South Dakota Codified Laws 34A-10-1. Parties entitled to maintain actions against pollution
The attorney general, any political subdivision of the state, any instrumentality, or agency of the state or of a political subdivision thereof, any person, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, association, organization, or other legal entity may maintain an action in the circuit court having jurisdiction where the alleged violation occurred for declaratory and equitable relief against the state, any political subdivision thereof, any instrumentality or agency of the state or of a political subdivision thereof, any person, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, association, organization, or other legal entity for the protection of the air, water, and other natural resources and the public trust therein from pollution, impairment, or destruction. This section does not confer a right of action to challenge the issuance of a permit or license where the plaintiff has been notified of an agency proceeding in which the issues of environmental harm complained of might have been considered unless the agency refused to hear the complaint at such hearing. Actual notice or notice specified in the statute or rule governing the agency proceeding shall be sufficient.
Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 34A-10-1
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- 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.
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
Source: SL 1973, ch 144, § 2 (1); SDCL Supp, § 21-10A-1; SL 1981 (2d SS), ch 1, § 22; SL 1994, ch 351, § 69.