Virginia Law

(a) The division may assess separately a civil penalty for each day from the date of issuance of the notice of violation or cessation order to the date set for abatement of the violation. In determining whether to make such an assessment, the division shall consider the factors listed in 4VAC25-130-845.13 and may consider the extent to which the person to whom the notice or order was issued gained any economic benefit as a result of a failure to comply. For any violation which continues for two or more days and which has been assigned a penalty of $5,000 or more under 4VAC25-130-845.13, the division shall assess a penalty for a minimum of two separate days.

(b) In addition to the civil penalty provided for in subsection (a) of this section, whenever a violation contained in a notice of violation or cessation order has not been abated within the abatement period set in the notice or order or as subsequently extended pursuant to § 45.2-1020 of the Act, a civil penalty of not less than $750 shall be assessed for each day during which such failure to abate continues, except that:

(1)(i) If suspension of the abatement requirements of the notice or order is ordered in a temporary relief proceeding under § 45.2-1025 of the Act, after a determination that the person to whom the notice or order was issued will suffer irreparable loss or damage from the application of the requirements, the period permitted for abatement shall not end until the date on which the director or his authorized representative issues a final order with respect to the violation in question; and

(ii) If the person to whom the notice or order was issued initiates review proceedings under § 45.2-1027 of the Act with respect to the violation, in which the obligations to abate are suspended by the court pursuant to § 45.2-1027 of the Act, the daily assessment of a penalty shall not be made for any period before entry of a final order by the court;

(2) Such penalty for the failure to abate the violation shall not be assessed for more than 30 days for each such violation. If the permittee has not abated the violation within the 30 day period, the division shall take appropriate action pursuant to §§ 45.2-1020 and 45.2-1021 of the Act within 30 days to ensure that abatement occurs or to ensure that there will not be a reoccurrence of the failure to abate.