Section 61-16.1-53.1 - Appeal of board decisions - Department of water resources review - Closing of noncomplying dams, dikes, or other devices for water conservation, flood control, regulation, and watershed improvement1. The board shall make the decision required by section 61-16.1-53 within a reasonable time, not exceeding one hundred twenty days, after receiving the complaint. The board shall notify all parties of its decision by certified mail. Any aggrieved party may appeal the board's decision to the department of water resources. The appeal to the department must be made within thirty days from the date notice of the board's decision has been received. The appeal must be made by submitting a written notice to the department which must state specifically the reason why the board's decision is erroneous. The appealing party also shall submit copies of the written appeal notice to the board and to all nonappealing parties. Upon receipt of this notice the board, if it has ordered removal of a dam, dike, or other device, is relieved of its obligation to procure the removal of the dam, dike, or other device. The department shall handle the appeal by conducting an independent investigation and making an independent determination of the matter. The department may enter property affected by the complaint to investigate the complaint.2. If the board fails to investigate and make a determination concerning the complaint within a reasonable time, not exceeding one hundred twenty days, the person filing the complaint may file the complaint with the department of water resources within one hundred fifty days of the submittal date of the original complaint. Without reference to chapter 28-32, the department shall cause the investigation and determination to be made, either by action against the board or by conducting the investigation and making the determination.3. If the department of water resources determines a dam, dike, or other device has been constructed or established by a landowner or tenant contrary to title 61 or any rules adopted by the board, the department shall take one of these three actions: a. Notify the landowner by certified mail at the landowner's post-office address of record;b. Return the matter to the jurisdiction of the board along with the investigation report; orc. Forward the dam, dike, or other device complaint and investigation report to the state's attorney.4. If the department of water resources decides to notify the landowner, the notice must specify the nature and extent of the noncompliance and state that if the dam, dike, or other device is not removed within a reasonable time as determined by the department, but not less than thirty days, the department shall procure the removal of the dam, dike, or other device and assess the cost of removal against the responsible landowner's property. The notice from the department also must state that, within fifteen days of the date the notice is mailed, the affected landowner may demand, in writing, a hearing on the matter. Upon receipt of the demand, the department shall set a hearing date within fifteen days from the date the demand is received. If, in the opinion of the department, more than one landowner or tenant has been responsible, the costs may be assessed on a pro rata basis in proportion to the responsibility of the landowners. Upon assessment of costs, the department shall certify the assessment to the county auditor of the county where the noncomplying dam, dike, or other device is located. The county auditor shall extend the assessment against the property assessed. Each assessment must be collected and paid as other property taxes are collected and paid. Assessments collected must be deposited with the state treasurer and credited to the contract fund established by section 61-02-64.1. Any person aggrieved by action of the department under this section may appeal the decision of the department to the district court under chapter 28-32. A hearing by the department as provided for in this section is a prerequisite to an appeal.5. If the department of water resources, after completing the investigation required under this section, decides to return the matter to the board, a complete copy of the investigation report must be forwarded to the board and must include the nature and extent of the noncompliance. Upon having the matter returned to its jurisdiction, the board shall carry out the department's decision under the terms of this section.6. If the department of water resources, after completing the investigation required under this section, decides to forward the dam, dike, or other device complaint to the state's attorney, a complete copy of the investigation report must also be forwarded and must include the nature and extent of the noncompliance. The state's attorney shall prosecute the complaint under the statutory responsibilities prescribed in chapter 11-16.7. In addition to the penalty imposed by the court on conviction under this statute, the court shall order the dam, dike, or other device removed within a reasonable time period as the court determines, but not less than thirty days. If the dam, dike, or other device is not removed within the time prescribed by the court, the court shall procure the removal of the dam, dike, or other device, and assess the cost against the property of the landowner responsible, in the same manner as other assessments under chapter 61-16.1 are levied. If, in the opinion of the court, more than one landowner or tenant has been responsible, the costs may be assessed on a pro rata basis in proportion to the responsibility of the landowners.Amended by S.L. 2021, ch. 488 (HB 1353),§ 152, eff. 8/1/2021.Amended by S.L. 2015, ch. 473 (HB 1095),§ 1, eff. 8/1/2015.Amended by S.L. 2013, ch. 484 (HB 1062),§ 2, eff. 8/1/2013.