover the sums provided for in subdivision (a). In
determining the amount, the court shall take into consideration all
relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, the extent of
harm caused by the violation, the economic benefit derived through
any noncompliance, the nature and persistence of the violation, the
length of time over which the violation occurs, and corrective
action, if any, attempted or taken by the discharger.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all civil
penalties imposed by the court for a violation of this section shall
be distributed to the local agency.
(d) Remedies under this section are in addition to and do not
supersede or limit any and all other remedies, civil or criminal, but
no liability shall be recoverable under this section for any
violation for which liability is recovered under Section 54740.5.
54740.5. (a) The local agency may issue an administrative complaint
to any person who violates any requirement adopted or ordered by a
local agency pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) of
Section 54739. The administrative complaint shall allege the act or
failure to act that constitutes the violation of the local agency's
requirements, the provisions of law authorizing civil liability to be
imposed, and the proposed civil penalty.
(b) The administrative complaint shall be served by personal
delivery or certified mail on the person subject to the local agency'
s discharge requirements, and shall inform the person served that a
hearing shall be conducted within 60 days after the person has been
served. The hearing shall be before a hearing officer designated by
the governing board of the local agency. The person who has been
issued an administrative complaint may waive the right to a hearing,
in which case the local agency shall not conduct a hearing. A person
dissatisfied with the decision of the hearing officer may appeal to
the governing board of the local agency within 30 days of notice of
the hearing officer's decision.
(c) If after the hearing, or appeal, if any, it is found that the
person has violated reporting or discharge requirements, the hearing
officer or board may assess a civil penalty against that person. In
determining the amount of the civil penalty, the hearing officer or
board may take into consideration all relevant circumstances,
including, but not limited to, the extent of harm caused by the
violation, the economic benefit derived through any noncompliance,
the nature and persistence of the violation, the length of time over
which the violation occurs and corrective action, if any, attempted
or taken by the discharger.
(d) Civil penalties may be imposed by the local agency as follows:
(1) In an amount which shall not exceed two thousand dollars
($2,000) for each day for failing or refusing to furnish technical or
monitoring reports.
(2) In an amount which shall not exceed three thousand dollars
($3,000) for each day for failing or refusing to timely comply with
any compliance schedule established by the local agency.
(3) In an amount which shall not exceed five thousand dollars
($5,000) per violation for each day for discharges in violation of
any waste discharge limitation, permit condition, or requirement
issued, reissued, or adopted by the local agency.
(4) In an amount which does not exceed ten dollars ($10) per
gallon for discharges in violation of any suspension, cease and
desist order or other orders, or prohibition issued, reissued, or
adopted by a local agency.
(5) The amount of any civil penalties imposed under this section
which have remained delinquent for a period of 60 days shall
constitute a lien against the real property of the discharger from
which the discharge originated resulting in the imposition of the
civil penalty. The lien provided herein shall have no force and
effect until recorded with the county recorder and when recorded
shall have the force and effect and priority of a judgment lien and
continue for 10 years from the time of recording unless sooner
released, and shall be renewable in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 683.110 to 683.220, inclusive, of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
(e) All moneys collected under this section shall be deposited in
a special account of the local agency and shall be made available for
the monitoring, treatment, and control of discharges into the local
agency's sanitation or sewer system or for other mitigation measures.
(f) Unless appealed, orders setting administrative civil penalties
shall become effective and final upon issuance thereof, and payment
shall be made within 30 days. Copies of these orders shall be served
by personal service or by registered mail upon the party served with
the administrative complaint and upon other persons who appeared at
the hearing and requested a copy.
(g) The local agency may, at its option, elect to petition the
superior court to confirm any order establishing civil penalties and
enter judgment in conformity therewith in accordance with the
provisions of Sections 1285 to 1287.6, inclusive, of the Code of
Civil Procedure.
(h) No penalties shall be recoverable under this section for any
violation for which civil liability is recovered under Section 54740.
