(1) If the department has reason to believe that an owner or other person is violating or has violated the Safety of Dams and Reservoirs Act, an application approval, an approval to operate, a rule, a regulation, an order, or a requirement of the department issued or adopted pursuant to the act, the department shall give the owner or person written notice by certified mail that the owner or person appears to be in violation of the act. The owner or other person shall have thirty days from the mailing of such notice to respond or to request a hearing before the department as to why the owner or other person should not be ordered to cease and desist from the violation. The notice shall inform the owner or other person how to request the hearing and the consequences of failure to request a hearing.

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Terms Used In Nebraska Statutes 46-1667

  • Abandonment: means the process of rendering a dam incapable of impounding by (1) dewatering and filling the reservoir created by such dam with solid materials and (2) creating a stable watercourse around the site. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1603
  • Action: shall include any proceeding in any court of this state. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Application approval: means authorization in writing issued by the department to an owner who has applied to the department for permission to construct, reconstruct, enlarge, alter, breach, remove, or abandon a dam and which specifies the conditions or limitations under which work is to be performed by the owner or under which approval is granted. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1606
  • Approval to operate: means authorization in writing issued by the department to an owner who has completed construction, reconstruction, enlargement, or alteration of a dam. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1607
  • Breach: means partial removal of a dam creating a channel through the dam to the natural bed elevation of the stream. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1609
  • Dam: means any artificial barrier, including appurtenant works, with the ability to impound water, wastewater, or liquid-borne materials and which (a) is twenty-five feet or more in height from the natural bed of the stream or watercourse measured at the downstream toe of the barrier, or from the lowest elevation of the outside limit of the barrier if it is not across a stream channel or watercourse, to the maximum storage elevation or (b) has an impounding capacity at maximum storage elevation of fifty acre-feet or more, except that any barrier described in this subsection which is not in excess of six feet in height or which has an impounding capacity at maximum storage elevation of not greater than fifteen acre-feet shall be exempt, unless such barrier, due to its location or other physical characteristics, is classified as a high hazard potential dam. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1611
  • Department: means the Department of Natural Resources. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1613
  • Enlargement: means any change in or addition to an existing dam which raises or may raise the normal storage elevation of the water impounded by the dam. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1617
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Owner: includes any of the following who or which owns, controls, manages, or proposes to construct, reconstruct, enlarge, alter, breach, remove, or abandon a dam:

    (1) The United States Government and its departments, agencies, and bureaus. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1625

  • Person: means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, association, public or private corporation, trustee, receiver, assignee, agent, municipality, other political subdivision, public agency, or other legal entity or any officer or governing or managing body of any public or private corporation, municipality, other political subdivision, public agency, or other legal entity. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1626
  • Person shall: include bodies politic and corporate, societies, communities, the public generally, individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and associations. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
  • Reconstruction: means partial or complete removal and replacement of an existing dam. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1629
  • Removal: means complete elimination of the dam embankment or structure to restore the approximate original topographic contours of the site. See Nebraska Statutes 46-1630
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.

(2) If the department finds that an owner or person is constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, altering, breaching, removing, or abandoning a dam without having first obtained the required application approval, the department shall issue a temporary order for the owner or person to cease and desist the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, breach, removal, or abandonment pending final action by the department pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. The temporary order shall include written notice by certified mail to the owner or person of the time and date set by the department for a hearing to show cause why the temporary order should be vacated.

(3) After a response to a notice or a hearing pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) of this section or after the expiration of time to request a hearing, the department shall issue a decision and final order. The decision and final order may take such form as the department determines to be reasonable and appropriate and may include a determination of violation, a cease and desist order, the recommendation of a civil penalty, and an order directing that positive steps be taken to abate or ameliorate any harm or damage arising from the violation. The owner or person affected may appeal the hearing decision as provided in section 61-207.

(4) If the owner or person continues the violation after the department has issued a final decision and order pursuant to subsection (3) of this section or a temporary order pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the department may apply for a temporary restraining order or preliminary or permanent injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction. A decision to seek injunctive relief does not preclude other forms of relief or enforcement against the violator.