D.C. Mun. Regs. r. 21-505

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 23, June 7, 2024

Rule 21-505 - VIOLATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES

505.1

Each instance or day of a violation of each provision of this chapter shall be a separate violation.

505.2

Each separate violation of each provision may be subject to:

(a) A criminal fine and penalty, including imprisonment, and costs; and

(b) Either:

(1) A judicial civil penalty, order for corrective action, and order for damages and related costs, expenses, and fees; or

(2) An administrative civil fine, penalty, suspension of an approval, suspension of a permit, corrective action, order to comply with this chapter, and order for related costs, expenses, and fees.

505.3

The District may seek criminal prosecution if a person violates a provision of this chapter pursuant to:

(a) The Water Pollution Control Act of 1984 (WPCA), effective March 16, 1985, as amended (D.C. Law 5-188; D.C. Official Code § 8-103.16 (2008 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)); and

(b) The Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act of 1977, effective September 28, 1977 (D.C. Law 2-23; 24 DCR 792), as amended by the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Amendment Act of 1994, effective August 26, 1994, as amended (D.C. Law 10-166; 41 DCR 4892; 21 DCMR §§ 500 -15).

505.4

The District may bring a civil action in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia or any other court of competent jurisdiction, for civil penalties, damages, and injunctive or other appropriate relief pursuant to D.C. Official Code §§ 8-103.17(d) and 8-103.18.

505.5

As an alternative to a civil action, the Department may impose an administrative civil fine, penalty, fee, and order for costs and expenses by following the procedures of Titles I-III of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Civil Infractions Act of 1985, effective October 5, 1985, as amended (D.C. Law 6-42; D.C. Official Code §§ 2-1801et seq. (2007 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)) (Civil Infractions Act), except that each reference in the Civil Infractions Act to an administrative law judge (ALJ) shall mean an ALJ of the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) established pursuant to the Office of Administrative Hearings Establishment Act of 2001, effective March 6, 2002, as amended (D.C. Law 14-76; D.C. Official Code, §§ 2-1831.01et seq. (2007 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)).

505.6

Except when otherwise required by statute, an administrative civil fine shall be calculated according to the schedule of fines for violations of this chapter that has been approved pursuant to the Civil Infractions Act, D.C. Official Code § 2-1801.04.

505.7

Administrative adjudication of a civil violation of a provision of this chapter shall be conducted by OAH, pursuant to its rules and procedures.

505.8

An administrative adjudicator of a civil violation of a provision of this Chapter shall have the same power, authority, and jurisdiction with respect to the matter before it as does the Department.

505.9

Neither a criminal prosecution nor the imposition of a civil fine or penalty shall preclude an administrative or judicial civil action for injunctive relief or damages, including an action to prevent unlawful construction or to restrain, correct, or abate a violation on or about any premises, or to recover costs, fees, or money damages, except that a person shall not, for the same violation of the WPCA, be assessed a civil fine and penalty through both the judicial and the administrative processes.

505.10

With respect to a violation of a provision of this chapter, the Department may also pursue and obtain an internal remedy by:

(a) Advising a person of a violation through the use of a DDOE internal Notice of Violation; and

(b) Issuing and addressing a violation through the use of a DDOE internal Notice of Infraction.

505.11

If a term in a provision of this section conflicts with a provision in another section of this chapter, the term in the provision of this section controls.

D.C. Mun. Regs. r. 21-505

Section 2 of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act of 1977 (D.C. Law 2-23; 24 DCR 792 (July 22, 1977)), 8 DCRR § 8 -2:804, Health Regulations (1965 Edition); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013)

Authority: Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Civil Infractions Act of 1985, effective October 5, 1985, as amended (D.C. Law 6-42; D.C. Official Code §§ 2-1801.01 et seq. (2007 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)); District Department of the Environment Establishment Act of 2005, §§ 101 et seq., effective February 15, 2006, as amended (D.C. Law 16-51; D.C. Official Code §§ 8-151.01 et seq. (2008 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)); National Capital Revitalization Corporation and Anacostia Waterfront Corporation Reorganization Act of 2008, effective March 26, 2008 (D.C. Law 17-138; 55 DCR 1689), as amended by the Anacostia Waterfront Environmental Standards Amendment Act of 2012, effective October 23, 2012 (D.C. Law 19-192; D.C. Official Code §§ 2-1226.31 et seq.) (2012 Supp.)); The Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act of 1977, effective September 28, 1977 (D.C. Law 2-23; 24 DCR 792), as amended by the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Amendment Act of 1994, effective August 26, 1994, (D.C. Law 10-166; 41 DCR 4892; 21 DCMR §§ 500 -15); Uniform Environmental Covenants Act of 2005, effective May 12, 2006, as amended (D.C. Law 16-95; D.C. Official Code §§ 8-671.01 et seq. (2008 Repl.)); Water Pollution Control Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985, as amended (D.C. Law 5-188; D.C. Official Code §§ 8-103.01 et seq. (2008 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)); and Mayor's Order 2006-61, dated June 14, 2006, and its delegations of authority.