54740.6. (a) Any party aggrieved by a final order issued by the
governing board of a local agency under Section 54740.5, after
granting review of the order of a hearing officer, may obtain review
of the order of the board in the superior court by filing in the
court a petition for writ of mandate within 30 days following the
service of a copy of a decision and order issued by the board. Any
party aggrieved by a final order of a hearing officer issued under
Section 54740.5, for which the board denies review, may obtain
review, of the order of the hearing officer in the superior court by
filing in the court a petition for writ of mandate within 30 days
following service of a copy of a decision and order denying review by
the board.
(b) If no aggrieved party petitions for writ of mandate within the
time provided by this section, an order of the board or a hearing
officer shall not be subject to review by any court or agency, except
that the board may grant review on its own motion of an order issued
under Section 54740.5 after the expiration of the time limits set by
that section.
(c) The evidence before the court shall consist of the record
before the board, including the hearing officer's record, and any
other relevant evidence which, in the judgment of the court, should
be considered to effectuate and implement policies of this division.
In every such case, the court shall exercise its independent judgment
on the evidence.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, subdivisions (e)
and (f) of Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall
govern proceedings pursuant to this section.
54725. As used in this chapter, local agency means any city,
county, municipal utility district, public utility district, sanitary
district, county sanitation district, or any municipal or public
corporation or district authorized to acquire, construct, own, or
operate a sanitation system, a sewer system, or both.
54726. As used in this chapter, "law" includes the charter of any
local agency.
54727. As used in this chapter, "enterprise" means systems, plants,
works, or undertakings used or useful in the collection, treatment,
and disposal of waste, refuse, and garbage, or of sewage, waste, and
storm water. It includes all parts of any such enterprise and all
appurtenances to it, and lands, easements, rights in land, contract
rights, franchises, approaches, dams, garbage trucks, equipment,
dumps, garbage disposal plants and incinerators or other disposal
facilities, sewage treatment plants, sewage disposal plants,
intercepting and collecting sewers, outfall sewers, trunk connecting,
and other sewer, waste, and storm water mains.
54728. As used in this chapter, "improve" means reconstruct,
replace, extend, repair, better, equip, develop, embellish, or
otherwise improve.
54729. As used in this chapter, "bonds" means bonds issued by a
local agency payable exclusively from the revenues of the enterprise
for which the bonds are issued.
54730. If in the opinion of the legislative body it will benefit
the local agency to enter the contract, any local agency issuing
bonds for the acquisition, construction, extension, or improvement of
any sanitation or sewer enterprise may contract with persons to
design, construct, extend, improve, maintain, or operate the
enterprise.
54731. All consideration paid under the contract is payable solely
from the revenues of the enterprise and the contracts shall expressly
provide.
54732. The duration and terms of the contracts shall be those which
the legislative body determines to be for the best interests of the
local agency in each case.
54733. The contracts may be made for any period not exceeding the
time when the principal and interest of all bonds of the enterprise
have been paid in full.
54734. When the legislative body determines that an enterprise is
necessary and convenient for the preservation of public health, it
may adopt a general specification for the enterprise setting forth:
(a) Definite criteria of capacity and general location of the
enterprise.
(b) General structural requirements.
(c) Degree of purification and manner of disposal of effluent and
sludge.
(d) The duration of operation under the control, supervision, and
responsibility of the contractor after the required performance has
been demonstrated.
54735. The contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible
bidder and shall conform to all other statutes and ordinances
applicable to public contracts.
54736. A local agency shall not by any such contract transfer or
attempt to transfer to any person or in any way restrict the exercise
of the local agency's legal powers and duties concerning:
(a) The issuance and sale of the bonds of the enterprise.
(b) The payment of the principal and interest of the bonds.
(c) The receipt, handling, and disbursement of and accounting for
the proceeds of the bonds.
(d) The fixing and collection of fees, tolls, rates, rentals, and
other charges for the services of the enterprise.
(e) The handling and disbursement of and accounting for the
receipts and other funds of the enterprise.
(f) The making and enforcing of ordinances and regulations to
protect and promote public health and safety in connection with the
enterprise and its operation.
54737. The affirmative vote of four-fifths of the legislative body
is required to approve the contracts.
