N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14-8.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:14-8.6 - Civil administrative penalty for submitting inaccurate or false information

(a) The Department may assess a civil administrative penalty pursuant to this section against each violator who submits inaccurate information or who makes a false statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, or other document required to be submitted or maintained, or who falsifies, tampers with or renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained under the Water Pollution Control Act or the New Jersey Underground Storage of Hazardous Substances Act or any rule, water quality standard, effluent limitation, administrative order or permit issued pursuant thereto.

(b) Each day, from the day of submittal by the violator of the false or inaccurate information to the Department to the day of receipt by the Department of a written correction by the violator shall be an additional, separate and distinct violation.

(c) The Department shall assess a civil administrative penalty for violations described in this section based on the conduct of the violator at the midpoint of the following ranges except as adjusted pursuant to (d) below:

1. For each intentional, deliberate, purposeful knowing or willful act or omission by the violator, the civil administrative penalty shall be in an amount up to $ 50,000 per act or omission;

2. For each other violation not identified pursuant to (c)1 above for which the violator does not correct the violation within 10 days after becoming aware of the violation, the civil administrative penalty shall be in an amount up to $ 30,000; and

3. For each other violation not identified pursuant to (c)1 above for which the violator corrects the violation within 10 days after becoming aware of the violation, the civil administrative penalty shall be in an amount up to $ 1,000.

(d) The Department may, in its discretion, adjust the amount determined pursuant to (c) above to assess a civil administrative penalty in an amount no greater than the maximum amount nor less than the minimum amount in the range on the basis of the following factors:

1. The compliance history of the violator;

2. The number, frequency and severity of the violations;

3. The measures taken by the violator to mitigate the effects of the current violation or to prevent future violations;

4. The deterrent effect of the penalty;

5. The cooperation of the violator in correcting the violation, remedying any environmental damage caused by the violation and ensuring that the violation does not reoccur;

6. Any unusual or extraordinary costs or impacts directly or indirectly imposed on the public or the environment as a result of the violation;

7. Any impacts on the receiving water, including stress upon the aquatic biota, or impairment of receiving water uses, such as for recreational or drinking water supply, resulting from the violation; and

8. Other specific circumstances of the violator or violation.

(e) Except as set forth in Table 1 or Table 2 at N.J.A.C. 7:14-8.18, a violation under this section is non-minor and, therefore, not subject to a grace period.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14-8.6

Amended by R.1989 d.282, effective 6/5/1989.
See: 21 N.J.R. 373(a), 21 N.J.R. 1530(a).
Language added at (c) regarding assessing penalty at mid-point of ranges and new (d) added.
Amended by R.1991 d.378, effective 8/5/1991.
See: 23 N.J.R. 1089(a), 23 N.J.R. 2366(a).
In (c)1, changed penalty to "up to $ 50,000".
Added (c)2.
Recodified existing (c)2 as 3 and added "not identified pursuant to (c)1 above for which the violator corrects the violation within 10 days after becoming aware of the violation".
Deleted (d)5 and substituted new text.
Added (d)6, 7 and 8.
Amended by R.2007 d.234, effective 8/6/2007.
See: 38 N.J.R. 2919(a), 39 N.J.R. 3298(a).
Added (e).