(a) The attorney general, upon the request of the secretary of health and environment, may bring an action in the name of the state of Kansas in the district court of the county in which any person who violates any of the provisions of this act may do business, to recover penalties or damages as provided by this act.

(b) Any person having an identifiable interest which is affected shall have the right to intervene in any civil actions brought under this section or Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-171b, and amendments thereto, or in administrative actions subsequent to the issuance of an administrative order by the agency pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-164, 65-170d or 65-171d and amendments thereto or article 6 of chapter 77 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated to enforce the provisions of the national pollutant discharge elimination system program as approved by the administrator of the United States environmental protection agency pursuant to sections 318, 402 and 405 of the clean water act, as in effect on January 1, 1989, which seek:

(1) Restraint of persons from engaging in unauthorized activity which is endangering or causing damage to public health or the environment;

(2) injunction of threatened or continuing violations of this act, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and permit conditions;

(3) assessment of civil penalties for violations of this act, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, permit conditions or orders of the director of environment or secretary of health and environment.