Iowa Code 455B.191 – Penalties — burden of proof
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1. As used in this section, “hazardous substance” means hazardous substance as defined in section 455B.381 or section 455B.411.
Attorney's Note
Under the Iowa Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Aggravated misdemeanor | up to 2 years | between $855 and $8,540 |
| Serious misdemeanor | up to 1 year | between $430 and $2,560 |
Terms Used In Iowa Code 455B.191
- Commission: means the environmental protection commission created under section 455A. See Iowa Code 455B.101
- Commission: means the natural resource commission. See Iowa Code 462A.2
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Department: means the department of natural resources created under section 455A. See Iowa Code 455B.101
- Department: means the department of natural resources. See Iowa Code 462A.2
- Director: means the director of the department or a designee. See Iowa Code 455B.101
- Director: means the director of the department or the director's designee. See Iowa Code 462A.2
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
- Hazardous substance: means the same as defined in section 455B. See Iowa Code 455B.751
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Person: means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or association. See Iowa Code 462A.2
- property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
- Rule: includes "regulation". See Iowa Code 4.1
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
- year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
2. Any person who violates any provision ofthis part 1 of subchapter III or any permit, rule, standard, or order issued underthis part 1 of subchapter III shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars for each day of such violation.
3. a. Any person who negligently or knowingly does any of the following shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in paragraph “b” or “c”:
(1) Violates section 455B.183 or section 455B.186 or any condition or limitation included in any permit issued under section 455B.183.
(2) Introduces into a sewer system or into a publicly owned treatment works any pollutant or hazardous substance which the person knew or reasonably should have known could cause personal injury or property damage.
(3) Causes a treatment works to violate any water quality standard, effluent standard, pretreatment standard or condition of a permit issued to the treatment works pursuant to section 455B.183, unless the person is in compliance with all applicable federal and state requirements or permits.
b. (1) A person who commits a negligent violation under this subsection is guilty of a serious misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars for each day of violation or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
(2) If the conviction is for a second or subsequent violation committed by a person under this subsection, the conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars for each day of violation or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.
c. (1) A person who commits a knowing violation under this subsection is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars for each day of violation or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.
(2) If the conviction is for a second or subsequent violation committed by a person under this subsection, the conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred thousand dollars for each day of violation or by imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.
4. Any person who knowingly makes any false statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, report, plan or other document filed or required to be maintained underthis part 1 of subchapter III, or who falsifies, tampers with, or knowingly renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained underthis part 1 of subchapter III or by any permit, rule, regulation, or order issued underthis part 1 of subchapter III, shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months or by both such fine and imprisonment.
5. The attorney general shall, at the request of the director with approval of the commission, institute any legal proceedings, including an action for an injunction or a temporary injunction, necessary to enforce the penalty provisions ofthis part 1 of subchapter III or to obtain compliance with the provisions ofthis part 1 of subchapter III or any rules promulgated or any provision of any permit issued underthis part 1 of subchapter III. In any such action, any previous findings of fact of the director or the commission after notice and hearing shall be conclusive if supported by substantial evidence in the record when the record is viewed as a whole.
6. In all proceedings with respect to any alleged violation of the provisions of this part 1 of subchapter III or any rule established by the commission or the department, the burden of proof shall be upon the commission or the department except in an action for contempt as provided in section 455B.182.
7. If the attorney general has instituted legal proceedings in accordance with this section, all related issues which could otherwise be raised by the alleged violator in a proceeding for judicial review under section 455B.178 shall be raised in the legal proceedings instituted in accordance with this section.
8. Any civil penalty collected by the state or a county relating to the construction of semipublic sewage disposal systems shall be deposited in the unsewered community revolving loan fund created pursuant to section 16.141.