54738. When determined by its legislative body to be in the public
interest or necessary for the protection of the public health, the
local agency may enter into and perform contracts, not to exceed a
term of 40 years, with any industrial establishment for the provision
and operation by the local agency of sewerage facilities to abate or
reduce the pollution of water caused by discharges of industrial
waste by the industrial establishment and the payment periodically or
otherwise by the industrial establishment to the local agency of
amounts at least sufficient, in the determination of such legislative
body, to compensate the local agency for the cost of providing,
including any payment of principal and interest charges, and of
operating and maintaining the sewerage facilities serving such
industrial establishment, or such portion of such cost as the
legislative body determines is fair and equitable. Such contracts may
be made irrespective of whether bonds are issued in connection
therewith.
54739. (a) Any local agency listed in Section 54725 may require any
of the following:
(1) Pretreatment of any industrial waste which the local agency
determines is necessary in order to meet standards established by the
federal or California state government or other regulatory agencies
or which the local agency determines is necessary in order to protect
its treatment works or the proper and efficient operation thereof or
the health or safety of its employees or the environment.
(2) The prevention of the entry of such industrial waste into the
collection system and treatment works.
(3) The payment of excess costs to the system for supplementary
treatment plants, facilities, or operations needed as a result of
allowing the entry into the collection system and treatment works of
such industrial waste.
(b) The provisions of this section shall be in addition to other
requirements provided for in the respective enabling acts of those
local agencies incorporated by reference in subdivision (a).
54740. (a) Any person who violates any requirement adopted or
ordered by a local agency pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of
subdivision (a) of Section 54739 may be civilly liable in a sum of
not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) a day for each
violation.
(b) The local agency may petition the superior court to impose,
assess, and recover the sums provided for in subdivision (a). In
determining the amount, the court shall take into consideration all
relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, the extent of
harm caused by the violation, the economic benefit derived through
any noncompliance, the nature and persistence of the violation, the
length of time over which the violation occurs, and corrective
action, if any, attempted or taken by the discharger.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all civil
penalties imposed by the court for a violation of this section shall
be distributed to the local agency.
(d) Remedies under this section are in addition to and do not
supersede or limit any and all other remedies, civil or criminal, but
no liability shall be recoverable under this section for any
violation for which liability is recovered under Section 54740.5.
54740.5. (a) The local agency may issue an administrative complaint
to any person who violates any requirement adopted or ordered by a
local agency pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) of
Section 54739. The administrative complaint shall allege the act or
failure to act that constitutes the violation of the local agency's
requirements, the provisions of law authorizing civil liability to be
imposed, and the proposed civil penalty.
(b) The administrative complaint shall be served by personal
delivery or certified mail on the person subject to the local agency'
s discharge requirements, and shall inform the person served that a
hearing shall be conducted within 60 days after the person has been
served. The hearing shall be before a hearing officer designated by
the governing board of the local agency. The person who has been
issued an administrative complaint may waive the right to a hearing,
in which case the local agency shall not conduct a hearing. A person
dissatisfied with the decision of the hearing officer may appeal to
the governing board of the local agency within 30 days of notice of
the hearing officer's decision.
(c) If after the hearing, or appeal, if any, it is found that the
person has violated reporting or discharge requirements, the hearing
officer or board may assess a civil penalty against that person. In
determining the amount of the civil penalty, the hearing officer or
board may take into consideration all relevant circumstances,
including, but not limited to, the extent of harm caused by the
violation, the economic benefit derived through any noncompliance,
the nature and persistence of the violation, the length of time over
which the violation occurs and corrective action, if any, attempted
or taken by the discharger.
(d) Civil penalties may be imposed by the local agency as follows:
(1) In an amount which shall not exceed two thousand dollars
($2,000) for each day for failing or refusing to furnish technical or
monitoring reports.
(2) In an amount which shall not exceed three thousand dollars
($3,000) for each day for failing or refusing to timely comply with
any compliance schedule established by the local agency.
(3) In an amount which shall not exceed five thousand dollars
($5,000) per violation for each day for discharges in violation of
any waste discharge limitation, permit condition, or requirement
issued, reissued, or adopted by the local agency.
