Hazardous waste: enforcement.

Existing law permits the Department of Toxic Substances Control or an agency authorized to implement and enforce certain laws relating to hazardous materials, known as a unified program agency, to enforce the Hazardous Waste Control Law. Existing law authorizes the department or a unified program agency to issue an order that requires a violation to be corrected and imposes an administrative penalty when there is a violation of the hazardous waste control laws, laws regulating hazardous substances, or any permit, rule, regulation, standard, or requirement issued or adopted pursuant to those laws. Under existing law, a person who does not comply with the order is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for each day of noncompliance. In lieu of an administrative penalty, existing law makes any person who intentionally or negligently makes a false statement or representation for purposes of compliance with the hazardous waste control laws, violates a provision of the hazardous waste control laws, disposes or causes the disposal of a hazardous waste at an unauthorized site, or treats or stores a hazardous waste at an unauthorized site liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000, as specified. This bill would increase these administrative and civil penalties to $70,000 and would make nonsubstantive changes in these provisions.