(4) In an amount which does not exceed ten dollars ($10) per
gallon for discharges in violation of any suspension, cease and
desist order or other orders, or prohibition issued, reissued, or
adopted by a local agency.
(5) The amount of any civil penalties imposed under this section
which have remained delinquent for a period of 60 days shall
constitute a lien against the real property of the discharger from
which the discharge originated resulting in the imposition of the
civil penalty. The lien provided herein shall have no force and
effect until recorded with the county recorder and when recorded
shall have the force and effect and priority of a judgment lien and
continue for 10 years from the time of recording unless sooner
released, and shall be renewable in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 683.110 to 683.220, inclusive, of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
(e) All moneys collected under this section shall be deposited in
a special account of the local agency and shall be made available for
the monitoring, treatment, and control of discharges into the local
agency's sanitation or sewer system or for other mitigation measures.
(f) Unless appealed, orders setting administrative civil penalties
shall become effective and final upon issuance thereof, and payment
shall be made within 30 days. Copies of these orders shall be served
by personal service or by registered mail upon the party served with
the administrative complaint and upon other persons who appeared at
the hearing and requested a copy.
(g) The local agency may, at its option, elect to petition the
superior court to confirm any order establishing civil penalties and
enter judgment in conformity therewith in accordance with the
provisions of Sections 1285 to 1287.6, inclusive, of the Code of
Civil Procedure.
(h) No penalties shall be recoverable under this section for any
violation for which civil liability is recovered under Section 54740.
54740.6. (a) Any party aggrieved by a final order issued by the
governing board of a local agency under Section 54740.5, after
granting review of the order of a hearing officer, may obtain review
of the order of the board in the superior court by filing in the
court a petition for writ of mandate within 30 days following the
service of a copy of a decision and order issued by the board. Any
party aggrieved by a final order of a hearing officer issued under
Section 54740.5, for which the board denies review, may obtain
review, of the order of the hearing officer in the superior court by
filing in the court a petition for writ of mandate within 30 days
following service of a copy of a decision and order denying review by
the board.
(b) If no aggrieved party petitions for writ of mandate within the
time provided by this section, an order of the board or a hearing
officer shall not be subject to review by any court or agency, except
that the board may grant review on its own motion of an order issued
under Section 54740.5 after the expiration of the time limits set by
that section.
(c) The evidence before the court shall consist of the record
before the board, including the hearing officer's record, and any
other relevant evidence which, in the judgment of the court, should
be considered to effectuate and implement policies of this division.
In every such case, the court shall exercise its independent judgment
on the evidence.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, subdivisions (e)
and (f) of Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall
govern proceedings pursuant to this section.
54725. As used in this chapter, local agency means any city,
county, municipal utility district, public utility district, sanitary
district, county sanitation district, or any municipal or public
corporation or district authorized to acquire, construct, own, or
operate a sanitation system, a sewer system, or both.
54726. As used in this chapter, "law" includes the charter of any
local agency.
54727. As used in this chapter, "enterprise" means systems, plants,
works, or undertakings used or useful in the collection, treatment,
and disposal of waste, refuse, and garbage, or of sewage, waste, and
storm water. It includes all parts of any such enterprise and all
appurtenances to it, and lands, easements, rights in land, contract
rights, franchises, approaches, dams, garbage trucks, equipment,
dumps, garbage disposal plants and incinerators or other disposal
facilities, sewage treatment plants, sewage disposal plants,
intercepting and collecting sewers, outfall sewers, trunk connecting,
and other sewer, waste, and storm water mains.
54728. As used in this chapter, "improve" means reconstruct,
replace, extend, repair, better, equip, develop, embellish, or
otherwise improve.
54729. As used in this chapter, "bonds" means bonds issued by a
local agency payable exclusively from the revenues of the enterprise
for which the bonds are issued.
54730. If in the opinion of the legislative body it will benefit
the local agency to enter the contract, any local agency issuing
bonds for the acquisition, construction, extension, or improvement of
any sanitation or sewer enterprise may contract with persons to
design, construct, extend, improve, maintain, or operate the
enterprise.
54731. All consideration paid under the contract is payable solely
from the revenues of the enterprise and the contracts shall expressly
provide.
54732. The duration and terms of the contracts shall be those which
the legislative body determines to be for the best interests of the
local agency in each case.
54733. The contracts may be made for any period not exceeding the
time when the principal and interest of all bonds of the enterprise
have been paid in full.
54734. When the legislative body determines that an enterprise is
necessary and convenient for the preservation of public health, it
may adopt a general specification for the enterprise setting forth:
(a) Definite criteria of capacity and general location of the
enterprise.
(b) General structural requirements.
(c) Degree of purification and manner of disposal of effluent and
sludge.
(d) The duration of operation under the control, supervision, and
responsibility of the contractor after the required performance has
been demonstrated.
54735. The contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible
bidder and shall conform to all other statutes and ordinances
applicable to public contracts.
54736. A local agency shall not by any such contract transfer or
attempt to transfer to any person or in any way restrict the exercise
of the local agency's legal powers and duties concerning:
(a) The issuance and sale of the bonds of the enterprise.
(b) The payment of the principal and interest of the bonds.
(c) The receipt, handling, and disbursement of and accounting for
the proceeds of the bonds.
(d) The fixing and collection of fees, tolls, rates, rentals, and
other charges for the services of the enterprise.
(e) The handling and disbursement of and accounting for the
receipts and other funds of the enterprise.
(f) The making and enforcing of ordinances and regulations to
protect and promote public health and safety in connection with the
enterprise and its operation.
54737. The affirmative vote of four-fifths of the legislative body
is required to approve the contracts.
54738. When determined by its legislative body to be in the public
interest or necessary for the protection of the public health, the
local agency may enter into and perform contracts, not to exceed a
term of 40 years, with any industrial establishment for the provision
and operation by the local agency of sewerage facilities to abate or
reduce the pollution of water caused by discharges of industrial
waste by the industrial establishment and the payment periodically or
otherwise by the industrial establishment to the local agency of
amounts at least sufficient, in the determination of such legislative
body, to compensate the local agency for the cost of providing,
including any payment of principal and interest charges, and of
operating and maintaining the sewerage facilities serving such
industrial establishment, or such portion of such cost as the
legislative body determines is fair and equitable. Such contracts may
be made irrespective of whether bonds are issued in connection
therewith.
54739. (a) Any local agency listed in Section 54725 may require any
of the following:
(1) Pretreatment of any industrial waste which the local agency
determines is necessary in order to meet standards established by the
federal or California state government or other regulatory agencies
or which the local agency determines is necessary in order to protect
its treatment works or the proper and efficient operation thereof or
the health or safety of its employees or the environment.
(2) The prevention of the entry of such industrial waste into the
collection system and treatment works.
(3) The payment of excess costs to the system for supplementary
treatment plants, facilities, or operations needed as a result of
allowing the entry into the collection system and treatment works of
such industrial waste.
(b) The provisions of this section shall be in addition to other
requirements provided for in the respective enabling acts of those
local agencies incorporated by reference in subdivision (a).
54740. (a) Any person who violates any requirement adopted or
ordered by a local agency pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of
subdivision (a) of Section 54739 may be civilly liable in a sum of
not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) a day for each
violation.
(b) The local agency may petition the superior court to impose,
assess, and recover the sums provided for in subdivision (a). In
determining the amount, the court shall take into consideration all
relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, the extent of
harm caused by the violation, the economic benefit derived through
any noncompliance, the nature and persistence of the violation, the
length of time over which the violation occurs, and corrective
action, if any, attempted or taken by the discharger.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all civil
penalties imposed by the court for a violation of this section shall
be distributed to the local agency.
(d) Remedies under this section are in addition to and do not
supersede or limit any and all other remedies, civil or criminal, but
no liability shall be recoverable under this section for any
violation for which liability is recovered under Section 54740.5.
54740.5. (a) The local agency may issue an administrative complaint
to any person who violates any requirement adopted or ordered by a
local agency pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) of
Section 54739. The administrative complaint shall allege the act or
failure to act that constitutes the violation of the local agency's
requirements, the provisions of law authorizing civil liability to be
imposed, and the proposed civil penalty.
(b) The administrative complaint shall be served by personal
delivery or certified mail on the person subject to the local agency'
s discharge requirements, and shall inform the person served that a
hearing shall be conducted within 60 days after the person has been
served. The hearing shall be before a hearing officer designated by
the governing board of the local agency. The person who has been
issued an administrative complaint may waive the right to a hearing,
in which case the local agency shall not conduct a hearing. A person
dissatisfied with the decision of the hearing officer may appeal to
the governing board of the local agency within 30 days of notice of
the hearing officer's decision.
(c) If after the hearing, or appeal, if any, it is found that the
person has violated reporting or discharge requirements, the hearing
officer or board may assess a civil penalty against that person. In
determining the amount of the civil penalty, the hearing officer or
board may take into consideration all relevant circumstances,
including, but not limited to, the extent of harm caused by the
violation, the economic benefit derived through any noncompliance,
the nature and persistence of the violation, the length of time over
which the violation occurs and corrective action, if any, attempted
or taken by the discharger.
(d) Civil penalties may be imposed by the local agency as follows:
(1) In an amount which shall not exceed two thousand dollars
($2,000) for each day for failing or refusing to furnish technical or
monitoring reports.
(2) In an amount which shall not exceed three thousand dollars
($3,000) for each day for failing or refusing to timely comply with
any compliance schedule established by the local agency.
(3) In an amount which shall not exceed five thousand dollars
($5,000) per violation for each day for discharges in violation of
any waste discharge limitation, permit condition, or requirement
issued, reissued, or adopted by the local agency.
(4) In an amount which does not exceed ten dollars ($10) per
gallon for discharges in violation of any suspension, cease and
desist order or other orders, or prohibition issued, reissued, or
adopted by a local agency.
(5) The amount of any civil penalties imposed under this section
which have remained delinquent for a period of 60 days shall
constitute a lien against the real property of the discharger from
which the discharge originated resulting in the imposition of the
civil penalty. The lien provided herein shall have no force and
effect until recorded with the county recorder and when recorded
shall have the force and effect and priority of a judgment lien and
continue for 10 years from the time of recording unless sooner
released, and shall be renewable in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 683.110 to 683.220, inclusive, of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
(e) All moneys collected under this section shall be deposited in
a special account of the local agency and shall be made available for
the monitoring, treatment, and control of discharges into the local
agency's sanitation or sewer system or for other mitigation measures.
(f) Unless appealed, orders setting administrative civil penalties
shall become effective and final upon issuance thereof, and payment
shall be made within 30 days. Copies of these orders shall be served
by personal service or by registered mail upon the party served with
the administrative complaint and upon other persons who appeared at
the hearing and requested a copy.
(g) The local agency may, at its option, elect to petition the
superior court to confirm any order establishing civil penalties and
enter judgment in conformity therewith in accordance with the
provisions of Sections 1285 to 1287.6, inclusive, of the Code of
Civil Procedure.
(h) No penalties shall be recoverable under this section for any
violation for which civil liability is recovered under Section 54740.
54740.6. (a) Any party aggrieved by a final order issued by the
governing board of a local agency under Section 54740.5, after
granting review of the order of a hearing officer, may obtain review
of the order of the board in the superior court by filing in the
court a petition for writ of mandate within 30 days following the
service of a copy of a decision and order issued by the board. Any
party aggrieved by a final order of a hearing officer issued under
Section 54740.5, for which the board denies review, may obtain
review, of the order of the hearing officer in the superior court by
filing in the court a petition for writ of mandate within 30 days
following service of a copy of a decision and order denying review by
the board.
(b) If no aggrieved party petitions for writ of mandate within the
time provided by this section, an order of the board or a hearing
officer shall not be subject to review by any court or agency, except
that the board may grant review on its own motion of an order issued
under Section 54740.5 after the expiration of the time limits set by
that section.
(c) The evidence before the court shall consist of the record
before the board, including the hearing officer's record, and any
other relevant evidence which, in the judgment of the court, should
be considered to effectuate and implement policies of this division.
In every such case, the court shall exercise its independent judgment
on the evidence.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, subdivisions (e)
and (f) of Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall
govern proceedings pursuant to this section.
